Arrma Kraton VS Traxxas sledge. The good and bad of both. 

After owning both of these cars for a while now there are things that both cars lack and could definitely use improvement on but there is one that is a little more bother some due to the price
M2C racing link
m2cracing.net/
Swag and stickers link
inkmonkee.mysh...

[@mmmasterscross7915]

Thanks for sharing and caring for rest of us! Keep Bashing on !

[@stevensaid2200]

I agree, the price isn’t justified on the traxxas. Having the extra money left over to upgrade the Kraton will make it better in the end for the same price.

[@BarstoneRC]

That’s exactly how I feel

[@DashzRight]

How is that? The Sledge is 700$ and the outcast exb is 780$ in Spain, and the sledge is much better equipped stock… clipless body, super convenient battery tray, reinforced body…

[@stevensaid2200]

@@DashzRight Im not sure where you got outcast exb from. I was comparing the sledge to the kraton blx. Of course the exb is not worth it. Much better off going blx and putting the extra money into M2c upgrades.

[@darrellwright3105]

I agree with your whole video 100%. Your channel is always 100% honest. Thank you!👍

[@BarstoneRC]

Thank you man I appreciate that

[@davidconaway2830]

For those of us who drive their cars hard, but within reason, i.e. we choose not to send our plastic and light metal cars off of 20-50 foot jumps, I haven't had a single breakdown with my sledge and I'm about 50 6s runs into it. Is there room for improvement on the V1....sure. I love the power and durability from the standard electronics and motor and don't plan to change anything as how much power do you really need?? Is it too expensive.....sure......they all are.....but clearly that's not a factor for those of us who want to run these little beasts. I love to watch people beat the living snot out of their cars and appreciate all of the money and upgrades you guys are willing to shell out for good content. Again, love the videos and the content.

[@KevinFox-fj6mp]

1st generation of Traxxas standard (ish) truggy design. I believe the Kraton is now on V5. Traxxas is known for the design changes probably so the can patent it. I stayed far away from the Sledge as I never order a V1 of anything. Traxxas has their strong points but 6s truggy is not one of them. Arrma design is rock solid, easy to work on, and very reliable. Nice compare!

[@BarstoneRC]

Yeah I would have to agree with you I would just hope if they release another version that they would put the proper gears in this thing and no more monkey metal. Lol

[@jamiefox8670]

Would be cool if m2c could make some sort of hybrid chassis that you could have the best of both worlds from two different RC cars🤔 Great stuff!

[@GreatLakesRC]

Very fair to both cars. No RC is perfect and they all require upgrades when you send them to the moon 🚀

[@BarstoneRC]

Yeah I like them both obviously just trying to explain my beefs or issues with both lol

[@codenamethecleaner7519]

EXACTLY my argument when people talk smack about the kraton hyping up the sledge, I KNOW my Arrmas need parts but they’re 550$, it’s BS to be 850 after tax AND need those upgrades lol they have the NERVE😂

[@mikescallon4288]

I agree with everything you said regarding the Sledge. I owned 2 of them in fact. The first one experienced a critical systems error on my 3rd run with it. I ended up trading out of it and then foolishly decided to get another. I don't do a ton of bashing. Not many places around where I live. Just speed runs and offroad and long walks so I just look for durable, fast vechiles capable on all terrain. In order for me to like the vechile, it must have the ability to drive relatively smoothly at all speeds. The Traxxas Sledge was hands down the roughest, loudest and most least refined drivetrain I have driven so far. A cogging and surging machine even after I put in higher quality spur and pinion gears. What you mentioned makes sense in terms of the bad metal. It almost feels overgeared right out of the box. The Arrma Talion EXB. TYPHOON 6S are nice and refined. The Traxxas Maxx is also quite good. They got it really wrong with this vechile.

[@afronegro791]

Wow great review but I'm shocked. I literally just bought thus car but will be sending it back

[@BarstoneRC]

Thanks, every car definitely has its downfalls and they’re positive, but some are just worse than others. Lol.

[@rctezluh42069]

just converted each diff in my "new" exb kraton to "big shim mode" 😊 here goes!!! upvoted!!!!!!!

[@BarstoneRC]

Nice buddy thanks

[@gatorjackrc3965]

My first red flag with the Sledge was plastic shock caps on a $800 rig and then I waited a couple of weeks not even that and people were breaking Center differential teeth and I was like Whoa man

[@BarstoneRC]

Yeah there was definitely things that should’ve made a lot better out of the box for the price

[@jeremycravens6973]

I don't even consider traxxas gears metal anymore! I'd rather have paper arms and real metal gears for 800$! Traxxas is on some bullshit! And yet they sell a beautiful set of gears as a upgrade! Should have come in the sledge stock! And plastic shock caps for 800$, really. But sell aluminum caps for 50$! Traxxas has become shady!

