Battle of the Mini Crawlers - Traxxas TRX4M vs FMS FCX24 - Which One Is Better?

Thinking about buying the Traxxas TRX4-M or FMS FCX24 and can't decide which one to get, hopefully this video will help you decide. We're comparing the Traxxas TRX4-M Defender and the FMX FCX24 K5 Blazer.
They're both ready to run mini crawlers and both hard bodies. Let's see how they compare and which one is better straight out of the box.
Buy the FMS FCX24 K5 Blazer Here: www.fmshobby.c...
FCX24 K5 Review Here: • Better Than a Traxxas ...
TRX4M Review Here: • The BEST Mini Crawler?...
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[Specification]
Body - Land Rover Defender 110
Chassis - Traxxas TRX4-M
ESC - Traxxas ECM 2.5 All-in-one ESC & Receiver
Motor - Traxxas Titan 180 87T Brushed Motor
Remote Control System - Traxxas TQ 2.4Ghz
Servo - Traxxas Axle Mounted Servo 2065T
Tires - Traxxas Canyon Trail 57 x 25.4mm
Battery - Traxxas 750Mah 2S 20C Lipo Battery
Body - Chevrolet K5 Blazer
Chassis - FMS FCX24
ESC - All-in-one 40amp ESC & Receiver
Motor - 130 Size Brushed Motor
Remote Control System - FMS 3 Channel 2.4Ghz
Servo - FMS 13g Metal Geared Servo
Tires - Cooper Discoverer
Battery - FMS 7.4v 2S 5C Lipo Battery Pack
My videos are the adventures of rc cars off road, rc cars drifting, racing and bashing and rc trucks in the mud, on rocks, in the sand and water!
On my channel you will see reviews, drifting, bashing, mud and off road test drives of rc cars like - Traxxas TRX4, Traxxas TRX6, Traxxas TRX4M, Redcat Gen8 V2 Scout II, Arrma Outcast, Arrma Mojave, Tamiya Pajero, Tamiya CC01, Land Rover Defender, FTX Outback Hi-Rock, RGT EX86110, FTX Geo, RGT EX86120, FTX Outback 3, RGT Rock Cruiser, Axial SCX24, Carisma SCA1E, WPL C24, WPL C24-1, FMS FCX24...
If you like speed racing, drifting, bashing, off road jumping, you`ll enjoy the reviews and test drives of rc cars 4x4: buggy, truggy, monster trucks, short courses by Traxxas, Arrma, FTX and others.
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#traxxas #trx4m #fms #fcx24 #minicrawler #microcrawler #minirc

[@johnniechang9200]

The most honest review on the KZbin.

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much 👍

[@Sparroh]

Yeah I follow this guy for buying advice for sure.

[@modelcarjedi]

I wanted to build a 100+ mph car. Found that to be boring. Discovered trail trucks /rock crawler and fell in love with the hobby again

[@DoURC]

I love speed, but there's just something about crawlers that's just great fun. Plus I love that it gets me outside in the woods etc, it's a win win in my eyes. Plus I love Mud! 🤣👍

[@RobertLee-oy5cg]

Same experience here. Love these new micro crawlers!

[@nataliegregsamarge6449]

This video was FANTASTIC! Loved the detailed comparison but the part with the boy driving as I’m looking for something for my kids to run as well and this was extremely informative. Truly, wonderful work my friend!

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much, appreciate it and glad you found it helpful. 👍 My son really enjoyed driving them and I was well chuffed he wanted to help out. 👍 Hope your kids enjoy their RC'S, great hobby for them to get into. 👍

[@adamskirc]

Thanks for the video. I'm glad that I have chosen k5 Blazer over trx4m Thumbs up for your assistant 👍

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much mate. 👍 Think I'm going to swap the gearing on my trx4m, hopefully make it much smoother then. 👍

[@adamskirc]

@@DoURC hopefully that will help, but it would be hard to win with 2 speed transmission in K5

[@johnnyhotshoe1292]

I oil filled my k5 blazers shocks and added some beadlock wheels with proline super swampers and it is amazing. I am loving fms!

