Crawler Canyon Quick(re)view: Vanquish H10 Optic

This is the Quickview* of the Vanquish H10 Optic trail buggy.
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[@donniehunter309]

I like that they knew it would get personalized and gave you a great start for any direction you want to go, whether a novice or expert builder.

[@tommyhogye6068]

Been waiting for this one! Wanted to know what Mr Canyon himself thought!

[@MrBowser2012]

I’ve been wondering about that rig. Thanks for the info!

[@mattydeanwtf]

Thank you sir for yet again the most informative review in the rc world 👍

[@ShoddyRC]

The touchy reverse is maddening so the stock electronics had to go first thing. Also don’t jump it. The springs might lure you into trying it, but the servo gears cannot handle small bike jumps on 2300 kv. That all being said, the more I drive it, the more it’s growing on me. It crawls pretty good after I converted it to a mullet build, other than the 28% overdrive being a little higher than I’d like. I’m building it all from spare parts and electronics I have so it doesn’t feel expensive, but if I add them up it’s probably more than I expect.

[@JUSTHAVEFUNRC]

I’d love to build a mullet but I just don’t have the funds for that. I’m waiting for hardcore to make high clearance rear links. And hopefully be able to roll that rear axle and driveshaft up.

[@bsfunk44]

How is it 28% overdrive?

[@ShoddyRC]

@@bsfunk44 math has never been my strong point, so this could be wrong. With the following gear ratios: rear portals (VRD over drive) 1.4:1, rear axle (standard) 3.75:1, front axle (underdrive) 4.125:1, gets 22.5%. Then add the 6.5% from the transmission and it’s 28%. Although now I added an axial ar44 overdrive in the rear 3.375:1, so it should be around 20% overdrive. Which I have been really happy with.

[@simonkubacki9823]

I do love taking my toy trucks on hikes. The scale aspect is a big feature for me and performance secondary for a trail truck. I used to have an Axial bomber which I put a number of scale parts on. I have a gatekeeper IFS which I track now. I was thinking of AN FMS FJ40, but this may sway me. Thanks for the videos. Have a great day.

[@timsgta]

an is not used preceeding a consonant

[@2Geek2bChic]

l am also looking to get the FMS FJ for the same reasons. I don't think this H10 looks anywhere near as scale as the FJ and it probably doesn't perform a ton better either. I'd say save your money and buy the FJ or go with a different Vanquish. 🤓

[@CrawlerCanyon]

@timsgta if your objection is to his use of an preceding FMS, then you're wrong and he's right. The use of "an" or "a" doesn't go by the actual letter, but rather by the consonant or vowel . In a delightful coincidence, FMS, which in English would be pronounced EFF-EMM-ESS, is composed of an F, an M, and an S-- which are all spoken with a vowel sound at the beginning. It would however be a B, or a T.

[@LumpkinMumfins1]

As a one-time Technical Writing major and a current member of the grammar police, @CrawlerCanyon is spot on. Unfortunately pronunciation (even if never actually spoken aloud) matters in the appropriate usage of a/an.

[@RiceCrisp320]

I love the grammer check getting checked! Keep it up😂

[@zachpettit6773]

Well I'm glad your being honest about coming into a review with your mind already set on something. I have a lot of respect for you and your knowledge but I do feel at times you come in with preconceived thoughts on things just to go against the masses. If something works it works until you turn it into something worse just to prove your point....

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I'm not sure you have a point. The H10 is not a rock crawler, in design or configuration, but it isn't really a proper trail rig either. It's not a U4 or a bouncer. It's a little bit of everything, but not really very good at any of the things. I don't see it as $500 worth of performance, no matter what performance you're looking at.

[@zachpettit6773]

It is a king of the hammers type rig . U4 rock racing. Has a great base for that. Needs a Mamba X system in it. Basically it's a way better built Bomber. That's what I see . If you have never done RC rock racing at a legit RC Rock racing track it is hands down some of the most fun you can have with your pants on!!!!

[@JUSTHAVEFUNRC]

@@zachpettit6773 it’s got the wheelbase and clearance. It could have done with some bigger tires and swaybars out of the box.

