I bought a gently used RC4WD Trail Finder 3 from a guy. I review and drive it. Something, something, "I am never gonna financially recover from this." #rc4wd #trailfinder3 Turks and Jerps/Smiggin's Folly merchandise: turks-and-jerp...
2022 has been a year of let-downs from RC4WD for me. First this, and then the FJ55 being a lexan shell instead of a hardbody. Just baffling decisions all around. The TF3 is really just the TF2 but making the same dumb decisions in more confusing ways. Good thing I'm perfectly happy with my little fleet of TF2s. Save some money this summer, for sure. Spend it on tiny beers to haul in my tiny Toyotas!
They must be on a mission to self-destruct. The FJ55 was such a sad release, not only because of the lexan body, but the promotional material and box art vehicles were done poorly. And I absolutely love FJ55s. They didn't try hard to make it look good. SBG really did wonders with his by painting it on the outside.
@@turksandjerps well, I'm not defending RC4WD really, but with the price of oil soaring over 100 bucks a barrel, a styrene body that size could get pretty pricey.... (like over 200$) but yeah, that whole release was just a dumpster fire
@@brokennib1 A $200 ABS body would be a lot easier to swallow than a $120 lexan body (FJ55). People charge over $300 for unfinished printed bodies these days.
@@brokennib1 utter nonsense. Do you know how marginal the amount of oil is on plastic the amount needed to do a Hard body. Let the Barrel be 1000bucks and the price increase shouldnt be that high.
@@turksandjerps right… at this point I’m certain that all the people who work for RC4WD never have actually driven RC before. They’re just another money hungry company who have no idea what the consumer wants.
Fun fact: Back in the day RC4WD sold their own version of the Bruiser chassis. It was a close copy of the Tamiya chassis with minor changes, like using sold aluminium chassis rails instead of Tamiya's c-beam steel. I've been running it in one of my trucks since forever and it's great.
Over the years, I have been a huge rc4wd fan, I loved the gelande, I still have 2 of them, a fj40, but they just haven't moved forward at all, seems they have gone backwards imo, with all the other crawlers on the market now for half waht these cost and are twice as good, it's just not acceptable especially in the UK where rc4wd prices are extremely high, I think sadly my rc4wd days are over.
You make a good point. I think they are going backwards or at the very least standing still while other pass them. Their quality hasn’t improved since the the TF2 debuted.
If they weren't so expensive, I'd defend RC4WD's trucks this way: They're like a scale version of an '80s Chevy S-10, not capable or very durable driven off-road when stock. You maintain, upgrade, and massage almost everything to make it work well, and you take pride in that. If you're into Class-0-style builds, RC4WD may be your only source for some parts. I do appreciate that they haven't migrated toward the monster-tired side of things.
I think the S-10 was one of the best trucks ever made and they were quite durable and long-lasting. They got pretty rusty were I live but everything does. I’ve had three myself. What were we talking about again?
My brother preordered one of these and his reaction was much the same as yours. Mirrors where broken before he even unpacked it. His first and likely last rc4wd purchase.
I bought one ready to run rc4wd truck with a lexan body a long time ago. The truck didn't make 25 feet of trail crawling before I lost all of the drive shaft pins in the grass on the first test run. I bought it because it was based off the TF2 chassis thinking that I could put the toyota body on it. Come to find out, they plugged all of the holes on the chassis for the hard body mounting.
Thank you for posting this vid I was on the fence on buying this rig but now it's confirmed it would be a waste of time and money awesome review mi familia 👍🤙💯
A prime candidate to have real turksandjerps magic added to it before Folly driving duty starts! A full interior or a funky color, maybe a camper canopy? I can't wait! Thank you✌
You sound really excited by the TF3...About the rear axle could have the mounts wider and avoid that mess in the leafs, RC4WD already did that before like you mentioned and at that time, you could even get knockoff yotas with the Bruiser width...so it wouldn't be that hard to do it again
Yeah, since these are Yota II axles they never did Bruiser width in them. Only the original Yota axles. I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to come up with a new leaf spring mount for these. A little bolt on thing.