[@DoURC]

Excellent, glad you're enjoying it. I can't wait to see what it's like with oil filled shocks. I've got some brass for it too ready to go on. 👍

[@camilojv82]

You got me at the little one giving the real review!! I’m looking for a crawler for my kiddo and I can just picture him being at honest as yours! Thumbs up!! New subscriber :)

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much 👍 🤣 Yeah he's a little dude and just gave his honest opinion. Hope your kid enjoys it. 👍😎

[@MyCBCMedia]

Agreed, best part from a highly intelligent and articulate young RC expert! Subbed and ordered a V2 Smasher FCX24

[@DaddestOutlaw]

After owning and upgrading both trx4m's and fcx24's with my kids I have to give the nod to traxxas! The only downside to the trx4m is the gearing and lack of bearings, Both of those are easy fixes and create an impressive driving rig with near endless upgradability. Fcx24 does have better gearing out of the box and the 2 speed trans is so fun. IMO the design and engineering used in the production of the fcx24 holds it back in so many ways. The single piece molded plastic chassis and shock towers combined with the double ball joint mounting situation for the shocks and links on the axle housings make upgrades more difficult than it needs to be. If it was a perfect world the trx4m would have a 2 speed trans and the fcx24 would have been built with a multi peice chassis and axle housing's with seperate mounting brackets for standard links and shock style ball joints.

[@DoURC]

That's awesome feedback, thanks very much. I'm really hoping the TRX4M does get better, as at the moment, its been my least favourite mini crawler to use. You would hope that ultimately it would be better, as its from Traxxas. I love my tenth scale TRX4, its a beast. I think the next upgrade I need to do for the TRX4M is the gearing, as stock the slow speed is driving me nuts! 🤣👍

[@mikeeklund18]

how many pages do i have to flip thru for the traxxas excuses..ill shut up before they sue me

[@DoURC]

@mikeeklund18 🤣 It's still a great rig, but the point of these comparisons is rtr vs rtr and imo the FCX24 is better out the box. 👍 With oil filled shocks and heavier wheels the FCX24 is even better. 👍

[@The_RC_Family]

Thumbs up for the small human! Looks like the Blazer is a better choice over the TRX4m (quite surprised)

[@DoURC]

🤣 Thanks very much, he did great didn't he. 👍😁 Yeah same here, just goes to show other companies are pushing the boundaries and doing a better job. 👍

[@ezekielmcginn9706]

Nice video, I like my trx4m but in my humble opinion, the fcx24 just blows it out of the water. Particularly from a value standpoint, in the state they are pretty similarly priced. You just get so much more out of the box. And no proprietary battery junk to work about. Your little one did an excellent job too 🤘

[@DoURC]

Totally agree, the fcx24 is so much better value for money, plus out the box it just performs better. 👍 Thanks very much, that made my day him coming out to have a go. Always nice when you can get the kids involved. 👍

[@ghostinng274]

I think I made the right choice with the fms. Could probably use some wheel weights or softer tires, but right out if the box it looks really good.

[@DoURC]

Yeah, it's a great mini crawler and great value for money. 👍 I think oil filled shocks and some wheel weights would go a long way. 👍

[@johnnyhotshoe1292]

You need the trx4m low range crawling gears, mine was the same. It whined until 60% throttle then would lunge forward. The gears fixed that but man is it slow to run between obstacles

[@DoURC]

I think that's where it needs that 2 speed isn't it. With the big motor, it would be awesome with a 2 speed and then you'd get the best of both worlds. 👍 I've ordered the crawling gears so looking forward to trying them. 👍

[@GARYU-S44]

All the recent mini crawlers are excellent👍🎶😁

[@DoURC]

They're getting better and better aren't they. 👍

[@GARYU-S44]

@@DoURC 👍😁

[@mikeyfourbarrel8473]

Great job with this comparison. Very helpful! The little guy did an awesome job too. What a cool kid!

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much 👍 🤣 Thanks very much, he's my little dude. 😁😎

[@EDP_every_day_pyro]

Damn, I'm just looking to get into rc to see if I like it as a hobby and I was about to buy the Traxxas but I'm so glad I watched this cause the throttle control alone sold me on the other one. Plus I like the smaller controller better. And it looks like it's much faster with that 2 gear transmission. And I wanted the blazer body but didn't realize this option existed. I'm getting the fcx24

[@DoURC]

Glad the video helped. The TRX4M is still a really good rig. I think the FCX24 is better suited to slow rock crawling, whereas the TRX4M is better suited to a trail truck out the box. I've got running videos of both rigs on my channel too if you check out my crawling and trailing playlist, if you want to see them out trailing. 👍

[@yourtubisfilled7164]

You are so right in that Traxxas body critique. I can't fathom why they opted for a licensed body, translated it to a pretty good (but not perfect) shape and then opted for the most cheap, unrealistic looking plastic and in the most unrealistic colours they could find ... They had a potential super hit on their hands. It really defies all reason.

