Traxxas TRX-4M Ford Bronco 1/18 Trail Crawler (Area-51)

The Traxxas TRX-4M Ford Bronco is a 1/18 scale trail crawler built on the TRX-4M platform. Traxxas rates it skill level 1, which suits beginners.

Licensed Bronco body

The body is an officially licensed Ford Bronco with a clipless design. It is a highly detailed ABS hard body, and the molded-in color won't chip or flake. The body has tough fender flares and rock sliders, plus realistic side mirrors, door handles, and wipers. LED bumper lights are also fitted. Heavy-duty latching clips hold the body tightly on the trail and release in just seconds.

Frame and driveline

The chassis is a heavy-duty steel ladder frame with a deep C-channel design. A thicker center section gives it maximum rigidity. The rails run from bumper to bumper.

Power goes through full-time shaft-driven 4-wheel drive, with solid steel axles. Both the front and rear axles use a locked spool differential. The driveline also uses heavy-duty CV center driveshafts. The transmission is a single speed direct drive with an internal gear ratio of 11.38 and 64 pitch gears. Low-maintenance self-lubricating bushings and durable hex hardware round out the build.

The low-CG battery tray concentrates weight lower for improved stability. A wide rubber strap secures the battery in place. The battery compartment measures 51 mm long and 31 mm wide.

Steering, suspension and tires

A heavy-duty 2065T steering servo with a metal main gear handles the steering. Steering is direct, with no servo saver, and reaches a superior 45° steering angle. The suspension is a triangulated 4 link setup front and rear, with heavy-duty rod ends.

Oil-filled GTM™ shocks provide smooth controlled damping and realistic driving body movements. The shocks have adjustable pre-load spacers and are easily refreshed with available rebuild kits. The wheels use a 7 mm hex. Replica BF-Goodrich® Mud Terrain T/A® KM3 tires wrap them, using a trail-tuned rubber compound.

Motor

The truck runs on a Titan® 180, an 87-turn brushed electric motor. The motor weighs 1.16 ounces (33 g) and measures 1.66 inches (42 mm) long. The diameter is .81 inches (21 mm). The fixed gear mesh doesn't require adjustment. A forward mounting position improves crawling dynamics.

Electronics and radio

The ECM 2.5™ electronic control module is a brushed type that is fully waterproof for all-weather fun. It incorporates ESC, receiver, and LED controller in one chassis. The case measures 1.79 inches (45 mm) x 1.26 inches (32 mm) x 0.6 inches (15 mm). It weighs .92 ounces (26 g).

Three drive profiles are available:

• Sport Mode: forward / brake / reverse
• Trail Mode: forward / brake / reverse, with a trail-tuned drag brake in neutral
• Crawl Mode: forward / instant reverse, no neutral, with 100% hill holding brake

The truck also has Traxxas EZ-Set® one-button setup and built-in Pro Scale® LED functionality. Two stage low voltage protection (LVD) and motor overload protection are built in.

The radio system is a full-size TQ 2.4 GHz 2-channel transmitter. The transmitter gives all-day comfort with precise long-range control.

Size and weight

The truck measures:

• Weight: 1.03 pounds (468 g)
• Length: 10.3 inches (262 mm)
• Width: 4.9 inches (124 mm)
• Front track: 4.9 inches (124 mm)
• Rear track: 4.9 inches (124 mm)
• Height: 4.6 inches (117 mm)
• Wheelbase: 6.1 inches (155 mm)
• Center ground clearance: 1.12 inches (29 mm)

Battery and charger included

A battery and a charger come in the box. The battery is a high-capacity 2-cell LiPo with iD®, rated 7.4 volts. At 750 mAh, it gives over an hour of run time. The charger is a 2-amp USB-powered unit. iD® technology makes charging faster and safer.

Optional upgrades

Optional Low Range or Speed Gearing transmissions are sold separately. The modular transmission design swaps out in minutes.