240 Years in the Making: the HUGE EMO X!

The Cross RC EMO X is a 1/8 scale RTR RC crawler. It's large, feature-packed and tough! Come and take a closer look with me!
Links:
Our article: rc-tnt.com/manufacturer/cross...
Cross RC USA: www.crossrc.us/product-catego...
(And it's just come to my attention that the EMO X2 has been announced! New body, same underneath? Don't know yet, but will look into it!)
AliExp Seller for Emo X: www.aliexpress.com/item/10050...
(Kit is now available AND it's all cheaper than when I bought. Winning!)
WP-1080 Programming Card: asiate.es/aff?l=130816&i=76070
Articles:
What's the Best RC Car? rc-tnt.com/guides/best-rc-car/
Best RC Crawler? rc-tnt.com/manufacturer/multi...
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#rccrawling, #rcreview, #crossrc

[@YoShImUrA53]

It's funny how a bit of time really changes your perception for a brand. I first saw Cross RC back in late 2020, or early '21 in RC Review, and it was a cool looking, but poor articulating Demon (SG4C, maybe?), missing bits of hardware, poor quality, bad tolerances and suspension articulation... It didn't help their US CS said to a public figure like them that they were doing it all wrong, rather than actually try to support them into getting a great service and experience to showcase what the brand was about... I was less than impressed and thought they'd only look cool as a build for a total shelf queen. But ever since they released their EMO chassis (chasing hard after the TRX4), they seem to be on a roll. Not only are they still cool looking - even though they're still all unlicensed -, but also they seem to perform much better, and even are proud enough of their engineering. So much so to be BOLD and showcase solutions as original in RC (in an RTR no less!) as the Watts linkage. I can confidently say I'm a total convert, and a real fan of this brand. They have quite a few I'd love to own. The Emo XT4 probably my favorite. If only that came with the Watts, and as a kit... I'm pretty sure it'd be my next crawler purchase!

[@RCTNT]

Oh yes that's a lovely car. I can't wait to build it, the kit will be a lot of work. So much detail! Yes, the new cross rc is different to how they used to be. Refined. They're doing some very interesting things now!

[@adamrodgers2377]

That is a AWESOME RTR Kit! Every Company needs to load up there RTR's like that for folks. It would sway me into buying a RTR than a Kit or parts hear and there some times. Awesome video 🤙🏼

[@RCTNT]

Right?! Cross RC is killing it!

[@jeffpowers7517]

Very good job on this video. Thanks.

[@RCTNT]

Thank you, Jeff, my pleasure 😊

[@pocketfuloducks1062]

I really appreciate when companies come up with interesting ways to do what’s already been done. Especially in an industry where compromise (like tire size or scale details) are a big part of the fun

[@RCTNT]

Absolutely! And cross rc is making a lot of fun stuff these days. I still have a few models to build and show you guys!

[@WestyCoastHermit]

Great looking truck! The incorporation of the Watts linkage is very cool to see. It may or may not do anything but it looks cool which is always important. Its also something new (as far as i know) on an RC and I like seeing companies trying new things rather than copy whats already out there. A big high five to Cross RC and a big high five to you for another excellent video. Take care!

[@RCTNT]

Thanks Chris!

[@robpracht9303]

The watts link really work..keeps the rear axle in one position no matter the movement..

[@matusknives]

A very impressive car indeed. The X2 RTR is apparently out already, but the price went up considerably. I expect that eventually a Kit will be coming too.

[@RCTNT]

I have the x2 kit in my office here. Looking forward to building it. Buuuut, have you seen the x3? It looks amazing! a.aliexpress.com/_ms3Vvx2

[@matusknives]

@@RCTNT That is awesome!

[@BangForYourBuckRc]

As always a great and honest perspective on your end! Love the the “outside the box” ingenuity of this! Seems like they (Cross)carefully thought out most everything! It’s definitely a great overlander for a wide variety of terrains.

