RGT Intruder: An Important Release!

RGT Intruder: An Important Release!

by | May 22, 2024 | RC Crawlers, RC Reviews, RGT

Heard of RGT?

Before we get to the RGT Intruder EX86020 (available here), I think some context would be helpful. Previously a lesser-known manufacturer, Chinese company RGT have been making quite a splash with their 1/10 trail rig releases over 2022 and 2023.

For instance, you may have already seen our recent comparison article, “Which RGT is best for you?”. In this one, I compared three of their best and biggest recent releases: Rescuer, Challenger and Pro Runner. I’ve also looked at the Tracer, Pioneer, and the 136100 range either here or on the channel – and all have their merits.

3 RGT Models - Rear

What’s the Big Deal?

So, what’s the fuss about the RGT Intruder? Isn’t it just another car? Well, no: for a start, it’s their first big release for 2024. Secondly, it looks the same as the RGT Rescuer EX86190, which will inevitably lead to comparisons with the older, larger model. We’ll see below that this apparent similarity is only cosmetic in nature – but more on that in a moment.

I see it as an important next step after their successful, more ‘standard’ models. Their previous SWB (Short Wheel Base) models have been underwhelming, or, if finished beautifully as with the 136100v3, weaker than it should have been. (Both my 136100v2 and v3 have a broken front axle and both were the CVD joints not standing up to crawling). But now, folks are starting to pay attention.

RGT Rescuer EX86190 on Grass

The Big Reason

RGT has proven they can make great vehicles. They’ve shown how their own designs are working – obvious IP infringement aside with the bodies and often the tire treads. And they’ve shown that they can make a decently durable model that performs well AND has parts and upgrade availability. That’s actually quite a big deal.

As these models draw new potential customers to consider the brand, their newest model releases matter all the more. From where I’m watching, the RGT Intruder EX86020 is possibly their most important release. This is their first high-level scale model RC crawler that doesn’t have the extra bells and whistles that many folks disparage. It has a gorgeous body. The price suggests quality. The running gear is solid (U-joints in those front axles, for example). And it’s all 1/10 scale kit.

In short, this model needs to be good. Better than good. Newcomers to RGT are watching this one!

RGT Intruder Chassis Top-Down

What’s It Like?

The first thing that jumped out to me was that gorgeous body. I made a post on my YT community page that said something like, “Gosh, this car just looks amazing from any angle” – and it really does!

There are a bunch of extras they throw in so you can add more lights, mount a larger battery tray, add some scale extras and have a play with suspension mount points and so on. There’s a lot of good here, though the main ‘feature’ of this model is its appearance. I mean, just look at it!

RGT Intruder External Sides
RGT Intruder Included Parts

Body Issues

There’s only one issue with the body: it is not licensed. This has been the case for all of their crawlers, to my knowledge. Toyota may not be pleased, and I don’t condone the practice. Unlicenced bodies are a problem for the hobby, as are cloned parts. I really need to do a blog post on just this topic, as there are a few things to unpack here. But the car is pretty and the colour choices are all quite good.

This model comes with some extra plastics for both the cabin and the exterior of the body, like a rear-view mirror, extra spotlight cases, wipers, and so on. You need to fit these yourself. The folding side-mirrors come installed though, as do the door handles and the rear pillar air vents. If you do nothing with the extras after you unbox it, the car is still very complete. I also appreciate the captured body pins – you won’t lose these during a battery change on the trail!

RGT Intruder Captured Body Clips

RGT Intruder Interior

Well, it has one. My original RGT Rescuer did not have one (see? Even I’m comparing this car to the Rescuer! It’s inevitable!), though now the EX86190 does ship with an interior. I bought mine separately. The interior in the Intruder here is the same as the one I bought. This is a good thing, as it helps keep RGT’s costs down. It’s attractive, functional, and being polycarbonate, about as light as it could be. Good!

There are no lights in the cabin, but there are lights on all corners, controlled by a central module that’s attached to the underside of the body’s mold piece. It connects to the LED port on the all-in-one Receiver/ESC/Light Controller on the chassis. I’ll get to that further down.

RGT Intruder Front View
RGT Intruder Body Underside

Wheels and Tires

There’s the promise of performance, with vented tires (including foams), and they’re about as large as could reasonably fit under this scale of body. They’d be 43” tires in real life – and on this kind of vehicle, even something like 35” tires are BIG. So, RGT have pushed the performance there as far as they dare. It’s a compromise, scale vs capability, and I think it was the right move to max the diameter out.

They’re glued 4.31″ tires on plastic 1.9″ wheels. However, I do think the tire carcass is too stiff for the weight of this car. The foams feel about right, but the rubber in the tires is either too thick or too rigid, and to my feel, they don’t bend enough around rocks. Traction is lost that the car really needs. We’ll get to this shortly.

RGT Intruder Wheels & Tires

Chassis and Links

This is a talking point: the rails are 3mm CNC-milled aluminum with a stunning finish. They are really pretty! And the chassis is very stiff, too, thanks to the generous plastic-fiber cross bracing from nose to tail. The shock hoops are part of the rails and even the panhard mount is finished in the same lovely material. Full marks for that.

Links and geometry are also well designed. There’s full movement for both axles, no binding, and plenty of room for everything to move as it needs to. And the car isn’t heavy. These are all great things, too. Honestly, we’re off to a very solid start at this point.

Oh, those links are 6mm stainless steel with stainless steel ball ends, too. It’s so premium. Not everyone will appreciate how nice this is, but as an RC guy with ALL the cars and a lot of experience at this point, I want to emphasize just how high the quality is on this vehicle. RGT have not cut corners on chassis and links.

RGT Intruder Shock Hoops
RGT Intruder Underside

Suspension

The coil-over shocks are also very nice. Aluminum body, thumb-screw adjustable pre-load, appropriately plush springs and intelligently mounted. I like these.

However, my unit arrived with empty shocks. Not everyone will notice this, and not everyone will care, but you want some oil in your shocks. It limits how bouncy they are, which limits how much the wheel reacts to changes in terrain at high or low speed. I’d recommend 30 wt. oil, give or take. Worth doing.

The shocks move well and the car is in good shape with this setup. Just don’t forget the oil like my car’s assembler did!

RGT Intruder Adjustable Alloy Shocks

Straight Axles

No portals here. But the best thing about these straight axles is how tough they are. I love seeing steel universal joints on front steering axles in a crawler. It’s really the only way to go for performance and strength. Yes, they’re not as smooth as CVDs and similar, but the extra steering angle the unis afford you make the trade-off well worth it.

The housings themselves aren’t particularly scale, but the size is small and they are attractive. It’s a high-pinion position like Axial’s AR45 axles and the gears are helical cut (or spiral? Can’t quite tell from the photos). Either way, they’ll be strong, and with the default tooth count of 30/8, overdriving/underdriving using the diff gears for better crawling and steering should be a straightforward undertaking. (I’m confident these will fit, though I haven’t tested them yet!)

RGT Intruder Rear Axle and Links
RGT Intruder Front Axle and Links

Radio & AIO Rx/ESC/Lights

After a couple of vehicles with the new FlySky MGXX-BS radio systems, this is my first one with the middle-spec option, the MG6-BS. It’s a 6-channel radio (4x AAs) and an AIO (All-In-One) receiver, 60A ESC and light controller with discrete light hub for body-mounting. The radio is comfortable in the hand, all plastic, and with two stand-out features/design elements:

  1. Channel 5 is a spring-loaded thumb dial that returns to center. What a perfect controller for a winch! (The chassis and bull-bar have a mount point and fairlead respectively for exactly that, too!); and,
  2. A set of DIP switches on the radio that give you control over drive mode (Fwd/Brk/Rev and Fwd/Rev); LiPO/NiMH; Drag Brake (0%, 25%, 50%, 100% – though it’s weak even at 100%); and all the channel reverse options.

It’s a good system. Be aware the light kit is a cut-down version that gives you headlights or no headlights, and indicators and reverse being always enabled based on steering and throttle inputs respectively.

The biggest drawback is that Reverse is WEAK. Slow and underpowered, it seems to have been a cost-saving choice, as you need less MOSFETs in the ESC for reverse for this outcome. Saved FlySky a buck or two, though you miss it on the trail. Apart from this one drawback, I like the whole system.

RGT Intruder MG6-BS Radio
RGT Intruder FlySky 2A-BS AIO
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Our Test Course

If you’re not familiar with how we test RC rock crawlers, we have a course that challenges any 4x4 RC crawler in many ways:

  • Approach and departure angle: these  are challenged on Problems 2 and 3;
  • Side-hill ability: tested on Problems 1, 3 and 5;
  • Breakover (skid clearance): tested on Problems 4 and 6;
  •  Suspension articulation and centre of gravity: challenged on problems 2 and 5; and lastly,
  • A punishing ascent on problem 6 tests all of balance, break-over, articulation, tire traction and approach and departure angles.

Put together, we have a gnarly, challenging set of problems that challenge all crawlers. If a rig can conquer 3 or more of them, chances are you have a reasonably high-performance rock crawler. There are some machines that can claim all success on all six in stock form – but not many!