[@DoURC]

Yeah it's such a shame, as it does kind of spoil it tbh. The colour and body on the tenth scale TRX4 is so much nicer. I've covered mine in stickers, accessories and dirt now so it looks better! 🤣👍

[@Griffin283]

They could’ve had a potential “super hit” as if the TRX4M isn’t the reason mini crawlers are so popular lmao

[@DoURC]

@Griffin283 Tbh I think the SCX24 really started getting the mini market moving. Even if the TRX4M is very popular, there's certainly much better mini's out the box. 👍 I think the other problem with the TRX4M is due to some of its design issues, you'll end up spending more money upgrading it, to get it to a level of another mini, which you could just do some simple mods too. Just my 2p. 👍

[@yourtubisfilled7164]

@@Griffin283 I'm sure they sold really well. But they could have sold much better and continue to sell much better. Next to the body looks they have some catching up to do with the competition in some other crucial aspects too. At least that is the general consensus I get from most of the crawler youtube community.

[@Griffin283]

@@yourtubisfilled7164 I really don’t think there was a single person that was considering buying a 4M and didn’t because the body “wasn’t realistic enough”… it’s a $150 micro crawler lmao. And at the time of its release they were miles clear of the competition. It isn’t until very recently that people started releasing RTR comp crawlers.. which isn’t what the TRX4M was designed for.

[@NWrcadventures]

Both rigs are super solid but i give the edge to the blazer because of the 2spd trans and the portals also u dont need a ton of mods to get it to climb well like the trx4m defender particularly mines got alot brass on it and it definitely helps but yeah more invested needed on the defender than the blazer all i did was add oil to the stock shocksand just added some brass rings in the wheels and it climbs beautifuly the low speed modulation is awesome definitely on another level and u dont have to change gears to get that crawling ability like u do with the trx4m!

[@DoURC]

Totally agree. 👍🙏 I haven't modded mine yet, but you can just see the difference in the platforms. The slow speed control on the k5 is brilliant. I think if the trx4m had come with a 2 speed it would have been soooo much better. Really looking forward to seeing what the k5 is like with oil filled shocks. 👍

[@monstermaxsrcs5893]

Very nice also choose the k5 blazer

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much 👍 Yeah it's definitely better and better value for money out the box imo. 👍

[@ron486]

Well, I have them both. Fms is bouncy, toy like. The electronics, I already had to replace the steering servo in it. The Traxxas in my opinion drives more like a 1/10 scale rig. Seemed more planted and just has a better feel to it.

[@DoURC]

They both have their pros and cons. My FCX24 has been fine so far, even after running it in mud and water. It is a shame the shocks don't come oil filled, it's dead easy to do though and makes such a difference. 👍 I really like the TRX4M too, it's just a shame it came over geared and doesn't have as many features as the FCX24. Value for money I'd say the FCX24 is better imo. 👍 I'm a Traxxas fan not a hater, I love my TRX4 and TRX6, awesome rigs. The TRX4M to me just felt a little bit of a let down, they could have made it so much better rtr. 👍

[@RobertoOrtis]

Yeah the trx4m is way better all around.

[@altaga66]

The TRX4 comes stock with trail-making gears. To do crawling you would need the low range gears and it becomes a perfect machine, the torque and low speed are very good

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much 👍 I know you can get the gears, think I mentioned it in the video, or my review video. In this video I'm really comparing them rtr out the box. They both have pros and cons out the box. But imo the K5 is better value for money. I oil filled my K5's shocks the other day and it's soooo much nicer now. Only other thing about the K5 that bugs me is how noisey it is. In the UK the TRX4M is £180, which is close to $200, for that price, its a shame they didn't add more features out the box. Both great mini crawlers though. 👍

[@mikeeklund18]

what does trail making gears mean? you have to be on a flat surface or something.,whats the use?,buy a tarmac car then

[@DoURC]

@mikeeklund18 He means it's designed for trailing, as in trailing through woods etc, where the slow speed control doesn't matter so much. But tbh even trailing I found the stock gearing annoying, as it gets stuck on obstacles all the time. What it needed was a 2 speed and then low range gears imo. 👍

[@Kikot79]

Your boy is so cute! Congrats!! He reminds me my own child that is younger, 3 yo, but is similar fisically and the personality too. Lovely!