[@RCTNT]

Thanks :) Yes indeed, this is a great do-it-all machine, perfect for those who only want one rig in particular. (I mean, can't blame em for thinking that's how it'll be - but yeah, I love this thing too. Awesome)

[@brianmassey7563]

I love my 1/8th scale trail rigs. I have 2 Traction Hobby and 1 Yikong. So much fun on the trails! Good review.

[@RCTNT]

Nice, thanks Brian! I have yet to try those but I have another 1/8 cross rc to show you soon too. This one will be a hard body kit (PG4A) - just doing the body this week and then I'll get it filmed and edited up :) It's all just fun, these models! Been thinking of trying a Traction Hobby rig too. Cheers

[@MikeRCWorld]

Nice video, enjoyed watching 👍🤠

[@ITman3Dmain]

Great looking truck. Excellent video 🔥🔥🔥

[@RCTNT]

Thank you, the truck made it easy for me :)

[@roblowrie1969]

It seems to be a really well thought out, well equipped truck. I like Cross RC cars, especially the big 8 wheel rug you showed at the start. This I would consider as a one of their smaller cars. Very nice. 👍🏻

[@RCTNT]

Heh, this thing dwarfs many of their truck kits. It's bigger than the BC8 in height and track, though not as long nor as heavy. It sure is well designed though, yeah!

[@TheOtherSock-728]

I believe the 4-Link rear engages anti-squat properties for the rear axle.

[@TheOtherSock-728]

and the watts linkage handles side loads of side-hilling a heavy-ish vehicle. The front Panhard link handles these side loads for the front axle.

[@RCTNT]

Interesting. I'll keep that in mind when I'm exploring this thing's capabilities out on the trail soon.

[@Br0rB]

I guess sometimes it's good that I don't have a lot of money, or else I'd buy way too many of these trucks. This one looks awesome, and I'll put it on my wishlist for whenever I can afford to use way too much money on cool toys. Until then I'll have to make do with the ones I have. 😅 Keep up the good work, mate. :D

[@RCTNT]

Haha right! It sure adds up, all these cars. No way I'd be able to do this without running this as a business. But this one is worthy of the money. What a rig!

[@Andy_Yates]

Cross RC trucks always have a cool look to me. It's clear they're really trying to release a full featured rig with this one. I'd love to see this one at your river spot because this is always the challenge with bigger scale trucks. Our obstacles and eye are calibrated for 1/10 so the 1/8 and 1/6 don't fit or make the normal obstacles look tiny

[@RCTNT]

I'll get it out there soon, hopefully. I'd like to see this also!

[@pandacrawler6x6]

Very Cool Review and nice RC!!!

[@gibsonlife573]

I don't understand if there's three point eight thousand views on this there should be three point eight thousand thumbs-up guy smashed it thumbs up it helps these guys

[@RCTNT]

Aw thanks :) Appreciate that

[@RS-sv3bl]

Great rig. It’s end-state desirable when building from kit. Well covered.

[@RCTNT]

Thank you! Lovely machine and good solid choices they've made with electronics, yes. Nice to not need to change anything out of the box for once, it's refreshing!

[@jstro-hobbytech]

Awesome tire tread. I never heard of cross RC. this is Joey Strong BTW. I messed up naming my channel lol

[@RCTNT]

Oh right! I didn't realise that before! Yeah cross rc are great, they have some truly excellent models.

[@mitsuman5555]

There aren't a lot of retailers for Cross RC in the US, and it's a shame because they make some really cool stuff like the new WT-4 rollback.

[@RCTNT]

For sure. That's on the list, it's super pretty

[@macmccartney5760]

😊😊

[@BlackSeaRC]

As you know, I am a Cross-RC fan myself and this product looks very well engineered. Originally I was thinking that the EMO X was just another member of the EMO family but the chassis configuration is quite a bit different to the AT/JT/XT EMO trucks (as well as being the larger scale). For me, 1:10 scale is better because the AT is already a heavy truck with brass parts added all round and I find it hard to take to remote locations. The new EMO X 2 does look very nice though, although I reckon they are risking a bit selling such a body that is so similar to the Cherokee without licensing it.

