I bought a used Rustler a few months back for my son to bash on and it kept burning up the Titan 12t motors. I decided to buy a new one and build this on for myself. Here's a list of what I've done so far. Am I on the right track or should I change some of what I've already done.

Traxxas Rustler xl-5
RPM control arms, bumper, castor block/hubs, link bars, shock towers.
Aluminum rear hubs
Traxxas metal drive yokes
Speed Passion Reventon S esc
Thunder Power 13.5t sensored
7 cell nimh, 2s 5000mah 60c on order
48p 90/19 gearing
Traxxas sealed bearings
Stock shocks
Stock rim/tire

The 12t motors are junk tbh, they burn up really fast. Best bet is to get a cheap brushless system for it and turn it down.

Traxxas Rustler xl-5

RPM control arms: RPM arms at all corners is a good idea.

bumper: go a T bone bumper.

castor block/hubs: strc.
(You will also want an strc bulkhead and hingepin brace.)

link bars: tie rods im guessing? Trx aluminium tierods will do.

shock towers: strc.

Aluminum rear hubs: trx or strc?

Traxxas metal drive yokes: go strc outdrives or MIP and go MIP or Strc shafts, alot more reliable and will handle the punishment. You will also want to invest in aluminum hexs, strc make 12mm hexes, and also a 17mm conversion hub set.

Speed Passion Reventon S esc: good little esc.

Thunder Power 13.5t sensored: good motor.

7 cell nimh, 2s 5000mah 60c on order: good size 2s battery, will be perfect. What battery did you order? Hard case or soft?.

48p 90/19 gearing: good. See if you can find a slipper mod, as the traxxas slipper units are horrible. Strc make a layshaft conversion so you can run a AE slipper unit, alot more reliable as opposed to the traxxas model.

Traxxas sealed bearings: over priced and waste of money.... get a set of plaig bearings for it, cheaper and better quality.

Stock shocks: bin them, you can do a losi scte shock conversion, much better shocks and alot more reliable. Or can purchase and build the strc shocks.

Stock rim/tire: bin them, get some Proline tyres for it.


All in all, not a bad place to start, but you will find it will be never ending lol. Once you start, it wont stop lol. Hope you have a deep wallet lol