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much, he is a cutey 👍😁😍

[@naviventures5732]

You got a smart kid 🤘

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much, he's a cool little dude. 👍😁 I think he's a pretty good driver tbf too, was well chuffed when he came outside to join me. 👍😁

[@HobbyQueenRc]

I dare you to strap one to each foot like roller skates

[@DoURC]

🤣🤣🤣 Problem is my legs would be going at different speeds...plus I can't roller skate! 🤣🤦

[@theLyzhendricks]

I have them both and my fcx24 is fully upgraded and dose wheelies in high gear and my trx4m is stock and it's a decent truck stock but lacks tour and has binding in the steering

[@DoURC]

Yeah, FCX24 is definitely the better rtr imo. 👍

[@SebastienMongecadet-rq8vq]

Merci pour cette vidéo 📼 👍🔝👍

[@DoURC]

You're welcome, thank you for watching and commenting. 👍

[@RobertoOrtis]

It looks like the trx4m has it way easier than the fcx24 I just went and bought two trx4m. Thanks for the video

[@DoURC]

No problem, hope it helped. 👍 I prefer the FCX24 tbh, especially the newer Unimog 👍

[@RobertoOrtis]

@@DoURC I have to check that one out. I am planning on upgrading the trx4m with a furitek brushless motor (cedar) but it’s expensive!

[@DoURC]

@RobertoOrtis Yeah they're great motors though. In the meantime you could fit the low range gears for better slow speed control, it will be slower overall though. 👍

[@rcjoe406]

My trx4m bronco is all loaded up with injora and a muse carbon chassis its my favorite daily driver..maybe if my doug didn't sound so angry in the transmission when crawling lol

[@DoURC]

Sounds very nice. 👍 I'm looking forward to trying the trx4m with slower gearing and some upgrades. 👍

[@rcjoe406]

@@DoURC the slow gears and a 48t pro motor is perfect

[@DoURC]

@@rcjoe406 Thanks very much, I'll take a look at the motor too, as I don't want it to be too slow! 🤣👍

[@Glokens]

My trx4m was a bit jumpy as well. I put the crawlers gears and it was better but still had a lot of torque twist. Recently i put in the Traxxas metal diff gears after the plastic ones were binding and it has almost no torque twist now and is much smoother running at low speed.

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much for the information, that's really helpful. 👍 It's a great platform and I do love the suspension movement on the trx4m. Its a real shame they didn't give us more to it out the box though.

[@brianbiro9094]

The K5 Jusr Looks Badd Ass Man 💯%😜👊✌️🦅🦼👍👍

[@DoURC]

It's an awesome little rig isn't it. 👍

[@LuisA1Million]

Awesome review!! Very honest Indeed!! 👍

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much, appreciate it and glad you enjoyed it. 👍

[@cucolopez1942]

How is the aftermarket for FMS?

[@DoURC]

Yeah loads of upgrades from the likes of Injora, RCAWD etc. 👍

[@Sparroh]

Did you ever figure out why the defender is driving harder now with the acceleration? Mine is doing the same. Almost undriveable now.

[@DoURC]

Yeah it's normally a combination of the low range gears and bushings. When the bushings get wet or dirty they start binding up. I'd definitely recommend fitting the low range gears, got a video on it in my Mini Crawlers playlist. It does end up quite slow, but at least you can drive it. You could replace the bushings with bearings too, would make it smoother. 👍 How Traxxas thought it was ok for the TRX4M to leave the factory like it did baffles me! Hope that helps. 👍

[@adampsrcs3487]

Great video bud. Awesome driving from your little guy. K5 for me..would the trx4 shocks fit onto it?