Driving Woes

I tested it on my 6-Problem course. Bad news first: that slow and underpowered reverse is a big enough drawback to be quite noticeable. I also found the steering servo to be slow and it faded under heavy crawling within a few minutes (though it didn’t fail outright).

The motor and gearing is too fast for crawling and too slow for trail driving. There’s no second speed here, so unlike the Rescuer (there’s that comparison again!!), you’re stuck with your gearing, battery and motor choice. This feels just like comparing the TRX4m to the FCX24 with its 2-speed, actually!

The tires are too stiff. The suspension moves like it should, though being filled with oil would have helped. The car is top-heavy and it tips over easily.

RGT Intruder 25kg MG Servo

Driving Wins

On the bright side, this car looks magnificent on the trail. It looks amazing on the rocks. It moves nicely, with plenty of scale body roll without being too much. It’s quiet, and very pleasant to watch it work over the ground.

Without upgrades, in stock form, this will be a frustrating car to drive if you’re going beyond basic obstacles. The waterproofing is a nice touch, as are the lights, but that capability limitation will make itself known regularly.

With upgrades, though? Yeah, I think this could easily become one of my favorite cars. I’ll get back to you on that, as I’m planning on doing all of the upgrades I list below. The car drives okay. Could be better. 4/10.

RGT Intruder Rear-Right

Value Proposition

So, did they pull it off? Is the car worth the asking price? For a bigger, established brand name, the price is good. Although, newer names have been creeping in with very durable and very capable options in recent times – just look at the Ecto if you’re not convinced (review here)!

I think this car represents real potential for the owner who loves the Landcruiser body and has plans to improve it. As a stand-alone crawler, it’s not as good as a similarly priced rig from Element, such as the Sendero HD. But as a scale crawler with potential to go ultra-scale at low speeds, it leaves the more expensive TRX4 and Axial CJ7 in its dust. But those crawlers will be better on the trail with their second speeds, and better on the rocks, with their better tires and overall performance. So, what to do here? Buy it if you love the body, but be prepared to upgrade as you’re able.

RGT Intruder Unclipped Brush Bars

Upgrades?

Open your wallet for this one. I try to be reserved in my upgrade recommendations usually, but this rig really wants a list of things. Ready?

Wheels & Tires

First, the tires need to go. They aren’t great. And since they’re glued, go with a weighted beadlock wheel too. I’m quite partial to the Boom Racing Hustlers – check them out (and I even found some period-correct steel ‘Sunraisia’ style beadlocks that go *perfectly* with this car)!

Also, you’ll want to install wheel wells (I’ll design some soon to download and print).

Electronics

The slow, weak servo needs replacing. Try my favorite budget crawler servo and you can even run it directly off the 2S battery (signal and ground wires to receiver, positive wire to battery connector, via a switch if you want). Or, my fave 7.4v brushless all-rounder is this guy.

While we’re on electronics, the AIO Rx/ESC and motor combo is sufficiently lacklustre that you’ll eventually throw your hands up and slap in a Fusion system instead.

You’ll want a radio system too, in that case – buy a receiver for any other radio you have, or consider the ever-reliable FlySky GT5.

Banggood sells really cheap 6-ch receivers so you can use this handset for up to 20 models, which is handy.

Lights & Accessories

Lastly, lights: use a Y-splitter for the light control module on the throttle channel and hope for the best (I will try to make an Arduino-based adapter for this to piggy-back off throttle and steering channels soon).

Down the track, you may consider a servo winch – the car is certainly ready for one! And perhaps also some scale accessories and you’ll be sorted!

RGT Intruder 35T 550 motor

Bottom Line

It’s a worthy body on a basic car. With upgrades, it’ll be a SWB beast! Without em, it’ll be a bit frustrating to drive. Pick obstacles appropriate to its capability and you’ll enjoy yourself. Just keep the limitations in mind if you’ve got your heart set on this gorgeous model.

My thanks to Banggood for providing RC-TNT with this model to review. I’d have purchased it myself if they hadn’t, because, just look at it! But they made the investment and have my thanks. Grab your own RGT Intruder EX86020 from Banggood here.

RGT Intruder Rear Left
Craig Veness

Craig Veness

RC-TNT

Craig has been into radio control since the 90s and into RC crawling since about 2010, when a Losi MRC started the obsession! Now it's all rocks this and crawl that and upgrade all the things! ...You know how it is, right? Welcome home 🙂

A note on affiliate links: we were provided with this car by the manufacturer for review purposes. The Amazon and AsiaTees links in the above article are affiliate links, which means we may be paid a small commission if you choose to click on them to make a purchase. As always, we make effort to ensure that no review is impacted by this – we still report on bugs and issues encountered during product testing, and our fixes or solutions if found. Thank you for reading and happy RC-ing!

More RGT Articles…

Which RGT Trail Rig is Best for YOU?

Which RGT Trail Rig is Best for YOU?

by | Dec 17, 2023 | RC Crawlers, RGT

RGT Pro Runner

The RGT Pro Runner EX86130 is just the latest in a growing line of interesting and capable RC crawlers and trail rigs. And hasn’t RGT been on a roll this past year or two!

On our YouTube channel, RGT has featured every now and then when there’s an interesting release to examine. But it was almost as if the company was just warming up for 2023’s big releases that we’re now so lucky to be able to choose from!

RGT’s Other Options

Fans of the channel will recall the well-received RGT Pioneer EX86110, which was arguably a forerunner of the current upper echelon of EX861XX models. (Find our RGT Pioneer video series here). With some careful upgrades on a budget, the Pioneer is an exceptional all-rounder. The EX86010-CJ is also a budget stand-out, while we’re at it. (Video here).

Also, I should note up-front that there’s a gap in our coverage of this family of models: the RGT Tracer EX86180Pro. This is a 4WS-enabled SCX10 Pro type vehicle, and one I think we should try to get hold of in the new year. For now, just be aware that it’s an option for those with a rock-crawling focus rather than trail aspirations.

3 RGT Models - Top

The Three Contenders

If you love a mix of trail driving and scale rock crawling, things are now very interesting. As of the start of 2024, there are three fantastic models that the discerning RC trail driver and scale crawler driver will want to know about:

Let’s take a look at them!

3 RGT Models - Front
3 RGT Models - Rear
3 RGT Models - Underside
3 RGT Models - Triangle Top-Down

RGT Rescuer EX86190

There’s a complete article about this model on RC-TNT.com here – have a read when you’re done with this one. The scale crawling and trail driving community had their interest drawn to RGT’s mid-2022 release of the RGT Rescuer (EX86190). And it wasn’t just the attractive 70-series Toyota Landcruiser body – though unlicensed – that made this RC crawler something special. Sporting essentially the same feature set as the full-version Traxxas TRX4, the Rescuer’s scale looks, 2-speed and remote locking diffs made for a very attractive option.

What really stood out to me in my testing of this model was its fun factor. The vehicle rides on 4.75” tires and the live portal axles work under alu-shock, oil-filled, coil-over suspension on all corners. With a moderately high center of gravity, this leads to a scale model that moves pleasingly, with body roll that mimics the real thing. There are many RGT mods available. You can improve the vehicle’s CG (Center of Gravity), for better crawling with some brass parts. Or, you might better light the way  with bull bar and roof rack light bars complement the existing light kit. Maybe you want to improve the scale model experience with a complete, polycarbonate interior, with driver. You can do all of this!

Lid Off Rescuer
Steering Rescuer CMS
Rear Links Rescuer
Max Steering Rescuer

RGT Challenger EX86170

On the heels of the Rescuer, RGT next released the Challenger. This was more of a retro style pickup truck and in my opinion, its features put it roughly in between the Rescuer and the Pro Runner. Like the Rescuer, the RGT Challenger sports a pair of portal axles, with a 2-speed transmission that incorporates a DIG (rear axle locking), opposite-spinning drive shafts to minimise torque twist, and a built-in 6.6% overdrive to the front axle.

This attractive machine also sports a rear-facing servo winch, sway bar system on the rear end and a functional light kit! Priced only marginally less than the Rescuer, this is another compelling model. I found there were a few ways to modify this model to make it more convenient to use, but there’s very little this vehicle needs addressing, out of the box. A solid choice.

Lid Off Challenger
Steering Challenger SOA
Rear Links Challenger
Max Steering Challenger

RGT Pro Runner EX86130

I found the Rescuer to be fun and the Challenger to be quite complete. And so the RGT Pro Runner EX86130 took me quite by surprise, not least because it costs about 20% less than the other two! The Pro Runner is another unlicensed body that looks very close to the Traxxas TRX4 2021 Bronco, even down to the smaller details such as the ABS plastic folding side mirrors and similar front grille. (Quick note: the top photo in this article shows the Pro Runner with different tires. The plastic, silver beadlocks are standard, with the 4.19″ tires. See the rock test video for how good they are).