[@RCTNT]

Agreed on all fronts there. I haven't worked out what's different about it yet, apart from the body. Need to get around to looking closely!

[@fishnrc294]

Your comment about if you want a more capable crawler this is not the one which is a good call. I think there’s a lot of time & money trying to make a trail truck into a capable crawler some you maybe able to convert but after awhile you just learn that your trying to make it into something it’s not. But that’s ok experimenting & having fun with RC’s definitely puts a smile on your face.

[@RCTNT]

In this case I do wonder if simply better tires could be all it needs, but yes, it's a trail first, crawl second kinda thing. Lovely model but built for a purpose - and that's good to know about before you spend the coin! Good point. Cheers

[@crawling86]

Happy Father's day sir 🙏

[@RCTNT]

Thanks, and to you if applicable :)

[@tobyr31]

RE: the watt linkage, as a rule of thumb, if the triangluated angles of both the top and bottom links doesnt equal or exceed 45 deg (eg. 22.5 deg between the bottom links and 22.5 deg between the top links), youll end up with lateral movement. Those links look quite shallow in angle, so id say theyve needed to add something to stop that, and a watts linkage doesnt pull the diff to one side in its arc

[@RCTNT]

Thanks Toby, appreciate the knowledge drop :)

[@FeralRC]

IT'S SO ANGRY!!! For real though I've been looking at Cross RC for a long while now. They seem very impressive but they're practically unheard of in N America. I've had a Demon kit in my shopping cart a number of times but just haven't pulled the trigger. I might have to finally do it.

[@RCTNT]

I've got one nearly finished, I've been building it this week (PG4A). It's quite different to the newer stuff, it's a bit rough around the edges and clearly has the older style design in both performance and quality of build/finish. But gee I like it a lot. I'll have a bit to say about it on the review, coming soon.

[@KEVLAR_RC7275]

Great video bud,and that's areally nice looking rig. The Watt's linkage is intriguing as hell. I would like to see how that setup articulates as it's trailing without the body on sometime sir if doable?

[@RCTNT]

Thanks! It is lovely eh. Now, I've thought about your request and I think that's a pretty good idea. The on-board camera I used in this video is about the size of your thumb, so I could probably affix it somewhere at the rear with a good view of the linkage and rear wheels. Could get some slow-motion of it, too. I'll look into doing that, either as a Short or as a component of a future video that features this rig. Thanks for the idea!

[@robpracht9303]

The ( REAR) swaybar will help with " side to side play of the rear linkages... Like on my 6 there is a lot of left- right play.. Will make this system in it.

[@RCTNT]

Nice, go for it!

[@robpracht9303]

Sure thats the thing all ceawlers need..the 6 surely.

[@RCTNT]

It's not a bad idea, yeah

[@KLOQUEs2k]

Any thoughts about reviewing an EMO X3? Or is pretty much the same? X3 looks so cool.

[@RCTNT]

It's on my list, but yes, the truck is the same, just that body and boom are different, as far as I can tell. It's a solid platform.

[@GrimSpeedFPV]

Pretty awesome to see something different! Wouldn't be to bad with some minor upgrades. Your coarse was just to small for it

[@RCTNT]

Yes, for sure. I think it'll be good to get it out onto 'proper' rocks and trails. It's made for that sort of thing :) Can't wait!

[@rcuintheshed6981]

Awesome job Craig always informative with your unboxing and look over I wanted to buy the emo 6x6 from them but was turned off by lack of availability in Australia did you have any issues buying direct from the US was there any hidden surprises apart from our dollar exchange that's horrifying enough great unboxing review and test run mate 👊

[@RCTNT]

Thanks a lot! It's a deserving rig, well worth considering. I didn't buy from the USA, that would introduce a second middleman given this is coming from China in the first place. I put the AliExpress store link in the description. This is where I got it: AliExp Seller for Emo X: www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004995813369.html (Kit is now available AND it's all cheaper than when I bought. Winning!)

