Jens

Thanks! Will definitely investigate there...👍

4. Paint Jobs Since I plan to clear the darkened windows and fit some interior the white color inside is not really appealing. Removed all the fittings and sprayed the interior in matt black. And the same time I also sprayed the fenders in matt black on the outside. The real G-Class comes with plastic fenders painted in matt black. --> Followed the original. ( Took the picture after clearing the windows )

3. Remote Power Switch. Lazy as I am... I don't want to always remove the body shell. And yet another inaccuracy. The switch is too wide to fit between the body and the side. Maybe it's a G500 specific problem, but some grinding solved the problem. The switch must have enough space, otherwise the ESC button remains pressed and goes into configuration mode. 🙄

Next: Traxxas Link. I find it a very useful tool for those that don't know when their TRX-4 is going to fall over. Someone inexperienced like me. The inclinometer is already included. Temp & Voltage sensors need to be bought extra. Speed or RPM sensors don't seem to be compatible.

Step 1: Steel Skid Plates. Got them off ebay . I love the color. Nice and shiny. But they don't fit 100%. The diff lock plate had to bent a bit for the left screw to fit. Then the rear plate only fits in the front and nothing fitted in the rear. But that was ok, since I had other plans for the rear.

Till today I have already done some upgrades . Here they come:

Lights... I am not sure if I am a bit nuts with some crazy ideas. Then blame it on the lockdown. My idea is to control the lights of my G500 as realistic as possible. So this is what I plan to achieve: Daytime driving lights (The small lights below the headlamps): Will be turned on once the receiver is turned on. Headlights 50% (low beam), taillights 50%, license plate: Will be turned on by a separate remote (ch1). Headlights 100% (high beam), roof front search lights: Will be turned on by a separate remote (ch2) and if low beam (remote ch1) is on. Indicators left: Blink while steering left. Indicators right: Blink while steering right. Rear search light: Turns on while reversing and high beam is on (Remote ch2). Taillight 100%, third brake light: Turns on when decelerating from forward or reverse or in neutral throttle. Fog light: Will be turned on by a separate remote (ch3). Hazard light: Will be turned on when switching to low speed or with remote (ch4). Reverse light: Will be turned on while reversing. Rock lights: Will be turned on with CH5 of the TQi transmitter. (For that, all diff locks will go to Channel 4) Until today, I have not found anything that could accomplish that. But I found someone (SY-RC) that already developed a light control unit with a functionality close to mine. Hence I contacted him and discussed my idea. He is already planning a version 2 of his box and found my ideas very useful. It also would make the control unit universal for all RC cars and not only the G500. Meaning that it can be used with any TRX-4 or even other scalers. If anybody is interested, I could give some more details about how this new control unit would work.

Hello everybody, I thought of creating a thread about my upgrade plan for my TRX-4 G500. On one side I can give some useful information about my weeks of research to find the right and suitable parts. And of course give some good ideas for other TRX-4 owners (G500, G63, Defender, etc). Hopefully I will hear some useful advice from you if I am stuck... 😉 My idea is to make my G500 as scale as possible but also improve the crawling ability without sacrifizing the look. Wherever possible I will take and share some pictures. Ideas to improve crawling: New steering servo (Once the stock one gives in) Skid plates Front and rear bars to prevent damages to the body shell Beadlocks with better tires Front portal axle brass weights designed as disc brakes with red calipers New front bumper to hold a winch Front Battery Holder for Winch Winch Metal Drive Shafts Brass front differential housing Capo Air Suspension For the optics: Clear the windows Paint the inside black Guards for Headlights, Taillights & Indicator Front Raised License Plate Holder Rear Metal License Plate Holder License Plates Rear Disc Brakes with red calipers Snorkel Kit Front Bar Antenna Inside Rear View Mirror Rear Spoiler Rubber Mudguards Full Interior with seats and dashboard Rooftop Box Rear Spare Tire Holder Tow Bar with Trailer For my comfort: External power switch Magnetic body mount Traxxas link Heat and Voltage Sensor Light & Sound (A project of its own): This will be a rather extensive project on its own. Apart from the known Traxxas light kit I plan to have some more additional lights: Light bar on the roof Rear fog and reverse light License plate light My idea is to make the lighting as realistic as it is with the real G500. But more about it later.

Hello everyone, here comes another happy & proud TRX-4 owner. Had my G500 imported from Germany. Very interesting thread with lots of good advice for upgrades and modding. I decided to get the black one, realizing that this is the only model with painted windows. So I spent the last week painfully removing 3 layers (!) of paint with some graffiti remover.

Hello everyone, Greetings on behalf of my son, another FTX Mauler owner. He loves his Mauler and is very happy with it. ( Apart from the small turning radius )

Fulbourn / Cambridgeshire. Always looking for some good trailing/crawling spots in the area and small (socially distanced) gatherings.

Thank you very much. Got the information. Meanwhile I also found another site. ARC Raceways is also not too far.

Thats cool. Thanks for the information. That would be great, if it is just around the corner. But I couldn't find any website or a location. Only a private Facebook. Do you have any more information?

Thanks willb. I checked their website already and their few pictures looked already interesting. But your pics made my day. It's a really nice course. According their website non members are also permitted at a higher rate. I am not sure anymore, but will call them tomorrow... Earliest I could make would be Thursday.

With time comes upgrade. I let them trickle in slowly. 😇 Skid Plates were the first. A new front bumper and rear bar will come in tomorrow. Beadlocks are on the way. Then I found some brass portal weights that are painted as silver disc brake with red calipers. That will be the next. This week I am going through the painful process of making the windows transparent... ( Bad luck for the G500 owners ) I have so many upgrades in mind that it would fill a whole thread itself.

Hi QRC, I have seen the RC club in action in Townley Hall once or twice last year. Did you mean 30 "real" cars or 30 crawlers? 🙂 We went to the Fulbourn Fen (Stonebridge Lane) on Saturday for some crawling. We have been there now so many times that it is getting a bit boring...

Hi willb, cool to instantly find a group with TRX-4s. Maybe one day there is a chance to meet for some joint crawling. I don't want to put the TRX-4 down compared to the Mauler. I love mine. And it is an excellent crawler. Maybe my son is just more daring than me. 🙂 But I observed some subtle differences that give my son some advantage: 2.2" wheels. Wheels are not covered giving him a better approach to a rock from an angle. Significant lower CG. But then there is not much to upgrade the Mauler. Unlike the TRX-4. And with each upgrade the TRX-4 will crawl better, eventually being better than the Mauler.

Hello everybody, I am not really new to RC cars, but I had a break of about 35 years. 🙂 With my son coming to a suitable age I decided to return to this hobby and introduce my son to it. After months long research, I rewarded myself with a Traxxas TRX-4 G500 for my birthday and my 7 years old son received a FTX Mauler for his excellent homeschooling efforts. ( with the option to upgrade to a green TRX-4 Defender, if he continues learning a bit during the summer holidays ). Both of us have been crawling a lot in our garden, the nearby forest and we went to the Thetford Forest once. After 3 weeks practising he crawls better than me and enjoys making fun my fancy, dancy TRX-4 not able to crawl as good as his cheap Mauler. 😞 I joined in the hope to find interesting crawling spots in Cambridgeshire, finding some good advice on pimping my TRX-4 as well as share my pimping efforts with everybody here. Cheers, Jens