However, the Pro Runner is special for two reasons, I think. First, the price – in Australia at least, I can buy two Pro Runners for the price of one TRX4 2021 Bronco. That’s already quite significant. Secondly, the feature set – it is vast! Check this out: 2-speed transmission with DIG, 6.6% overdrive and opposing rotation drive-shafts, just like the Challenger; full-function light kit, including brakes and reverse options; straight axles rather than portals for added scale; front-facing servo winch; servo-on-axle hidden in such a way that you’ll miss it if you’re not looking for it; steel universal front axles for greater turning angle and strength than the CVD-equipped Rescuer and Challenger’s portal axles. What a list!

Lid Off Pro Runner
Steering Pro Runner SOA
Rear Links Pro Runner
Max Steering Pro Runner

How Do You Choose?

That really is the question, isn’t it? I am in the process of making a video about this, and I suppose writing this article is helpful in distilling my thoughts on this difficult choice. There are some little quality-of-life things, like how the body attaches to each (see the below picture), but the unique blend of features, capability, appearance and handling all add up to something different in each case.

So, I do have some thoughts that you may find useful. I’ll try to use this to guide you on why you may (or may not) decide to select each one. Read on!

RGT Body Attachment

Fun

This is the first, and to my mind, most compelling reason to consider any of these vehicles. For trail driving with some crawling, one vehicle really stands out to me: the Rescuer. Why? Consider the remote locking diffs in the portal axles, for a start. The Challenger has portals and the Pro Runner straight axles, but being able to remotely run them unlocked means more scale fun on the trails. When traction gets harder to find, lock one or both ends!

The second part of the fun formula is scale handling to match the gorgeous looks. With the suspension setup on the big, bouncy tires, the Rescuer rolls and moves like few others. I’ve driven this through deep water, mud, rocky ground, and long dirt paths. It just keeps on trucking and it looks great doing it. Vote 1 for Rescuer if you’re shopping for fun!

Modding

There are two kinds of RC crawler owners: those who mod their rigs, and those who just haven’t done it yet. The Challenger is a very complete vehicle out of the box, yes. However, there are a few things you can do to improve its design for easier daily use. I actually cover some of these in my modding video, linked at the end of the article.

But, aside from fixing wiring and putting a body-stand in place, there’s one mod in particular that this vehicle is just begging for: converting that rearward-facing winch to power a rear towing assembly! They’ve actually done most of the work for you already. A boom assembly could be made from aluminum, braised from mild steel, or even achieved with some 3D-printed beams (the last of which I think might be the way I go with it). You already have the winch, so re-route the cable and add a tackle block under the end of the boom and you’ll be done! The Challenger gets my choice as most promising for mods.

Budget All-Rounder

Fun is subjective and not everyone wants to convert a trail rig into a tow-capable machine, I get that. Where I think we’ll all find common ground is on the subject of sheer value for money. On that front, the Pro Runner absolutely and completely delivers.

I took this car with me last weekend to a meet-up with a bunch of folks and we went on a 4-hour mudding adventure in the Aussie bush. Water crossings, treacherous rocky ascents, muddy gullies, greasy clay climbs – this day had it all (video here). I ran the Pro Runner on 3S, which the included WP-1060 allows (and all three vehicles have the same ESC and steering servo, by the way), and this vehicle was reliable and fun. It wasn’t the most capable, with those small 4.19” tires and straight axles, but oh, boy, was it satisfying to wheel. I can’t recommend the Pro Runner enough, if you’re on a budget and want a single all-rounder. Get this, you won’t regret it.

The Bottom Line

So where does that leave us with the choice? Chances are, you already have a pretty good idea of which you prefer after reading the above sections. And if you’re noticing that, wait a minute, none of these three has the remote locking diffs AND a DIG AND portal axles AND a winch, well, yes, you’re right. But not even Axial or Traxxas will give you all that, out of the box. The TRX4 2021 Bronco comes close, as it currently even includes a winch, at time of writing – but no DIG. The Axial SCX10 III gives you DIG and portals, but the diffs are locked full-time. And they are both considerably more expensive than any of the RGT offerings, at least, in Australia.

If you can’t decide and all three grab you, I do have one final suggestion: buy the one that moves you. Pretend you’re going with one of them and see how you feel about not getting either of the others. Repeat for all three vehicles; you may just find you’re most wistful about ‘missing out’ on one of them in particular, and that would be the one to get!

3 RGT Models Nose-In

Reviews & Test Videos

Now, if you’ve come this far and you’re pretty sure you know what you want, great! I have a growing catalog of videos that may be useful in helping you get to know any of these three vehicles better. Check them out here:

RGT Rescuer EX86190

Review & Crawl Test video

Muddy Trail Run video

All the RGT Mods video 

RGT Challenger EX86170

Review & Crawl Test video

First Mods video

RGT Pro Runner EX86130

Unboxing & Review video

Crawl Test video

Trail Run video: coming soon!

Mods video: coming soon!

 

Craig Veness

Craig Veness

RC-TNT

Craig has been into radio control since the 90s and into RC crawling since about 2010, when a Losi MRC started the obsession! Now it's all rocks this and crawl that and upgrade all the things! ...You know how it is, right? Welcome home 🙂

A note on affiliate links: although RC-TNT purchased all vehicles in this article, the AsiaTees links contained herein are affiliate links. This means we may be paid a small commission if you choose to click on them to make a purchase. As always, we make effort to ensure that no review is impacted by this. Integrity first, always. We still report on any bugs or issues encountered during product testing, along with fixes or solutions if found. Thank you for reading and happy RC-ing!

RGT 136100V3 Rock Cruiser RC-4 V3

RGT 136100V3 Rock Cruiser RC-4 V3

by | May 7, 2022 | RC Crawlers, RC Reviews, RGT

What’s New About the RGT 136100V3?

This is the successor to the budget performer, the RGT 136100 V2 Rock Cruiser. The Rock Cruiser V3 (or 136100 RC-4 V3, or 136100V3) may have a confusing name, but it is still a recognizable evolution of the V2 under the lid. The same chassis and running gear are present, but this is a very different vehicle.

In short, the body is the immediately-obvious update. The body is unlicensed, but it’s easily recognizable. Also, there are a bunch of new plastic pieces adorning the exterior. The lights have gotten a trick overhaul too. There’s a functional spare wheel, a higher turn motor and better suspension. But even all that notwithstanding, the new version brings something special that is largely new to the entire hobby, not just this model family!

RGT 136100V3

It’s All in One, Jim!

The headline change to this model is the integrated ESC, receiver and light controller. There’s a radio transmitter to match and combined, the RGT 136100V3 delivers a very slick driver experience.

The magic is the result of a collaboration between HobbyWing and FlySky. The former specialises in motors and speed controllers, whilst the latter is known for their radio systems. HobbyWing has integrated a FlySky radio system with a 40A brushed ESC that also has a wide range of light control and LED output ports, plus 4 useable channels. It’s quite an impressive device. More on this in a moment.

HW-711

HW-711 ESC Rx Lights

HW-711 Manual
FS-HW-G4P

FS-HW-G4P Transmitter

FS-HW-G4P Manual

What’s in the Box?

There’s a 1500mAh NiMH 6-cell battery and a 100v-250v 500mAh wall charger, both with Deans/T-connectors. The battery is secured by hook & loop straps in the vehicle when shipped. There’s a radio transmitter that needs 4x AA batteries – you have to supply those yourself, but that’s the only thing you need to add to get it running. There’s a manual that unfolds into a large sheet of paper. It has exploded parts diagrams on one side and radio and lighting system how-to on the other. There’s also a small bag with front & rear wipers and hubcaps & screws for the beadlock wheels – an optional aesthetic decision for the owner. Lastly, there’s a sticker sheet – the same as the one included with the 136100V2.

RGT 136100V3 Unboxing

Running Gear

The gearbox is a basic, three-gear design. It’s the same design type as the center-mounted transmission you’ll find in the original SCX10 (and in many similar and cloned rigs in the following decade). While the box claims ‘Reverse Drive Transmission’, this is not accurate. The transmission outputs front and rear shafts in the same direction, so torque twist is moderately present in the 136100 V3. It isn’t hugely pronounced and is acceptable. Just worth noting the error in the claimed specs.

The motor is a 25-turn 390 brushed motor. The V2 had a 20-turn motor, which was too fast for the gearing and correspondingly hard on the battery. On the V3, this motor is more suitable for trail and rock driving and is a good match to the stock gearing. No complaints.

The drive shafts have the same steel universals and plastic shafts. They’re up to the task of driving this rig and should last the life of the model. Axles are also tough with steel gears and ball bearings throughout. We noted no slop at either end in the shafts and gears, so out of the box, this part of the vehicle is well-sorted.

RGT 136100V3 Transmission

Wheels & Tires

The Rock Cruiser V2 had white, plastic wheels and tires glued to the rims. While the design suited the body, this was clearly a cheap approach. It suited the budget truck quite well and we had impressive rock performance from the standard tires. For the price, it was most impressive.

The 136100 V3 comes with much higher quality wheels. They’re a 1.9” beadlock design with 6 screws around the outsides to keep them clamped onto the tire bead. The wheels are plastic but they’re attractive and amply strong, both in holding shape and keeping the bead secure. We had no problem with them during testing and they look great.

