We too couldn’t resist and built a Ford F-150 based on the TRX-4. Now, some might say it’s available for purchase… True, but we wanted something different. The Traxxas Ford F-150 is a so-called High-Trail model with a long wheelbase of 336mm. While that’s appealing, frankly, this model bears little resemblance to its real-world counterpart. Therefore, our approach was to create a truck that is as realistic as possible yet brutal, incorporating all the refinements of the TRX-4 chassis.
The chassis needed to be lowered without sacrificing suspension travel. The same applied to the wheels; they were too large, so they had to go. As for the motor, it was out of the question; a new one was required. Finally, the original axles were too light, so we installed an aluminum/brass combination from Vitavon.
The F-150 body is truly superb. We painted it in Candy Red and black and equipped it with the original Traxxas lighting kit. No further modifications are needed here; with the Clipless System, everything is in order and ready for its first drive.
As mentioned, for the ladder frame, we opted for a conversion using Vitavon parts. These are of very high quality, manufactured from high-strength 7075 aluminum, and supplemented with brass weights on the portal axles. To lower the chassis, we modified the original High-Trail version shock absorbers (110mm) with the piston rods from the standard TRX-4 version. These now measure 100mm. The longer housings also result in a larger oil volume, which positively impacts damping. The springs from the standard TRX-4 variant were also used, allowing for precise adjustment of the suspension and vehicle height.
The TRX-4 axles are suspended by multiple links, which required some careful thought. Traxxas includes an additional extension for the rear axle in the long-travel version. For whatever reason, that part is completely superfluous, so we removed it. For our Ford, we built entirely new stainless steel control arms, thus eliminating the aforementioned extender. The rear axle, mounted in this way, exhibits a much more dynamic spring movement and now serves the purpose of a trailing arm axle more effectively than before.
For the powertrain of our F-150, we selected the Hobbywing HW38020386 AXE Plus R3 540L 2100kV R2 combination. This allows for very precise control in first gear and offers ample speed in second gear. And as for power… it’s more than enough!
To neatly store all the new technology, we built a carbon battery board that also has space for the Hobbywing controller. This creates a neat picture amid the otherwise tangled cables of the TRX-4. Speaking of technology, we all fly our models with Sanwa remote controls. Unfortunately, these only have 4 channels, but that’s enough for a TRX-4. As a solution, we used Reef servos for the differential lock and the gearbox. These are freely programmable. This allows you to connect the servos of the differential lock via a Y-cable and set the direction of rotation and travel separately.
As our vehicle slowly took shape and the end was in sight, we began searching for suitable wheels. We found what we were looking for at RC4WD. We opted for the Classic 10-Hole Chrome 1.9″ Beadlock Wheels. The small holes in the wheel bed were drilled out and additionally fitted with 1.6mm Hex Bolts from RC4WD. While this may be considered a minor detail, we find it appealing. For the tires, we chose the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R 1.9″ 4.7″ Scale Tires from RC4WD. These are not excessively large, yet they still look quite aggressive.
All in all, we indulged ourselves for two months and, we believe, built a stylish car. Should you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be pleased to hear from you.
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