After a long hiyatus from the RC hobby I just took the plung and bought a Team Associated MGT 3.0 Nitro 4WD RTR http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/associated/ascc0390_e.html
I felt it was a hell of deal for what you get and after much looking around I just feel Associated's products are the best IMO. Most every thing I had was Associated back in the day and it still looks like some of the best today.

Does anyone here have one of these trucks? What are somethings to do to it for some good back yard rock quarry bashing?
Any one got any tips/tricks for these trucks? I'm not new to Nitro as I had a Kyosho Spyder chassis on road car for several years, but I have been away from Nitro for 8 years and things look like they changed a little since I got that car 12-13 years ago.
What do I need to know for todays Nitro vehicals???
Lynn

Most are quite good out of the package.....I looked at the MGT trucks before I bought my Aftershock.....I just liked the suspension and transmission setup better......

Just break it in and go have fun.....get a decent NiMh receiver pack......the alkalines die quick, and don't really have enough power to run the radio gear correctly....Check all your hardware to make sure it's tight, and threadlock any metal on metal set screws.....have a couple extra glow plugs handy......break in can be hard on them.....a rechargable glow igniter is a good thing to have.....

The first upgrade I would make is an FM or 2.4 Ghz radio of your choice.....the Associated RTR radios are kinda junky....Maintenance is key to a nitro powered anything.....electrics can get tossed in the corner and cleaned up at a later time, but if a nitro powered engine gets left to sit without being cleaned and such, they turn to scrap....Something else to look into is going from a pull start to one of the electric start systems.....I'm not sure which one works with that engine, but I recall Associated has a well reviewed hand held electric starter system....having a selection of replacement parts is nice.....I've found tons of cheap factory parts for my ftershock on Ebay....I got a fully assembled replacement chassis for $12....

If I think of anything else i'll post it....

Associated parts availablity is usually quite good.....I like Tower, but I also use LosiPartsHouse.com since most of my stuff is Associated or Losi based.....though I do have a home built E-Maxx....

Thanks for the tips!

If I go with a Futaba radio, will I have to swap out the TA servos as well? Or can I just plug and play the existing TA servos into the Futaba reciever? The associated ones are supposed to be heavy duty metal geared, but the Futabas box stock arn't so I think I would rather keep the TA ones.

It was hard enough keep my Kyosho spyder chassis clean and that was run on black top, I can only imagine trying to keep this one clean after running in the dirt and such?

Should I get a water proof reciever box and put balloons on the shocks and such to keep the crap out??

Lynn

Thanks for the tips!

If I go with a Futaba radio, will I have to swap out the TA servos as well? Or can I just plug and play the existing TA servos into the Futaba reciever? The associated ones are supposed to be heavy duty metal geared, but the Futabas box stock arn't so I think I would rather keep the TA ones.

It was hard enough keep my Kyosho spyder chassis clean and that was run on black top, I can only imagine trying to keep this one clean after running in the dirt and such?

Should I get a water proof reciever box and put balloons on the shocks and such to keep the crap out??

Lynn

The Associated servos in my 18T and my Nitro TC3 plugged right into my 133I PCM reciever....

The Rx box on my Aftershock is'nt really water proof, though it does a good job of keeping the gunk out....