I'm still looking for a car for my kid (and I'd like a second for myself).

I've found a lot of cars on craigslist, but many of them are the older models.

I was keen on getting a newer one due to the fact that it's waterproof and my kids only 7.

Is the waterproof really needed?

What is it that makes the new traxxas slash, 'pede or rusler waterproof? Looking at the parts list all I see listed as "waterproof" is the servo.

Do the seal the motor or anything else?

If you look at pics of both, you will see the new ones have a sealed case that houses the receiver. The servo and esc are both sealed so no water will enter.

It is a nice feature, but care needs to be taken after use in water. The motor, screws, turnbuckles, etc can have increased wear due to this or corrosion.

Every time I drive my car in mud or water, I clean it thoroughly with the hose, dry it off, then spray it with WD-40. Works for me, your mileage may vary.

I could be wrong, but the circuit boards may also be conformally coated to make it "water resistant." Just imagine you're covering a circuit board all around with a thin saran wrap type of clear goop.

On the Slash...

The receiver box has an o-ring on the inside that seals it. The motor and speed control are waterproof.


Waterproof is not need but it will let your son run on rain days or days after it rains and there are puddles which kids will always find.


The Slash is a good truck for a first timer, it can take a beating and has a good fun factor to it.

I extremely recommend getting a waterproof version. My son whom is 7, also seems to find every single puddle even when i tell him to stay out of the water.

The reason I tell him to stay out of the water is because I hate getting all the water out of the wheels, and all the care you need to give the car after its water session. Since he's 7, he'll just run off to the next fun thing to do and I'll be left cleaning the car.

All it takes is one puddle to ruin electronics if it's not properly waterproofed. A 7 year old will ruin it.

Seg

Thanks. I'll spend the extra cash on a waterproof model.

What do I need to do to clean the car once I've got it. Washing it off and spraing with WD40 I can do.

Anything else? What about the tires?

You got it... clean it (simple green, water, etc) spray it (wd-40) and blow it off with an air hose if you can.

If you know it's going to get wet, I would suggest spraying some wd on the critical spots... hinge pins, wheel hubs (bearings), etc.... before he runs it, then clean up and wd again after.

My boys are 7 and 9 and I got them both a Slash and it's been the best rc for them yet. It looks like a real truck, looks bigger with the full body, isn't scary fast and dangerous like a 1/8 vehicle but it's not wussy and toyish like a 1/18, and it takes a beating pretty good.

have fun...

The ESC maybe waterproof... and the receiver maybe be sealed and waterproof... but the motor is not.. it probably can handle a small puddle or two... but then there are the batteries (probably the most expensive of them all) they are not waterproof... and don't forget about the bearings.. they will rust as well... so waterproof isn't so waterproof after all..

The Slash can take a moist dirt track or even a puddle or two.. but take care and understand that these are electric cars with some metal mechanical parts... water is not a good thing..

Also remember that if running in snow, that if you are running near or around streets, sidewalks and driveways, that the salt will cause metal to corrode faster...

Dirt good... grass ok... mud bad.. water worst..

Jerome

Just remember who has to clean it before he\she hits the mud

The motors aren't waterproof and don't need to be, they will run underwater, although it's not good to do for long periods of time. Puddles are not a problem. Lipos and water are a very bad idea. Nimh packs due to thier construction/cell type actually will also run under water (even open side by side packs with no shrink wrap). I've seen it.I wouldn't due it with my stuff and don't know how long they will last doing it but it does work.

Basicaly let the your 7 year old hit the puddles and have fun with no worries.

Nothing is water proof, only water resistant at best.

A water "proof" watch for example, might be rated to 30m but diving into the water or diving down some depth and furiously waving your arms around can let water in... it's about the pressure.
Same as getting in the shower with a water proof watch is a bad idea, it may be protected against the water, but not the steam, which can still get in.

So, it can only be water resistant and 99% of the time, is something that needs attention and/or maintenance.

Brushed motors can and will run under water, some people even wear the brushes/comm in this way.
Just make sure you re-lube the bearings/bushings after.

Brushless motors is a different topic, some people do, some people don't.
The newer Velineon motors are apparently sealed so these can be ran in water but again, only water resistant... nothing is proven against water.
Most of the thing's I read suggests that the main reason why brushless motors are not ran in/under water is because it may prove difficult to get that water back out, especially in in-runners.
Out-runners may be a different story, I'm not sure to be honest.

As for electrics, you can use plastidip (I think that is the right name) which you can either paint or dip your electrics and puts a film over it all giving it another layer of protection against water.

The biggest no-no that I know of with electrics and water is salt water.
Salt water has a higher conductivity and would make things short out much much easier.

Clean fresh water should be fine for just about everything, dirty water and mud is a bit bigger risk but salt water is the biggest killer and makes metal rust a whole lot quicker.

Quite a few people run all sorts of different batteries under water, so I am not sure about that one.

If I am wrong about anything, please correct me, I would hate to be giving out bad advice.