RGT Pioneer EX86110 Stage 2 Mods: Refining the Awesomeness!

[@dudleythree3]

I'm new to crawling and I am loving that you use the same course for testing, makes for the best vids I have found

[@RCTNT]

Hey great! That's the idea here, I'm glad you found it useful :)

[@teamsargentrc6399]

Very nice, that number 3... very nice and very cost-effective & improved 🤟 🤙 🤜🤛 👍!

[@RCTNT]

You bet, it's getting pretty good now! Cost effectiveness goes even higher next video :)

[@craigware2462]

Very helpful. Those are good tires. I'm going to move my battery tray as well.

[@RCTNT]

They are, but wait til you see the next one when we find decent performance even from the stock tires! Honestly the value is hard to beat on this rig

[@Andy_Yates]

That motor is significantly more smooth than before. Even though it did the same problems as stage 1, it looks like it did them with far less drama (if memory serves). Cool to see just a few low cost tweaks has made this quite capable!

[@RCTNT]

Yes indeed! It's much easier to handle now :) And I have more good news coming soon for anyone who owns this rig. That video will drop next week. This has been a great little journey with the Pioneer!

[@YoShImUrA53]

Pretty much summed up my thoughts, exactly =)

[@roblowrie1969]

That was so close on no3!! I thought it was going to make it. 👍🏻 That is such a good little truck, and performs as well as it looks. I've just put a set of Hyrax on my sons Mauler/Rock Hammer, and it's made a massive difference to the grip. They're 2.2, as well, so huge. The mods you've done to that RGT, has given me some inspiration to make some changes to my sons car. 👍🏻

[@RCTNT]

Awesome! The cheap or free mods are the most satisfying ones :)

[@fishnrc294]

Nice. You can tell that it will do problem 3 just a matter of how many times it’ll take. I’m currently looking at a RGT & a FTX both are a half bed old style truck 1:10 scale. One is called the Crusher I believe but I liked the RGT version a lot. There not that cheap but still cheaper then a lot of brands. And the features are super good.

[@RCTNT]

I thought that too, but I've gone back and tried and tried but still haven't gotten it up problem 3, at least, not cleanly! I've got one more video to publish on this that I filmed this morning. That'll be next week - we're winding back some of the upgrades and questioning the necessity of the tire change (it'll make sense after Saturday when the Dry Rock Test video comes out). Basically, how little can we spend on the Pioneer to make it awesome. It'll be a great conclusion to getting this thing sorted. RGT and FTX are pretty similar, I understand. I haven't ever seen an FTX model except on YT, but they both look to be that second-tier under the big manufacturers. Both RGT and undoubtedly FTX have some gems in their catalogs. I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever one you settle on! Cheers :)

[@JohnAnthony_1]

I hope you'll review the new portal RGT EX86190 and compared it to gen8 and trx4

[@RCTNT]

That's filming in the next week, hopefully (for early March release). I've been driving it already and getting to know it for the video. Lovely truck.

[@bernardrc1137]

See what ya, mean, about pioneer n geo, they moved batt tray to front,double spring oil filled adjustable shocks,(no single plastic thingy,s lol) bead locked wheels, hex screws wheel hubs, proper quality crawler tyre's, hobbywing 60amp crawling esc, but still same high torque 17t motor, not sure if 550 or 540, average price in uk around £300 ish oh transverse shafts, less body torque 😁👍

[@bernardrc1137]

Oh, Fj toyota body Shell, angel eye lights, roof bar lights, hazard lights, back n front, indicators that are really bright, luggage rack,

[@RCTNT]

Yes, it's all a huge improvement. And if the pioneer can do all 6 problems in near stock form, I expect the Desert Fox will nail them too.

[@Charlvdwalt073]

Really appropriate this video,your CHANNEL 🙏🙏🙏🙏😁

[@RCTNT]

Glad to be appropriate

[@WoodsUnknown]

Awesome video as always my friend very informative. What a hard company to get in canada.

[@RCTNT]

Thank you! RGT is hard to source up north there, eh? ATees won't ship there or is it more shipping and taxes are what make it unreasonable? (I have the same issue with FTX here in Australia, whilst our EU friends get FTX instead of RGT, for example). Global markets, tax, shipping and undoubtedly covid keep things interesting!