[@themountain59]

@@zachpettit6773 very much so....👍

[@badcredentials4230]

⁠@@zachpettit6773 I’m curious to see why it’s a better built bomber in your opinion mate? All I could think of when seeing this was that I wish Axial would get the moulds out and start pushing plastic into some wraith and bomber re-releases. The lack of shock position tune-ability and the fact that the scale fake steering setup is going to jam as soon as it gets a notch/bend/bur on a legit U4 rock garden (I also race U4RC) both seem like big negatives that don’t effect either the Bomber or Wraith.

[@FaithSaraG]

I have not bought a Vanquish yet, and this buggy isn't going to change that.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I'm trying to see what this will do that a Gatekeeper couldn't.

[@philthy5058]

Seriously? Have you forgotten how terrible the gatekeeper was? Mine would practically fall over just getting near a rock.

[@timsgta]

Vanquish is top of the line

[@RiceCrisp320]

Vanquish makes some solid plastic axles and some okay transmissions. Everything else they make costs more than is reasonable. Not a fan of their wheels or metal axle housings.

[@timsgta]

@@RiceCrisp320 to each their own, but you're the first person I've heard say anything negative about Vanquish Maybe you were thinking about RC4wd when it comes to costing more than it should for what you get

[@jerseyscaler445]

Canyon, I watch ur videos quite a bit and respect ur opinions. Big fan , BUT I'm surprised you didn't get this rig. This rig is aesthetically perfect . As per koh standards the lines of this buggy are Adam and Eve perfect . Yea yea looks are subjective but if one does not think this rig is possibly THE most attractive, I believe this said person doesn't have eye balls. ALSO this type of rig (built properly by an rc company )is the most structurally sound rc one can buy when it comes to crawlers. Lexan bodies do not last and are a money pit. I ran into a curb accidentally with my trx4 21 bronco and the grill went though the lexan. My ocd is so bad I haven't looked at the rig . I set it aside. I can't even sell it bc people don't want if. I tore off the bedsides of my phoenix and the cab on my fordyce both on the same trail and same day. That leaves me an incomplete rig in my mind and also makes me feel I waisted money. Lexan is the air of a potato chip bag u wished was more potato chips. It's a scam, a bad design and yea it's "performance "but for me the only thing I hate about the hobby. My abs tyco rc's from radio shack are still intact. The optic solves these issues for me. Also I'm a vanquish fanboy and like many fanboys we want and can't afford a ripper.The optic also solves this problem. This rig solves MANY problems.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The proportions on the 4.75s are just flat out bad, and the performance-- due to the hack/bodge design decisions made during the "design" leave a vehicle that is fairly incapable in stock form. Drop the purchase price again into it, and you've got a thousand dollar trail buggy that do as well as something that cost half as much. You buy this for the looks, the whole time knowing (or willfully ignoring) the cascade of shortcomings. Literally is demanding you run lexan bodies. There's a hardbody out there for everyone's tastes. I fail to see how four ABS panels ring in success, when they look nearly identical to the four lexan panels on a Capra, but okay. Lexan is the common choice because a polycarbonate body can weigh a few ounces, and an ABS body can weigh a few pounds.

[@Camocrawler2868]

Another awesome video Mr C! The optic looks good but not for me. I'll stick with my zrd.

[@JUSTHAVEFUNRC]

Oooh I’m early. And I actually own the subject truck. I like it but it’s definitely a trail truck in stock form. The front links and rear links being the same length and the long skid, hurts break over. I wish I came box stock with more overdrive but it’s a trail truck.

[@bsfunk44]

I love the look of mine. I'm realistic in the fact I'll be making several upgrades and changes to make it a better crawler. I don't understand the hate it gets from people, it's a really cool vehicle. If you don't like it don't buy it, it's that simple. But the guys who constantly complain about having to upgrade an rtr after spending the money on it blow my mind. That is the case with the majority of rtr's if you want to increase durability or performance.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The problem is, the pice of that RTR keeps getting higher and higher, and the cost to make that RTR ready to run keeps getting higher as well. Vanquish definitely made some decisions here-- it's long and runs almost no OD/UD, so it turns like a boat. The put wider axles under it, but not wide enough to compensate for the width, so it looks narrow. Everything included in the RTR (minus the radio) needs to be replaced to make the rig do much of anything. Not enough low speed to crawl, not enough top end to bash, tires are too small and too soft, inserts and springs are too hard. So this issn't a quality of life issue, this is a "my RTR is incomplete" issue.