[@rcuintheshed6981]

Thank you for the reply think I've definitely found my next rc always wanted to give them ago I'll be sure to purchase it through your link cheers bro 👊

[@RCTNT]

Thank you. It's not an affiliate link but that's a good store. Great rig, this! Cheers

[@jdsrcs8061]

Very cool looking rig!!! Is this about the same physical size as a Redcat Marksman???👍👍👍

[@RCTNT]

I showed two photos of those two rigs next to each other in the first few minutes of the video. Yes, very similar :)

[@jdsrcs8061]

I did see that, but you know how the camera distorts a little bit. Thanks brother!!!👍👍👍

[@RCTNT]

You can trust the image, it's an accurate representation. Cheers bro

[@blitzrc4713]

Nice rig I don't have a high end crawler trail truck I was lucky to get a mn86ks couple of years ago for 150 AUD for that money it's awesome. I ended up ordering a huina 1551 long arm excavator and a double e bobcat to start my construction RC addiction lol thanks for your advise

[@RCTNT]

Great choices for budget fun. Glad you're enjoying them :) I pulled my MN86KS out the other day. Been thinking about swapping to a 540 size motor, to slow it down and give it a little more torque. It's a fun machine and super well appointed, given its price and size!

[@blitzrc4713]

@@RCTNT they got very expensive not long after I got it didn't realize you had one pity the company went downhill after that they are fast! I'm already wondering if with the bobcat I can connect a separate ESC to have proportional throttle skid steer but keep the sound system etc.

[@RCTNT]

I wasn't aware the company had gone downhill, but I haven't been paying attention. I do have a video about the car: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2fGd6x6mMh3Zrs In my experience modding these cheaper construction toys, it is a lot simpler to just replace the electronics completely with your own gear throughout. A bit more work up front but a lot simpler than trying to hack a simple all-in-one control chip (where I suspect proportional control may still be impossible - but I'd love to be wrong!)

[@blitzrc4713]

@@RCTNT yeah totally I'm going off Phil ( tomely) about MN going downhill as I bought the kit putting your own electronics in makes it what you want. Same as the bobcat and excavator like there looks happy to replace the electronics!

[@RCTNT]

Ah righto, fair enough. Thanks

[@mark-mj5dl]

What weould you compare the compound of the tires to, Proline g8, or pitbull alien, or axial r35, or something in those ranges?

[@RCTNT]

A bit softer than G8 but not as soft as Predator. They seem to wear reasonably slowly, if the Emo AT4 rubber is the same (feels like it is). Tread pattern means there's less contact with the ground, so that might have some effect on longevity too.

[@mark-mj5dl]

@@RCTNT 🤔the duratrax showdowns have big lugs also and they hold up just fine.

[@RCTNT]

The Proline super swampers and hyrax seem to wear pretty hard, even on g8, so it could just be a question of compound more than tread pattern - but probably its a combo of both.

[@daig1984]

Looks really well designed,shift/ diff servo’s seem way better than the absolute crap traxxas gives you!

[@RCTNT]

Cross RC make generally solid choices with their electronics and have a variety of great in house designs for light and sound. I'm a fan :)

[@tmar352]

The traxxas shifting servos are good 😂 Have never ruined one stop spreading lies

[@RCTNT]

I have had 18 of them in my TRX4s and TRX6s. They're not as good as some of the other micros out there but I've only had 3 fail, which isn't too bad. They're not high end by any means, but they're far from rubbish!

[@billknepp1965]

I love my at6 emo 6x6... only problem.. nothing but my rlaarlo ak917 leaves the house now.. I built a element crawler rig from the trailwalker black couple months ago n now I have no desire to run any other crawler but my emo 😂 n my onroad car ..

[@RCTNT]

I go through periods where I only drive one or two cars as well. It changes over time and then I'll come back to something I haven't had out for a while and it's like a new car :)

[@kel5944]

I like how this is aimed at trailing like the trx4 by including the 2 speed and unlockable diffs, but it is WAY too expensive. It’s more expensive than the high trail. Local hobby shops carry plenty of traxxas and axial parts. Cross RC isn’t going to be able to compete with them at that price.

