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AdminPermalink Reply by Thomas J Coyle III on February 7, 2012 at 10:55am

davefer,

Any rover that will last and have endurance as an expeimental platform will not be cheap. I have considered the Traxxas electric vehicles on eBay also. I think the thing to do is buy a new basic chassis and add components as your budget permits. I presently have two six wheeled rovers without independent suspensions and they were unfortunately not cheap by any means. I think that my approach will be to buy either a used or bare bones Traxxas chassis and gradually upgrade it as my budget allows. The Traxxas can navigate over uneven terrain and go where my skid steering rovers would have a difficult time.

Just a thought.

Regards,

TCIII 

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AdminPermalink Reply by Thomas J Coyle III on February 12, 2012 at 11:06am

I just love members who ask for recommendations and are never heard from again.

Just a thought.

Regards,

TCIII

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Permalink Reply by Chad P on February 14, 2012 at 12:19pm

Thomas I have a Traxxas Summit I got for carrying around a video transmitter (and camera) and other "rover" gear.  I really love the truck as a mobile ground based platform.  It can go anywhere and can remotely go in and out of front posi, rear posi, and high/low gear.  I was working on a universal mounting platform for it when I got hooked into RC-Air and now I have been flying a lot and collecting components for my Drone (Bixler right now with tricopter in the works). 

Some people may not acknowledge/appreciate your advice when they are the ones who asked for it, but people who come along searching for answers and stumble across it (like me who read another one of your posts regarding xbee series 1 communication and found it helpful THANKS) do appreciate it after the fact.  So helping out does have continuing positive effects even if the person who started the thread disappears...  All that said I don't disagree with you I am just saying thanks for leaving a trail of helpful advice out there for me to stumble upon.

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Permalink Reply by davefer on February 15, 2012 at 2:30pm

Hi Thomas -

I'm sorry I didn't say so earlier, but I do appreciate your counsel. It was very helpful. I immediately began my search for a Traxxas vehicle. I've been doing that off/on since reading your response. So the issue is still very open on my end.

Also, we just had a baby and I'm in the process of other life-changing events.

Thanks,

    - Dave F.

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Permalink Reply by Chad P on February 15, 2012 at 2:47pm

Dave

CONGRATULATIONS!  I have a 1 year old, 3 year old, and 11 year old...a new baby in the house can take your free time from 10 hrs a week to 0.0001 hrs a week.  I can totaly relate to that.  I got into drones about a year ago and just got my first one ready for flight next week I hope with full auto... It would have taken me a month to do the work about 3 years ago before the kidos.  Congrats. 

Like I said my Traxxas Summit goes anywhere! I have a pile of fire wood (not a stack a pile) about 3 feet high and all jumbled up.  I will climb over that.  Was pricey though $500.  But you can switch it into high speed for road/trail travel at high speeds.  Lots of money IMO but LOTS of functionality.  And works as a standalone toy.

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AdminPermalink Reply by Thomas J Coyle III on February 15, 2012 at 2:57pm

davefer,

Thanks for the response and Congratulations. I understand your situation as I was a father once a long time ago.

I have had instances where I gave advice and was hoping for feedback from the solicitor of the advice and never got any response. Many times I learn from the give and take of advice and am always learning.

Regards,

TCIII

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AdminPermalink Reply by Thomas J Coyle III on February 16, 2012 at 5:36am

davefer,

Since I have a number of UAV/UGV projects going at the same time, I thought that I would buy the Traxx Emaxx parts kind of piece meal off of eBay. That way I will have accumulated all of the parts I need to build the chassis when I am done with my other projects. So far I am bidding on a basic chassis pan on eBay.

Regards,

TCIII

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