The Fleet: Five Crawlers and Counting

Five rigs. That’s where we are right now. My wife thinks this is a reasonable number. I’m not going to push my luck by agreeing out loud.

Here’s the full garage as it sits today.

---

Axial SCX24 Base Camp (Mine)

This is the one that started it all. White body, red beadlock wheels - I didn’t plan that color combo, it just sort of happened as parts got swapped in. It looks good. I’ll take credit for it.

The stripped chassis tells the real story. Red shocks, metal links, upgraded internals. It looks like a parts box exploded in the best way possible. The stock plastic links were the first thing to go - they work fine until they don’t, and when they fail they fail in the most inconvenient spot possible. The metal swap made a noticeable difference in how confidently I can commit to an obstacle without doing the pre-crawl anxiety math.

This is my most-driven rig. If I’m grabbing something quick before the battery guilt sets in, it’s usually this one.

---

Axial SCX24 Bronco (My Wife’s)

My wife has her own rig and she actually drives it, which I think is the ideal outcome for any hobby that bleeds into the household. Red Bronco body, modded - she has opinions about her setup and they are not always the same as my opinions, which keeps things interesting.

She runs it more than I expected when we got into this. That’s either a sign I picked a good hobby or a sign I have competition for track time. Probably both.

---

Traxxas TRX4m - Injora Jeep Wrangler Body (OD Green)

The TRX4m chassis under an aftermarket Injora Jeep Wrangler body in OD green. This is the rig that convinced me the TRX4m platform is worth caring about. The stock body options are fine, but there’s a whole aftermarket ecosystem for these and the Injora Wrangler fits the crawling aesthetic in a way that feels right.

The mud on this one is not decorative. It’s been through some sessions. I’m not cleaning it between runs because that feels like bad luck at this point.

---

Traxxas TRX4m K10 High Trail (Black)

This is the rig people notice first. Black body, chrome bumpers, light bar across the top. It looks like something a very small person drives to an off-road expo. I have not turned on the light bar in a meaningful situation yet but when I do it is going to be correct.

The K10 High Trail is one of Traxxas’s better-looking scale trucks out of the box. I haven’t torn into this one the way I have the others - it’s running well and I’m following the old rule about not touching things that are working.

---

Traxxas TRX4m Bronco (Area 51)

Area 51 is the official Traxxas name for this color and it’s accurate - it’s a teal-grey that doesn’t look like anything else in the hobby. Aftermarket bumper up front with red shackles. The mud on the tires is from last weekend and yes I’m still not cleaning it.

This one gets trail duty more than anything. Something about the color disappears into natural terrain in a way that makes the scale look right. Or I’ve been staring at RC trucks too long and I’m making things up. Both are possible.

---

Where Things Stand

Two SCX24s, three TRX4ms. One wife who actually runs hers. One garage that is starting to require some organizational honesty.

If you’re new to crawling and wondering where to start, I’d point you toward the SCX24 first - lower barrier to entry, runs almost anywhere, and you can mod it endlessly if that’s your thing. The TRX4m is the next step up when you want more scale presence and a little more hardware to work with.

But if you want to know what it’s like to run any of these specifically, that’s what this site is for. More to come.

---

This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use.