Crawler Canyon gambles on the "off brand:" unbox, prep, and test of the Carisma SCA-1E Prairie Wolf

[@brendanb.8007]

Not boring lol. Patiently waiting to see the van crawl lol. Shop looks great 👍

[@RcDungeon]

I do appreciate the van because its not overly done. Fantastic unboxing and over view got yourself another sub to the channel

[@jjm2948]

Carisma axle shape is the best I’ve seen for sliding over rocks and the best I’ve found so far

[@rexrcs]

Cariama although not widely support are a big company , super happy to see this here on the channel, Im considering seriously getting one. I’ll shut up and finish the video now

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The title is at least partly tongue-in-cheek-- because 'round here, anything that isn't Traxxas, Axial, or Element is "off brand." I still think the MST CFX is brilliant, and it's almost a tragedy how little exposure they get. The only real negative to the Carisma so far is appalling RTR gear, but that's kinda become an industry standard, sadly. I feel like RTR is a way to charge a hundred bucks more for $15 worth of electronics.

[@dkmgm2011]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Best unboxing I've seen in a while.

[@rushing_bull7485]

I do not normally do this and waited till the end Would appear to be a A-TEAM van in the works. Also I have to 76 lwb truck have changed a few things and first was to a 1080 esc, then Injora 2 stage foam and rims. Unfortunately winter has come and with health issues weather is a factor. Have fun which ever way you go. Incase you have not seen those 2 stage foams it is a very hard rubber inner and some medium ish foam

[@SnarkyRC]

I like the smaller RC companies like MST and Carisma. I've had a couple MST trucks. I still gotta pick up a Carisma SCA-1E. I use the Carisma ARC-2 ESC in my HPI Venture and it's been great. 👍

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The SCA-1E platform is great-- the ATT gearbox is one of my favorites. I keep telling myself to get a second one, because you know... not a van. The van adds some challenge. I've got a couple of MST as well, the CFX-W is horribly under-appreciated in the US. I like it more than most things Axial.

[@marceloaguilar2944]

Hola . Muchas gracias por todo el contenido que publicaste . Aunque hables ingles Te escuche con mucha atención . Lo que me ha encantado es tu medidor de peso! Esta semana recibo un vanimal y tengo pensado pornerle un servo de 25kg y un isdt70 Esc . Tambien tengo otra llantas de mejor categoria un poco mas grandes. Que buena idea poner el bumper trasero adelante! Gracias!

[@henrywashington3732]

Tamiya plug was cute. Sure they trying to tell you that any more power gonna stress the drivetrain.

[@JPWirt]

That decal sheet though....made me ACTUALLY LOL.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I still think about it, just out of nowhere. Happy dog go faster. 🤔

[@JPWirt]

@@CrawlerCanyon, it funny because it true.

[@SyntheticCompany]

I appreciate your videos! Cool van, love the color scheme on that thing.

[@6ickness1]

ive been wanting to buy one of these ... just because its a van .. looks kool as hell

[@nrvous309]

I'm excited to see what you make of that contraption! Would you cut the fenders to allow for more tire meat?

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Hoping to stay with Class 1, but even Class 1 absolutely dwarf the tiny donuts the Prairie Wolf came on. So cutting is absolutely not out of the question.

[@Jmodderator]

I'm taking notes for my future self LOL, do I see your soldering iron set to the lowest 480*F?

[@CrawlerCanyon]

No, I live on the edge and run it wide open-- I think it maxes at 480ºC, or 896ºF.

[@Andy_Yates]

So you're saying the next time we see it, it's going to have a mural on the side and be called THE VANIMAL? 😁 I couldn't help but the see the long wheelbase spec on the box and think that thing is gonna have a tough time. Tiny tires and long wheelbase make for a really long space to get high centered... in addition to all the other tiny tire challenges when crawling. Also your shop space is pretty epic. In my garage, I call it flat surface syndrome. If there's a flat surface, I might just stack something there. I really try to be better about that because having workbench space or a free rolley table surface is super nice for being able to work

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Damn. Vanimal is pretty solid. Just need one of those Boris Vallejo-esque paintings on the side, some hella boss wheels, and it's good to go. Probably have to put a stereo in it too.🤣 Keeping benches clear is a forever battle for me. That's why I have so much bench space-- at least half of it is usually full.

[@Andy_Yates]

@@CrawlerCanyon I had to google him, but that is exactly that style we used to see painted on vans in the 80s and 90s. I can't really take credit for that name, but I definitely drop it once in a while. I'm up in WA now, but I grew up in the SF bay area. About 10 years ago this dude was running around the east bay with this bonkers van turned crawler and that was its given name 😂. If it gets a stereo, we can hope for quadraphonic, for period correctness, of course 😆

[@barceloni1984]

Ive been interested in this van since it came out, but unsure about the carisma chassis. Was wondering on your expert opinion. Should I get this rig, or something like a sendero se and this body? They both have similar wheelbases and i have a few sets of class 1 tires already. I have zero experience with carisma vehicles, and own a trailrunner and have had a few other elements. It'd probably only cost a bit more to do a sendero se with this body, get 2 sets of the tall element body posts. But, on the other hand i do already have spare motor/esc combos and servos laying around to just upgrade the carisma. Thanks for the honest review on this truck, not any other good ones out there.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I could see it going either way, honestly. I like the gearbox and axles on the Carismas, but the frame rails are crazy thin, and they're not afraid to ship a rig "five linked" in the front, that is, four link with CMS. That's not a real recipe for success. There's some real weirdness to the Carisma platform, and I do think that the Prairie Wolf in RTR form is a little overpriced for what you take home. An Element Builder's Kit or similar and the Carisma body will (IMO) serve you better in the long run, as you can SOA the Element very easily, and not have to worry about the oddities of the Carisma. I think starting with an SE and putting the van on it kind of moves you laterally, as the SC480X + Reedy Crawler are worse than what comes in the Carisma RTR (again, IMO.). Avoid the RTRs whenever possible. Oh, and don't even try to fit anything bigger than a Class 1 under the Wolf. It comes on (IIRC) 96mm tires.

[@barceloni1984]

​@@CrawlerCanyoncool. I was considering the kit as well. I like building things. As far as electronics, I have a few 1080's an Holmes motors waiting for homes. I'm just looking to build an adventure van trail rig, not any kind of comp truck or anything. Thanks

[@rcrockpiles9535]

The body mounts look bad for roll overs. I can see that being a break issue. I’d like to see more of the straight axle lower cost rigs, otherwise I’ll just keep rolling with what we have.?

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I was worried about fragility, but they're actually so "flopsy" that it's a non-issue. I drive it with no body clips like 80% of the time, just relying on the velcro on the sliders. The van body is SUPER light, the rig lands on its wheels during rollovers literally 99% of the time. I'm inches away from buying a second Carisma, because it really needed so little in the way of parts replacements to get it going nicely. I mean, it will obviously be a kit the second time around. If it wasn't for the pandemic-related shutdown of Hong Kong Post, I'd have ordered a LWB kit direct from Carisma already.

[@swashbuckler5539]

I’d love to see a video about the Redcat marksman or gen8

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I've had... bad experiences with Redcat. I had a Wendigo for a few days (it broke twice on the first pack and had uncorrectable suspension geometry) and several iterations of an Everest10-- which broke repeatedly. Its final form was decommissioned last year, because a) it didn't wheel very well, and b) it broke 3 driveshafts in the span of a month. I've heard nothing but complaints about the suspension on the Gen8, so I'm quite likely staying away from that one.

[@swashbuckler5539]

@@CrawlerCanyon wow, it’s been just the opposite for me the gen8 v2 hasn’t failed to amaze me the past 3 months.. all I’ve done is replace the servo, tires and tighten the slipper clutch 1/4 a turn.

[@brianargo1659]

Can't wait to see the end result 👍

[@Simladdy]

i found this online of sale for 150usd!! im buying it, buying a new esc and motor new tires and maybe shocks isk but its on the way im exited

[@CrawlerCanyon]

That's a killer deal. For your motor, go low KV/high turn. Mine is on a 1200 and it's still kinda peppy. The body is perfect on 4.19" or 3.93".

[@Simladdy]

thanks ill keep that in mind @@CrawlerCanyon

[@Simladdy]

im thinking of putting some 120mm tires on it beacue i see other people useing them and they fit quite well

[@polishguywithhardtospellna8227]

My name is Velcro Giorgio, but everybody calls me...Velcro (Que in Daft Punk) Lol

[@rexrcs]

Velcro is nice to keep the body from slappin around

[@kristian4243]

niice space you got there!

[@lugwood4487]

Very funny, are you AvE ? You sound just like him. 👊

[@Bob-Jenkins]

They didn't have a "If this Van's rockin', don't try knockin'" stickers. I mean they had lots of the weirdness in their stickers, but none of the fun.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I’m just guessing that that phrase never made it”over there.” I’d really like to know what “dog milk happy dog go faster” comes from. I just assume lost in translation.

[@Bob-Jenkins]

@@CrawlerCanyon Lost in translation is the safest way of taking that. Sadly my mind heads down the sad, sad path of "Red Rocket" which in Bethesda games is a "servo" (Aussie slang for a gas station), and in Fallout4 is where one finds "Dogmeat" - a dog that the player can have as an "in game" friend. While playing the game friends informed me that "Red Rocket" refers to the "milking" of one's male dog, apparently it helps keep them loyal. Personally I'm a dog owner who believes it's okay to love your dog, just don't "love" your dog... I mean, for the love of Dog, the fact there's a term for something like that makes me feel sick. I'm so sorry for anyone who didn't know that was a thing, but I hate to suffer alone.

[@mitsuman5555]

I keep thinking that’s a nice body to put on a better platform. Enjoyed the video though 👍🏻

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The Carisma SCA-1E platform is definitely showing promise, it's just borderline-terrible as an RTR. Trust me, this one gets better.

[@faithfamilyfriendsforever6777]

I feel tour pain hahahha.

[@faithfamilyfriendsforever6777]

Paint it pink it may work better....

[@mickd8188]

Wow....! Um I feel these companies that are copying other platforms ie scx10 should at least have to pass a basic link geometry test. If it isn't 4 link with panhard rod, it's 4 link with cms, I mean come on get your sh#t together. I really think the van body is stupid cool and like having options but I'm sure you will make something decent with it. The small tyres with massive sucky shocks is also laughable...lol Best part as always is your delivery and comments along the way. Cheers mate have a great weekend and looking forward to part 2 👍

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Let's just say that SOA isn't out of the question for this guy-- provided that the chassis rails aren't too narrow to allow it.

[@newsnowminnesota817]

I need some of what your smoking, I need Subscriber's!