My Stampede. Rant, opinions,upgrades, etc.

[tagar89]

So i bought my stampede back in January of last year i believe. It started its life as a Xl-5 but is now inches away from being a full vxl model.

Whats been done:

Velineon System
Wheelie bar
Mip Cvd's
RPM Trans cover
2075 Servo
RPM camber links
RPM front a-arms
Wheel bearings all around





I had it looking like my actual truck for a while





Anyways lately I've been debating a couple of things

Selling it
Buying a slash 4x4 roller and using the electronics from my pede to the slash, then selling the rest
or continuing further and making it better.

As you can see i have an emaxx. Good and bad have came with purchasing it, good as its a blast to drive (minus the drive time), bad as in i want my stampede to be more like my emaxx. Its nice not having to get up every 5-10 min and get the emaxx out of tall grass. So naturally having the emaxx has made me say whats the point in having a pede if i have the maxx.

Now the pede was my first real RC so i have a special bond with it. This is why im not just jumping and selling it. So i was wondering if people could help me out with suggestions on upgrades, mods, etc so i could re like this pede.

Now i know theres tons of threads out there on upgrades for the pede but this is more of a build, peoples opinions,ideas and questions for MY pede.

MY next purchase is a 2.4 system

Questions:

1)How much would a pede with my set up be worth? i have another full roller that would come with it.

2)I see this protrac upgrade. How does everyone like it? With the addition length of the rear a-arms would i have to buy a different set of cvds? I was thinking about going with the protrac upgrade with the powerstroke shocks.

3)I figure one reason my emaxx doesnt get stuck it because the kind of tread it has. What would your recommendations be for a tire with more grip? Same size or bigger, i think these small tires on a pede look horrible (opinion)

4)I would also be looking for a good tire for a dirt track. I went to a track last summer a couple times and the slash guys were pretty impressed how i could keep up, usually people with pedes only bash.

[BaldyDaniels]

The stock talons have the ability to make even the biggest pede fanatic shake his/her head in amazement of how utterly useless they are. Get some trenchers, mashers or badlands mounted up on that pede and you will change your opinion about it in a hurry. As for the protrac, you could buy the components separately and leave the rear arms the way they are to continue using the MIPS. You're not going to want to use the protrac rear carriers anyways, unless you're running stock right now. Also, get a rpm 2wd slash front bumper to protect the front end better.

It's funny you question why you have a pede, if you gave an emaxx, cuz before I gave my emaxx to my 5 year old son, I asked myself why I bought the emaxx when I have a pede. Lol

Also, if you're not running lipos, then you're missing out on a whole ton of runtime, power and just plain awesomeness. Throw a 3s lipo in that pede with some tires I suggested above, and the wow factor of the pede will hit you like a brick!

I agree that big tires do look pretty sweet on the pede, but they are detrimental to the performance, and very hard on the driveline, so not very practical.*





But big wheels with low profile tires don't look so bad either, and are very functional in regards to handling and performance.

[tagar89]

i wouldnt want the front to be wider then the rear. Why wouldnt i want the rear carriers? That bumper is on my list as well. Would anyone mind posting a picture of any of the said tires?

[Oaks]

I can hear some of your frustration, but with the mods that you have done so far, you are only really scratching the surface of max pede performance.

On the notion of doing a build for the stampede, you can pretty much improve on everything that you have and haven't done so far.

A protrac kit with some new wheels and tires should serve you well. Keep it up, you are off to a good start. I like the pro line trenchers for off road and jconcepts subcultures worked well in the dirt. I'm not too sure about appraising stampede value or the MIP CVDs. Good luck.

[Oaks]

The protrac kit requires a new pair of front offset rims, because you will use them all of the way around the truck.

Not the best representation, but here's an older picture of my truck with jconcepts subcultures on it. I have a set of the trenchers too.

[tagar89]

I want to keep the luxury of waterproofness as well. As you can see i go mudding on walks with my girlfriend. As for speed, idk if anymore is really needed. Going in a straight line gets boring after a couple of times.

One thing i meant to ask, one thing i dont like about the pede is how high the body is, could anybody link me a way on how to lower it a little bit?

[DiggerPede]

Well first off you need to get away from those talons. You could even change the direction of them. It would give a little better traction. The best thing would be to get Trenchers or Mashers ( like baldy said ). They are some of the best around. Just depends on what tread pattern you like. The Trenchers are H O T right now. So they tend to sell fast. My all time fav is stretching 2.2 Mashers on 2.8 Desperados. Good combo.

