The upgrade was pretty straightforward so, I don’t think there is any need to go into great detail but, I did want to note that the new RPM suspension arms were very snug where they met the stock bulkheads. It becomes painfully obvious that the stock spacers are no longer needed and you are going to need to break out a file, Dremel, or sandpaper to remove a tiny bit of material around the hinge but, don’t remove too much, you don’t want any play in the hinge.

The hit to the wallet was about $40 for two new RPM suspension arms, two new shocks, and a set of hinge pins. The total time spent fixing the E-Maxx was a couple of hours (it was my first time) to remove the entire front-end, install the new parts, adjust the suspension, and straighten the alignment. Adjusting the pillow ball and setting the camber was a bit tricky, if it translated to words and pictures I would do my best to describe what I did but, this is one of those things where you should just read the manual and learn how it feels. When it’s right, you’ll feel it.

So, if you were wondering how long it takes to break and learn how to fix your E-Maxx truck, the answer is, about four sessions. The good news is, RPM (and the rest of the web) says that these new A-Arms are damn near indestructible and I was probably going to break the stock suspension sooner or later anyway.

Unboxing this RC truck might not be all that exciting since the E-Maxx 3903 doesn’t come with a million parts to put together or a bunch of accessories to review but, we can talk about what it takes to get the ball rolling and take a look at the last time it will ever look this clean.

The first thing I have to recommend you do is take a few minutes to read the manual. I am not some kind of stickler for directions but, this truck really does have a ton of working parts that you should take your time understand them.

In an effort to get you out the door, Traxxas provides quick and painless guide that speeds you through the manual, only touching on the most important points. That said, it’s going to take some time to get your batteries ready to run anyway so, why not get educated?

An interesting thing to note is that the E-Maxx 3903 did not come with one of those little Traxxas single battery chargers I have heard mentioned in other Traxxas products. So, if you don’t already have a charger capable of charging the Traxxas 3000mah NiMH batteries the E-Maxx comes with, you will need one before you can go out and play.

Obviously, I have to recommend the one charger I know and love, the Thunder AC6. As I stated previously, the Thunder AC6 put a solid charge into the Traxxas 7 cell 3000mah batteries in about 90 minutes.

In the box we also find a bag of goodies and parts necessary for tuning, fixing, and customizing the truck. The extra include body pins, option speed gearing, shock pistons/spacers, and a few specialty tools.

The E-Maxx 3903 also comes with the new Traxxas 2.4GHz transmitter and receiver with Traxxas Link. The controller features the ability to store up to 20 different models, fully adjustable steering and throttle, with a multi-function nob to precisely set a range of sensitivities. I was a little surprised with its light weight and would have preferred something a little more beefy and sturdy.

Finally, we get to the truck itself. The body comes complete with a tribal inspired paint job which sits atop a solid composite chassis. The low lying chassis provides a stable base for the twin Titan 550 motors and makes getting the dual 7cell packs in and out of the E-Maxx a breeze.

The level of detail to the 4-wheel independent suspension and the plush feel of the four inches of travel when pushed on, really is impressive. The eight oil filled shocks look like something straight out of a baja 500 racer.

Without getting the E-Maxx out in the wild, there isn’t much more I can say… except that it just looks like it is itching to go fast and take a beating. Stay tuned to Bashaholic.com, the first run is coming soon.

Check out some of the more notable specs and features below.

E-Maxx Quick Specs

• Length: 20.4 inches
• Front Track: 16.4 inches
• Rear Track: 16.5 inches
• Ground Clearance: 4 inches
• Weight: 148oz
• Height (overall): 9.8 inches
• Wheelbase: 13.2 inches

E-Maxx Notable Features

• Brushless ready
• Top Speed: 30+mph!
• 16.8 Volts of power
• TQ 2.4GHz Transmitter and Receiver with Traxxas Link
• 2 Traxxas Power Cell Batteries Included
• Waterproof electronics
• Waterproof servos & ESC
• All-new single speed transmission
• All-new, low-CG chassis design
• Stronger chassis braces
• New transmission skid plate
• Snap-lock battery hold downs
• Dual-servo steering system
• 3.8″ mirror chrome Twin-Spoke wheels
• 3.8″ Maxx® chevron tires

When I began to ask around and read reviews, the price point was not my number one concern but, as it turns out, I wound up getting this charger on sale for $44 from Amazon (regularly $79.95). I was surprised to pick up something so seemingly versatile and with such great reviews for under 50 bucks. If price is something you are concerned with, you are going to be hard pressed to find a better deal.

What was my number one concern was finding a charger that could not only handle charging 14 NiMH cells (7 cells 8.4v x 2) but also handle the possibility of upgrading to LiPo in the future since the 3903 E-Maxx is brushless ready.

The AC6 Thunder actually handles NiCd, NiMH, Pb and all three types of Lithium batteries – LiIo, LiPo and LiFe… it’s nice to be covered.