[@BarstoneRC]

That’s exactly it it should’ve came with those stock

[@islandrc-duke1972]

great comparisons and video

[@chadbiermann3380]

As I've never owned either of these RC cars yet I'm glad to hear your honest opinion about both. For me I would go with the Arrma and upgrade as needed, and still be under the Traxxis "Entry level price!! 💯💯😉

[@BarstoneRC]

Yeah The price difference makes it easier to upgrade if needed on the Arrma

[@richduperbash2966]

Great upload Brother David 🤗. Agree 100% with your take on these 2 rigs. Traxxas completely exaggerated the durability of the Sledge. 800$ for monkey metal is a serious letdown. The motor mount design was a complete failure 😝. Thank goodness for M2C Racing and other aftermarkets. It's just nuts how much extra investment is required to make this truck truly durable. Everyone has a budget or spending comfort zone and vids like this gets people thinking 👍. If I had to choose what was on your bench, I'd be grabbing that beautiful Kraton XL hands down 😍🚀🚀😎💪👊👊

[@BarstoneRC]

Absolutely Rich I’ll tell you what if it wasn’t for M2C This car had many cars would be in bad shape. Thanks for watching brother

[@KurtsRCs]

Ya I’ll stick with Arrma in the 1/8 department. Seen to many people have a lot of issues with the Traxxas

[@BarstoneRC]

The drivetrain is just garbage in the metal they used

[@SpeedSyko]

Oh no, I have a lot to say in this subject! I agree on everything your saying. I need to do an xmaxx rant video. I was also disappointed with the sledge quality. Have fun! 👊🤘🍻 Team B&T!

[@BeauchMane]

Once upgraded, the sledge drivetrain is superior! Bigger gears and bearings, this is how I see it 🤷

[@BarstoneRC]

Once upgraded yes but that’s my point for $800 it should’ve already had that

[@BeauchMane]

@@BarstoneRC yeah I understand your point! Well... rcs hahaha 😅 love the channel by the way 💪🔥

[@BarstoneRC]

I appreciate you watching buddy but yes all cars need upgrades and modifications I just wish this one didn’t cost so much from the start

[@eiriknielsen3011]

I got a prretty simular sledge to u, same set up with m2c and max6. I noticed that there is NO car on the market that dont break. The manufactures makes this cars weak in some points so we must buy "upgrades" or replacements. This is how they make money. Good for a company like m2c. When i buy a new car now, all i do is buy a beekcake kit to it and replace all electronics. Whats left of the car after all the changes. Maby 20%, the rest is m2c, vitavon, GPM, hobbywing or maby castle. Not much left of what came out of the box. Kinda sad i think. Why not make a car that has all these upgrades in the beginning. Money, money money

[@BarstoneRC]

I know man I wish they would just start making a certain line that has all of this done. What part of the front of a hobby is building and making it how you want but it does cost money for sure.

[@eiriknielsen3011]

@@BarstoneRC if m2c and hobbywing could go together and make rc cars it would rip! Haha:)

[@victorevan7893]

I have a sledge and I jump it below freezing Temps and not just little jumps I'm bashing this rig, no issue with front or rear diffs, my issue were hinge pins breaking and one shock cap so far.

[@BarstoneRC]

I was having a lot of issues with the rear differential. It’s been being OK over the last few runs but yeah, the stock hinge pins do snap very easy.

[@victorevan7893]

@Bars&tone RC I got m2c outer hinge pins, but inner hinge I bought xmax hinge pins, and cut to size, no more brital inner pins , easy upgrade to do.

[@zachyurkus]

Damn that orange looks good

[@Awakendabeast13]

Krayton all the way....great vid

[@BarstoneRC]

Thanks man.

[@isaackshirley4695]

On that kraton is that the v2 4s kraton wing

[@davidbegeotsr4025]

I bet you didn't have any trouble with the gears in the techno kit that you bought and put together huh

[@BarstoneRC]

Nope that thing has been solid as a rock

[@hellofromsoutheastalaskarc7517]

Hello from southeast alaska I hope your day is going well bro

[@BarstoneRC]

Things are good buddy hope your day is going well also.

[@hellofromsoutheastalaskarc7517]

@@BarstoneRC it's been good so far. Just starting my day. It's only 7 am here

[@clairecooper3848]

Ain’t that the truth - Great vid 🤛

[@GuyonaMoose]

Man gotta say I’m not suprised. I had multiple nitro revos years ago. Emaxxs rustlers stampedes. I’ve ran them all. They’ve always left me disappointed one time or another. Been playing with my typhon now for almost two years and flogged hard. Cant say I’ve ever walked it home disappointed like I have been with trx stuff.

[@BarstoneRC]

Yeah I Traxxas comes up with some good ideas and ways of doing things but their overall price and quality sometimes just really misses the mark

[@tiffinhappy9744]

My next one will be Sledge. They price dropped and I dont send mine twenty feet high sohopefully should be fine

[@BarstoneRC]

They’re pretty durable car all at all but the differentials can’t be an issue

[@kaiarneberg9203]

Actually have the stock servo in my talion still 😄 damn that cars takes a beating!! No problem bashing it! Have alu knuckles/hubs though 😊

[@BarstoneRC]

Yeah the front knuckles are a definite necessity for all of the 6s cars

[@GarageLifeRC]

Nice man.

[@3689enlighten.RC.]