The next thing is widening the front. Also like these guys have said, you can go with just the front Protrac part of the kit and be able to run all electric fronts. This will allow you to rotate your tires also. What this does is helps tame the body roll that is associated with the Pede. One of the best upgrades out there if you ask me.

Also the RPM Slash bumper is a fantastic upgrade for sure. Like you said you have this on your list. You won't be disappointed at all.

Oh and another must. LIPO, this will wake your VXL system up, it would be great for your Maxx too. If you have never used Lipo you dont know what you are missing there.

Dont get rid of the Pede most guys that do kick themselves in the rear later. LOL

Oh and i have an EMBE to, they are sweet running machines. Not sure if your is brushless but i have the CC MMM 2200 and it soars like a JET Plane.

[tagar89]

Sorry guys forgot to add that i have a lipo 2 cell, 5000mah. Plenty of runtime with the pede. my maxx is stock besides the big bores

[tagar89]

clarify this for my. 2.8 inch rims can fit a 2.2in tire? im confused

[BaldyDaniels]

2.2" tires are for 2.2" wheels. 2.8's for 2.8's and 3.2's for 3.2's. Quite a few of us have taken a liking to a lower profile tire on a larger wheel, so we have been cutting the beads off of smaller tires to fit them onto a larger wheel. It gives more steering response and better handling. Since you are more into the off road style of driving your trucks, you would be just fine with some 2.8 trenchers on 2.8 desperatos or other wheel of your choice.

In the pics I posted above, the truck with the purple wheels has trenchers on it. The trenchers are 2.8s that I cut the bead off of and mounted on 3.2" rpm clawz wheels.


This is what the 2.8" trenchers look like on 2.8" wheels, you can buy them from proline pre mounted so you don't have to glue em yourself too. Just remember that if you go with protrac, you'll want to get all electric front wheels all the way around.






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[tagar89]

Those do look nice. Ill have to pick some up soon.

Isnt a 3s over kill with something this small? is the only benefit speed?

[BaldyDaniels]

Yep, it absolutely is overkill, but that's the point. For some of us, overkill is the way we like it. This doesn't mean that you have to use all the power all the time (like me. Lol) it just means that when youre bashing, the minute you hit an open space, straight away, or need to water skip the truck across a small lake, you'll have all the power you need on tap. It also comes in handy if you're into huge air launches but only have a short runway, cuz you can mash the throttle and hit 30mph extremely quick. It also helps when manipulating the truck in mid air for good landings by using quick bursts of forward or reverse wheel spin to bring the nose of the truck up or down. 4 wheel landings are always a good thing when landing from 15-20 feet up. 


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[JoesStampede]

+1 more to the teenchers. I have bashed an dirt tracked with them and they perform very well! I have them on desperado wheels so look like te pic baldy posted. You will love the difference between these and the talons. Though may i suggest getting them sepearte to the wheels to tape up, i have mine taped an 3s and they still balloon a fair amount. Just make sure to get some waterproof tape if your in a lot of water like me, my old taping job came off due to water getting in the tyres. And i also have mine 'vented' to let water get out after getting them wet

As for lowering the body there is a very simple method - the adjustable monster jam body mounts fit on as easy as stock body mounts and are fully adjustable. A wise and worthy investment if you want to lower that body. Sorry i dont have a part number to hand.

The protrac kit is an amazing choice. Tere was in the past a little arguement as to the extra width gained on the rear but i believe the outcome was an extra 3mm in total across the whole truck due to the toe in provided by the rear arms. You can run the stock rear arms and the width will be the same as with the protrac arms, there will be a tiny difference but not noticeable. I ran like this for a while and all was good, an looked fine so i wouldnt worry about not getting the rear arms, they arent the important part of the kit or our uses. The rear carriers are pretty awesome, but only because they have 6 mounting holes for the camber link, and while that is nice to play with its also a bit of a pain because it weakens the top of the carrier a huge amount. I inly run them on my rusty at the moment as i have no other spares. They just dont quite have the strength in them for solid bashing imo (yes i have broken some hehe). For me on the rear carriers i go aluminium like the rest of the knuckles on my truck.

3S isnt really too much, personally its just about right! Yes its tricky to control while you get used to it but that shouldnt take long and its totally worth it in the end! I get bored on 2s now as it just cant provide the power im looking for.

