Dt03 Img Pes 2013
Bartlett Vallee
Trying to decide between a Sand Viper and a Racing Fighter. I'm not sure about the super narrow, long looks of the DT03 or the plastic drivecups/shafts. If however, the DT03 is a superior performer to the older DT02 platform, I might go for it. From the looks, it seems to have a better front kickup, and centered steering over the DT02. Do these make it a better buggy? How's the durability between the two? Looking for a cheap, guilt free basher.
I kept my DT02 and sold my DT03 purely from a cosmetic viewpoint, the DT03 has a long wheelbase which unlike the DT02 doesn't lend itself to many different types of look apart from Buggy... my DT02 can switch between Sand Viper Buggy and now Nissan Titan truck shell with some minor adjustments.
Running wise both were plenty strong, although lately there have been a couple threads here about the DT03 rear gearbox breaking at the arm hinge... but look how cheap the DT03 is and that new Chrome edition one looks nice.
We have run both in our Eurocup race-Series Buggy class, where the youngest (age 6 and above) can participate. To be honest- this class is almost similar to destruction derby ! I can tell you folks - these kids beat the badword out of them race by race
When it comes to durability, both chassis are incredible.
Perform-wise, the DT-03 is the much better racer, the longer wheelbase is a big increasement of stability. So for me, if i would have to choose between them, i'd have a clear go for the DT-03.
Out of curiosity, the DT platform often gets criticized for understeer. Wouldn't the longer wheelbase of the newer DT03 make this condition even worse? I like the ORV-style space frame chassis concept reminiscent of the Frog on the DT03. I don't like the lack of proper bearings and the chunky plastic drive cups which, I'm now reading, drag on the rear arms in places. Leaning towards the Sand Viper now...
If you add universals with the metal drive cups and turnbuckles the dt03 is a great durable basher. I Know those hop ups arent cheap but it makes a difference in performance. The only weak point i can say is the gearcase for the dt03 and dt02. I have broken 3 but it might be due to having a brushless motor and flips.
Thank you all for your input. Despite some strong arguments for the DT03, I went with the DT02. The cost of adding bearings, metal drive shafts and cups exceeded the cost savings by going with the DT03. Plus the DT02 still has camber adjustment. In the end, I just couldn't get myself to like the long 'n narrow look of the DT03 either. Its long. longer than my 201x. Thanks again.
I dunno the dt02 must be amazing because my Dt03 with a touch of positive camber and a little toe out does great at our local sand track. Oversteers if anything especially being 2wd and overpowered as it is.. I usually turn the steering EPA down by 1/4 and the car really commands the turns.
the thing is it comes with oil shocks, adjustable turnbuckles and full bearings, a ball diff and steel drive dogbones, stainless steel hinge pins. By the time you add up the cost of those things added to a dt-02 or DT-03 the DN-01 is in fact very very price competitive now that the average price of the 58477 is now around $190USD. Consider your paying around or more than $100 usd for a DT-03 or DT-02 kit.
Not to mention a tenfold superior overall chassis no matter how you look at it. On top of that a TRF201 slipper clutch bolts straight on, not to mention most of the TRF201 parts fit, like the heatsink motor mount, alloy rear knuckles and various other parts. It's actually fairly cheap to make it a TRF201.
I like both but I find the DT02 a little prone to bump steer whereas the DT03 you can drive over awful broken tarmac or concrete and it seems to hold its line even when it's in the air half the time. I would agree it's maybe a little more prone to understeer with modest power but it's blissfully composed and easy to drive fast.
Both great chassis, the DT02 was a big leap at the time and world's away from the hoppers and DT01. The DT03 benefits from being a newer design though and feels more precise but not so much that it isn't fun.
I have a dn01, it blows the dt03 out of the water in every aspect. Mine is basically a trf201 now minus the aeration shocks with everything changed from aluminum outdrives,universals and most tamiya aluminum upgrades except steering hop up. Tamiya usa sells it for $110 too.
The DN01 is a great deal from Tamiya USA and does get (all to often) overlooked. A lot of folks don't remember the Zahhak or that's its still around. I got the TRF201 from Tamiya USA for around $175. