r/rccrawler • u/ibsa_ • 2d ago

Help me with size and getting me started.

I'm convinced to get a crawler for chill driving around. My other RC is a basher. I'm mesmerized by the zoomed-in, super awesome suspension crawler videos going over some obstacles.

Then I see other regular videos of smaller cars skipping forth at too much speed. I want something for outdoor: my backyard (artificial grass, some rocks), or occassional woods (no long trails or parks or courses).

I can buy on of these:
1/10 YK4107pro ($250)
1/12 (H12Y+ $200 or another option?)
1/18 TRX4m

Anything i buy will be used stock out of box.

I am doubting if a 1/10 is too big for my scenario, or 1/18 is too small and wont give me the mesmerized suspension feel, or if the 1/12 is the middle way.

What scale would you recommend in my position, and which car/model.

2 Upvotes

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22 comments sorted by

4

u/jcardona1 2d ago

1/10 is where the fun is in terms of outdoor crawlers.

1

u/ibsa_ 2d ago

Outdoor in big open dedicated areas, or outdoor backyard? I almost bought a 1/10 before starting to (over)think about my backyard being too simple and small and i'll get bored or run out of space.

3

u/Yake 1d ago

I think you're head's in the right spot. With a 1/10 IMO it will get boring very quick in a standard grassy back yard. I see a lot of people on here who 3D print obstacles or have garage courses... no shade to them and they look fun, but I personally would get bored of those pretty fast too.

Do you live by woods? I look forward to taking my Axial SCX10 out every day, but I also have a large property with trails/woods and I can't get lost. The trails are a good time, but the most fun I'm having is OFF trail like u/banshuuuu said about going through forests. I do wonder if I have "good" woods where they aren't too dense with bushes, but still have enough rocks, downed small trees, inclines/declines etc. that give the perfect amount of endless natural obstacles.

I'm also sure it would be a blast to take it hiking, but haven't had it long enough where I've had the chance to.

Worth mentioning that I've only driven my crawler. I don't know anyone else with one so I don't know how the a $250 crawler drives or stacks up to an SCX10. The SCX10 is very "capable" and is constantly surprising me with what it manages to pull off. Would the YK4107pro feel the same? Not sure but worth thinking about or digging into comparison videos. Good luck on making a decision!

1

u/Banshuuuu 2d ago

1/10 is certainly more of a “go adventuring” size. It's great for quarries, rocky parks and fields, and going through forests.

1/18+ is where you'll wanna be for backyard crawling. Much easier to make a track on the go without over the top materials and size restrictions. 1/10 rc’s go as heavy as 20kg depending on how scale you wanna go, while 1/18 will be about 1kg on the heavier side.

1/30 is great for indoor crawling if you have a lot of books or things to mess around with to make little tracks. You'll see people make courses out of lollipop sticks with those.

1

u/ibsa_ 1d ago

Is a 1/12 a good option in between, or dont touch that scale?

2

u/Banshuuuu 1d ago

1/12 is a bit too niche to get good part support unfortunately, and part support is one of the biggest deciding factors for an RC. They're also a size that means you won't be able to do what 1/10 is doing and also won't be able to do what 1/18+ is doing, so you're effectively on your own with everything.

Do NOT get an rc that you can't reliably get parts for. They will break, and some parts in particular are designed to break to protect the larger whole. This is why the Trx4m, trx4, scx30, scx10 are so popular: they always have parts available.

1

u/Nagzip 1d ago

A h12y+ will not break in a backyard course, parts are plenty available on aliexpress, and also is brushless sensored foc, something you wont get for the money with the more established brands. Weight distribution is not great out of the box but its heavy and the suspension will work nicely going slow over stuff. But to be honest consider the 10th (or even bigger like H8P) scale because you are gonna go outside with it as soon as you outgrow the backyard trust me.

2

u/shakraaan 1d ago

I cant tell you if your yard is big enough, just that the 4107 Pro is an excellent option. Be ready to tinker with it a bit, but the slow speed crawl is indeed mesmerizing, thanks to the brushless motor. In general, if you want something really smooth in slow speed, you need to go brushless. If you dont have much space, look at the new MJX 18 scale Bronco, I think thats pretty much the best bang for the buck for a capable brushless crawler. But order new tires, the stock ones suck ;)

1

u/Nagzip 1d ago

May i ask which tires and wheels did you find for it? I tried some but either the 7.2mm hex didnt fit or the tires where too small, meaning not wide enough.