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much mate. 👍 That was the highlight for me tbh, him having a go and enjoying it. 👍😁 K5 is great isn't it. 👍 Possibly, although I think the top mounts are different. It comes with the o rings so you can convert the stock shocks, so I'll be doing that. 👍

[@theLyzhendricks]

They might fit but personally I like the fcx24 stock shocks more then the trx4m shocks

[@borisviktory]

nice video 😊👍💪👋

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much mate 👍

[@denislitvinov3694]

Is the battery fully charged on the TRX 4M?

[@DoURC]

Yeah 👍

[@denislitvinov3694]

Then maybe the electronics idk???

[@Rc_impulse]

I have three fcx24 and one fcx18 lc 80 addicted to these little guys but I have not got a trx4M yet and trying to justify the steep taxes in my region over cost is higher @more than 220$ in India. I think I’ll stick with fms for now. They really could have made the trx4m better or updated it. I think the big brands in the states are a rip although I do have an Scx24 with a furitek setup and still think the fcx24 stock is better

[@DoURC]

Tbh I wouldn't bother with the TRX4M, the FCX24 and FCX18 is better. 👍 My FCX24 with just wheels and tyres walks all over my modified TRX4M. 👍

[@Rc_impulse]

@@DoURC thanks you saved me a ton going down that hole: I’d rather buy wheels tires for my existing rigs.

[@palarisalsaa3660]

where did you get the Trx4M's stickers from?

[@DoURC]

Just got them from Ebay, search 18th scale crawler stickers. 👍

[@AgeOrmstad]

Sweet man 👍

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much 👍

[@ilbaik6454]

No need to make decisions get both lol

[@DoURC]

🤣 Yep that's one option. 🤣👍

[@theLyzhendricks]

Me lol

[@Everett-xe3eg]

I enjoy your channel

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much, glad you're enjoying it. 👍

[@hoov1998]

Fms is a lot louder but that high pitch from the trx4m is annoying also , I guess it depends a lot on who’s video you watch.

[@DoURC]

The FCX24 is quieter in second gear. Tbh imo the FCX24 walks all over the TRX4M 👍

[@stanhau2279]

I'm starting to think I shouldn't have gotten my trx4m😭, thinking about Upgrading it

[@DoURC]

They are much better if you upgrade them. Imo the FCX24 and FCX18 are still better though. I've got a $100 TRX4M upgrade video on my Mini Crawlers playlist if you want to check that out and see what it's like upgraded. 👍

[@JiluMiah-ek2rd]

Fantastic!

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much 👍😁

[@AUSSIE_RC]

Where can I find scale stickers an accessory’s

[@DoURC]

I got the stickers off ebay, just search up 1/18 crawler stickers. The accessories you can get on ebay, Aliexpress, Injora website or companies like Fastrax in the UK. 👍

[@AUSSIE_RC]

Where can I find scale stickers

[@DoURC]

I got them off ebay, just search up 1/18 crawler stickers 👍

[@blablah538]

Jesus Christ the FCX24 is loud. Does it come with earplugs?

[@DoURC]

🤣 Yeah it's loud in 1st gear, quieter in second gear. 👍

[@patrickkerns2022]

deal breakers on both first no oil shocks way to bouncy looks unrealitic very horrible to look at for me and i think the scale is better on traxxas now traxxas deal breaker one speed horrible jerky controls crawls like shit stock so both of them suck stock in my opinion both could be much better with out higher price tags but smother control maybe is better but i wish it didnt look like a cheap bouncy toy thats to top heavy .not sure which one to buy trx4m high trail or fms ,i have seen many videos where traxxas climbs things that fms cant .but sometimes fms can climb much better due to the smoother control.maybe get both ..thanks for the video

[@DoURC]

Personally I think the FCX24 is better value for money. My favourite FCX24 is the Unimog. The FCX24 does come with o rings for the shocks and it's easy to do. I love the look of the TRX4M Defender, but other than that it's useless out the box. You can also get the new FCX24 Pro now, which is brushless and even better value for money. 👍

[@orangkreatif3614]

sungguh bagus🎉

[@DoURC]

Thanks very much 👍

[@BW221]

your trx4m has a brokin esc

[@DoURC]

🤣 Does it? How so...looks like its working to me!? The slow speed control is pants granted...but it works! 👍

[@mikeeklund18]

just ask the kid!

[@DoURC]

He knows which one he likes. 👍😁