I agree with you on all the points you addressed! The biggest problem I had with mine was the driveshafts coming apart just as you described. My fix is to use heat shrink tubes to secure the rubber band/o-ring and pins. Works excellent and still holding together nicely! The heat shrink tube mod I found from a forum member on one of the crawler sites (I can’t remember which one it was) and I was thankful for it because 40-45$ every time the shafts popped was getting ridiculous. Thank you for sharing and I hope this mod with help you out! Franco.
Good points but you overlooked many aspects of the build. There is a lot of metal! It is a good value as many of the parts are good quality. Some applaud the lack of a worm drive. The aftermarket sucks yes but, when I start adding brass to an SCX24 I go above $200 at once. The Servo is on the frame on the RC4WD and the wheel and tires are good. Scale detail is superb on the sturdy body. Build quality is excellent. A shock upgrade would go a long way on this but I have yet to find the perfect match. The layout would allow 2X the wheel travel easy. Thanks for your vids! New sub.
Having run this more and having used more 1/18 scale RCs recently, I do think it is a good value RTR. Upgrades still are way too expensive I think though. I may have to post an updated opinion video. Thanks for watching!
@@chibiskyrc I totally agree on the parts and aftermarket. Highest part prices out there which is a bummer. I dig the roof racks but all of that is beyond my budget. As you correctly point out it makes me less interested in upgrading it. RC4WD indeed gets an F in body mounts! I am going to try using some standoff hinges on the rear and will also try magnets. Transmission slop is mysterious but I haven't ever torn it down. It is the one cheap part btw. The tires look boring but the compound is better than most. I found springs on amazon that fit around the shocks exactly which gives it a scale ride packing up to four 18650 Li-Ion cells. Do you have motor upgrade suggestions? I want to do that and install new electronics. Thanks for your interest in this lovable/annoying little guy that I am becoming attached to.
@@peregrineflow7354 I don't know about any motor upgrades but I don't have any complaints about the stock motor. I would also be concerned the transmission wouldn't be able to handle a more powerful motor.
I agree on your points. To add a negative point, the gearbox doesn‘t run smooth in low or crawl speed at all. I feels not round and sounds strange like the gears are oval. I don‘t know how ro describe. I even ordered a replacment gearbox v2 and checked it on it‘s own and it‘s the same issue, also worhout the motor.
Any idea how to solve the delay in movement when coming down a steps or coming off an obstacle? I notice this problem in most of their gearbox. Its like i am moving at super slow modulation speed and the coming off a rock or something, the gear stop temporarily before catching up and move. You will notice it. Its driving me nuts!
Take a look to Europe - than you wont complain about your US prices anymore ;-) - 1/18 Defender is 280 € (about 320 - 330 US$). I do have Defender and Bronco (Blackjack), electronics for Bronco are even worse than for the Defender (you have to take the body off to switch the car off, in the Defender you can at least get to the switch from outside). I love those cars, but agree, they are far too expensive. Bronco (BlackJack) does have plastic bumpers, first rolling down, mine broke...
Pricing of Defender specific parts is due to economies of scale. They're not gonna sell a million roof racks for this thing. I do wish parts were cheaper though.
Thanks! My first proper crawler was a SCX10 Deadbolt that I used to have a Zaku driver on so this is a small replica of it. The Zaku driver from my SCX10 now lives on my Tamiya CR-01
ESC? Battery? Why are you scared to take the body off? Run time? Charge time? Does it have a transfer case? You were lost for words half the time. RC4WD won't be pleased.
Exactly I bought some rc4wd shocks for my d90, I could buy a pair of real Land Rover defender dampers for £40 🤔 it doesn’t support the hobby expensive parts which in the end cost more than the total cost of model. Madness
I agree with you on all the points you addressed! The biggest problem I had with mine was the driveshafts coming apart just as you described. My fix is to use heat shrink tubes to secure the rubber band/o-ring and pins. Works excellent and still holding together nicely!
The heat shrink tube mod I found from a forum member on one of the crawler sites (I can’t remember which one it was) and I was thankful for it because 40-45$ every time the shafts popped was getting ridiculous.
