Mojave My EXB build thread, so far…

[Dan B.]

I bought this truck from Rich at The RCNetwork. It was basically new and he only ran a couple of packs through it for video on his YouTube channel. He installed the electronics minus the receiver, the rest was bone stock. I’ve been fine tuning, tweaking, and adding a few items here and there. Here it is as it sits so far:

• HobbyWing Max 6 combo with 1650kv 4985 motor.
• 21 tooth pinion (Ran WAY too hot in the grass, was going to gear down but the fans have controlled it surprisingly well after I installed those.)
• Dual 40mm aluminum case Rocket fans on a PowerHobby motor mount with Team Brood 40mm fan guards
• AGFRC A80BHSW 36kg programmable digital brushless servo. Wow, I love this thing. Running on 7.4v from internal BEC, it is strong and FAST! I wouldn’t have spent that amount on a servo if I would have chosen it, but I’m glad Rich did!
• Futaba 3PV 3-channel radio with R203GF receiver.
• PPS-RC billet motor mount with pinion mesh screw adjuster, center diff mount, and roll bar mount. One of the most beautifully machined and engineered pieces of billet I’ve ever bought. Period. Porn for gearheads. Pricey but worth every penny, IMO.
• M2C 5mm extended hubs with the M2C serrated 17mm wheel nuts covered with the Hot Racing closed outer wheel o-ringed lugs. What a good combination, and it’s great that the center of the hubs no longer get clogged with mud and debris.
• Hot Racing aluminum servo horn and arm, AON48SH25 (Hot Racing does not list this as fitment for the Mojave, probably because the RTR’s come with that crappy Spectrum 23t servo, but it goes right in with any 25t aftermarket servo.). The middle hole on the horn is perfect, at least for my application.
• AliExpess front led light bar mounted to the rear of a bumper cutout (I cut out a portion of the front grill for the light.). This thing is bright!
• AliExpress rear billet 6-led red tail light mounted to the interior portion of the rear bumper. And like the above, this thing is bright! Helps a lot to let the driver know which way the truck is pointed in the dark.
• gens-ace-r-spam 8000mAh 100c 3s Bashing batteries, two of course.
• XT-90 connectors. I love these. Going to put them on every truck I have that runs 3s or higher.

Notes:

• This thing is fast. I have to run it on 4s on my property because it can’t really stretch its legs and I can actually control it on my gravel driveway. Go to a wide open bash spot or sporting field on 6s and it’s an absolute freaking wheelie machine missile.
• I have not installed an additional cap pack or an external BEC, and I’m running the two 40mm motor fans and the front and rear lights (as well as the ESC fan) off the receiver. No brown outs or glitching as of yet, but I will eventually install an external BEC if it becomes necessary.
• I don’t do crazy sends with it, but with “regular” jumping it gets great air and is easily controllable in the air. Some say it’s hard/impossible to control a Mojave in the air, but not in my experience. It ain’t no Typhon, but minus any backflip attempts or crazy sends I’ve had no problems at all with it. And I don’t wish to destroy it, of course.
• I’ll be installing the ProLine belted MX3 Badlands on their (kind of ugly) Raid wheels when I trash the current tires. Expecting to maybe gear down a tooth or so. We’ll see.
• I feel the spring rates could be a little more aggressive, it’s pretty softly sprung IMO for a truck this heavy and this fast. Recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks to everyone here that inspired me, guided me, made recommendations, and just generally relieved me of my ignorance as I learned this new platform. Especially to fellow Mojave aficionado @SrC . And yes, I’ll have a windshield in the next body. Thanks again. You guys are awesome.

 

[Jimbobjr]

Great looking mojo, good luck with it, have fun!

 

[Dan B.]

Great looking mojo, good luck with it, have fun!

Thank you, it’s a blast. Favorite truck so far. Doing up a new body for it too, I’ll put that in the paint and body forum. Current one is getting pretty beat up.

 

[MambaSenton]

Nice! Hopefully start building my mexb when Santa drops some parts down the chimney!. Awesome build will be watching for future upgrades

 

[Sandracer_NL]

Cool rig . I’ve been thinking of cutting out a part of the front bumper for a LED bar or strip, but I just can’t cut that body yet. It’s getting pretty beat up so maybe soon I won’t feel so bad to cut the body.

