Traxxas TRX-4 Switchable 2WD / 4WD Mod - Cheap, Simple, HOW TO GUIDE!

[@Jasonoid]

Do any of you have a TRX-4? What mods have you done to yours?

[@tacotuesday8207]

I just bought a kit! I'm super excited to get it I had an idea on how to hook it to a servo but it's hard to explain

[@Jasonoid]

@@tacotuesday8207 keep me updated, that would be super awesome

[@Ligma_Bauls]

I’ve got a trx4 sport, but basically converted it to the 1979 blazer but without the 2 speed or the locking diffs

[@djrodriguez6582]

Finished this mod yesterday. Works great. My sliding sleeve was a loose tho, so i added a bit of glue on the splines WITHOUT the sleeve on it, let it dry completely, and now when the sleeve slides over it there is plenty of friction to keep it in place. Thanks for the how-to!

[@TheAmericanUhate]

This is an old mod I remember from about 15 years ago. People used shift forks with a collar glued to the shaft that needs to slide, and a servo selected 2wd/4wd

[@enpragma]

Thank you for using metric measurements

[@Timsfpvshow]

this is an awesome concept bud. ive always thought it would be cool to go from 4 wheel to 2 wheel drive for better high speed turns without flipping my trx4 over. cool

[@jeroenbazelmans722]

Good explanation, good camera work. Ordering parts !!❤

[@joshkoski537]

Doing this for the donuts alone and to make easy yet hard trail scenarios for 2wd

[@Jasonoid]

It's been an awesome mod, it's fun to make the trail scenarios harder!

[@B25BOMERLOVER]

Hello great job. Maybe if you put a bearing on the sleeve that moves back and forth you can attach a cable to the bearing and use a servo to engage and disengage four wheel drive?

[@Jasonoid]

It's possible, I'll have to mess with this more in the winter months haha

[@paulschryer9571]

- Hey, THANK YOU Glen !!! 👍😉

[@enpragma]

I like that you sanded the shaft for bearing fitment. I wonder if putting the shaft in the freezer would have helped instead? We used to do that when pressing bearings onto a shaft. Freeze the shaft and heat the bearing (oil cooker) 5:18

[@Jasonoid]

That might work too, sanding was easier for me.

[@enpragma]

@@Jasonoid Either way, your creation is amazing, thank you!

[@chadzigler]

i made mine, videos of it on my channel. spent way more money to modify it. that was my first idea for my trx4 bronco, but i wanna switch via servo. so went out and bought scx10 gear box and vanquish hurts v2 with dig, servo, $80 controller to control 2 servos, end points. i didn't connect the dig, just modified the traxxas chassis with scx10 chassis to line the holes up. i did have to buy 3 gear to go in the gear box so the selectors can mount to them. even with the scx10 axles, drive shafts still angled, was leanin too far one way. so i modified it more, with chunk of wood to have it centered out. scx10 axles, servo on axles, eliminates the stress, weight on the servo if it was still on the chassis, be goin through servos like nothin. even the 23kg powerhd was strugglin, whinin when it was stock height or lifted . servo on axle is a big plus. i got parts for the trx4 front axle for to make it 4 link, servo on axle. for my next truck i be gettin one day. 9kg stock servo lasted a week. the blazer or the new bronco i might get, not gonna mod it. just make it 4 link conversion, servo on axle, stock servo still be livin

[@Jasonoid]

Must have missed this notification, that's awesome! Thanks for sharing your idea with us!

[@chadzigler]

@@Jasonoid it did cost a lot of money and time though, my next trx4 will have stock everything, but gonna buy another traxxas trx 2 speed transmission, drive shafts to mess around with just to tinker with lol. the vanquish hurtz v2 with dig, mainly a add on box to the scx10 transmission. traxxas trx gear box be too big. but some reason there's a way to mount a servo mount on the traxxas trx 4 2 speed transmission, be little modifications. always best to buy a another one to work with

[@Toadster250]

I just came across this video. Thanks for giving me credit for the idea. Nice work taking the time to make the video and getting measurements for people. I still have mine and haven’t broken anything on it yet. It has come unglued on me and kind of slid out of position once or twice. I probably got the idea from a product I installed on an old 4wheeler I had that gave me switchable 2 to 4WD made by Warn. It replaced the front drive shaft with one that could be disconnected with a cable. I honestly figured some manufacturers of aftermarket RC car parts would have come out with something like this a long time ago and made it servo actuated but I guess not. They make complete metal drive shafts for them, how hard would it be to make one that is switchable like this?

[@Jasonoid]

It sure took me awhile to get the sizing and everything right LOL. I watched your video so many times!

[@rileysvideos2059]

Awesome work! Subbed

[@WhatAboutRC]

Im sure you could mod the front diff and do this using the servo thats already there. Make it so its 2wd or 4wd locked front diff.

[@3006USMC]

This is Genius !!! Put a Patten this!!!! Make these for sale and you will sell a TON!

[@Jasonoid]

Well I kinda used the other guys idea as mentioned in the video and made specific steps so others could build it. So it's not originally mine. Pretty awesome mod though!