[tagar89]

Any other ideas

[d_gillespie]

sorry, gotta do it again. Trenchers arent the only way to go! I broke the mold and used 2.2inch RPM Revolver Wheels and 2.2inch Pro-Line Chisel Tires! I gained between 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ground clearance and they are great in the mud, on rocks, in grass, and my favorite thing, hill climbing.

derrick

PS i cant look at this set up enough so ill make yall look at it too! lol

[pavmentsurfer]

IMO you don't like your pede as much because you havent done a couple of the most important upgrades to it...

First, a set of tires... this should pretty much be step one for most pedes. i agree with the above statements. The talons are about as good as a slick tire in most conditions.

Here is a pic of my pede with Mashers... which I think are amazing:


Next, a protrac kit will improve the trucks stability and handling is a BIG way. And, since your buying new tires, its not a bad time to buy all 4 front offset wheels as well. Its not a cheap undertaking and both together will cost about $100... but the protrac and the new wheels/tires will completely change how you feel about the truck.

I personally don't find the VXL system on 2S to be slow at all. Its all I ever run and its more than enough for me. Infact, Im one of the rare few who HAD an MMP/3800 combo and went BACK to the VXL 3S system because I preferred it.

I think, before you write your pede off completely, give it one more chance with a protrac kit and a new set of shoes and you'll be impressed. Maybe use the parts you take off to build up that extra roller you have and sell IT off.

If you pick up a set of slash body mounts you can lower your body BIG time. Which is such a great way to improve how the truck looks.

[DiggerPede]

Here are 2.2 Mashers stretched on 2.8 Desperados


2.8 Trenchers on Desperados


They all look good on the Digger. LOL

[d_gillespie]

I agree with pavementsurfer. DONT GIVE UP ON THE PEDE!!! try out the protrac kit b4 you deside anything! i havent done it yet (not from choice, but lack of stock) but all i hear are great things about it. also i would like to say i dont hate trenchers, mashers, or badlands, I just think we should branch out and take some chances on some different tires. digger and surfer, they look good on your rides BTW.

derrick

[tagar89]

Yea all in all I'll probably keep it if stuff changes.

If I buy the front a arms will the front be wider then the rear? Seems like it would be takky if so. I'm a mechanic so I'm all about looks ajd performing as good as it looks.

Thomas

[BaldyDaniels]

When doing just the front protrac arms and all front offset wheels, it will bring the front and rear track width to within a few mm's of equal. You won't even notice it.


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[tagar89]

Sweet, I'm excited.

I'm really pleased with this forum. A lot of the time on forums people are d bags. Thanks for everyone being awesome.

[tagar89]

So a slash 2 wheel drive front bumper. Is the rear worth it? and what skid plates were you guys reccommending

[BaldyDaniels]

The RPM Slash 2wd is one of the best investments you can make for protecting the front of the p2de. It should be one of the first upgrades for everyone who owns a stampede. For the rear, I use a swami full brace edition aluminum wheelie bar, that is a wheelie bar and rear skid plate all in one solid piece. For the front skid plate I use a stock Traxxas one and ive never had a need to upgrade it.






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[tagar89]

Question, im about to make the purchase for the protrac kit, do i need any of the rear items if im keeping my MIPS?

[tagar89]

Hope this will fit

http://www.hobbypartz.com/98p-40c-50...-hardcase.html

Used a nihm and forgot to change it back to the lipo setting, battery never made it

Question above ^^

[BaldyDaniels]

That pack is slightly higher than the esc plate will allow, it may fit very tight or you may have to get the battery expansion kit.*You'll also have to dremel out the ribs in the battery tray for easy fitment of hard case packs, which may allow this pack to fit without the expansion kit. My son uses some duratray hard case packs that are the exact same specs as the one you are inquiring about and they fit in my stampede tray with the ribs removed.

Don't forget that pack doesn't come with connectors at all, so you'll have to get that as well.*

http://www.hobbypartz.com/79p-10022.html

Battery Tray*

Battery Tray Dimensions: 138mm x 46mm x 26mm
Battery expansion kit available (#3725X).
3725X allows fitment of batteries up to 36mm high.

So with kit - 138mm long x 46mm wide x 36mm high.

As for the MIPS, they won't work with the protrac rear arms, so if you want to stay with the MIPS, You will use everything in the protrac kit except the rear arms. Or you could use the rear arms as well and get yourself some stampede 4x4 or slash 4x4 hd rear axles and half shafts. I had read recently about a new way to use MIP dog bone shafts with the protrac arms, but would require the purchase of new dog bones that are made for a different rc vehicle. I'll see if I can locate that info for you.