[@chriscord6524]

Oh suzzy you spin so swell

[@dustinwoodham5783]

Thanks for doing the review on the Optic!! My thoughts parallel yours. I do wonder how good of an actual trail buggy it could be in that 800-1000 range. It looks the part for sure!! Ive yet to see any videos of someone actually sending it on a nice single-track...thats what i want to see/maybe do...anyway, thanks again for your insight!!

[@CrawlerCanyon]

SEE!?! When I took it out of the box, that's what I thought as well. Existing somewhere between a crawler and a basher, fast enough to get into trouble, slow enough to get up some moderate rocks. In RTR form, it can't do either.

[@TheOtherSock-728]

Hey! Mavericks!

[@HollerRC]

Thanks for doing this review. I was recently telling a buddy that I’d like to do the trucks of freedom when it comes around again and that I wouldn’t be disappointed to get the optic. Now, if I do it I’m trading it or selling it.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Kit or no deal for me. And it had better be a Vanquish kit, with machined gears in the axles and some hop ups.

[@jonthomas8487]

I’m with you on RTR’s and the electronics are typically crap. The steering servo isn’t bad for an RTR. Axial Spektrum servos are throw away servos. The 35T motor with 1060 is not great. Given that a 1080 is $40 I’d love to see the industry charge an extra $20 per RTR and step up to a 1080 and then maybe make an 11T 5-slot motor be the new standard.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I don't think the well that they pull 35T sealed-can 540s out of has a bottom. If those motors cost Vanquish/Axial/Element more than $1 each I would be amazed. The same goes for 1060s in all it's forms-- I would guess 3-5 dollars each.

[@OGRadGrow]

Nice 👍🏾

[@JoseRodriguez-lg6mk]

Great video, I feel like I'm watching AvE's american cousin, lol

[@yonicozac]

I look at it basically as a smaller 1.9 bomber. the bomber also cant really drive fast or crawl, but it so fun taking it on trails. I don't think my Phoenix would be as cool as this on a trail, it has more scale thinner tires and too nice of a body to trash it on the trails

[@kalimahhh]

I have a Gmade Gom and I like to use it as a crawler. It's a buggy designed to be a rock racer or a trailer but I prefer its scale limiitations and use it to climb the best I can. I would like to see you improving the h10 as a crawler.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I turned a Ryft into a proper crawler out of a desire to swim upstream. It fought me most of the way. Much like an H10, it's $$$ before it does the things.

[@kalimahhh]

@@CrawlerCanyon you referred that in the video... It's a shame because this cage was created for crawling.

[@twisted_caravan486]

Anyone else find that this guy is just the RC version of nutnfancy

[@corybenway6562]

This is a good review. One thing I haven't seen in any of the h10 videos is comparisons size wise to a 1.9 wraith and Axial Capra. If you have those possibly compare?

[@themountain59]

On the h10 fb page are pictures to compare both...the Vanquish looks ace compared to a Capra👍

[@johngisbourne7197]

One KZbinr has them all side by side. Video is about two days old, search for it. Capra looks quite small next to the H10.

[@JIPPERR_1]

Gotta say i agree with your take on this. Trail truck and rock crawler are really so different. I regularly trail drive 10th scale short course and monster trucks. So I'd only ever consider a rc like this if I really liked the looks and wanted to lean into crawling. The cage setup is good for adding camera equipment though so could make a nice fpv car. But then why limit myself to speeds too slow for fun times?? Take the money they want for this and you can get a hell of a fast rc. Crawler are way beyond overpriced

[@johngisbourne7197]

My Phoenix needs new tires, I want to swap the Phoenix Twin for a simple standard VFD, my radio has seen better days. Bought the H10, it gets the old tires and Twin transmission and my son can drive the Optic from now on. No big damage when it rolls over, think the panels, axles and cage are very child friendly. VFD, tires and radio receiver combo would cost me 350 here in Europe. For me and our little anklebiter the H10 was a no brainer.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I think ultimately the H10 is going to find it's success in not being an H10-- at least not as it comes out of the box. Your situation seems like a perfect fit for it, but still irks me that the solution is $500.