[@RCTNT]

Perhaps in America, yeah. It's 2/3 the price of a TRX4 here. So much cheaper. Crazy world markets eh

[@kel5944]

@@RCTNT that is crazy. I would pay 2/3 the cost of a trx4 for one.

[@RCTNT]

It's the same price here as it is for you there. We pay rather a lot more for traxxas products here!

[@laboite-a-rc]

🖐😁👏💯👍✌️

[@billknepp1965]

So this doesn't topple the emo at4 on the 6 problems... I really want that one since seeing it out do the trx4.. on the 6... not by much but cross emo rigs are beefy... n I love that I don't need to upgrade anything... n it would be my first kit.. I've never built one from the ground up.. n I want to..

[@billknepp1965]

that and windows n grills aren't stickers... I hate that 😂

[@RCTNT]

The Emo AT4 is incredible, yes. So is the JT4, which is the old-style bus utility/pickup version of the AT4, I guess. Brilliant platform. Definitely one of the greats!

[@jstro-hobbytech]

You should hook up with pcbway and design a lighting board for diy people like you and I. I'd buy one off you. I'm getting a resin printer and I'm going to embed 3795 smd lights and copper wire with a + and - for people to solder to if they have extra channels

[@jstro-hobbytech]

Most use a protocol called sbus which is a 1 wire serial protocol with the LSB first. I'm ordering a decent controller next week and I'm going to use my logic analyzer and document it. Futaba uses a 16 channel protocol with 10 bits per channel which is a 20 byte burst each transmission. I can read any numbering system like English if I know the rules haha. It's how they control servos across the 1 wire in lieu of pwm. I think it's because every servo is different even if they both come in the same box.

[@RCTNT]

I've got a half finished project that does lights, (some) sound, smoke, vibration and winch control, but I haven't worked on it for 3 or 4 years. I did have a plan to get it fabricated elsewhere and I'd flash the rom here for each unit after manufacture, to help prevent cloning/piracy. Never quite had the motivation to finish it! (it used pwm for broad compatibility)

[@jstro-hobbytech]

@@RCTNT cool. I could help with that. I'm building a custom pcb mill and I have an 8billion sample per second scope with a 16 channel logic analyzer. So I'm going to do some investigating on the wireless controller I settle on. What was the one you recommended again that I get to use for my custom builds? I plan to document and post every brand's packet info for each channel in due course. Getting away without having to use a buck converter and arduino seems to make more sense. I was thinking about a cheap comparator circuit using eeprom data on a tiny board. A one wire serial connection to a big ass jst connector with all the lines held low between data bursts. Rc controllers send state data for all their channels at a set baud rate in the 2.4ghz band. These things are usually a static multiple of the log in dB commensurate with the carrier signal.

[@jstro-hobbytech]

Wow I just said that and understand it bahaha

[@RCTNT]

I used Arduino to build mine and my code ran on a library someone else built to interpret pwm. Wasn't ideal but that's where my knowledge and skill was up to. Flysky have an ant protocol controller I've been meaning to check out. I have an impressively poor memory for circumstances and conversations, I'm sorry. I don't recall discussing radio options. Perhaps you can find it from our previous discussions. Sorry Joey!

[@RickyD1968]

Ok Very cool Trail truck but it is a want to be Traxxas Trx-4 !!!!!!!

[@RCTNT]

Trx4 got there first with remote lockers and 2-speed but this thing dwarfs the Traxxas rigs!

[@RickyD1968]

@@RCTNT so do you like the emo X better ?

[@RCTNT]

Do I like the 1/8 EMO X better than the 1/10 TRX4? They're not really that comparable, given the difference in size. I would happily own either of them if I had to choose. Definitely the electronics in the Cross RC are better than in the Traxxas, but that's no surprise. If I could only have one car and it was between these, I'd pick the Emo X if I only drove on my own. If I had friends with crawlers, I'd pick a TRX4 so that I'd have the same size car as the rest of them. More fun when the cars are the same size :)

[@bernardrc1137]

Very nice indeed, bro, very good info in Vid, too, superb, 👌🤌👍

[@RCTNT]

Thank you, my friend