The tires are a scale-looking, all-terrain tread and the rubber is sticky and pliant on the rocks. Foams are appropriate to the vehicle weight and they really dress up the car. There’s a functional spare wheel on the rear. The donuts are a strength on this car, even given its higher price relative to the V2.

RGT 136100V3 Wheels

Steering

There’s a claimed maximum steering angle of 45°. However, we found that after extending the EPA (End Point Adjustment) on the radio to get that full range of steering, the front-left tire contacted the coil-over preload adjustment collar. When under articulation on the rocks, this had the result of winding the adjustment collar right down, compressing that front-left spring. This unbalanced the whole vehicle. To fix this, you’d either want to run a lick of tape around that adjustment collar or else back off the steering maximum left throw a tad.

The servo is a 6kg waterproof unit with nylon gears. It’s mounted on the axle, so while that isn’t as ‘scale’, the steering performance benefits from the more direct control over the steering arm. The 136100V3 has adjustable front caster angle and the front axles are universal joints rather than CVDs, which helps give that extra angle potential (CVDs max out at around 42° typically).

Our servo failed pretty much from the start of testing. We replaced it with a cheap 15KG waterproof metal geared unit and that was much better suited to this vehicle. Steering was precise and the sticky tires were not a problem for the heavier unit, even on tough rock problems.

RGT 136100V3 Steering

Suspension & Links

Link setup is 4-link at each end. Links are nickel-coated steel with stainless steel ball ends. Articulation is generous for the vehicle type without being excessive. Is the setup an accurate scale replica of the Jimny? No – the full-size vehicle uses a 3-link system at both ends. The real Jimny does have rigid axles and coils at both ends, but the panhard system delivers a better and safer on-road ride while the 4-link system in the RGT 136100V3 is arguably a logical sacrifice to scale detail in favour of better crawling ability.

The shocks themselves are plastic, oil-filled units and the coil-over springs are on the soft side with adjustable pre-load. It’s a plush system overall and it works well with this model. (There’s a pleasing amount of body roll, too – check out our video review at the end of this article to see that. It’s quite fun).

RGT 136100V3 Undercarriage

Body Mounting

The Jimny body attaches without visible body pins. This is a welcome trend in the hobby and we hope to see more of this! Still, not all systems are equal – some can be straightforward while others can be downright frustrating (I’m looking at you, SCX10 III Gladiator). On the RGT 136100V3, there are two pins through body posts underneath the front grille area and the body slips easily onto the chassis mounts.

In the rear is a hinge system that can be unscrewed to fully remove the body – but it opens right up on that hinge, so you should rarely need to do this. The only catch is that the light wires aren’t quite long enough (just an extra 3” or so would be good) to allow the body to fully hinge open. A minor criticism on an otherwise well-executed hidden mount system.

Front Body Mount
RGT 136100V3 Body Hinge

Is It 1/8, 1/10 or 1/12? Yes. Also, No.

RGT’s own marketing material for the RC4 V3 claims they’ve “chosen an off-road vehicle with a relatively historical brand”. Growing up, I loved the Suzuki Sierra (aka. Samauri in other markets) and the new Jimny is a progressive step forward for safety and capability while still retaining that light-weight, short wheelbase design that made its predecessor so beloved for so many years.

However, the body itself is not branded. They appear to have used the design without licensing; we cannot confirm this, but the absence of any branding is telling. The reproduction is pretty good, though the wheelbase, tire & wheel size and overall dimensions are not aligned. Compared to the real 2021 Jimny, this model is roughly a 1/8 scale, though it’s similar in size to other 1/12 scale models. Here’s the thinking behind the 1/8 scale claim, despite this being sold as a 1/10 scale car:

RGT 136100V3 Scale

Light System

This is one of the party tricks the RGT 136100V3 has up its sleeve. While many model crawlers now come with at least basic white/red front/rear lights today, there aren’t as many with a proper light-control system. Indeed, the best light system we’ve found in recent times was in another RGT model, the Rescuer (EX86190) – see our review here for that one.

The light control system in this car is different to that of the Rescuer, however. The Rescuer had its own discrete light control unit, a separate ESC and separate radio receiver. On the RGT 136100V3, all three of these components have been combined into the HobbyWing/FlySky HW-711. That’s just one central hub for all electronics control, from light to motor to steering. This is actually pretty neat, though the execution is a little lacking.

The biggest drawback is the confusing number of wires and how they connect to the HW-711. Ours popped out during filming when the lid got bumped open harder than intended. We found reconnecting the right wires to the right ports was not as simple as you’d think. The wires all have their own numbers on them, yes, but there are multiple ‘1’, ‘2’ and ‘3’ wires and it wasn’t clear what went where, exactly. Further, there are a few spare ports on the HW-711 for future additional lights to be added (taillights and roof lights are vacant but possible to add – a good thing in itself). Finding what wire went where was not straightforward, but once everything is where it should be, there’s quite an array of possible lighting configurations you can eke from the system.

HW-711 Light Control

HW-711 Light Control

HW-711

HW-711 ESC Rx Lights

HW-711 Manual Front

HW-711 Manual Front

HW-711 Manual Rear

HW-711 Manual Rear

Trail Manners

The 25-turn, brushed 390 motor is an appropriate upgrade to the 20-turn motor of the 136100V2. The latter was too fast and drew excessive current, running the battery down too quickly. In the world of brushed motors, more turns means less speed and less power draw, and conversely more torque (to a point). In a 390 size motor, perhaps a 30-turn motor could be even better for crawling, but for trail driving, RGT has nailed it with a 25-turn. There is sufficient speed for walking on a trail behind the car, but enough low-speed control that it’s not as jumpy as the V2 was.

The plush suspension and accompanying body roll is pleasing to the eye. It soaks up the bumps. The motor is reasonably quiet and the car looks great on the trail. The tires are not particularly aggressive, but the all-terrain style of tread in combination with the sticky rubber compound is enough to give the rig plenty of grip.

The integrated ESC, receiver and light controller is waterproof! This is huge – the vehicle is wet-weather ready from out of the box. All told, the Rock Cruiser RC4 is an excellent little trail rig and is very easy to recommend for this purpose.

RGT 136100V3 Trail

Rock Performance

Things fall apart a little for the RGT 136100V3 when it comes to heavier-duty rock crawling. The 136100V2 was a rock-crawling powerhouse, if limited compared to larger 1/10 scale crawlers. For its size and especially its price, the V2 was truly impressive. (You can see our video review of that here).

The RGT 136100V3 is about double the price of the V2. That is, in Australia, as of May 2022 – it may be cheaper when you’re reading this or if you’re elsewhere in the world. It’s nicer in nearly every way than the V2, with the glaring and important exception of rock crawling ability. Where the V2 manages to claw its way over problems that challenge some 1/10 scale vehicles, the V3 tends to tumble or scrabble in vain. Steep climbs and side-hilling were both challenging to the V3. Its sticky tire compound made up for some of this and after we replaced the servo with a stronger unit, steering wasn’t an issue. But the rig really struggled more than we expected. It did manage to finish Problem 1 (out of 6 total) on our regular 1/10 scale test course. It’s good that it could do this, but it really should have at least been able to get Problem 5 finished as well.

RGT 136100V3 Rocks
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Our Test Course

If you’re not familiar with how we test RC rock crawlers, we have a course that challenges any 4x4 RC crawler in many ways:

  • Approach and departure angle: these  are challenged on Problems 2 and 3;
  • Side-hill ability: tested on Problems 1, 3 and 5;
  • Breakover (skid clearance): tested on Problems 4 and 6;
  •  Suspension articulation and centre of gravity: challenged on problems 2 and 5; and lastly,
  • A punishing ascent on problem 6 tests all of balance, break-over, articulation, tire traction and approach and departure angles.

Put together, we have a gnarly, challenging set of problems that challenge all crawlers. If a rig can conquer 3 or more of them, chances are you have a reasonably high-performance rock crawler. There are some machines that can claim all success on all six in stock form – but not many!

RGT 136100V3 RR Qtr

Value for Money

Possibly the weakest point of the RGT 136100V3 is its value proposition. The V2 was a steal at A$200/USD$150, but the V3 sells for around A$320-A$380 (or around a little under USD$300). It is an improvement in many ways over the V2, it is true. It looks great, has interesting electronics and a tightly integrated radio and power and lighting system. The tires and wheels are very good and the suspension is well implemented.

It really struggles on the rocks and the steering is a glaring weakness. For some, this author included, these can be a deal-breaker on a “1/10 scale crawler” purchase. However, for others, this will still represent a good deal on a pretty and still quite capable little scale trail truck. It is certainly a reasonable machine at its price point – we just would have liked slightly more rock performance at this price, or else to see a lower asking price to better match its rock crawling ability. Let’s call it a matter of subjective preference, as both buying it and passing on this one are completely understandable decisions.

RGT 136100 V3 Headlights

The Verdict

Could it be better? Absolutely. Is it worth the money? Kinda-sorta. Do we regret buying ours? Nope.

Why? Because it’s still fun to drive. In our video review we discussed the concept of ‘smiles per mile’ as a reasonable measure of value. If a car looks great and handles in a pleasing way, even if it isn’t as capable as other crawlers on the rocks, well, the fun is still there. And if its enjoyable to drive, the purchase is probably justifiable.

We’re going to look into improving its abilities on the rocks in a future episode. We’ll also fix a few of the issues with the design, such as lengthening the lighting harness so the body can open the whole way. We’re going to achieve these things for $10 or less as there are a few optimisations to be found with just a few hand tools and some creative changes.

With all this in mind, the RGT 136100V3 is a fun vehicle with potential for better performance. It looks great on the trail and there are enough well-implemented changes over the V2 to reasonably justify the price. It isn’t for everyone, but if you’re into the Jimny and have a focus on trail over rock driving, this may just be a model for you. Check out our video review combo for more:

Where to Get It

Get yours here from AsiaTees, with global delivery options for wherever you are! (It also is available here in a Ford Bronco body).

The servo we’d recommend to improve steering is the jxServo WP5323LV. It’s a full-size unit that runs on 6v, so it’ll be a straight swap with the stock, nylon-geared 6KG unit.

(The above are affiliate links, which help support us at no extra cost to you – thank you for your support!!)

For more info on this vehicle, check out RGT’s website for this car here. If you’re in a country that has FTX brand more readily available than RGT, the FTX-equivalent model is the Outback Peso 3.0. Find the FTX site for this car here.

Lastly, in the videos we mentioned the RGT Pioneer EX86110. That’s a brilliant 1/10 performer. Read all about it in our review of that one here.

Craig Veness

Craig Veness

RC-TNT

Craig has been into radio control since the 90s and into RC crawling since about 2010, when a Losi MRC started the obsession! Now it’s all rocks this and crawl that and upgrade all the things! …You know how it is, right? Welcome home 🙂

TRX4 Alternative? RGT Rescuer Review

TRX4 Alternative? RGT Rescuer Review

by | Mar 5, 2022 | RC Crawlers, RC Reviews, RGT

Bells & Whistles

The new RGT Rescuer (EX86190) is RGT’s latest and greatest ‘full-fat’ RC rock crawler. A Ready-To-Run (RTR) model, it features 2-speed transmission, portal axles and front & rear locking differentials, switchable lights and a highly detailed body. Does this LC76 model have what it takes to be a worthy alternative to the venerable Traxxas TRX4? Let’s find out!

RGT Rescuer chassis

What’s This All About?

The RGT Rescuer is a 1:10 scale RC rock crawler. It has a 324mm wheelbase (or 12.76”) and is something of a special vehicle. Scale details make for a very pretty body while a host of technical goodness resides underneath, including remote-locking diffs, portal axles, two-speed transmission and a full-function light kit! In this review we’ll look at both the features and discuss performance characteristics – and there’s our two-part video review at the end of the article as well, so you can see this machine in action!

The short version is it’s attractive and it is an epic trail machine. For more detail about it’s technical function, reliability, rock crawling ability and overall quality, join us as we take a deeper look at this budget machine with a big-name spec sheet!

RGT Rescuer

Impressive Body Details

The RGT Rescuer breaks with the current trend of issuing American SUV bodies. No Jeep or Ford truck here! Instead, the EX86190 ships with what appears to be a Toyota Landcruiser 76 Series body. We say ‘appears to be’ because there is no branding on the body. The included sticker sheet has the name ‘TOYOTA’ twice on some designs, but there is no logo of the company nor of the ‘Landcruiser’ badging that is standard on all such full-size vehicles.

This begs the question, is this an unlicensed copy? It appears so – we’ve reached out to RGT about it but have yet to get a response. Intellectual property issue aside, it’s a lovely body indeed. It’s available in Black, White and Desert Yellow colors (shown on store page).

Body Overview Front

Body: All The Trimmings

As well as featuring 4 hidden body mount points (in front and rear bumper), there is detailed plastic trim adorning the body, front to rear:

  • Full-face bull-bar with integrated winch fairlead and fog lights (no LEDs installed);
  • Scrub bars that connect from bull-bar to sliders/side steps;
  • Side steps in the form of steel bar rock sliders;
  • Toyota-shaped logo (sans-logo itself) on the hood which doubles as a latch to open the hood;
  • Plastic front grille with Toyota-shaped logo in center (again, sans-logo);
  • Light buckets front and rear (LEDs installed – more on that in a moment);
  • Spotlights mounted at the base of the A-pillars (no LEDs installed);
  • Wipers (1 for the rear, 2 for the front – DIY install);
  • Scale snorkel and pre-filter;
  • Hinged side mirrors with metallic, reflective stickers for added realism;
  • Door handles on all 5 doors;
  • Rear panel air vent, matching the configuration of the full-size 76 Series vehicle;
  • Rear bumper with integrated rubber mud flaps (removable);
  • Full-length roof rack with integrated faux light bar;
  • Rear ladder for roof rack access; and,
  • A set of red fuel containers with integrated spare wheel holder (bracket included, but no spare wheel).
Body Overview Rear

Body: Polycarbonate Detail

As well as all that extra goodness, the polycarbonate body itself is impressively detailed. The mould is a high-resolution reproduction of the full-size 4WD wagon it models. The hood opens to reveal a red engine cover, which hides the motor and servo. The windows and lines on the body are all correctly proportioned and to finish it all off, the included livery has gaps where the door gaps would be in real life (if they actually opened). This all adds up to a great looking body!

Body Overview Bullbar

Wheels & Tires

The included wheels are a standard 1.9” plastic rim with a smoked-chrome finish. The tires are glued rather than beadlocked. Some compromise is acceptable with a vehicle like this, where you have all the features and yet a lower price than the competition. The tires are good enough that this isn’t a big deal, and later on you may choose to buy any weighted 1.9” bead-lock wheel when you’re ready for new tires.

The tires themselves are labelled ‘BAJA PRO XS’ and ‘4.7 X 1.9 M/T’ on the sidewalls. It feels like there’s a single-stage, open-cell foam donut inside each tire. We found the rubber itself was soft enough that it compressed and deformed a little on rocks. The wheels are vented and there’s sufficient tread that they do very well in mud, poorly on sand, and reasonably on rock. Overall, we’d rate these wheels and tires as ‘good enough’ for crawling and ‘very good’ for trail and general use. They certainly hook up on gravel!

RGT Rescuer Wheel

Suspension & Geometry

Suspension duties are handled by dual-stage coil-over springs around plastic shocks. They feature adjustable collars and a small, secondary reservoir with internal spring. This secondary reservoir reportedly delivers longer shock life, though even standard shocks should be well-able to outlast the rest of the vehicle. They’re attractive units and in our use on trails and rocks, worked as expected. They are softly sprung and lightly damped, so overall you get what we’d call a ‘scale’ amount of body roll. It works well on this vehicle.

Vehicle links are stainless steel, with a 3-link and panhard arrangement up-front and a standard 4-link in the rear. All links are 5mm diameter and rod ends have stainless steel ball ends. It’s a time-tested layout and everything moves freely. The result is a plush ride and a decent amount of articulation.

RGT Rescuer Undercarriage

RGT Rescuer Dimensions

As well as the aforementioned 324mm wheelbase (12.76”), the vehicle overall is 582mm long (22.9”) and 248mm wide (9.77”). Including the 25mm roof-rack, the entire vehicle is 300mm tall (11.82”).

Diff-to-ground clearance is 54mm (2.12”) while breakover height (skid plate to ground) is 70mm (2.76”). Approach angle is 53.5 degrees and departure angle is 40 degrees. Tires have an outer diameter of 4.72” (or 120mm).

The model weighs 3.56kg (7.85lb) without battery.

RGT Rescuer Dimensions

EX86190 Transmission

The RGT Rescuer transmission has several interesting features.

Transmission: Two-Speed

For starters, there’s an integrated two-speed shifter with a decent jump in speed between low and high gear. The low gear ratio is 26.6:1 whilst the high gear ratio is 50.4:1. That’s a very useable gap between high and low – perfect!

Transmission: Metal Gears & Slipper Clutch

Next, all gears are metal, even including the 64T spur gear. This can mean a noisier transmission, but certainly, it’s very strong.  (Update: after some months of driving, no breakages so far! We discuss gear material in this little update post). There is an integrated slipper clutch that is done up quite tightly from factory. This suits some drivers (including us), but for younger drivers you may want to loosen it an eighth of a turn to help protect the motor and driveshafts from abusive driving.

Transmission: Appropriate Motor

The motor is a 20T RC550 unit. This is a slightly slower motor than the 17T 550 Titan that Traxxas includes with their TRX4 and TRX6. However, the compromise of slightly lower punch and top speed for lower power draw, lower heat and longer runtimes is a perfect trade-off on the Rescuer. Our personal preference with the Traxxas models is to swap the 17T 550 motor for a 21T 550 anyway, so RGT has this balance pretty much perfect out of the box.