[@johngisbourne7197]

​@@CrawlerCanyonI was about to forget the money I spent but thanks haha, if you ever come over the pond, hit me up and I drag you to the Oktoberfest in Munich myself. Lots of crawling when folks leave the fest. Cheers man, keep the content rolling.

[@neildaniels5443]

Its purpose is to be a Buggy...dat apparently is da new Trend......

[@CrawlerCanyon]

I guess that's true, if the new trend is gaslighting people into thinking they're missing out on the hot new thing. Who exactly said that buggies are the hot new thing? Element better hurry up and drop a new Gatekeeper.

[@MidwestRCcrawler]

I fit 2 4200 3s lihv in parallel in mine. Do I need it? Not really, but I can, so I did lol.

[@RiceCrisp320]

I'm tempted to pick one up and throw my capra 4ws axles under it if vanquish ever releases a front dig upgrade for the VFD twin. Then what do I do woth yet another vfd and some crappy steering straight axles...?

[@CrawlerCanyon]

+2000kv and the H10s under a Capra cage and you've got a U4. Don't try to crawl with it! I think the FDR be 30:1, if that.

[@rasclesrc4650]

My honest truth is that I would buy another TF2 before considering the H10.

[@2Geek2bChic]

I'm really curious if a new servo will indeed fix the turning radius. 🤓

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Well it certainly couldn't make it worse.

[@johngisbourne7197]

The radio comes with limited steering EPA, just bump it up to 100 percent.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

@@johngisbourne7197 this one certainly didn't. BOth EPA set to 100, I turned one side up to 120 to get to the stop on the axle. There's no shortage of steering angle, I just guess that 6% OD and a honkin' wheelbase combine for the boat-like turning circle.

[@bsfunk44]

The long wheelbase is what contributes to the large turning circle, full lock is full lock

[@themountain59]

I think its the most versatile car released for a long time ..ok they should have offered as a kit but I dont get those negative notions on it in this comments.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

If you've converted the word "versatile" to mean "of singular purpose," then maybe, sure. If someone pours the money into an H10 to make a U4, any crawling ability will be gone. Same for making it into a proper crawler, any ability to move at any speed will be gone. As it sits as a stock RTR, it's not really very good at anything-- it does pass the RTR test-- and is gonna take at least the purchase price over again to be a decent performer. A buyer has to really, really, REALLY want that look.

[@themountain59]

@@CrawlerCanyon well...thats your opinion...tons of others see it differently because the car was sold out in 4 days

[@CrawlerCanyon]

@@themountain59 Oh, so now popularity is the determiner as to whether or not something is good? I said they would sell out almost immediately, I I was right-- they actually sold out on the first day. I would hope that you would understand that there are people who will buy a new Vanquish simply because NEW VANQUISH. Vanquish could announce an unmarked cardboard box and people would buy to find what's inside. Go watch the West Desert Wheeler video-- he tries to make it crawl rocks, and in doing so makes it look so, so, so, so bad. So very bad. The comments? Positively .

[@themountain59]

@@CrawlerCanyon WDW ...mmh ...not really a reference when it comes to running clips ...anyway I think a lot of people got drawn in to the hobby with this car...fanbois excluded.😁

[@Organized-_-Chaos]

I wanna say when I watch the live josh did on the review on his Harley design channel ypu could just get another h10 front axle and it should work for 4ws

[@CrawlerCanyon]

It will then also be what I would call "untriangulated," so I'll be interested to see how that works out.

[@bsfunk44]

You need an F9 rear axle with a cms and wider hubs to convert the rear to steer. The H10 front axle does not work for rear steer.

[@TylerWolstie]

I’m not sure why everyone expected this to be a Capra when it’s literally marketed as a trail truck not a crawler

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The Capra is called a trail buggy as well.

[@themountain59]

@@CrawlerCanyon its an "unlimited" trail buggy 😅 which translates to "fugly".

[@Organized-_-Chaos]

I just got a set of vanquish method wheels and can say the hype isn't that great yeah there nice but not worth the price

[@CrawlerCanyon]

They're nice enough, but wheels from folks like Injora and Treal keep getting better and better for far less money.

[@TrokaRC]

24:15 Next video, How much air can the optic handle?

