Looking For A New Off-road Project

[RobCambs]

Right, i've come to the experts. I've got a nice TA-05 that i've built up from a chassis bought from ebay, and i've changed all of the insides out, but now i want something to do. I'd like to have something i can run on grass and offroad. The 05 is great fun, but i want to go somewhere else rather than up the road.

I thought about one of the chassis that came as a rally car (Impreza or Focus) but are they actually going to be any good over bumpy grass?

Or something like a Grasshopper/buggy type car maybe?

What ever i decide on i'll be looking to buy a chassis second hand from ebay or here, preferably mostly whole, but i'll be putting in electronics and all myself.

thanks

[taliesin]

Grass is tough. Most "cars" don't do well at all - they are just too low and the body hangs up. Buggies do better but aren't really designed for tall, wet or heavy grass - again, they are too low. Monster trucks with high clearance, BIG wheels and 4wd do the best.

The best grass runners are Wild Dagger or Clod Busters or something like that. I run my Mad Bull in the grass along with the Lunchbox but they aren't 4wd. Silly tires and lots of torque do wonders.

Grasshoppers aren't great on bumpy grass either - you'll see where they got the "hopper" part real quick.

[RobCambs]

Grass is tough. Most "cars" don't do well at all - they are just too low and the body hangs up. Buggies do better but aren't really designed for tall, wet or heavy grass - again, they are too low. Monster trucks with high clearance, BIG wheels and 4wd do the best.

The best grass runners are Wild Dagger or Clod Busters or something like that. I run my Mad Bull in the grass along with the Lunchbox but they aren't 4wd. Silly tires and lots of torque do wonders.

Grasshoppers aren't great on bumpy grass either - you'll see where they got the "hopper" part real quick.

ah right, just had a look at Clod Busters; a bit bigger and beefier than i was thinking of. The offroading that i'd be doing is really just on a big bit of grass outside my house or maybe a park, nothing too wild. i may have to re-think a bit.

[SteelRat]

ah right, just had a look at Clod Busters; a bit bigger and beefier than i was thinking of. The offroading that i'd be doing is really just on a big bit of grass outside my house or maybe a park, nothing too wild. i may have to re-think a bit.

had you thought of something like a CC01 (Pajero, Wrangler, Bronco) or maybe an Axial SCX10? Although the latter is more of a scale crawler, there's nothing to stop you putting a standard motor and upping the gearing a bit; quite a lot of fun whatever the terrain, with the added bonus you can gear it down again for some real rough stuff. Just a thought

[kaiser]

don't fear the mighty clodbuster, embrace it!

everyone should own a clod at some point.

[RobCambs]

had you thought of something like a CC01 (Pajero, Wrangler, Bronco) or maybe an Axial SCX10? Although the latter is more of a scale crawler, there's nothing to stop you putting a standard motor and upping the gearing a bit; quite a lot of fun whatever the terrain, with the added bonus you can gear it down again for some real rough stuff. Just a thought

i like the look of something like a cc01, just got to find the right one to start a project

[SteelRat]

don't fear the mighty clodbuster, embrace it!

everyone should build, own and mod the bejesus out of a clod at some point.

Fixed

[taliesin]

CC-01 is a great truck for bumpy grass as long as it isn't real heavy and tall. Even something like a DF-01 or TA-01/02 Hummer go pretty well on such terrain and look quite scale.

Also there is the CR-01 if you prefer a bit more rock crawling capability instead of scale realism.

Personally, I would recommend an Axial Honcho if you don't mind going non-Tamiya. Fantastic truck! I've got one, but I've also got a CC-01 Land Cruiser, and a DF-01 Hummer. I run them all in about the same places and manner. The Honcho is really the most capable, then the CC-01 Land Cruiser and finally the Hummer, but I wouldn't exactly say one is "better" than the other - they are just differently capable. Love them all and I'm glad to own them. If I could only have one though ... it would be a hard choice to make but I'd probably take the Honcho. Come in a kit or RTR.

If on the other hand, you want crazy 4x4 monster truck action there is a whole other world of choices out there: Clod, TXT, E-Maxx, HPI, etc. I've got my eye fixed on a TXT but my wallet is cringing, so I'll probably buy a clod, modify the bejesus out of it, and THEN buy the TXT later just to be safe.

[Theibault]

I'm a huge rally fan, and my DF03RA is my most used and fun car I have. Just my 2cents.

[commiedoor]

have a go at scratch building a viehical ! it doesnt take alot of money if you make a lot of parts .. this is made from mostly ebah sourced bits . it started with a hornet chassis and grasshopper diff , a bullhead body and some left over bits frm modding other cars .. .. theres not many 4x6 wheeler hornets out there !

[MrUnlimited]

The TA05 is belt drive. I would not use beltdrive for offroad. The chance that the belt will slip over the gears is too large. That is why Yokomo, Kyosho and Tamiya choose for shaft drive cause it handles the torque better

[Yonez]

The TA05 is belt drive. I would not use beltdrive for offroad. The chance that the belt will slip over the gears is too large. That is why Yokomo, Kyosho and Tamiya choose for shaft drive cause it handles the torque better

Eh,

There are lots of 4WD belt driven competition off-roaders and they do very well. The Tamiya TRF511 springs to mind, winning this years European championship: http://www.tamiya.com/english/info/100902efra/index.htm

Belts are fine for off road as they are easier to control when jumping.

However, for very dirty conditions, shaft may work better.

[hoppi05]

Well i cant tell you honestly if its any good on grass but i have started a Stadium Blitzer and a Stadium Thunder project to do the exact same as you, to 'off road'. i fancied a change also and from all the comments and videos ive seen of the Blitzer family they have no real issues off road but they dont offer a huge ground clearance....

hope that can help and good luck with what ever you choose and enjoy...