 

[Dan B.]

Cool rig . I’ve been thinking of cutting out a part of the front bumper for a LED bar or strip, but I just can’t cut that body yet. It’s getting pretty beat up so maybe soon I won’t feel so bad to cut the body.

Break out the Dremel and don’t look back.

 

[Dan B.]

Cool rig . I’ve been thinking of cutting out a part of the front bumper for a LED bar or strip, but I just can’t cut that body yet. It’s getting pretty beat up so maybe soon I won’t feel so bad to cut the body.

I’m doing up a new body now for it and masked a spot on the grill to be paint free and provide a clear “window” with the lights behind it. I may have to put a surround around it to reduce glare and not have it reflect and light up the whole body but I won’t know until I’m done. I’ll post an update in a day or two. Hopefully it works and I won’t have to cut out the grill.

 

[Sandracer_NL]

I’m doing up a new body now for it and masked a spot on the grill to be paint free and provide a clear “window” with the lights behind it. I may have to put a surround around it to reduce glare and not have it reflect and light up the whole body but I won’t know until I’m done. I’ll post an update in a day or two. Hopefully it works and I won’t have to cut out the grill.

I‘ve also been thinking going that route in case of a new clear body. Should work IMO. You could also make cool headlights that way.

 

[21STalion]

I bought this truck from Rich at The RCNetwork. It was basically new and he only ran a couple of packs through it for video on his YouTube channel. He installed the electronics minus the receiver, the rest was bone stock. I’ve been fine tuning, tweaking, and adding a few items here and there. Here it is as it sits so far:

• HobbyWing Max 6 combo with 1650kv 4985 motor.
• 21 tooth pinion (Ran WAY too hot in the grass, was going to gear down but the fans have controlled it surprisingly well after I installed those.)
• Dual 40mm aluminum case Rocket fans on a PowerHobby motor mount with Team Brood 40mm fan guards
• AGFRC A80BHSW 36kg programmable digital brushless servo. Wow, I love this thing. Running on 7.4v from internal BEC, it is strong and FAST! I wouldn’t have spent that amount on a servo if I would have chosen it, but I’m glad Rich did!
• Futaba 3PV 3-channel radio with R203GF receiver.
• PPS-RC billet motor mount with pinion mesh screw adjuster, center diff mount, and roll bar mount. One of the most beautifully machined and engineered pieces of billet I’ve ever bought. Period. Porn for gearheads. Pricey but worth every penny, IMO.
• M2C 5mm extended hubs with the M2C serrated 17mm wheel nuts covered with the Hot Racing closed outer wheel o-ringed lugs. What a good combination, and it’s great that the center of the hubs no longer get clogged with mud and debris.
• Hot Racing aluminum servo horn and arm, AON48SH25 (Hot Racing does not list this as fitment for the Mojave, probably because the RTR’s come with that crappy Spectrum 23t servo, but it goes right in with any 25t aftermarket servo.). The middle hole on the horn is perfect, at least for my application.
• AliExpess front led light bar mounted to the rear of a bumper cutout (I cut out a portion of the front grill for the light.). This thing is bright!
• AliExpress rear billet 6-led red tail light mounted to the interior portion of the rear bumper. And like the above, this thing is bright! Helps a lot to let the driver know which way the truck is pointed in the dark.
• gens-ace-r-spam 8000mAh 100c 3s Bashing batteries, two of course.
• XT-90 connectors. I love these. Going to put them on every truck I have that runs 3s or higher.

