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The ready-to-run Axial SCX10 III rock crawler comes out of the box not only with great off-road performance, but also well-built and well-equipped. This makes it possible to successfully hit the trails as soon as a battery is charged and installed in the chassis. People will drive this crawler like crazy and rack up numerous runs in its stock form. Like with any RC vehicle, it will start to show signs of wear and end up looking quite tired. When a vehicle gets to this point, it does not necessarily mean it needs to be put aside and get a brand new crawler. Instead, revamp well used Axial SCX10 II to be like new again.
Acting as a type of a guide, use this article as a leaping off point to give you solid ideas of what can be done with a well-loved Axial SCX10 III rock crawler. We are featuring the Axial Jeep JLU Wrangler 4×4 SCX10 III crawler and giving examples of a new body, new wheels and tires, new motor system, new battery and new shocks. These items will make the Jeep JLU like new and even better than stock. These suggestions can be applied to other RC vehicles as well, just be sure to keep in mind the specifications of the stock vehicle you are working on so that you select products that will fit and properly work with existing electronics and components.
NEW BODY
Pro-Line 1966 Chevrolet C-10 clear body—Item #PRO348300
After numerous runs with a rock crawler, the body will inevitably get its fair share of battle scars and will look beat up. Replacing the stock body is an instant way to get a crawler like the Axial Jeep JLU Wrangler 4×4 SCX10 III looking like new again, but remember that you shouldn’t stop here. Keep going forward and make some of the other suggested changes shown below that will boost performance.
Here we grabbed the great-looking old school Pro-Line 1966 Chevrolet C-10 clear body. We are drawn to the classic scale styling that Pro-Line built into this aftermarket body and is a nice change over the stock Wrangler body. An added benefit of this particular Pro-Line body is its two part design where the cab and bed are molded separately. This gives you the flexibility to just use the cab and add your own custom bed or an aftermarket cage rear end. In order for Pro-Line to achieve the same looks as the 1:1 1966 Chevy C-10, the body was carefully sculpted with undercut detail made possibly by Pro-Line’s special molding technology. This is how this body looks as good as it does. Included along with the two molded body parts is a detail sticker sheet, window mask and overspray film.
NEW WHEELS AND TIRES
Pro-Line Hyrax G8 mounted crawler tires—Item #PRO1012813
Like the upgrade to an aftermarket body, new wheels and tires will change the look of your SCX10 II crawler and give you a possible improvement in performance. So selecting a quality wheel/tire package can make a big difference out on the rocks. This is why we went with the proven Pro-Line Hyrax G8 1.9” crawler tires. This specific tire package comes with the Hyrax G8 tires already mounted on the tough-looking Pro-Line Impulse Back/Silver internal bead-loc wheels. Performance and scale style in one package that is quick and easy to get installed onto your rig.
Sold in pairs, these Hyrax tires were designed for maximum grip on the harshest of terrain and come molded in Pro-Line’s legendary G8 material. Pro-Line gave these tires an aggressive and open tread pattern with each tread block containing multiple sipes for awesome tread flex. They even went so far to make sure side-hilling would be improved by highly detailed connected tread on the sidewall. If you look closely, you will see stepped tread blocks for more forward gripping edges. This will give your crawler the advantage where these tread blocks with dig into slick rock.
Coming back to the Impulse wheels, Pro-Line gave them a great scale look and made them to be easy to use by only requiring six screws per wheel to securely mount the Hyrax tires. A unique three-piece wheel design bolts together from the rear and locks onto the tires.
NEW MOTOR SYSTEM
Spektrum Firma 60A Brushless Smart ESC Sensored Motor Crawler Combo—Item #SPMXSEMC09
Stepping up to a complete motor system changeover can be a bit spendy, but if you choose wisely it will be 100-percent worth the money and time. A brushless motor system like the Spektrum Firma 60A Brushless Smart ESC sensored motor crawler combo is a great choice for the Axial Jeep JLU Wrangler 4×4 SCX10 III crawler since it is specifically engineered for use with 1/10-scale crawlers and scale trucks.
The star of this system is the Spektrum Firma 60A brushless Smart ESC that offers loads of options so that you can get the most out of your crawler. The Firma ESC functions like a virtual engineer inside your crawler, thus giving you the crucial operating data to dial in the exact type of performance you want. You can either use the Smart ESC Programing Box or a properly equipped Spektrum radio system to access all the telemetry and make programming changes.
With a compact design, it is ideal for easy installation in most 1/10-scale crawler applications not to mention easy connection with no soldering required. The sensor wire is waterproof with locking plug and gasket, an aluminum heat sink keeps the ESC running at high efficiency, an optional cooling fan is included and it is equipped with an adjustable high-power BEC.
The muscle behind the Spektrum Firma 60A Brushless Smart ESC sensored motor crawler combo is the potent and reliable Spektrum 2800Kv 540L sized sensored brushless motor. Perfect for crawler duties thanks to its hardened steel 1/8” shaft and waterproof sensor port connector. As a combo, you will gain pro-level drag brake adjustment, intelligent speed and torque control for unmatched precision between your throttle input and the motor’s RPM. You will find that your crawler will respond much better to you inputs at the transmitter and be able to smoothly negotiate tough obstacles.
NEW BATTERY
Spektrum 11.1V 5000mAh 3S 100C Smart G2 Hardcase LiPo battery—Item #SPMX53S100H3
Rechargeable batteries have a finite number of cycles until they stop working as well as they did when they were new. It is wise to pick up a brand new battery like this Spektrum 11.1V 5000mAh 3S 100C Smart LiPo battery pack when overhauling a rock crawler that has seen a lot of trail time. This specific Spektrum LiPo battery pack will drop right in to the Axial SCX10 III rock crawler and even comes with the correct IC3 plug that will plug into the stock speed control.
Notice this pack features a 100C continuous discharge rating for high performance and longevity. Additionally it comes with Spektrum Smart G2 technology which makes it even easier to balance charge. Only a single connection is needed to charge and no separate balance lead is required. When it comes to discharging this LiPo to a storage voltage, the Spektrum Smart G2 will automatically discharge it to a safe storage voltage after 72-hours of inactivity.
A key to benefitting everything this battery pack has to offer is to use a Spektrum Smart charger. When this Smart G2 LiPo battery pack is connected to a Smart charger, its unique charging parameters and health information upload to the charger from the battery’s integrated memory microchip. Then you can view and set preferences through the charger like charge rates. The Smart technology will handle many of the tasks that you used to need to pay attention too.
NEW OIL-FILLED SHOCKS
Pro-Line Pro-Spec Scaler Shocks for crawlers—Item #PRO631602
Swapping out the stock shocks off the Axial SCX10 III is not an essential change when revamping a well-used vehicle. That is, unless you have found the suspension not to be working as well as it did when the truck was new or you simply want to add a visual change onto the chassis. A great choice is the Pro-Line Pro-Spec Scaler shocks for crawlers that work great on the rocks and look cool with the bright chrome and blue anodizing.
The Pro-Line Pro-Spec Scaler shocks are sold in pairs and come out of the packaging nearly fully assembled and require the shock oil of your choice to be added. Once you get them in your hands, you will appreciate the beautifully machined shock caps, shock collars, bodies and bottom caps. In order to make the shocks operate as smoothly as possible with low friction and no leaks, Pro-Line manufactured these shocks with exacting tolerances and utilized hard chrome coated steel shock shafts and X-Ring seals. Rounding out this shock package are realistic looking and performing dual rate single springs. At the bottom of the shocks are captured spring perches so you will know that they will stay in place.
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