Ultimate TRX-4 G 500 Custom Build
Transform Your TRX-4® from Mild to Wild
When you step out of the hobby shop with your new Traxxas model, the fun is just beginning. Hobby-class RC models have a host of upgrades available that allow you to make your car or truck into whatever you want it to be. Whether you are looking for increased performance for the next over-the-top stunt at the skate park, or just some unique style to stand out from your friends’ rigs, the possibilities are endless.
The scale crawler segment is home to some of the most customized vehicles in the entire hobby. The TRX-4® platform makes a great starting point with a wide variety of body styles and a huge offering of accessories available. For this project, we’re taking the Mercedes-Benz® G 500 4X4² from mild to wild to demonstrate how easy it is to build your own unique truck.
Phase 1: Tires and Wheels
The G 500 rolls out of the box with unique 2.8″ wheels that replicate those on the special edition full-size truck. These wheels feature a lower profile all-terrain tire that offers good all-around driving capability. To increase the off-road capability and provide a new look, we first went to the 2.2″ 8874 wheel and tire setup found on the TRX-6®.
These wheels come standard on the Mercedes-Benz G 63® AMG 6x6, and look right at home on the G 500, giving it a more aggressive off-road look. This subtle change won’t break the bank, and makes for a substantial difference your truck’s attitude.
Phase 2: Custom-Painted Clear Body + Method Race Wheels 105 Beadlocks
For phase 2, we applied a coat of metallic gunmetal silver to the 8811 clear G 500 body. To up the high-end look a step further, we also coated the outside with matte finish spray. To finish off the custom look and achieve ultimate off-road performance, we completed Phase 2 with a set of Method Race Wheels® 105 true beadlocks mounted up with sticky Canyon Trail 1.9″ tires.
These tires feature dual stage foams, a super soft tread compound, and a tall compliant sidewall for plenty of side bite on the rocks. The true beadlock design allows you change out the foam to suit different conditions, or to perform maintenance after wet running.
Phase 3: G Monster
For the third phase of this customization, we threw the full catalog at the G 500 for an all-out monster SUV ready to conquer mud, snow, rocks, and anything else you could throw at it. A modified long arm lift kit, super-sized Method 105 2.2s with Canyon Trail tires, fully assembled gloss black metallic body kit, and a full complement of aluminum completely transform this truck.
Long Arm Lift Kit
We made two modifications to the long arm lift kit to gain additional articulation and travel without substantially increasing the truck's center of gravity (CG).-Utilizing the stock length TRX-4 springs on the longer 110 mm shocks allows for a lower ride height
-Removing the travel limiters from the lift kit’s shocks allows increased uptravel at the lower ride height
We installed all other lift kit components as per the instructions. The truck now sits only slightly higher than stock but accommodates massive 2.2″ tires and has otherworldly articulation for negotiating obstacles. To help compensate for the lift, we also added brass portal weights which place extra weight down low and up front – right where you want it for extreme crawling. A High-Torque 400 brushless servo now handles extreme steering duties, accompanied by the recommended High Output BEC and metal servo horn.
For extreme durability and a touch of style, we used the full range of red-anodized aluminum accessories for Phase 3. This includes portal housings, steering blocks, and GTS shocks from the Long Arm Lift Kit. We also selected the red version of the Long Arm lift kit, both for the added accents underneath the black body, and for the added durability that kit’s powder coated finish provides.
The finishing touch for this build is the 8298 TRX-4 Stainless Steel hardware set, which replaces every fastener on the truck with long lasting stainless steel - perfect for those deepwater crossings that overland vehicles are known for.
Build It Your Way – From Mild to Wild
When you choose a TRX-4, Slash®, Maxx®, or any other model, the possibilities are endless with Traxxas hobby-class RC. No matter if you start out slow with a few aluminum pieces, or throw the kitchen sink at your build, Traxxas has you covered. Genuine Traxxas accessories offer a perfect factory-engineered fit and the industry’s number one support staff. Hit up the accessory finder and get started on your build today!
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