Transmission: Anti-Torque Twist

The last feature of this trick transmission is what RGT calls a ‘Split Transfer Reverse Drive System’. What this means is the transmission has two outdrive shafts facing rearward from the transmission, spinning in opposite directions at the same rate. In stock configuration, the rear outdrive with opposite rotational direction to the front outdrive is connected to the driveshaft.

This has the effect of the front and rear drive shafts spinning in opposite directions, with the intended result being a moderate cancellation of torque twist. (Torque twist is the phenomenon of the vehicle squatting down on a rear corner opposite to the direction of the driveshaft’s rotation when accelerating). With opposing rotational driveshafts, this effect is somewhat cancelled, leading to a smoother stance even under hard acceleration. Very good!

RGT Rescuer Transmission

RGT Rescuer Axles

Portals

The EX86190 features portal axles, which serve to increase ground clearance and to gear-down the drivetrain. The front and rear diffs are remotely lockable and, as with the transmission, feature sealed ball-bearings throughout. The axle casings and portal casings are made of plastic and the diff cover is attached by 4 screws. If you open the diff for servicing, be sure to not over-tighten these screws in particular when reassembling!

Gears

Ring and pinion gears are straight-cut and “powder-alloy”. So, while they won’t be quite as strong as their TRX4 counterparts, they should stand up to abusive driving on a 2S battery and reasonably well even on 3S – depending on terrain, driving input and traction! For what it’s worth, we drove our unit beyond its intended design on our 6-problem rock course and suffered no breakages (we ran on 2S).

Lockers

The locking mechanism in the diffs looks identical to that of the TRX4 – a servo-actuated pivot piece, connected by cable back to the chassis-mounted servo. The pivot piece slides a dog (a ring with teeth on one side) along the axle shaft to engage and disengage with the differential casing. When locked, the diff gears can’t spin and so you have equal output to both wheels. When the dog is disengaged, the internal diff gears can spin, granting you differential rotation to each wheel. Independent control of each diff is granted by the radio’s Channels 5 and 6.

Links & Steering

Lastly, the axles feature a high-position link mount to help with clearing ground obstacles and the axles and portal outdrives are all metal. The front axle employs CVD (Constant Velocity Drive – allows a constant rotational speed regardless of angle) and have a maximum outer angle of 42 degrees and inner of 40 degrees. CVD isn’t as strong as a universal joint, but rotational output is smoother. In any case, the axles in the RGT Rescuer should be easily strong enough for intended use.

RGT Rescuer Axles

EX86190 Electronics

The RGT Rescuer has a 20-turn 550 motor, 4 servos, an ESC with built-in BEC and a radio system with built-in light kit:

Speed Controller

The Electronic Speed Controller is responsible for powering the motor, taking throttle inputs from the radio receiver. The ESC used here is the reliable Hobbywing WP-1060. This 60A Brushed ESC includes a 5V 2A BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit) that powers the servos, radio system and lights. The ESC is waterproof and supports motors as low as 12-turn 540 3-pole on 2S and 18-turn 540 3-pole on 3S. Its power switch comes mounted to the side-board, facing down –  you don’t have to remove the body to access it. It’s a solid device and well-suited to this vehicle.

Steering

The steering servo is a 25KG waterproof, metal-geared standard digital servo. It has ample torque and speed even on the 5V supply from the WP-1060. With the vehicle in its stock form, it’s certainly Good Enough.

Shifting

The three shifting servos are all waterproof, metal-geared, mini digital units. The 2-speed shifting servo is mounted back from the ESC, whilst the front and rear diff lock actuating servos are mounted on the other side of the chassis. Wiring is neatly routed in all cases and end-points came correctly adjusted from factory on our unit.

RGT Rescuer internals

RGT X6P1 Radio System

Controller

RGT supplies a 6-channel radio system with the RGT Rescuer. It’s branded RGT X6P1 and appears to be a copy of the DumboRC X6 system – a lovely, full-featured, budget radio system. There’s a cheapish feel to the handset with all hard plastics and no rubber, but it’s comfortable in the hand and the construction is tidy with no sharp or uncomfortable edges.

Indicator Features

The buttons for Channels 3, 5 and 6 have LEDs built-in that light up when engaged, being 2-position electronic switches. The LED indicators are super handy on a model like this, as you can see at a glance if you’re in low or high gear and whether either of the front or rear diffs are locked or unlocked. Very nice!

Trim and End Points

Throttle and steering both have a smooth feel and are sprung just heavily enough for useful tactile resistance without making it tiring to use. Trim and end-point adjustment for these channels have dedicated dials on top, under a cover, whilst the other 4 channels can be adjusted per the user manual (a combo of key presses when powering on to set end points and trim – you shouldn’t need these if using the vehicle in stock form).

Batteries

The radio transmitter takes 4x AA batteries worked flawlessly in our testing. It’s a very nice radio and is well suited to the RGT Rescuer.

Channels & Lighting

The receiver has ports for 6 channels plus an extra for battery/power-only connection. It also features an additional set of ports for the integrated light controller, which is connected by a 5-wire cable to the light unit in the body. More on that below.

RGT X6P1 Radio

Light Me Up

It’s no exaggeration to say we wish all RC light kits worked as well as this one. The light kit is a dual-piece unit that is integrated with the RGT radio receiver. On the radio, Channel 4 is reserved as a three-position switch to control your lights. But it gets better: the light kit already has the wiring run inside the body for you to connect a light bar and/or the LEDs for those spotlights that are mounted but unpopulated by default. All wiring is routed neatly and it Just Works. Wonderful!

Here’s an outline of the light system:

  • Light control module is connected in the body by a single 5-wire cable you connect when you mount the body.
  • Indicators flash in the direction of your steering.
  • Brake lights glow brightly when there’s no throttle input.
  • Brake lights drop to ‘taillight’ level brightness when reversing or driving forward.
  • Reverse lights glow brightly when you’re reversing.
  • Headlights are:
    • off with Channel 4 in position 0,
    • flashing with Channel 4 in position 1, and
    • glowing brightly with Channel 4 in position 2.

The system works smoothly and is a welcome detail that we’ve seen in all the RGT models we’ve tested over 2021 and 2022 so far. Lights are always welcome, but RGT has gone the extra mile with this functional light kit. Full marks for this!

RGT Labelled Undercarriage
RGT Rescuer Under-body
RGT Rescuer Electronics

Available Accessories

RGT makes a few optional extras to suit the RGT Rescuer. The faux light bar on the roof rack can be replaced with a functional unit (RGT P860077). Also, there’s a smaller light bar to fit the bull-bar (RGT P860079). The roof rack light bar can be connected to one of the spare power outlets from the light kit inside the body, whilst the bull-bar light bar can be connected to the spare 3-port plug on the receiver parallel to the 5-wire body connector plug.

There are also alloy wheels in two different designs to replace the stock plastic units: Design 1 (RGT P860065); Design 2 (RGT P860066). Both are bead lock wheels. RGT also has hub caps available to match the stock wheels (RGT P86162).

RGT Rescuer Extras

Performance

We’ve tested the RGT Rescuer on the trail and on the rocks. For a detailed look at how the truck goes on various surfaces, check out our two-part video review of this interesting machine (I’ve also now included a couple more videos we’ve since made).

More Info

Where To Buy It

The RGT Rescuer EX86190 can be purchased from RGT directly or from AsiaTees here. It’s only recently been released and its first run sold out quickly (Jan 2022). So, if it’s out of stock when you read this, hit ATees’ ‘NOTIFY ME’ button on the product page and you’ll be emailed when it’s back in stock.

To read more, visit the manufacturer’s site, here: rgt-racing.com.

RGT Rescuer top-down front
RGT Rescuer top-down rear
RGT Rescuer Gears
RGT Rescuer side-view
Craig Veness

Craig Veness

RC-TNT

Craig has been into radio control since the 90s and into RC crawling since about 2010, when a Losi MRC started the obsession! Now it’s all rocks this and crawl that and upgrade all the things! …You know how it is, right? Welcome home 🙂

RGT Adventurer V2 Review

RGT Adventurer V2 Review

by | Jan 18, 2022 | RC Crawlers, RC Reviews, RGT

Meet My New Fave 1:24 RC Rock Crawler

This is the RGT Adventurer V2 136240. Sometimes listed as HSP 136240 V2, it’s a 1:24 RC rock crawler and trail truck and it bears a striking similarity to the Element RC Enduro24. It’s so similar, in fact, that I’m betting it’s out of the same factory. (Update: I’ve learned that Element RC is using the 136240 V2 model under licence for its Enduro24 vehicle). It isn’t identical, at least, not quite. We’ll take a close look at this interesting little model, at what makes it special and why you should have it on your list!

Be aware that the RGT Adventurer 136240 is not the same as the V2. It’s not just a version update, either. RGT has a slightly unusual naming convention with their models and often the V2 and V3 of any given model can be a completely different vehicle from it’s predecessor. If you have an RGT Adventurer 136240, you’ll have a pickup truck with different internals to the V2. Read on to learn about this one!