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Early reports seem to indicate "not much."

[@MikeCross616]

Ok, ok, I don't like it but I think that's because I don't get the whole "trail buggy" thing I still don't like the ABS panels Maybe they have plans for the H10 axles? It does seem weird that in order to get more performance out of it you have to change the axles I guess its like the whole Tesla thing, I don't like them but you can't argue with those numbers

[@CrawlerCanyon]

My guess is the future holds a flipped axle for 4WS, as well as alloy versions, and all sorts of proprietary bits to drive an in-house upgrade path. By end of year, someone will have a $2000 Optic.

[@2Geek2bChic]

@@CrawlerCanyon If I had to bet money I'd say it will be Exocaged loading it up with every single Vitavon part made for it.......

[@themountain59]

@@2Geek2bChic i dont think they send him one... Oh wait ...they did🙄

[@frankiemabry1726]

its already been done front axel on the rear

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Driveshaft angle can't be great.

[@frankiemabry1726]

@@CrawlerCanyon I seen it on reefs live stream where someone done 4 wheel stear with the h10 Axel in the rear. But they only had it on display. I think it was there Saturday live where they was crawling at the reefs factory. It looked good but idk about performance

[@CrawlerCanyon]

The way Vanquish has done the SOA makes for very little triangulation in the links, so I'm curious to see what that's going to do to performance with both ends like that.

[@frankiemabry1726]

@@CrawlerCanyon yea so am I

[@annasoming]

i feel like i'm going thru deja vu. but its all good... but wait.. alternate universe. yes. maybe.

[@johngisbourne7197]

People have blown diffs a lot already. Truck can't handle metal wheels, wheel weights and a Fusion Pro. Those sintered diff gears without a slipper clutch are causing big problems.

[@themountain59]

a lot ??

[@bsfunk44]

Yes, it needs the machined gears for brushless and heavier wheel setups

[@JIPPERR_1]

I guess what I'm discovering is that the market for slow and fast rc probably do not really overlap. Do slow rc people also do fast rc?? I'm definitly more on the fast side as are most of the people I run with, but we also do just a little bit of slow rc. Not enough to spend this much on though.

[@knotical689]

I'm definitely into both bashing and crawling, I think most crawler guys are. Pretty sure Mr C has some Arrmas as well.

[@chriscord6524]

Just erase the first video. Boom you’re forgiven.

[@HVT03]

For me, thats a rock bouncer more than a crawler, and of all the new things, none of them are significant. New axle design? Ok, but it doesnt make the rig better. Space for rear steer, converting it to VFD twin, etc? Ok, but they dont even give us the option to buy the "extra" version, with 2 front axles for 4ws, the VFD twin, etc, so you have to spend twice as much on it Imagine a kit, with two versions: normal version, and extra version. Normal version as the RTR is, and extra version with anything needed for 4ws, VFD twin, etc. And ofc, the kit versions without bad electronics, tires that are a clone of the previous ones but with a new name, and on and on Vanquish sells something new, but none of all those new parts are actually useful. Again, useless innovation, and its not a thing that only Vanquish does...

[@themountain59]

To use the term "useful" speaking about the rc hobby is kinda redundant.😃

[@bsfunk44]

It was just released...relax...updates, upgrades and probably new versions will come

[@kollinsendall1]

I’ve heard nothing but failures and parts breaking on these new Vanquish rigs.

[@themountain59]

Where?

[@beng.6417]

Hmmmm. I'm getting toyish vibes on this one. Hard pass.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

For every neat/thoughtful thing on the H10, there's a counterpart that makes you go... wait, what?

[@chrispearce9224]

This draws new people in and then they expand into the hobby? I could see that. If there were a kit version with quality upgraded parts and a bias towards crawling...I might purchase one. It looks cool and all, but it's not worth having since it lacks performance of a good crawler.

[@beng.6417]

​@@CrawlerCanyon people are already putting $250.00 VP wheels and super duper climb the wall tires and the best thing since sliced bread inserts on them. That and the custom brushless 10000kv motor and you're at a grand. Easily.

[@CrawlerCanyon]

Wait until the inevitable Vanquish alloy axles come out.

[@themountain59]

"Toyish vibes" ?? From a rc car?? Are you for real?😂