Do you need a setup station for offroad 1/8 buggy racing?
 

Seems like there are lots of ways to set toe, camber etc...

Is it worth investing in a setup station, or just getting close?

You don't really *need* a setup station for any car, just a camber gauge and a set of vernier calipers. Unless if you are running an Awesomatix/Gizmo, or maybe pan car.

Thank you)

- A cheap ruler can come in handy such as measuring the length of turnbuckles.
- A cheap ruler can be used to measure toe-in/out, but a set of cheap large calipers will be easier.
- A cheap ruler can be used to measure how far the shock collars have been moved from a fixed point on the shock.
- A children's protractor could be used to make fixed camber gauges out of scrap body lexan.
- In a pinch a credit card next to the tire on a flat surface can be used to visually compare the camber angles of the tires.
- cheap metal washers glued together can make an approximate ride height gauge.

There are many different ways to measure and setup racing vehicles. A setup station will obviously be more accurate than any solution I just suggested. But with a few simple tools just about anyone can get their car setup "close enough" to where it should handle properly.

The real key in this hobby is developing a good routine before setting your car on the track. Things such as doing a quick visual inspection before/after each run for any damage or changes are free. Taking notes about how setup changes affected the car can be very cheap (pen & notepad) or basically free (using notepad on your phone). As a person progresses in this hobby they will want better tools to help with their routines and maintenance, but they don't need them right away.

I would advise everyone to at least buy a good set of tools to install/remove screws on their cars. Even if you don't stay in this hobby forever, a good screwdriver or hex tool will come in handy to fix many things around the average home.