A clodbuster to play with (for my kid)

[flipwils11]

I was never into these as a kid, but rather did the buggy thing with a Tamiya Hornet and then the gold pan RC10. I think I might like to get a Clod for my kid but I'm not sure what to expect. What do I need to get the two motors and 4 wheel steering to work? Should I just get a super clodbuster kit if I can find one (and what's a fair price)?

This is just for bashing/playing around, but how sturdy are they if you keep them stock? Do I need to do any of the aluminum upgrade parts like a chassis to keep them from breaking?

[vwjuice]

Stock they are almost bulletproof. upgrading these parts are the most crucial and close to this order.
1. Bearing kit for the whole truck
2. ESC. Smoother power delivery
3. Shocks. The stockers don't have oil in them. Traxxas tmaxx shoxks bolton great
4. Axle mounted servo kits
5. 4-link kit

Check out Clodtalk.com

It's a site for Clods and the sister site to this one. As for price on a used one? You can pick one up on ebay for around $200 ready to run.

[ROH73]

I run my original 1987 Clodbuster completely stock except for bearings. It uses a 1987 Futaba Attack controller with craptastic servos, the original 540 motors, 3-step msc, etc. In 23 years, I've replaced one set of gears and one servo saver assembly and I'm not very kind to the truck (I even let my 3 year old son drive it ). So, long story short, a box-stock Clodbuster is very tough. Upgrades like shocks, linkages, etc. are great, but in general they increase performance/handling, not too much durability.

Just my 2 cents.

Robert

[vwjuice]

Agreed. They are bulletproof. Most upgrades will make it perform better. Hard to make it more durable. lol

[airdreams1]

Only problems I ever had was the tub/chassis always cracked.... Think I replaced mine atleast 3 times....
(Then the last time i just sold it off (have regreted that since) My buddy put the clodzilla kit on it & never had a problem again.
& that made it drive like a whole different truck.

[kaiser]

the super clod's chassis is reinforced where the old clod used to break.

was was really tough on my superclod before i modded it, it never broke (other then the hardbody).

i got my super last summer for 209 shipped. i added a tamiya teu-103bk esc and bearings.

[jwscab]

cool, didn't know they fixed the chassis with the superclod. when I started reading the thread, I was going to suggest before anything after bearings to use a chassis girdle to reinforce the link arm mounts.

[kaiser]

they made some nice threaded plates that mount inboard.

i really pounded the crap out of my stocker and it never broke.

flip if you do get your kid a clod don't let him know about clodtalk or rcmt, you wallet will thank you. lol

[flipwils11]

Thanks guys, this was tremendously helpful. I guess the new in sealed box superclod for $220 that I found is a fair deal then. There is also a new in sealed box juggernaut 2 which I know nothing about but that puppy is $700.

[airdreams1]

The Jug's are cool as #ell, They are like a clod on steroids!!! but Id wate & find one cheeper... just seen a very nice used one on RCU for 250 last week. may still be available?

[SFC K]

I was never into these as a kid, but rather did the buggy thing with a Tamiya Hornet and then the gold pan RC10. I think I might like to get a Clod for my kid but I'm not sure what to expect. What do I need to get the two motors and 4 wheel steering to work? Should I just get a super clodbuster kit if I can find one (and what's a fair price)?

This is just for bashing/playing around, but how sturdy are they if you keep them stock? Do I need to do any of the aluminum upgrade parts like a chassis to keep them from breaking?

Check Craigslist in our area. I just saw 4 of them for under 100 bucks each...Could be a good start for you and your son. I'm just a hop skip and a jump away fom you too. I have 2 already. Was thinking of getting another one. lol Once you get one you might be bashing more than your son.

[Twin Detonator]

I had a Clodbuster back in '89 and I loved it, I sold it around '91 and I missed it ever since when I thought about it over the years.

My 5 YO boy and I love Monster trucks and we love going to Monster Jam races, we've/he's gone to them since he was three!!
I got back into RC a few years ago and he loves it.

We got a Tamyia Blackfoot Extreme that is his and I have got a Tamyia Twin Detonator. Both trucks have full ball bearings, oil shocks, aluminum A arms, and mine has Tamyia sport tuned motors. He has driven the BFX so hard that I had to replace the A arms with the aluminum ones because the screws kept coming out of the plastic arms. Mine started to do the same so I changed both trucks out when I did it. These trucks are pretty tough and take a beating.

This pic made it into RC Driver magazine.


I just got a set of Clodbusters for us last year, we just got to get ECS's for them so we can do some Monster Jamming.
Mine is the orange one and his is the vision of a 5 YO little boy.

Both have full ball bearings and mine has eMaxx shocks, other then waiting for the ECS's they are bone stock.

Have fun with the boy and RCing, it is a blast and my boy and I try to go when we can, he has become a fearless little driver with his BFX, I can't to see what he does with the Clod. It is some great bonding time and some great quality time just spent with the boy.

Lynn

[kaiser]

i knew that pic look familiar.

btw, spread the love and give the kid 4 of your 8 shocks. clods don't need 8 shocks.

[Twin Detonator]

Yeah, the pic was in last months RC Driver readers ride section.

I know the Clod doesn't need the 8 shocks, but the cool factor is too much. I'll see how it goes when I get them running.

Lynn

[vwjuice]

Clod doesn't need the 8 shocks, but the cool factor is too much.
Lynn

I agree. Run the shocks then upgrade his later.