Notes:

• This thing is fast. I have to run it on 4s on my property because it can’t really stretch its legs and I can actually control it on my gravel driveway. Go to a wide open bash spot or sporting field on 6s and it’s an absolute freaking wheelie machine missile.
• I have not installed an additional cap pack or an external BEC, and I’m running the two 40mm motor fans and the front and rear lights (as well as the ESC fan) off the receiver. No brown outs or glitching as of yet, but I will eventually install an external BEC if it becomes necessary.
• I don’t do crazy sends with it, but with “regular” jumping it gets great air and is easily controllable in the air. Some say it’s hard/impossible to control a Mojave in the air, but not in my experience. It ain’t no Typhon, but minus any backflip attempts or crazy sends I’ve had no problems at all with it. And I don’t wish to destroy it, of course.
• I’ll be installing the ProLine belted MX3 Badlands on their (kind of ugly) Raid wheels when I trash the current tires. Expecting to maybe gear down a tooth or so. We’ll see.
• I feel the spring rates could be a little more aggressive, it’s pretty softly sprung IMO for a truck this heavy and this fast. Recommendations would be appreciated.

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Thanks to everyone here that inspired me, guided me, made recommendations, and just generally relieved me of my ignorance as I learned this new platform. Especially to fellow Mojave aficionado @SrC . And yes, I’ll have a windshield in the next body. Thanks again. You guys are awesome.

So how much does it weigh Dan?
Let's see it...

 

[Dan B.]

I never weighed it, or the components, when I built it. As far as EXB stock vs. my build, I didn’t add much to it, or much weight at all. With the exception of the PPS motor/center diff mount and the servo horn it’s essentially stock. And the EXB motor mount was aluminum already, so I didn’t pick up much there at all. The M2C hub adapters were lighter than stock if I remember (I didn’t get the extended ones, just the short 5mm ones) but I’m running the HR captured nuts to keep crap out of the hubs, so that was a couple grams I guess. The only other things were the motor fans, which I deemed necessary after its very first run in the grass, and the led lights which were mostly for fun but help a lot at night to see which way your truck is facing at a distance.
I had planned to do the hub carriers based on some saying it was a known problem area but I’ve had no issues at all. The entire suspension, bulkheads, diff cups, etc, are all stock.
I went through the whole “all aluminum everything” phase way back in my Traxxas days and learned very quickly it’s a dumb approach unless you want a really groovy looking shelf queen. I avoid unsprung weight as much as possible and let the factory plastic a-arms break when they need to. And I gotta tell you, I’m shocked I haven’t broken anything yet because I’ve crashed the living Jesus out of it twice as well as the many cartwheels, barrel rolls, and bad landings associated with general bashing. The only casualty was the body mounts, but I did the foam mod on the second set and they’ve so far been fine. This thing is a tank! It was my first Arrma and I couldn’t be more impressed. Still my favorite truck by a long shot.

 

[Dan B.]

So how much does it weigh Dan?
Let's see it...

Forgot to quote, see above post.

 

[21STalion]

Forgot to quote, see above post.

You talked a lot of trash, bashing on my build thread, it's time to put your money where your mouth is and show us what your rig weighs.

I work from home, take breaks and blow off steam running my rig anytime it's sunny and charge the batts while I work. This isn't a shelf queen.

Now let's see your weight, even with your puny little wheels on there

You don't own a scale? Can't step on someone else for a minute?

 

[Dan B.]

You talked a lot of trash, bashing on my build thread, it's time to put your money where your mouth is and show us what your rig weighs.

I work from home, take breaks and blow off steam running my rig anytime it's sunny and charge the batts while I work. This isn't a shelf queen.

Now let's see your weight, even with your puny little wheels on there

You don't own a scale? Can't step on someone else for a minute?

View attachment 195221

Wow, ok. I didn’t really consider myself talking trash, just saying that my approach and my opinion differs from yours to a considerable degree. And I explained why.
Yes, I have a scale and I can weigh my rig, but from any kind of objective standpoint the results wouldn’t really mean anything, right? I mean, what is the difference in stock weight between a Talion and a Mojave? I don’t know, but I’m guessing the Talion would be a bit lighter. And since mine was an EXB and didn’t come with electronics there’s that. Besides, mine is just a basher. I will weigh it though and post the results so we can compare apples to oranges.
If you post a build thread and ask for opinions you’ll get them, even if they don’t agree with yours. No need to get aggressive or butt-hurt. I‘m not attacking you or your build. Just expressing an opinion and starting a somewhat dissenting conversation. Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

 

[Dan B.]

Now let's see your weight, even with your puny little wheels on there

Well, I just found out my scale has a 12# max, lol.