[DiggerPede]

Hope this will fit

http://www.hobbypartz.com/98p-40c-50...-hardcase.html

Used a nihm and forgot to change it back to the lipo setting, battery never made it

Question above ^^

Those are nice packs I have one that i've used for about a year now. Good run times and punch. Weird how it doesnt include the wires and balance tap with it. Mine came with it but had to solder a Traxxas connector to it. For what you are going to spend on that pack i'd look at SPC ( Spec Point Conepts ). It will have a connector already soldered on and ready to go.

[tagar89]

Whats the benefit of the rear tower or camber links if i dont have the rear arms?

[DiggerPede]

You can get away w/o buying the rear end of the kit if you want. If you buy the rear tower it has extra mounting options for the shocks ( 2 positions ) and cambers ( 3 positions ). This allows more precise adjustment for the kit. The arms add more lenght and toe-in. Which allows better traction around a turn, especially helpful for SC racers. For bashers its good for straight line runs, but the added traction puts a little strain on the motor because they are fighting against the pavement.

[BaldyDaniels]

^^ +1 to what digger said.

You could also just do the front arms to get the benefits of a wider track and run all four front offsets for width and the ability to rotate tires for even tread wear.

If you're just gonna go with protrac front arms then you'll need longer camber links and turnbuckles. The easiest way is to get the protrac links as well.

Here's a list of what you will need to do just the front protrac arms install:

Proline Protrac Front Arms part #6062-01 (2 pcs)

Proline Protrac 50mm x 4mm Camber Links part #6062-06 (2 pcs)

Proline Protrac 70mm x 4mm Steering Links part #6062-07 (2 pcs)

Traxxas Jato rod ends part #5523 -

http://buy.traxxas.com/product_info....oducts_id=2396

If your truck is a vxl and has long rod ends on the links, then these can be reused with the protrac links instead of buying #5523's

These are what I used for attaching the camber links:

Traxxas part #2579 Screws, 3x15mm button-head machine (hex drive)

Traxxas part #2745 3mm nylon locking nuts


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[tagar89]

I'm fine switching cv's if they can handle my velineon set up and future power upgrades. If you know of any that can and can accommodate the extended length of the a arms please do suggest. I would like to do the whole kit preferably.

As for that pack i was in a rush and ddnt read that it doesn't cms with wires.. SMH.

THOMAS

[tagar89]

Any suggestions on the question above?

Thomas

[BaldyDaniels]

I think your best bet will be to go with stock slash 4x4 or stock stampede 4x4 hd rear shafts. They're inexpensive and strong and last a long time, even in my heavy HR P2de XL that I only run on 3s lipo. I've broken the hardened steel cvds from MIP, as well as some from other manufacturers, but the stock 4x4 rear shafts hold really well.


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[rag6]

+1 for the 4x4 shafts...

[tagar89]

Went to put them on and noticed that all 4 were rear wheels...... FAIL. Guess i was too excited when buying the tires to notice. Called the hobby store and they wont have the fronts in till thursday. So now i have to stare at these till thursday.......

All in all i got the bumper though

Thomas

[BaldyDaniels]

Well at least it's like prepaying for the ones you wanted cuz you get to exchange em, and now you don't have the money to spend on something else. is that the traxxas adapter for your charger? Did you get yourself a balance adapter for that hard case pack?

[tagar89]

Im usually the one that wants to be different, but when i saw the trenchers on the desperados i couldnt resist.

That is a traxxas adapter, i couldnt find my original cable that came with my venom pro charger plus, which came with a balancer. This things huge, i swear i could jump a car with it lol.

Idk of my pack will fit. its .5mm wider than the box. Its also 25mm high when the max is 26. i really dont want to buy the battery riser item because i want to keep the center of gravity as it is or lower. So im a bit worried.

Thomas

[rag6]

I have fit 47mm wide hardcases. Its tight. To get the height to fit, dremel out the ribs in the chassis.

[BaldyDaniels]

As rag6 stated, with the ribs in the tray removed, that pack should just fit. My kids duratrax packs are identical in appearance and dimensions to your pack and they fit in my pede just fine. If you do find that you need a tiny bit more height, you can always just throw a washer or two under the esc plate screws to lift it up a mm or two. Then put a washer or two under the battery hold down posts to raise them up, but if the specs stated for that pack are accurate, then you should have no problems fitting it in the tray with ribs removed.


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[tagar89]

Like the rounded parts at the bottom?