RGT Adventurer V2 Chassis

Making a Splash

Let’s start with a little story. I’d chosen a river as the location for my video review of this little crawler. There are many boulders, some waterfalls, rock pools and a pretty gorge backdrop. It’s a lovely spot (and our recent SCX6 miniseries was filmed there, too – make sure you check that out if you haven’t yet!).

To begin my driving footage, I had the RGT Adventurer V2 136240 powered up and placed on a boulder, facing away from the edge. There was a deep pool of water beyond that edge and it was a picturesque spot to begin.

As I reached down to grab the transmitter and my camera gear, I heard a “plop!” It took me a moment to realise that I’d bumped ‘reverse’ on the transmitter trigger and the little RGT had obediently launched itself backwards, off the edge of the rock and straight down into that deep pool.

I quickly put the radio and camera back down and shot my hand in after the swiftly sinking crawler. I could see its rear disappearing but with water up to my elbow, I fished it out in time before having to really go in after it. Whew!

I placed it back onto the rock and grabbed the radio. I knew the best thing to do right now would be to unplug the battery and let it thoroughly dry before testing. It’s what I should have done, but my curiosity overrode common sense. First, I tried steering: yes, full throw without jitters! Next, I cautiously urged it forward – and it obeyed! Full speed forward and reverse, lights, steering – this thing wasn’t just water-resistant, it was fully waterproof! Awesome!

RGT Adventurer V2

Waterproof Electronics

Rather than mentioning it as simply another feature, this happy little accident led me to make water driving the focal part of the review. I parked the truck under one of the smaller waterfalls, snapped my thumbnail photo and then began the driving review. You can find that video right here:

To be clear, the RGT Adventurer V2 136200 V2 has no problem in the wet stuff. The 1KG servo is strong and sufficient for the vehicle size, the motor can get wet like nearly any brushed motor, the LiPo battery is happy being submerged and the 2-in-1 ESC and receiver unit seems quite happy being completely underwater. Now I’ll stress here that everything is made to a price and conformal coating and rubber seals are not impervious guarantees against water damage, but they do give you the confidence to drive anywhere anytime!

RGT Adventurer V2 Electronics

Traditional Drive Train

This section is really what drew me to both the RGT Adventurer V2 136200 V2 and to the Element RC Enduro24, the latter of which is a rebadged RGT Adventurer V2, as far as I can tell. The major draws of this model is the separate transfer case, being mid-mounted above the skid plate. The motor and gearbox are up-front, next to the chassis-mounted servo (CMS), above the front axle. The axles have the same ring and pinion arrangement of their larger scale counterparts. All of this combines to give a vehicle that has a natural run-down off the throttle and a need to increase throttle on tougher obstacles, just like a bigger car!

The SCX24 and the Losi Micro Rock Crawler before it had worm gears in the axles and a mid-mounted motor. Whilst this did grant these vehicles a mechanical drag-brake of sorts, it did feel quite robotic to drive. If you’re off the throttle, the car is stopped. With the RGT and other ring-and-pinion type designs, that regular vehicle feel is there to enjoy. For me, this is one of the biggest attractions of this type of crawler.

RGT Adventurer V2 Drive

Basic Body Looks Good

The RGT Adventurer V2 136200 V2 doesn’t have the same level of detail to its body that the SCX24 enjoys, but it’s certainly more realistic than the Enduro24. If you don’t mind a Land Rover Defender body, the Adventurer comes in maroon and black and has some basic plastic trim pieces and stickers to finish it. The exo-cage suits the body, the plastic mirrors and spare tire on the back add some scale realism and the stickers on the front grille and lights look reasonably good.

The body isn’t heavy and that spare rear-mounted wheel and tire look good enough that it’s probably worth leaving on. The body attaches with a traditional pair of body pins at front and rear, again, just like on the larger scale vehicles, and the paint is finished neatly. The polycarbonate is flexible but thick enough that it should outlast the rest of the truck and overall, it just looks good.

RGT Adventurer V2 Bodies

RGT Adventurer V2 Axles & Links

In 1:24 scale, axle housings and links are typically plastic. In this instance the RGT Adventurer V2 The axles themselves are metal and the dog bone drive from the gearbox to the transfer case is also metal. Gears are all metal except for the spur gear, which appears to be nylon or similar. Overall, this is a sufficiently strong setup for the little rig and I don’t anticipate breakages.

Should you convert to a brushless power system, things may change. Breakages are more likely with more power – keep this in mind if you do upgrade. I’d recommend you start with the stock vehicle and get accustomed to it first. Yes, it runs on just a 1S battery, but this can be a good thing. Lower power means less breakages and longer lasting gear. The axles will wheel on 1S power for the life of the model, even with abusive driving. You’ll cook a motor before twisting a drive shaft or snapping a link. In its stock trim, the shafts and linkages are completely adequate.

RGT Adventurer V2 Links

How Does It Drive?

I’m writing this article on the back of not one but two reviews of this platform. I first examined the Element RC Enduro24 and found it to be excellent. Find that video below.

Next, I took the RGT Adventurer V2 out onto the river rocks to test it and debut it on screen. Once again, I enjoyed the feel of a vehicle with separate transfer case and traditional ring-and-pinion diff arrangement. These vehicles are just a pleasure to drive. The RGT Adventurer V2 is poised, balanced and climbs well. It could use a little more weight up front and a lower center of gravity would benefit side-hilling and steep stuff. However, as an all-round package, especially for the price, this vehicle is excellent.

If you’re looking at 1:24 vehicles and appreciate a traditional layout of separate transfer case as seen here, the RGT Adventurer V2 could be just the ticket. Recommended.

RGT Adventurer V2 & Enduro24

More Info

Find the RGT Adventurer V2 on the manufacturer’s site.

Here’s our review of the Element RC Enduro24 on YouTube.

Here’s our review of this vehicle, the RGT Adventurer V2 136240 on YouTube.

 Get yours from AsiaTees!

RGT Adventurer V2 Chassis
Craig Veness

Craig Veness

RC-TNT

Craig has been into radio control since the 90s and into RC crawling since about 2010, when a Losi MRC started the obsession! Now it’s all rocks this and crawl that and upgrade all the things! …You know how it is, right? Welcome home 🙂

RGT Pioneer EX86110 1/10 4WD RC Rock Crawler

RGT Pioneer EX86110 1/10 4WD RC Rock Crawler

by | Jan 7, 2022 | RC Crawlers, RC Reviews, RGT

It’s cheaper than the big-name crawlers. How does it stack up?

The Other Guys

The RGT Pioneer EX86110 also ships as the HSP EX86110 and the FTX Outback Hi-Rock – they’re all the same truck. It’s a 1:10 scale RTR RC rock crawler with the kind of spec list and scale accessories that place it squarely in competition with more expensive, big-name rigs. If you’re considering the RGT Pioneer EX86110, chances are you’re also looking at the Redcat Gen 8 V2, Element RC Sendero HD, Traxxas TRX4 Sport, Axial SCX10 II and III, GMade BOM TC and so on. So, it’s cheaper. Is it good enough to be comparable? Let’s test!

RGT Pioneer EX86110

Quick Specs

  • Length：560MM
  • Width : 240MM
  • Height：240MM
  • Weight：6KG
  • Wheelbase : 313MM
  • Gear Ratio：6：1 — 33.3
  • ESC：WP-1040 40A
  • Motor: 17-turn 550 Brushed
  • Servo：15KG
  • Battery：7.2V 2000MAH NiMH

 

First Impressions

Strong points first: you have a separate transfer case. The motor is mounted up-front, next to the servo, above the front axle. A standard C-channel chassis underpins the truck, but there is a considerable amount of lateral flex (twists from front to rear). This isn’t a big deal for crawlers as it can be for road cars, but it’s noteworthy given the flex despite the braces in front, mid and rear of the frame.

The body is thin polycarbonate, but thin is good for crawlers – flexibility means durability. It is easy to install and sits neatly on the plastic rails and mount points. There is metal in the right places – links and link mount points, drive shaft universal joints and end-points and diff cover. The radio and electronics are adequate and the suspension is basic but functional.

RGT Pioneer EX86110

RGT Pioneer EX86110 Electronics

The electronics are a mixed bag. The overarching word for this RTR electronics package is ‘adequate’ – which is fine for a cheaper model.

Steering: the 15kg waterproof, chassis-mounted servo is adequate with the stock tires, but if you upgrade to stickier rubber, be aware you’ll be over-taking the servo on the rocks. In stock form, it is good enough.

Motor: a cheap, 3-pole, 17-turn 550 brushed motor runs the model. A 550 is superior to a 540 of equivalent turns in a vehicle like this. Torque is greater, though power is lower. This is fine for this model – battery life is better for it. However, I’d like to see a 21-turn or even a 27-turn 550 instead.

ESC: the ESC is a Hobbywing WP-1040 40A brushed unit and the hill hold/drag brake is reasonably firm. It stayed cool during operation on our demanding crawl test (see video review).

Radio: the radio system is a 4-channel unit, though out of the box only steering and throttle are connected.