[@WoodsUnknown]

@@RCTNT absolutely my friend the taxes and shipping is crazy. Its as bad as ordering from the states. I can get stuff from china in a week or under and usually free shipping and stuff from the states is always late and costs way too much for shipping and duty taxes which are usually as much as the item.

[@RCTNT]

@@WoodsUnknown gotcha.

[@WoodsUnknown]

@@RCTNT I take my comment back my friend, I found a canadian supplier very affordable prices, much better then i thought prior.

[@RCTNT]

@@WoodsUnknown woohoo! Nice one!

[@chuckplate9463]

RGT/R86359 from asiatees takes care of the battery mount for you and dirt cheap. They realized the same thing :) Minor mod to move the wire clips forward (there were even holes). I have the original ex86110 V1 which is a little older. I think yours in the V2 based on what I've seen in your videos; there are noticeable differences. I'm not sure if your version have has the reverse drive system that the ex86120 has. Mine does not. This is some extra gears in the middle transfer case that allow the front and rear driveshafts to spin in opposite directions which supposedly greatly the torque pull. Both of my driveshafts spin the same way and the truck always leans / torques right hard. The parts are for the EX86120, but everything seems interchangeable. For example, the R86359 battery tray mount is for ex86120. I did your mods shaving the body, moving bumpers in. I still went with 4 link and removed pan hard. In any event, I'm looking forward to these transmission / transfer case parts. If your truck does not have the reverse drive system, I "think" all you need is RGT/R86301, RGT/R86303 and RGT/R86310. These come from asiatees too and all in is a little over $20 USD including the shipping I think (expect) everything will just bolt up. The one interesting thing I suspect I'll will need to do is flip either the front or rear differential over so the drive system does not bind on itself. Ever since I watched your first video on this truck I got interested in mine again and have spent some fun time fiddling with it. I'm a basher of big trucks, but I do like this thing, just don't take it out much. Almost exclusively I use it in the snow making "trails" in the giant piles the plows make after it freezes up.

[@RCTNT]

Wow, there's some good info here! Thanks for all the detail! Mine has the same direction out drives as yours, so there's still torque twist, but it isn't so bad. I'll look into some of this, thanks again!

[@chuckplate9463]

@@RCTNT Just a follow-up if you're thinking about doing this. Got my parts and got everything together; all simple stuff. Kind of a bummer but will you also need to buy R86364 (which atees does not have) This is the axle housing. Turns out you can't flip the diff in the housing (I should have checked that fist!) Also can't just flip over the entire axle because the link suspension mounting point would be pointing to the ground. R86364 is a metal housing where the link mount is mounted (screwed) onto either side on the axle. The 86610 and earlier plastic housings are just molded plastic and can't be reversed. You also need a few 10x5x4 bearings ( this is even if you use bearings from old case) and a couple of screws for the case. You have to shorten rear drive shaft about an inch to account for the longer transfer case. Axle housings on order... In the end, what I thought was going to cost me about $25 USD all in is going to be more like $50. :( When it's done, I'll let you know if it was worth it. For $50, I'm doubting that, but fun nonetheless. Also, FYI... There does not seem to be portal axles available (yet) for reverse drive system. I figured if I was going to buy axle housings, I'd see about portals.

[@RCTNT]

@@chuckplate9463 thanks for all the detail! I've just been playing with the EX86190 and I bet it's bits could work, too. I won't be changing my EX86110 but I'll be interested to hear about yours :) Thanks for the info!

[@chuckplate9463]

@@RCTNT Figured I'd share my final experience with this in case you or any of your subscribers want to try it. After getting the reversible axle housing mentioned above everything went together easily and works as it should. I don't have a standard "problems" test area, so in the end I can't tell you if it is a better crawler or not now. What I can tell you definitively is any torque pull or body lean etc... under throttle is completely gone. That was my initial reason for doing this in the first place. I use the truck primarily for trail and snow driving more than crawling challenges. I thought it looked silly always leaning to the right while driving down the trail; that is all gone now,. I think all in cost was just about $45 USD. If you could find everything from one place you could probably to it $40

[@RCTNT]

@@chuckplate9463 brilliant, thanks for the detailed and thoughtful follow up! I share your feeling on this. Well done!

[@alantaylor353]

Lookin' goooood.! Props mate.. Big props. Stay safe out there mate & best wishes from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.! 😜 👍🏻 📻🕹️🔋🚙🚗🚓🚐🚕👍🏾

[@RCTNT]

Thank you, it's been a satisfying little journey! One more video in the works on this and we'll be finished for now with the Pioneer. Brilliant rig after those changes! Cheers

[@69maxm]

Hi Craig! Did you adjust the controller settings for the 35T motor? I've followed your mods and put 35T and it is slower than a stock one

[@RCTNT]

No controller settings to adjust for this one. 35T is going to be slower than a higher turn motor, but that was the point. Needed more control on the rocks. If you want a bit more speed, you could try going up a tooth on the pinion, to start with.

[@sneakyfpv8914]

I removed the front upper left link, how to get rid of the steering axle wiggle left and rigt when turning left or right? It look like the link hand hold the axle at the place

[@RCTNT]

You need the panhard to counter for that. Either keep the 4 links or install a panhard instead. At this point I'm planning on putting it back and trying the servo on the axle. I think it might be a better solution - still playing with it to see what's best. I'll report back!

[@204_mod_shop]

540 can size fits with stock transmission?

[@RCTNT]

Yep, no worries

[@Anthonyholdway]

Hey, could you explain your reason for changing your mind and took the left hand link out? I noticed on my element senduo hd it has the right hand link removed and the pan hard is in the same direction. Is there a difference between the two cars that warrants the opposite links removed? I even noticed a picture of the rgt on the box with left hand side removed as well haha. Just trying to understand it better! Thanks

[@RCTNT]

You want the panhard axle anchor side to be the same side as the single upper link side. I had em crossed up.

[@Anthonyholdway]

@@RCTNT interesting. Why is the senduro hd the other way round? Pan hard connects to the right hand side of the axle and they keep the top left link? Is it because of there steering design?

[@RCTNT]

I'm not sure. I can say that playing with different locations yields different results, and perhaps it just works better like this for them. I really don't know though.

[@Anthonyholdway]

@@RCTNT thanks man I appreciate your response 👍

[@jims8531]

Hi Craig, me again! Can you tell I just bought one of these? I’ve got a spare reedy sc480x esc that I took out of my sendero hd (also bought on your endorsement!) Do you think swapping it into this truck instead of the wp 1040 would be an upgrade or a downgrade?

[@RCTNT]

G'day again! They'll be pretty much the same, performance wise. I wouldn't bother. Both are fine for the job.

[@bricksfirst5584]

This round of mods still couldn't clear obstacle 3 but did the new mods lower your times?

[@RCTNT]

Haven't timed it, but I can report it is much easier to control and as a result, far more enjoyable to drive - an important point, I'm sure you'll agree!

[@bricksfirst5584]

@@RCTNT For sure. Smiles per mile matter.

[@RCTNT]

@@bricksfirst5584 heh, I like that. Exactly.

[@rcgallery3963]

Nice car ...

[@RCTNT]

It is! (now we've fixed a few things). Great budget option, the Pioneer. I like it a lot :)

[@rcgallery3963]

@@RCTNT i think the pioneer is one of the best rc adventure .. friendly price and very stable ..

[@RCTNT]

@@rcgallery3963 agreed. I also love how it can be improved with very little (or no) cost. Has a lot of potential. People have commented on my rock testing that it's not a crawler and I should stick to the trails with it, but it did 5 of 6 problems after we fixed or changed a few minor things. It's super capable!

[@mxsty8829]

I should’ve ought this instead of the hsp rgt rock cruiser Oh well live and learn

[@RCTNT]

The Rock Cruiser is a lighter-weight model than the Pioneer, true - but it's a lot cheaper, too! For the price, you may have one of the best value rigs money can currently buy. Did you catch our RGT RC-4 review? (kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqTNZ4OtopyNh6M) Tell you what, I'll pull this thing off the shelf sometime soon and see what performance we can eke from it on minimal budget - it's a pearler of a crawler and it deserves a bit of wrench time! Cheers :)

[@Charlvdwalt073]

No 1 to get axial crawler in south Africa it not really available and very xpensive RGT is NOT EXPENSIVE AND MORE AVAILABLE

[@RCTNT]

RGT is not expensive and is easier to get than Axial? They're making great stuff these days, at least :)