Traxxas Summit New Truck

[TexasSP]

Originally Posted by RUSTY XL-5

Don't get me wrong, I love all of Traxxas' vehicles, I just wish they put more creativity into them. ;)

But how do you look at the summit and think "meh, there's no creativity there"? I think most of the features are spot on and very creative. No one has done anything quite like it before.

Keep in mind that from my standpoint this is all friendly discussion.

[skellyo]

Originally Posted by BrianG

On the other hand, from a company standpoint; if something works well, why not keep using it? No need to re-invent the wheel after all. Not to mention R&D and manufacturing costs are lower since many parts are recycled.

While the E-Revo may work well as a basher, it's not a crawler, nor trail truck. Adding in a low gear and locking diffs and trying to pass it off as such is just ridiculous. In this particular case, Traxxas really should have designed at least a mostly new vehicle to fit the intended purpose.

From the ad they had on the back of the special edition RCCA crawling mag, one would have expected at least some semblance of a crawler instead of this thing.

i have mixed feelings on this one

Def wont see this thing going competitive for sure!
but i really REALLY REALLY like the hi/lo rang transmission and locking differentials. I assume the 3 positions is LSD, rear lock, rear and front lock.

but i agree, i was really looking forward to traxxas coming out with a 4 link solid axle 1/8 scale monster....i guess the summit is more of a trail truck than a crawler

**runs to traxxas forum to see waht people think.....DOUGHHHHHHHHHHHHH......runs back screaming.**

i guess well have to wait and see what it can do...

[brushlessboy16]

wow, great concept but traxxas resuses old designs wayyyy too much... i think the crawler guys will really like the the locking diffs, i do

wonder how much power they can take

[Tempted]

It is a terrible truck with neat features. I would like the selectable lockers on my truck. But all this is a jacked up Revo with the two speed conversion and lower gears. If they wanted a crawler, take the Maxx truck, bolt some solid axles under it with those cool lockers and lift the heck out of it. I would prefer they just start from scratch but that will never happen. When is their last completely new truck? The Slayer is just a messy Revo, the Slash is just a tuned up Rusty, The E-Revo is cool, but its based on an old truck. Nothing new from Traxxas.

[crazyjr]

Originally Posted by jnev

Although this truck has very cool features, I wish Traxxas would build a whole new truck around these features (locking diffs, lights, exo cage, transmission, etc.). They are starting to turn into Losi with just redesigning an already built truck... Still have to say though that the features Traxxas thought of are VERY cool.

What do you mean "traxxas turning into Losi"? Traxxas has rehashed most of their current line more than Losi has, and for longer.

My opinion, I like the summit. I really don't do much for trail running and i don't do crawling, but i can appricate the engineering to bring it to market.

[JThiessen]

Anyone else notice the CV joints on the drive shafts! Definitley looking forward to those.

[RUSTY XL-5]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

But how do you look at the summit and think "meh, there's no creativity there"? I think most of the features are spot on and very creative. No one has done anything quite like it before.

Keep in mind that from my standpoint this is all friendly discussion.

I guess I wasn't specific enough. My bad.


When I meant more creativity, I meant not borrow and E-Revo chassis, Revo front and rear suspension set up, slap them all together, add a sprinkle of rock crawler friendly features. IMO the Summit is just a rock crawling capable E-Revo. I dont see it as a real crawler. I see a real crawler as a vehicle with tubular (or similar) chassis set-up and solid axle suspension (not independent).



I do LOVE the locking diffs though, VERY cool!

[kulangflow]

Traxxas says the Summit probably won't be released until February, but the Brushless E-Revo should be out in December.

[skellyo]

Originally Posted by kulangflow

Traxxas says the Summit probably won't be released until February

Traxxas isn't usually like that. They usually have the product available within 2 months of the release. Wonder why this one is different?

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by RUSTY XL-5

I guess I wasn't specific enough. My bad.


When I meant more creativity, I meant not borrow and E-Revo chassis, Revo front and rear suspension set up, slap them all together, add a sprinkle of rock crawler friendly features. IMO the Summit is just a rock crawling capable E-Revo. I dont see it as a real crawler. I see a real crawler as a vehicle with tubular (or similar) chassis set-up and solid axle suspension (not independent).



I do LOVE the locking diffs though, VERY cool!

I guess depending on how you read between the lines, to me they aren't marketing it as a full tilt crawler. They seem to be more pushing the line of dual purpose. Not a bad marketing strategy if you ask me. On the other hand, the revo suspension is arguably the best out there. It would be to their advantage to sell the crap out of it for the time that they hold exclusive rights to that patent.

[Arct1k]

I don't think they have a patent on the shock layout the DM1 uses the same setup...

[kraegar]

This is a tough one for me. I've been holding off on getting a crawler so I could see what Traxxas was coming out with.

I've already got an e-revo, and while some of the features such as the remote locking diff are cool, I can't see getting this to go along with my e-revo. Not enough difference to justify it. If I was just now getting into the market for an e-revo or a crawler, this would be great.

So I think I'm going to look into either an axial or the losi mrc. (probably an axial artr)

Though having the spare parts for an e-revo & the experience with one would make working on the summit easier, I think the learning about a whole new truck would be more fun.

- Tony

Originally Posted by kraegar

This is a tough one for me. I've been holding off on getting a crawler so I could see what Traxxas was coming out with.

I've already got an e-revo, and while some of the features such as the remote locking diff are cool, I can't see getting this to go along with my e-revo. Not enough difference to justify it. If I was just now getting into the market for an e-revo or a crawler, this would be great.

So I think I'm going to look into either an axial or the losi mrc. (probably an axial artr)

Though having the spare parts for an e-revo & the experience with one would make working on the summit easier, I think the learning about a whole new truck would be more fun.

- Tony

wow that what my Exact train of thought, i just finished my revo conversion, and was waiting to see what truck went with that magazine ad awhile back. A crawler is my next project too, unless something happens with tomorrows release I'm going Axial artr.

remote locking diff is sweet though, hope it can take our kind of power

[shizzon]

Originally Posted by RUSTY XL-5

I understand why a company comes out with a "better" version of the same truck over the years, but what I get tired of is a company using the same parts/platform for vehicle after vehicle. (the Summit is basically a rock crawler converted E-Revo, the Slayer is basically a "stubby" Revo, the Slash is basically a Rustler with a different chassis/body). Now, don't get me started on Losi.


Don't get me wrong, I love all of Traxxas' vehicles, I just wish they put more creativity into them. ;)

From a manufacturing point of view to developing a completely new platform is far more costly/time consuming then simply changing/tweaking an existing model. The change in tooling to occompany a completely new model (ie. developing new molds for the plastic parts and the many other processes in manufacturing that would have to be changed) would be very expensive, while making just a vew more molds to change an existling platform would be a much quicker and cost effective alternative. These two benefits will be passed on to the consumer in the time it takes to be released and the initial cost of the product.