[@stephanevallee684]

Good like pretty easy with your video… just wait for the back order traxxas part and go for it !

[@Jasonoid]

It's on back order now? LAME!

[@stephanevallee684]

@@Jasonoid yes 8250 b/o at my to hobby shop î’m in Quebec, Canada

[@welcome2myworld1.o89]

My Halo warthog trx6 is about to have selectable 1 wheel peel to 6 wheel drive haha!

[@prophetate]

super cool!

[@Jasonoid]

It's been a fun mod!

[@djrodriguez6582]

Did you lose any crawling performance from your driveshaft not being able to telescope?

[@Jasonoid]

There was no performancs change to my driveshaft after this mod

[@hervedesmeules6412]

Real car or RC, all driveshaft have a kind of "telescopic" mouvment to accomodade the geometry of the suspension. No problem on flat floor but hard for the mecanic in crawling rock.

[@Jasonoid]

The mod allows for plenty of movement.

[@JMCKAY351]

Hi, very cool idea, would definitely love this for my bronco, do u make and sell this kit?

[@Jasonoid]

I included all the parts I used in the video description so you can build it.

[@richardabston9601]

Love it

[@GeezerGramps]

That is a neat idea but you need to be careful when you in gaged the 4wd to not get the driveshafts out of phase

[@Jasonoid]

How does that happen? I haven't heard of that issue before.

[@GeezerGramps]

@@Jasonoid both u-joints should face the same direction or it causes vibration. Do a google search on driveshaft phase I’m sue it will explain it better.

[@shaynejenkins446]

@@Jasonoid lol

[@Toadster250]

@@GeezerGramps this is a true statement but for these RC cars and no one riding inside to feel the vibration so it doesn’t matter that much.

[@juliencormier7122]

Did you find a way to use a servo to change it from 2wd to 4wd ? I liked the idea so much i did it on mine

[@Jasonoid]

No, still a manual switch on mine. Love the mod though!

[@juliencormier7122]

@@Jasonoid yes really good. I always wanted a transfer case that change from 2wd to 4 but this little mod is cheaper

[@dustin6828]

Tap it with a screw versus using glue. Edit: it will allow you to remove the new set screw to remove the piece that accesses the Allen screw

[@jstsumguy29]

Did you try freezing the shaft first the slipping the bearings on sometimes that works.

[@Jasonoid]

Each shaft and bearing was slightly different. Some fit very smoothly and some didn't. I could have tried freezing it but the metal is so small it would have heated up very quickly. Sanding it down seemed to work well.

[@ulferiksen]

Hello. What size of bearing did you use on this axel

[@Jasonoid]

All the parts I used for the build are linked in the video description.

[@iconone5]

Could you use this as a dig by adding a servo? Would it love the rear wheels or just free roll?

[@Jasonoid]

If you could 3d print a mount, I'm sure it's possible!

[@jasonkwiatkowski7702]

For people making these I would keep in mind that the TRX4 models come in different wheelbase length and if you have the longer then it’s going to change the measurement of the cuts

[@Jasonoid]

Good point, I'm curious how much it would differ.

[@rarbona]

its the same on both. only the rear shaft is longer. the front is the same for all 4 wheelbase options.

[@jasonkwiatkowski7702]

@@rarbona until you get the guys like me that adjusted there bars to be different wheelbases for specific bodies and if the measurement is not just right on the cuts the axle will bind on flex in the suspension still a good idea I just think people should get there own measurements

[@rarbona]

@@jasonkwiatkowski7702 well obviously if your changing all your links and suspenaion geometry for some reason everything will be custom. but the trx has 4 different mounting locations for the rear axle to give u 4 different wheel bases. 11.9 12.3 12.8 and 13.2. so its really easy to pick a body that fits. the 2 shorter lengths use one set of rear links and the shorter shaft. and the longer 2 use a longer shaft and links. traxxas even makes conversion kits to go between the 2 easliy if you want to switch

[@marissaterwilliger8070]

I know this is old video but have you figured out how to put a servo on it yet

[@Jasonoid]

No servo idea yet. I bet if someone had a 3d printer they could come up with some sort of mount to make it automated. I don't have a 3d printer.

[@marissaterwilliger8070]

@@Jasonoid I think I might an idea of to put a servo on I'll let you know

[@Jasonoid]

@@marissaterwilliger8070 Cool!

[@geraldlebeau6973]

Will that front axle just Freewheel with the portal axles

[@Jasonoid]

When the "sliding shaft" is disengaged, the wheels just spin freely without any resistance. Rear wheel drive basically.

[@jstsumguy29]

Do you have yellow fog lights in the grill? If so where did you get them?

[@Jasonoid]

It's a diy led light bar, I took apart a harbor freight handheld battery powered light and installed it in there, I run it off a 1s lithium battery. The light is white, not really yellow even though the it appears yellow

[@jstsumguy29]

@@Jasonoid I would like to find some old school yellow fog lights for my blazer

[@Jasonoid]

Probably have to do something custom haha

[@OllisRCCars]

Cool Video👍 I subscribed

[@Jasonoid]

Thanks for watching!