I did weigh it afterwards on a regular bathroom scale (weighed me, weighed me holding the truck, took the difference) and it‘s 12.4 pounds without batteries.

 

[21STalion]

Well, I just found out my scale has a 12# max, lol.
View attachment 195234
I did weigh it afterwards on a regular bathroom scale (weighed me, weighed me holding the truck, took the difference) and it‘s 12.4 pounds without batteries.
View attachment 195235

Plus one for effort

 

[KnowAir]

I bought this truck from Rich at The RCNetwork. It was basically new and he only ran a couple of packs through it for video on his YouTube channel. He installed the electronics minus the receiver, the rest was bone stock. I’ve been fine tuning, tweaking, and adding a few items here and there. Here it is as it sits so far:

• HobbyWing Max 6 combo with 1650kv 4985 motor.
• 21 tooth pinion (Ran WAY too hot in the grass, was going to gear down but the fans have controlled it surprisingly well after I installed those.)
• Dual 40mm aluminum case Rocket fans on a PowerHobby motor mount with Team Brood 40mm fan guards
• AGFRC A80BHSW 36kg programmable digital brushless servo. Wow, I love this thing. Running on 7.4v from internal BEC, it is strong and FAST! I wouldn’t have spent that amount on a servo if I would have chosen it, but I’m glad Rich did!
• Futaba 3PV 3-channel radio with R203GF receiver.
• PPS-RC billet motor mount with pinion mesh screw adjuster, center diff mount, and roll bar mount. One of the most beautifully machined and engineered pieces of billet I’ve ever bought. Period. Porn for gearheads. Pricey but worth every penny, IMO.
• M2C 5mm extended hubs with the M2C serrated 17mm wheel nuts covered with the Hot Racing closed outer wheel o-ringed lugs. What a good combination, and it’s great that the center of the hubs no longer get clogged with mud and debris.
• Hot Racing aluminum servo horn and arm, AON48SH25 (Hot Racing does not list this as fitment for the Mojave, probably because the RTR’s come with that crappy Spectrum 23t servo, but it goes right in with any 25t aftermarket servo.). The middle hole on the horn is perfect, at least for my application.
• AliExpess front led light bar mounted to the rear of a bumper cutout (I cut out a portion of the front grill for the light.). This thing is bright!
• AliExpress rear billet 6-led red tail light mounted to the interior portion of the rear bumper. And like the above, this thing is bright! Helps a lot to let the driver know which way the truck is pointed in the dark.
• gens-ace-r-spam 8000mAh 100c 3s Bashing batteries, two of course.
• XT-90 connectors. I love these. Going to put them on every truck I have that runs 3s or higher.

Notes:

• This thing is fast. I have to run it on 4s on my property because it can’t really stretch its legs and I can actually control it on my gravel driveway. Go to a wide open bash spot or sporting field on 6s and it’s an absolute freaking wheelie machine missile.
• I have not installed an additional cap pack or an external BEC, and I’m running the two 40mm motor fans and the front and rear lights (as well as the ESC fan) off the receiver. No brown outs or glitching as of yet, but I will eventually install an external BEC if it becomes necessary.
• I don’t do crazy sends with it, but with “regular” jumping it gets great air and is easily controllable in the air. Some say it’s hard/impossible to control a Mojave in the air, but not in my experience. It ain’t no Typhon, but minus any backflip attempts or crazy sends I’ve had no problems at all with it. And I don’t wish to destroy it, of course.
• I’ll be installing the ProLine belted MX3 Badlands on their (kind of ugly) Raid wheels when I trash the current tires. Expecting to maybe gear down a tooth or so. We’ll see.
• I feel the spring rates could be a little more aggressive, it’s pretty softly sprung IMO for a truck this heavy and this fast. Recommendations would be appreciated.

View attachment 183664
View attachment 183666
View attachment 183667
View attachment 183668
View attachment 183669
View attachment 183671
View attachment 183673
View attachment 183674
Thanks to everyone here that inspired me, guided me, made recommendations, and just generally relieved me of my ignorance as I learned this new platform. Especially to fellow Mojave aficionado @SrC . And yes, I’ll have a windshield in the next body. Thanks again. You guys are awesome.