What should be noted for Traxxas E-Maxx fans is that the charger comes with a standard Tamiya connector so, you will need a Tamiya to Traxxas adapter (couple of bucks on eBay) to charge your Traxxas batteries. In addition, if you are running the dual 7 cell NiMH batteries and you want to charge them both at the same time, you will need a Traxxas #3063 wire harness, series battery connection.

I do recommend that users take the time to read through the manual that comes with the charger, even though it was seemingly written by someone with English as their third language, since the four button control is a bit strange to work with at first.

Once you get the hang of things, it is simply a matter of using the digital display to select the battery type and max amps before holding down the start button. There is a nice chart in the back of the manual that explains what max amp setting you should be using based on your total number of cells for those who don’t know.

I ran a set of Venom 5000 mah batteries through the charger and they took exactly 120 minutes to charge as apposed to the Traxxas 3000 mah batteries which charged in about 90 minutes.

For those new to the game, that might sound like a long time but, the reality is, a quick charge isn’t good for the batteries anyway. Just invest in a few good sets of NiMH’s so you don’t have to wait between charging cycles and take your time with the charging process if you want them to last.

A couple of other features worth mentioning;

• Cyclic charging/discharging – The smart charger can perform 1 to 5 cycles of charge-discharge or discharge-charge for battery break in, refreshing, and balancing.
• PC based analysis using USB communication – For the advanced users, the charger comes with a PC based program that can analyze the characteristics of a battery through a computer USB port.
• Temperature sensor cable port – A temperature probe contacting the battery to monitor  temperature during charging can be used to shut the charger down if things get too hot.

This is a more than capable charger and I’m glad to have grabbed it for such a steal. If you are thinking about grabbing yourself one, check out Amazon, the price was right and the shipping was free.

I am certainly only touching the surface of what is capable. For more information, check out the AC6 Thunder specs below. If you already have a Thunder AC6, make sure you tell me about it in the comments below.

Specifications

• Operating voltage: DC 11-18 volts
• Charge/discharge power: max. 50/5 Watts
• NiCd/MH: 1-15 cells
• LiIo/LiPo/LiFe: 1-6 series
• Pb: 2-20V
• Charge current: 0.1 – 5.0A
• Discharge current: 0.1 – 1.0A
• No. of cycle: 1 – 5 times
• Battery data memory: up to 5 data
• Weight: 9.2oz
• Dimensions: 5.51 x 3.74 x 1.10 inches
• Computer USB port
• Temperature sensor port
• Built in AC adapter

The idea of an RC truck that does 45+ mph was quite appealing to me but after spending a few hours researching what I was in for, I decided the Traxxas E-Maxx might be a better option.

Some of you are probably going to curse me out in the comment section below but, the 5 tank break in, after run procedure, inability to run in wet conditions, and the idea of tuning the Nitro truck in the cold wintery northeast was not for me. Not yet, at least.

For those of you who don’t know, the T-Maxx requires a 5 tank break in period which consists of babying the engine and running the truck around in circles with a cool down period between tanks. The Traxxas Break-in Procedure is as follows.

Tank 1

• Throttle: 1/4
• Time: 2 seconds
• Cool: 15 min.
• Body: Off
• Apply throttle gradually

Tank 2

• Throttle: 1/2
• Time: 2 seconds
• Cool: 15 min.
• Body: On
• Apply throttle gradually

Tank 3

• Throttle: 1/2
• Time: 3 seconds
• Cool: None
• Body: On
• Reduce idle speed if necessary

Tank 4

• Throttle: Full
• Time: 3 seconds
• Cool: None
• Body: On
• Don’t allow shifts to high gear if 2-spd equipped

Tank 5

• Throttle: Full
• Time: 5 seconds
• Cool: None
• Body: On
• Accelerate over 3 second count, hold for 2 sec.

Sounds like a lot of work right? They say a tank of nitro lasts about 20 minutes so, with cool down periods between tanks you are talking about a few hours worth of work just to get started and we’re not done yet.

The sound, smell, and speed of a nitro truck is impressive but now that you have it running, its time for the after run procedures.

After each running session (After-run procedure)

1. Empty tank.
2. Start engine to burn off remaining fuel in engine.
3. Clean engine and remove filter and glow plug.
4. Spray 1-second burst WD-40™ into carburetor & glow plug hole.
5. Spin engine with EZ-Start for 10 seconds (repeat step 4 & 5 twice).
6. Clean air filter and re-oil.
7. Replace plug, reconnect plug wire, and reinstall filter.

After each hour of running (3 tanks)

1. Clean and re-oil air filter.
2. Clean engine of dirt and oil.

Let me be clear, I am not saying that it isn’t worth it and I don’t want to scare anyone looking to get into the nitro market away. I just want to make sure you know what you are in for before it’s too late. I am sure, for more seasoned RC enthusiasts, this kind of thing is a walk in the park but for me, it was a little overwhelming.

Like anything else, there are pros and cons, make sure you get educated and make the right decision. With my lack of RC experience and the conditions I am looking to run in, the E-Maxx was the obvious choice.

Stay tuned and learn along with me as I break, fix, purchase new add-ons ,and take this E-Maxx project from the box to the next level… whatever that may be.