Thank you for sharing and I hope this mod with help you out!
Franco.
I am totally agree with you. I love this truck so much....but i changed the tires and the $20 bumper only.
Good points but you overlooked many aspects of the build. There is a lot of metal! It is a good value as many of the parts are good quality. Some applaud the lack of a worm drive. The aftermarket sucks yes but, when I start adding brass to an SCX24 I go above $200 at once. The Servo is on the frame on the RC4WD and the wheel and tires are good. Scale detail is superb on the sturdy body. Build quality is excellent. A shock upgrade would go a long way on this but I have yet to find the perfect match. The layout would allow 2X the wheel travel easy. Thanks for your vids! New sub.
Having run this more and having used more 1/18 scale RCs recently, I do think it is a good value RTR. Upgrades still are way too expensive I think though. I may have to post an updated opinion video. Thanks for watching!
@@chibiskyrc I totally agree on the parts and aftermarket. Highest part prices out there which is a bummer. I dig the roof racks but all of that is beyond my budget. As you correctly point out it makes me less interested in upgrading it. RC4WD indeed gets an F in body mounts! I am going to try using some standoff hinges on the rear and will also try magnets. Transmission slop is mysterious but I haven't ever torn it down. It is the one cheap part btw. The tires look boring but the compound is better than most. I found springs on amazon that fit around the shocks exactly which gives it a scale ride packing up to four 18650 Li-Ion cells. Do you have motor upgrade suggestions? I want to do that and install new electronics. Thanks for your interest in this lovable/annoying little guy that I am becoming attached to.
@@peregrineflow7354 I don't know about any motor upgrades but I don't have any complaints about the stock motor. I would also be concerned the transmission wouldn't be able to handle a more powerful motor.
@@chibiskyrc that is a good point.
I agree on your points. To add a negative point, the gearbox doesn‘t run smooth in low or crawl speed at all. I feels not round and sounds strange like the gears are oval. I don‘t know how ro describe. I even ordered a replacment gearbox v2 and checked it on it‘s own and it‘s the same issue, also worhout the motor.
Great video 💯
Great car! Happy to have subscribed your channel
Any idea how to solve the delay in movement when coming down a steps or coming off an obstacle? I notice this problem in most of their gearbox. Its like i am moving at super slow modulation speed and the coming off a rock or something, the gear stop temporarily before catching up and move. You will notice it. Its driving me nuts!
Take a look to Europe - than you wont complain about your US prices anymore ;-) - 1/18 Defender is 280 € (about 320 - 330 US$).
I do have Defender and Bronco (Blackjack), electronics for Bronco are even worse than for the Defender (you have to take the body off to switch the car off, in the Defender you can at least get to the switch from outside).
I love those cars, but agree, they are far too expensive.
Bronco (BlackJack) does have plastic bumpers, first rolling down, mine broke...
280€ hahah im my ocal shop its 330€
More videos on this Rigg please
Great truck bro 😃😃
I have compatible 3D sla parts for it and looks awesome
Pricing of Defender specific parts is due to economies of scale. They're not gonna sell a million roof racks for this thing. I do wish parts were cheaper though.
I like the zaku driver!!
Thanks! My first proper crawler was a SCX10 Deadbolt that I used to have a Zaku driver on so this is a small replica of it. The Zaku driver from my SCX10 now lives on my Tamiya CR-01
I'm at 1200 on my scx24 jeep lol
Big money on small car
Mines at like 500 and thats 3 sets of beadlocks mainly aps racing(like 80 bucks a piece but super scale) skid plates and driveline
ESC? Battery? Why are you scared to take the body off? Run time? Charge time? Does it have a transfer case? You were lost for words half the time. RC4WD won't be pleased.
All rc4wd products are over priced imo!
I really don't understand why they're so expensive either. There's a reason this is my only RC4WD vehicle
Exactly I bought some rc4wd shocks for my d90, I could buy a pair of real Land Rover defender dampers for £40 🤔 it doesn’t support the hobby expensive parts which in the end cost more than the total cost of model. Madness
Expensive is one thing but the expectation doesnt match up