💯

[@kirkleaman6863]

Is m2c racing going to make gears and diff cases?

[@BarstoneRC]

Not as of right now

[@blacksheeprc8113]

Yeah Traxxas has me upset with the x-maxx it's the same thing the bulkheads or the differential housing start stretching and you start tearing up gears same thing

[@BarstoneRC]

Yeah that definitely gets very irritating

[@DashzRight]

Thanks for the comparison, quite useful, I have the sledge already and was looking for an even more aerobatic car, I like to jump the car a lot, my question is: do you have the outcast? If so, is the suspension stiffer or softer than the sledge? The sledge has an insanely good tuned shocks, they soak jumps like a mattress, outcast looks like it has more suspension travel but I can’t know how good it is compared to the sledge. 👌🏼

[@BarstoneRC]

I did have one, but I recently sold it. The suspension works pretty good on it. The sledge is a little softer, though.

[@DashzRight]

@@BarstoneRC alright, thanks for the feedback

[@mehurricane]

I’m wondering if Traxxas will have a price adjustment like they did with the Drag Slash. ($499 to $299) If it was closer to $600 it would probably make more sense and be more competitive. The problem is that they have a number of other bashers to fit in with price wise, not so much with the drag slash. With the Hot racing diff case, I am guessing that your still using the stock gear cover and sway bar cover with the metal case right? Hurricane

[@BarstoneRC]

Yeah the price range of this car should’ve been around 600 or $650

[@backlashD]

What the heck are you doing to your bodies? I have an old Brushless edition E Revo with 2.0 diffs that still has the body it came with. It has scars, but it's still fine. Maybe it's the show goo.

[@BarstoneRC]

It’s always the big jumps, the ramp bashes or the big jumpstart at the motocross track. The sheer impact on landing just cracks them.

[@christiansrcs7789]

if i ever get a kraton ima run it only on 4s that way i'm not putting so much stress on the gears and everything that's what traxxas probably did i don't like the slege but i love my stampede 2wd 😂

[@jug6736]

Hey Bars! Love your content!! GPM does the aluminum diff cases for around 60$.

[@BarstoneRC]

For the sledge???? I didn’t know that

[@jug6736]

Yep for the sledge and also rear chassis braces.

[@onemansvideos2134]

why not mount a limitless front body mount to that sledge rear body post in the center 🤔

[@BarstoneRC]

Yeah I’m going to go down today and see if I can figure out something to put together for this

[@onemansvideos2134]

@@BarstoneRC like drill a hole in the post of the body mount and then drill a hole in the thing for the clip less then mount it to it...wish I had a sledge so I could try it and post a video of the mod

[@jamiefox8670]

Will any of the exb bumpers fit the TLR Typhon?

[@BarstoneRC]

I don’t think so different set up

[@NBRC]

how about the treal housings ? those are half the price from vitavon

[@BarstoneRC]

Do you know what I never even looked at those.

[@NBRC]

@@BarstoneRC maybe it's a better deal ... I was looking at them to for a Future build ... You get 2 housings from Treal for the price of 1 Vitavon ... 🤷

[@jebrc]

If ya wanna sell the used up sledgehammers lmk id be interested and any 17mm wheels if ya wanna sell any lol i just cant afford to go get new ones eitherway thanks dj

[@BarstoneRC]

I’m gonna go through all my tires here sometime this week I’ll let you know what I have

[@jebrc]

@@BarstoneRC awesome ill send ya a message on messenger so its not all on here lol

[@kingkeif2406]

Question: has anyone tried m2c chassis and a basher bar?

[@BarstoneRC]

You mean the bash bar that goes under the chassis? I don’t really think it’s necessary once you put one of their chassis on.

[@kingkeif2406]

@@BarstoneRC thank you for reaponding. I was just wondering after seeing what happened to your kraton xl.

[@BarstoneRC]

That was a very not normal thing lol

[@MrtipRC]

About 4k investment in both rigs ?

[@BarstoneRC]

No not there yet

[@MrtipRC]

So Xmaxx or Sledge ? I'm in Chicago and winter is coming 😏

[@BarstoneRC]

The X max is definitely a lot of fun in the snow

[@MrtipRC]

@@BarstoneRC I'm going to grab the xmaxx looks like I won't have to invest as much money into it and I appreciate your honest opinion and reviews

[@ekimyhael9964]

Dam

[@mariolupo8990]

In italia il kraton costa 700€ e lo sledge 759 € per soli 59€ molto meglio lo sledge il confronto da stock e da fare in base a dove vivi e semplicemente soggettiva la cosa forse dove sei tu sara cosi ma in europa traxxas tt la vita

[@BarstoneRC]

That’s interesting. The prices are that close over there because I have noticed in Europe a lot of people like running Traxxas.

[@mariolupo8990]

@@BarstoneRC non e che ci piace più traxxas rispetto arrma semplicemente si trovano molti più ricambi di traxxas e molti più aggiornamenti e sinceramente se valutati da stock penso che sledge sia superiore a kraton nonostante non abbia alcune cose da semplicemente molto più feeling nel guidarlo

[@creaturerc]

Traxxas sucks sell it