The Arrma 8th-scale vehicles are some of the most popular vehicles I see being discussed online and in person. With good reason too, they are some of the fastest and most durable trucks out there and it is no wonder these are often the base of many speed run builds. But as you know, speed runs result in crashes, and crashes at these speeds usually mean broken parts. So when I thought of how to upgrade this vehicle, the first thing that popped into my mind was to find ways to increase the durability. Check out the Arrma Kraton parts list below for some upgrades to fit your budget.
1. RPM Front & Rear A-arms
To put it simply, if RPM makes aftermarket a-arms for my vehicle I will always buy them. RPM and durable are one in the same and they make some of the toughest components out there. The a-arms are a great starting place for upgrades because if you hit one of the front or rear wheels on it’s own, the arm has to take all of the shock. And as you can imagine 60mph on stock arms = trip to the hobby shop. The RPM arms are made out of a tougher plastic that does a better job of absorbing impact energy. This not only will prevent the obvious arm breakage, but it can do wonders for protecting your hingepins and other components as well. In all my years of being involved with the hobby, I have not once seen anyone break and RPM part. They also have a great service plan if you do manage to somehow break them under normal operating conditions which generally results in the part being replaced free of charge.
DETAILS:
Manufacturer: RPM
Part: RPM Front Upper & Lower A-arms, Rear A-arms
Part Number: 81482 (Front), 81402 (Rear)
Price: $12.95 (Front), $13.95 (Rear)
Link To Buy: F-http://amzn.to/2xFS0KS R- http://amzn.to/2yvnZN3
2. T-Bone Racing V3 Thrasher Front Bumper
With all the power on tap from the Kraton, you are bound to have some pretty nasty head on collisions with objects. I don’t care if you are the best driver in the world, it happens at these speeds. The stock bumper generally does okay, but I would recommend swapping it out for the T-Bone racing bumper. These are virtually indestructible and will prevent all the excess energy from traveling down into more fragile components. The best part about T-Bone racing products is that they are guaranteed not to break, and if by some miracle it actually does, they will replace the part for free. Oh, and it’s a lifetime warranty! Not much else you can ask for with an aftermarket bumper.
DETAILS:
Manufacturer: T-Bone Racing
Part: TBR V3 Thrasher Front Bumper
Part Number: 10063
Price: $26.99
3.Futaba 4PLS T-FHSS Computer Radio System
The Kraton includes a basic 2.4ghz radio system that certainly gets the job done. But controlling a 500 dollar truck with a cheap radio may not be the best option in the long run. If you do not have a computer radio yet, I would highly recommend the Futaba 4PLS radio combo. I personally use this radio and it has only been fantastic so far. You get all the bells and whistles of a computer system, plus being a 4 channel system means that you can add lights or other features controllable by a switch. You also will notice a much crisper response on the throttle and steering end, since the radio has a better resolution than the stock setup. Something else to consider is that you have much more control over how your vehicle will handle. Setting the endpoints and subtrim on the steering will help the Kraton track straighter, and take fully advantage of the full steering throw. The best part is that this investment can be used on many projects for years to come. The radio has 40 model memory, which makes it easy to change profiles on the fly for various vehicles.
DETAILS:
Manufacturer: Futaba
Part: Futaba 4PLS
Part Number: FUTK1410
Price: (2) $179.99
Link To Buy: http://amzn.to/2xJ74Jp
My main objective in highlighting hop-ups was to stress durability upgrade over everything else. The stock Kraton is an all out speed demon out of the box and anything that can increase the durability of the product is a big win in my book. With all this power on tap, it is equally important to have a reliable radio on hand, and the Futaba mates perfectly with the Kraton. Now go get bashing!
LINKS:
arrma-rc.com
rpmrcproducts.com
tboneracing.net
