Vintage Toyota Bruiser Battery Options?

[rhoonah 0]

Hello everyone... I am new to this site and this is my first post

I am getting back into RC cars in order to enjoy them with my son and when I was a teen, I was a rather avid Tamiya fan and still have a decent vintage collection. One of the cars that I have is the Toyota Bruiser "Hog Heaven" truck. It could use some TLC but it still runs and is in decent shape. I have the original Tamiya 6V 4000 mAmp battery and after sitting for over 25 years it isn't in the greatest shape. With that being said, I am looking for any advice on a replacement battery and probably a new charger for said battery based on today's technology. If memory serves me correctly, the Bruiser has a rather large RS750 motor so the battery has to be able to put out some serious power to move the truck along. Again, I am getting back into this and I know that technology has changed... I was rather familiar with NiCD batteries but with LiPO and MiMH I don't have a clue so any suggestions on a good battery and charger would be appreciated.

Thank you for any help.

[Shodog 1845]

On a very good day those D size 6V batteries put out 4000 mah. You can now get sub c size NiMh batteries with better than that output. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAAGG&P=ML The battery should fit in the original bruiser battery tray but if you pick up a rere bruiser battery tray you'll be all set. A nimh battery charger can be had for less than $30

[Grastens 2812]

Greetings, and welcome!

From what I understand, the 4000mAh rating does not correspond to power output, but to battery capacity. You would actually be able to run a modern 7.2V Ni-MH battery and get more power, as the power of said battery is 7.2V as opposed to 6V.

That being said, I am unsure what vintage Bruiser drivers use, but I saw one magazine test of a re-release bruiser using a 5000mAh 7.2V Ni-MH battery, arranged in a 6-cell stick pack. These batteries are similar to Ni-Cd batteries in shape and treatment, but are less prone to the memory effect of the latter.

I have personally been a fan of both Associated-Reedy Wolfpack batteries and Team Orion batteries, and use their 7.2V stick packs extensively. Any great charger for Ni-MH batteries will feature 'smart charging' (one that automatically shuts off/goes to a 'trickle charge' after the battery is charged) and the options to discharge and cycle said batteries to maintain their capacity and output.

Other members can give you more specifics, but for now I hope this advice can help.

[WillyChang 1818]

On a very good day those D size 6V batteries put out 4000 mah. You can now get sub c size NiMh batteries with better than that output. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAAGG&P=ML The battery should fit in the original bruiser battery tray but if you pick up a rere bruiser battery tray you'll be all set. A nimh battery charger can be had for less than $30

just flip the stamped metal piers on old Bruiser tray and they'll be set to hold a racing pack stickpack

no need to contaminate your original car with new parts

[rhoonah 0]

Thank you for the information guys. Things have really changed since I was into this stuff.

Are the Duratrax Onyz chargers good or are there better options? Tower has the 200 for about $40 and the better models go up from there. It says it works with MiMH and NiCD so that is attractive to me since I have a bunch of 1800mah NiCD batteries that I bought a few years ago for my Hornet, Monster Beetle and Lunch Box.

[Shodog 1845]

If you can swing it, buy a charger that will do Lipo also. That way down the line you don't have to rebuy a charger.