Thanks for the review. We all knew it was coming and I’m just glad it’s not my product. What’s funny is I have a bruiseruptor rear axle that I can sell you for 1 million dollars.
It’s ok, we know they aren’t watching. I have a set of those axles still on a different Bruiser chassis in the hoard so I’ll hold onto my million dollars for now.
I look forward to seeing how you improve this truck. It's truly bittersweet, as much as I love my RC4WD trucks, their vehicle releases in the last two years have been really disappointing. Other than tires, there's not much I'm interested in purchasing from them atm.
Others have mentioned the last two years as well. But what was great beyond two years ago? The 4Runner body that was incredibly wrong? At this point they don't have anything I want or need. I agree, tires are about the only thing I'd be willing to buy from them. But I already have a stock pile of them so when that runs out we'll see.
I own a TF2. Its the 1987 pickup. No it's not the Marty McFly truck that they sell now but I built it before RC4WD released the RTR. I am overall happy with mine because of all the mods I made to mine. I just can't find strong driveshafts. I keep breaking mine. I was hoping the TF3 would be better. Bummer.
It’s got some bounce to it that’s for sure. Is it the team Canada color way? The horn should say EH when you beep it, if possible 😂thanks for posting 💥💯🤙
They just came out with a giant engine removal kit. I plan on installing it. Not much reason to have an engine anyways if the hood doesn’t open. Hopefully you warm to it a bit.
The steering servo is on the same side as the driver where i'm from haha. I'm actually building my first rc4wd at the moment (I really wanted a wee little hilux). I'm quietly stoked that the full interior has the steering wheel on the correct side for Australia. Likewise for the range rover classic body I've got my eye on next.
Lucky you! Too bad the windshield wipers are on the wrong side for right hand drive. I know, I’m being a pain. I got a 1/24 TF2 (it’s bad) and it came with a right hand steering wheel. Oddly though as some came with left hand.
@@turksandjerps I got the 1/24 also, you're right it's pretty bad. I've done a few mods that improved it a little but it's still a bit disappointing. Looks good on the shelf though!
I would like to see it just left along one of the trails abandoned as a background pice. In my opinion probably not worth much other than a backdrop. Your garden is awesome and needs more junk lol!
I don’t think so ha I always enjoy the footage whenever you are around the buildings and old jeep I appreciate what you have done with your garden I am inspired! This would be a perfect pice to weather and let the folly take over
HI. i see you needs link between the front wheels? i never like 2 buy any rc used from.ebay Or Amazon l😂l great video bud thx 4 sharing with us ...Cheers🍺
I was convinced at trailfinder. And the difference is.....it has a 3 in the name. It's just sad bud. At least rc4wd does some nice tires. I bet if you run it with zero suspension travel no one will notice. Ha. Hope it was next to free. But I feel every rig can become something cool. All the best to you.
@@turksandjerps interesting.. 🤔 I tend to access the contents of boxes through the opening flaps on either end... But that's just me. Either way great content bro. I just subscribed. Keep up the good work. 👍
They stopped making the bruiseruptor axle a year before they make a truck that needs it?!? WTF?!? Failed to correct the front leaf mount positions!! That huge engine is ridiculous, and what's up with the over engineered steering system? I hope Matt gave you a good deal on this thing!
In addition, this is a truck, a realistic truck, and yes, you have to work on it to make it better, and tinker with things, and thats what R-C is all about, having fun tinkering and enjoying the hobby. RTR almost ruined R-C because of its plug and play mentality. (Toy grade crap). Lets go back to the good old days of R-C and actually learn what an ESC does and how a motor works, and the Rx and Tx and have patients again just like the golden days of R-C. To some that still exists.