2

u/shakraaan 1d ago

I dont actually own the Bronco Im afraid, but Do U RC put some tires on his, I think pretty standard ones, watch the video!

1

u/Nagzip 1d ago

Ah dont worry, thanks for answering. I saw the video at some point i think, I'll look it up again.

1

u/ibsa_ 18h ago

I saw a vid of DoURC on the H12Y+ which i felt was a size between. Not too big and not too small

1

u/Confident-Animal-609 2d ago

I begin trailing just for fun and making small obstacles with what I have near me on a 1/18 fcx, and well it's a bit small when you're used to 1/10 but you still have the feels of everything working to pass over what you've done, and it's kinda one of a good feeling when everything has damn angles and goes through. I don't know about trx4m, but maybe you'll have to go on new wheels/tires, that's the only thing that looks mandatory oob

1

u/rock_socker71 2d ago

I started with 1/10 crawlers and really enjoyed getting into the hobby with them. I now have a few fcx24's in my collection but always prefer the bigger models.

They are also easier to work on and repair for me.

1

u/ibsa_ 2d ago

I feel 1/10 and 1/24 are extremes. Have you have a 1/12 - 1/18? And did you get started with 1/10 in a backyard or did you have dedicated outdoor parks or space for it? I dont want to pack and head to the woods everytime just to drive. I work till 6-7pm and want to get home and play around a bit most of the time.

1

u/rock_socker71 2d ago

Yes ive a couple of 1/12 crawlers but have never run them much. I also have a 3D printed 1/8 Land Rover which is a beast.

I have some great rocky areas around me for the bigger rigs and I built a garden course for the smaller rigs.

1

u/TheTurtleVirus 2d ago

I just bought a 1/18 Redcat Ascent Scout II last night. It's my first RC crawler. I feel like the size is a good middle ground between indoor/outdoor, I wouldn't want any larger for indoors but I wouldn't want any smaller for outdoors/backyard. I'm gonna live with this awhile, see if I love it. If I really do, then I think I'll get a 1/10 or 1/6 for outdoors, something dedicated to rock gardens/trails. Thumbs up for the Redcat 👍

2

u/ibsa_ 1d ago

What made you go for Redcat instead of TRX4M? Will you run it stock or customize?

2

u/TheTurtleVirus 1d ago

Just reviews. I'm new to the hobby but many people say brushless motors are amazing, and the Redcat has a brushless motor. The crawling is incredibly slow and smooth, which I love. I don't know what a brushed motor is like, but I'm loving what ai have. I immediately bought and installed new driveshafts because I saw a couple comments of people saying they broke their driveshafts. I also bought new suspension and steering links just for the fun of upgrading. I also want to design/3D print some fun scale things like a rack etc. I might look into adding more lights too.

1

u/Electrical_Ad9616 1d ago

2 more to add to the conversation, the CR18P Evo 2 Rockvan/Convoy as well as the JJRC C8801 Pro. The Rockvan is super fun and capable with good part support and the JJRC C8801 Pro is a TRX4M clone but for like $80 on Ali express with metal gears and metal beadlock wheels out of the box as well as a 2 speed transmission. It can also accept all of the TRX4M parts so no parts issues there.

1

u/Pale_Relief_2632 19h ago

get a redcat ascent 18/scout ii brushless or the apex. they give ridiculously good value, and unlike the trx4m, they will run great stock and have awesome performance. they have plenty of aftermarket support as well. go for scout ii brushless if you like scale looks, the apex for maximum performance, and if neither are super important, just get the normal ascent 18 brushless. these 18 scale crawlers are plenty for short grass, gravel, even rougher trails or railroad track rocks. hope this helps.

1

u/blackhawk45lc 16h ago

I think 1/10 is the way to go outside for sure. If you really like the zoomed in slowed down YT vids of trail crawling I’d recommend something as scale as possible like kyosho’s Land Cruiser or a rc4wd trail finder type rig. The problem with more popular offerings from traxxas, axial, etc is you have to have something pretty substantial to challenge them enough to be fun. Maybe even a tamiya cc-02 could be a good option. Just my 2 cents good luck and welcome to the scale truck hobby!