Nice rig! Just imagining those electronics "could" run 8s!? That sounds nuts to me. I wish Hobbywing had left the 5s option in the programming menu myself as I find 5s to be a perfect balance of usable power and speed. Enjoy

 

[21STalion]

Wow, ok. I didn’t really consider myself talking trash, just saying that my approach and my opinion differs from yours to a considerable degree. And I explained why.
Yes, I have a scale and I can weigh my rig, but from any kind of objective standpoint the results wouldn’t really mean anything, right? I mean, what is the difference in stock weight between a Talion and a Mojave? I don’t know, but I’m guessing the Talion would be a bit lighter. And since mine was an EXB and didn’t come with electronics there’s that. Besides, mine is just a basher. I will weigh it though and post the results so we can compare apples to oranges.
If you post a build thread and ask for opinions you’ll get them, even if they don’t agree with yours. No need to get aggressive or butt-hurt. I‘m not attacking you or your build. Just expressing an opinion and starting a somewhat dissenting conversation. Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

Trash talk is part of the fun. As long as you back it up if your going to dish it out.

Pics or it didn't happen

Cheers

 

[Dan B.]

Nice rig! Just imagining those electronics "could" run 8s!? That sounds nuts to me. I wish Hobbywing had left the 5s option in the programming menu myself as I find 5s to be a perfect balance of usable power and speed. Enjoy

Thanks! I think the HobbyWing Max6 has LiPo voltage auto detect. I’ll have to check, it’s been awhile since I’ve been in the programming menu. I would like to try 5s. It would be nice to run a single battery. Even when I run 4s I’m running twin 2s packs because that’s what I’ve had. But 4s is more fun in the driveway than 6s for sure. 5s does sound like it could be a sweet spot!

Trash talk is part of the fun. As long as you back it up it your going to dish it out.

Pics or it didn't happen

Cheers

Well in that case…. I’ll put my Mojave with it‘s puny little tires up against any and all comers in a hardcore bash session any day! I’ve never tried any of the Arrma stunt trucks so there will never be any extreme big-air sends from me, but for an SCT this Mojave is awesome. I have a virgin Losi DBXL-E on the shelf and I can’t wait for it‘s maiden voyage but I don’t even think that will replace my Mojave as my favorite truck. We’ll see.

 

[KnowAir]

Thanks! I think the HobbyWing Max6 has LiPo voltage auto detect. I’ll have to check, it’s been awhile since I’ve been in the programming menu. I would like to try 5s. It would be nice to run a single battery. Even when I run 4s I’m running twin 2s packs because that’s what I’ve had. But 4s is more fun in the driveway than 6s for sure. 5s does sound like it could be a sweet spot!

Well in that case…. I’ll put my Mojave with it‘s puny little tires up against any and all comers in a hardcore bash session any day! I’ve never tried any of the Arrma stunt trucks so there will never be any extreme big-air sends from me, but for an SCT this Mojave is awesome. I have a virgin Losi DBXL-E on the shelf and I can’t wait for it‘s maiden voyage but I don’t even think that will replace my Mojave as my favorite truck. We’ll see.

Hobbywing removed the 5s option, that's what I was trying to say. I know what you mean, I have a bunch of 2s and 3s packs, even a couple 4s for Xmaxx. Some of my 6s rigs only get run on 4s cuz I can't physically fit 2 3s in the tray, so I can't run 6s those. Poor me, haha.

 

[Dan B.]

Hobbywing removed the 5s option, that's what I was trying to say. I know what you mean, I have a bunch of 2s and 3s packs, even a couple 4s for Xmaxx. Some of my 6s rigs only get run on 4s cuz I can't physically fit 2 3s in the tray, so I can't run 6s those. Poor me, haha.

Yeah, you’re right. I just looked at the programming chart. I guess if you used a 5s with the ESC set to auto-detect it wouldn’t know what to do in relation to the LVC. If it saw it as 4s you’d hit LVC way too soon, but if it saw it as 6s you could discharge it way too far and damage the battery or even burn down your truck. I guess I won’t be trying 5s! Yo, HobbyWing, how about a firmware update!