It’s not a realistic truck. RC4WD had every opportunity to make this look and function better than a 40 year old Tamiya but they failed and it’s obvious. There’s a reason it’s no longer in production. I do enjoy tinkering but not on this level. I’ve had a lot of experience with their products and for years I was obligated to be nice because I was on their “team”. I’ve since resigned because I couldn’t in good faith support them.
@@turksandjerps That is the most down to earth response and respectable. Thank you. I bought a second hand TF3 and it had all the mods done to it already, so maybe I am lucky I bought (for cheap) this model and its still great RC fun crawling along with my TRX-4. Anyways, thanks again for your point of view.
I finally bought a TF2, because they were "cheap" because of the new releases. Very much enjoyed building (still building ) the truck. I would not go anywhere NEAR a TF3, that steering setup never worked to begin with (everybody forgets that the original Bruiser ran like garbage) And that motor setup is just a huge waste of time. Just a big batch of NO. lol
I don’t see the TF2 going anywhere for a while so the “cheaper” option will be around. I mean heck, they just released a new body kit on the TF2 platform recently which is sending mixed signals. Oh yeah, stock Bruiser steering was very, very bad.
@@brokennib1 Me neither but that was 35 years ago and the technology was much different so it gets a pass. You'd think a modern company could've improved upon something by then.
10yrs ago - RC4WD has weak axles Now - RC4WD has weak axles Literally the same ring and pinions. Literally the same ring and pinion in a cheap as dirt Chinese no name axle 🤯 Not as much as a redesign or even hardening.
I always wanted to get something from rc4wd starting at the trail finder 1 but.... now I really don't know if I want to. Overpriced and under built for what they charge!
I always viewed RC4WD as an icon of the hobby. So i got my first and probably my last RC4WD product: 1/24 Trail Finder 2 is such a disappointment. I was watching hoping the TF3 being 1/10 would be better, but from what I can see I'll pass.
I don't know about you but I see an electrical bucket truck. Because they're usually white and this is very white. For when Future Smiggins gets fully developed and urbanized. I'm just saying, man.
I don't understand why they didn't even bother changing the body at least for the TF3 they aren't even trying to compete with others companies.. Overpriced for what they give you.
I understand hiding a 540 can motor can be a challenge but it’s a bit exaggerated. Hasn’t the technology come far enough that a “1/10” could be powered by a 380 and be easily concealed? I’ve often wondered.
Makes you wonder who engineers or is involved with design with these vehicles RC4WD Comes up with. Why they can’t have somebody that has basic knowledge of Toyotas design there someway not at all scale trucks it’s always about the dollar or seems to be I have three of their vehicles and just started two years ago after having two boys and not being able to fly my RC planes I’ll get back into it but wow the basic things you can do better for the same price and sell so many more he’s pulling the strings.
I'd imagine it's a blindfolded person that's given a vague description of a truck then he draws it with a crayon with his non-dominant hand (still blindfolded).
@@TrillMurray The leaf springs on these are a selling point to most people (I assume). I think people also like that they come with hard bodies. Nobody should expect SCX/TRX/VS410 performance from these but they should expect a semi functional vehicle for the price.
@@turksandjerps thanks! That's what I figured. I'm building a trail king with a lc70 hard body and I'm loving how capable it is so far with a hard body and scale engine bay and drive line
Ah the Trail Finder 3. I'll never buy one of these. I have a Trail Finder 2 and it's my least favorite truck. It's quality is subpar compared to my other crawlers.
Hangers at the front are right for a Jeep or a Chevy, but Toyota did it the other way. most people convert to rear hanger for better steering in real world applications
I’m well aware not all trucks have the same hanger/shackle setup but when a truck is sold as a Toyota with a Toyota mini truck body it should have the right suspension setup.
We understand the purpose of this truck but the execution of it is terrible and confusing. High price, poor quality, weird engineering, questionable appearance to name a few.
I’m in process of building something that I will eventually send to you so you can tool around the folly with it🦄🏴☠️🫵🏻🤓 I think you’ll be thoroughly disturbed😂🤣🦄