[@rayjones201]

Thank you for the tutorial! I did that same to the rear as well. FWD/RWD/4WD/4X4

[@averyrc1634]

That was my thought it would have dig now

[@sammygonzalez7627]

Did the shaft and bearings come with the kit ?

[@Jasonoid]

No, but all the links are in the video description.

[@nickosterhout]

Heck yeah man. I'm shopping for a TXR4 now and want something that has switch on the fly four wheel drive. Wish it was a stock option but I'm not opposed to doing some custom work. Well done, son!

[@chadzigler]

be nice if traxxas had that option, be little more than all wheel drive rock crawlers. real trucks uses transfer cases. but for that type of set up, might not work with the suspension pressin down on it, since it's a long metal rod

[@Lokithefeline]

i see one problem with this, when engaged in 4wd, that little bit of teeth thats ingaging will wear out fast under load. over time. especially with brushless

[@Jasonoid]

I've been using it quite a bit still no issues. I run the stock motor though. All cheap and replaceable parts too.

[@jrc-fabs1634]

Sneak in a servo then it would be rlly awesome

[@Jasonoid]

Yep, not sure how that design would work. You got any ideas?

[@jrc-fabs1634]

@@Jasonoid 3D printer would help in this situation. I you got a heat sink style micro servo mount to attach to the motor with a high leverage lung for the servo to move. Idk if that would work but that’s an idea of mine

[@Jasonoid]

@@jrc-fabs1634 yeah, thatd be pretty cool

[@ericstephens3872]

Dude that's cool

[@jstsumguy29]

I’m trying to figure out how to get the horn working on my dual ess.

[@Jasonoid]

I don't have the horn configured, I didn't know that was an option! I'll have to check that.

[@jstsumguy29]

@@Jasonoid yea that’s the yellow wire but you have to hook it up to your computer and get the dual ess software which is free btw. It has hundreds of different engine sounds and horns to pick from even make it sound like a turbo.

[@Jasonoid]

@@jstsumguy29 thanks for the heads up! I have that software installed, I chose the 79 Camero muscle car sound for my truck. Sounds sick!

[@reddeerrebelrc6674]

I did it on a rig 10 years ago with a servo..easy

[@Jasonoid]

You should put up a video of it on the KZbins, tons of people would find that helpful!

[@reddeerrebelrc6674]

@@Jasonoid 10 years ago I didn't even have a phone that took video

[@reddeerrebelrc6674]

@STEVE VENTO wouldn't have any idea where pics would be from 10 yrs ago...

[@craigtriacca3967]

where are the parts list to do this mod

[@Jasonoid]

Video description

[@craigtriacca3967]

@@Jasonoid thank u bro

[@WC12VALVE]

Is it still holding up have you broke anything because of it?

[@Jasonoid]

Still going good. I have taken this mod a couple really good crawls no issues. Also have done lots and lots of dirt drifting and doughnuts and no issues yet. Even if something was to break, a simple drive shaft replacement is super cheap. It's totally worth it!

[@WC12VALVE]

Ok awesome I will try it on my future trx4 blazer thanks 🙏

[@spoolyboi9434]

Kinda cool but having to turn it over or reach under it to switch like that kinda kills the "scale" thing that most go for most like to run something and not touch it unless it's stuck or rolls over

[@dubbleportion]

Wow awesome thanks

[@Jasonoid]

Most welcome 😊

[@davidcchi3373]

Would you make on for sale?

[@Jasonoid]

The modifications take a bit of time so I don't have those resources. I have all the parts in the video description if you want to follow along and build it yourself.

[@kanedaadenak7088]

SSD makes functioning, manualy locking hubs, but they aren't cheap, and dont fit the TRX 4 without a portal delete. All together costing upward of 300 bucks, changes gearing, and reverses the motor rotation. This looks like a far cheaper way to swap to 2wd. And you still cant remotely engage the SSD hubs. Thanks for the measurements.

[@Jasonoid]

That would be cool to be able to remotely engage the hubs! Still looking for a way to do that haha

[@freddieparrydrums]

I could do this on my 6x6 😂

[@xxxxxx-rm2pn]

Good vid but I thought it would be servo controlled

[@Jasonoid]

If you can have a way to do it, then I'm happy to hear how haha, not that simple!

[@xxxxxx-rm2pn]

@@Jasonoid I think you could use a Vanquish Products Hurtz dig

[@ferp4206]

take a already week link and make it weeker and on top of that it wont remotely disengage or engage lame mod if you want to shift between 2wd and 4wd get the vanqush phenix its comes like that out of the box

[@Jasonoid]

Hasn't broken yet, I'm not going to buy a whole new truck when this works just fine lol...

[@djrodriguez6582]

Lol haterrrrrrr

[@joshrichie9833]

Cool but no way it holds up

[@Jasonoid]

It's been good so far, we'll see how long it lasts haha

[@Jasonoid]

Still working today, no issues.

[@spoolyboi9434]

Kinda cool but having to turn it over or reach under it to switch like that kinda kills the "scale" thing that most go for most like to run something and not touch it unless it's stuck or rolls over

[@Jasonoid]

Yeah, but no one seems to have a better way to do it yet.