Lighting: illumination is achieved by static white LEDs in the headlight buckets and by a set of four spotlights on the top rack. On our unit, the spotlights flickered seemingly randomly, but the headlights were solid. No taillights, though! One oddity is the inclusion of orange LEDs in the front bumper, ostensibly fog lights. White may have made more sense here, but the truck does look okay in stock form.

Power: Battery and charger included are a 7.2V 2000mAh NiMH stick pack.

There’s no specialisation in any one area, but the truck’s electronics are good enough, overall.

RGT Pioneer EX86110

Wheels and Tires

This is the area that can make or break a crawler. You may recall our recent review of the Cross RC EMO AT4: that vehicle had 170g wheels on all corners and sticky tires. Such a decision can hide geometry and suspension shortcomings on the rocks, and for the EMO AT4, we think it contributed to its ability to successfully finish all 6 of our test problems (a rare feat).

The RGT Pioneer EX86110 has light-weight, plastic wheels and soft but not particularly sticky tires. They’re 4.6” in diameter on 1.9” wheels with standard 12mm hexes.

The wheels look reasonable and could be painted to look different. They’re not beadlocks and the tires are glued rather than clamped, which is disappointing. Again, we’re examining a cheaper truck that is competing with big-name models, so compromises are more acceptable here.

The tires are a let-down. In our testing, traction was an issue even on reasonably high-friction surfaces (volcanic rock, rough granite, etc). Even though this crawler’s motor wants changing to a higher-turn unit, replacing the wheels and tires would be a prudent first step for improving rock crawling performance.

RGT Pioneer Wheel
RGT Pioneer Wheels
RGT Pioneer Steering

Steering and Geometry

The front axles have a CVA (Constant Velocity Axle) which ensures accurate speed control even at high articulation. The maximum steering angle is 42 degrees on the outside wheel (and 37 on the inner) – this is good.

The RGT Pioneer EX86110 does have one weird design element: four links in the front AND a panhard bar. If the servo was axle-mounted, a panhard wouldn’t be needed and the four links would make sense at both ends. However, as there is a CMS (Chassis Mounted Servo), there should be three links up front with the panhard, rather than four. Having the two different types of link designs at the same time means unnecessarily limited articulation on the right wheel.

The solution here might be to either remove the panhard rod or to remove the right-upper front link. Removing the panhard would result in unnecessary lateral pressure on the front links whenever steering – not ideal – so the better answer is to remove that right-upper front link. This will restore full articulation on both sides and will keep the steering position as neutral as possible throughout the suspension cycle on either side.

See our update video where we implement this exact fix.

Gearing and Shafts

The motor is mounted next to the servo, up front. There is an slipper clutch in the gearbox, which features reduction gears and an outdrive which goes to the mid-mounted transfer case. One additional reduction in the transfer case before the shafts take drive to the diffs. Other than the spur gear, all gears are of a “high-strength powder alloy” (per RGT’s website) and should be strong enough to outlast your driving for the life of this model.

The drive shafts feature steel universals and steel mount points at each end, with molded plastic shafts throughout. Everything seems strong enough to last and our testing on difficult rock problems with after-market wheels and tires would appear to back this initial impression. The drive train is solid and well made, overall.

RGT Pioneer Driveline

Body, Scale and Durability

The body is available in yellow, gold and blue. It includes LED lights in the headlight buckets and an additional 4 spotlights on the top bar behind the cab roof. Door handles, a snorkel and side mirrors round out the additional bits on the body and there are chromed plastic shackles on the front and rear bars (cut the front ones off to improve approach ability in particular).

As an RTR 1:10 RC rock crawler goes, the RGT Pioneer EX86110 is well appointed and ticks most of the boxes you’d expect from this class. It looks good and goes well. As to the bigger question of durability, especially in the rougher stuff: nothing’s broken yet!

Watch our review and follow-up mod videos to see the truck really put through its paces. Weak diffs, links and servos meet their breaking points on our test course, if they have them. I’m pleased to report the RGT Pioneer EX86110 had zero breakages during testing. This is better than numerous big-name crawlers we’ve tested over 2021. The GMade BOM TC blew diffs, the Traxxas TRX6 steering servo lasted all of 11 minutes, the SCX10 III DIG servo died during Problem 4, and so on. The RGT just kept taking the abuse – full marks here!

RGT Pioneer Body

Our Test Course

If you’re not familiar with how we test RC rock crawlers, we have a course that challenges any 4×4 RC crawler in many ways:

  • Approach and departure angle: these are challenged on Problems 2 and 3;
  • Side-hill ability: tested on Problems 1, 3 and 5;
  • Breakover (skid clearance): tested on Problems 4 and 6;
  • Suspension articulation and centre of gravity: challenged on problems 2 and 5; and lastly,
  • A punishing ascent on problem 6 tests all of balance, break-over, articulation, tire traction and approach and departure angles.

Put together, we have a gnarly, challenging set of problems that challenge all crawlers. If a rig can conquer 3 or more of them, chances are you have a reasonably high-performance rock crawler. There are some machines that can claim all success on all six in stock form – but not many!

Crawl Course Testing
Crawl Test Course

Crawling Performance

The truck is durable, yes. Where things didn’t go as well was in the crawling department. We had some success, but the problems where we failed showed deficiencies with break-over, approach and geometry setup:

  • Problem 1 was smoothly completed, which is a good sign for capable side-hilling.
  • Problem 2 was a challenge – the stock tires here are a big part of this, as is the ‘break-over’ angle (skid plate height above the ground). It did finish successfully, though.
  • Problem 3 tests approach angle in particular and is a difficult problem for most trucks. Despite multiple attempts on various lines, the Pioneer did not complete it successfully.
  • Problem 4 was also a DNF – and to be fair, this is the second-toughest challenge in the set and longer wheel-base vehicles need well-sorted geometry and good tires to complete this one. The RGT Pioneer EX86110 is fair but wasn’t up to the challenge.
  • Problem 5 took several attempts but with the right line, should eventually be successful for most trucks. The Pioneer did not finish this one, which was surprising. Line choice is paramount for any technical crawling, but trucks with superior clearance, tires, suspension geometry and center of gravity will succeed where lesser vehicles fail. The Pioneer failed here, unfortunately.
  • With Problem 4 and 5 unfinished, it was unsurprising to see it fail at Problem 6.

Testing highlighted deficiencies in center of gravity (too high, could use a little weight on the axles or wheels), break-over angle (sufficient, but could be higher), approach angle (improved with removal of front shackle mounts in particular) and tire traction (tire mods could help, else replacing stock wheels and tires with heavier and grippier options would be the best first mod).

Trail performance would be adequate with stock gearing and vehicle weight. Performance leaves a little to be desired on the rocks, but as a general-purpose rig, this machine is definitely ‘good enough’. The platform is sufficiently solid that there’s room to grow via mods and fixes if you’re later inclined to seek improvement.

How Does It Compare?

Bottom line, the question is whether the RGT Pioneer EX86110 is worth the approximate 25% cost saving over its bigger-name brethren up-front, or whether you’re better off spending more on a different rig and saving on mods down the track.

The answer is, ‘it depends’. If you’re after a budget but serious trail truck, it might come down to this or the Redcat Gen 8 V2. Both are similarly capable out of the box, the RGT Pioneer EX86110 comes with a battery and is definitely cheaper. There are more off-the-shelf mods available for the Gen 8 V2, but both trucks are reasonably similar and there should be some cross-compatibility with common mods (motors, servos, wheels on 12mm hex nuts, etc).

If you’re after a rock crawler and trail driving is a second priority, and you’re on a budget, you may consider going even cheaper for better performance: the RGT 136100 V2 delivers exceptional performance for around half the price of the RGT Pioneer EX86110!

Or, if you save a little longer and spend about 25% more than on the Pioneer, the Element RC Sendero HD is the best performing RTR 1:10 RC rock crawler we’ve reviewed so far. It is exceptionally good in stock form – and even better again with a handful of simple mods, let alone spending money on the few key upgrades down the track.

The Final Verdict

Buy the RGT Pioneer EX86110 if you’re after a budget-friendly trail truck that can also rock crawl. Consider other options if you’re after an RC rock crawler in particular, unless your choice is limited to this or much more expensive models, in which case changing just the wheels, tires and motor will net you some impressive performance benefits. It definitely isn’t a bad rig –it’s a solid, affordable and durable truck. The only problem is that there are better choices in many cases. But if you think about it, maybe that’s not such a bad problem to have!

RGT Pioneer EX86110

More Info

See RGT’s site for this vehicle: https://www.rgt-racing.com/cn_asp/productshow.asp?id=1140

Find our review for this video here: https://youtu.be/FczHvwaDc-w

And our Stage 1 mods video here: https://youtu.be/EBLTefpPUG8

Get yours from AsiaTees!

 

Craig Veness

Craig Veness

RC-TNT

Craig has been into radio control since the 90s and into RC crawling since about 2010, when a Losi MRC started the obsession! Now it’s all rocks this and crawl that and upgrade all the things! …You know how it is, right? Welcome home 🙂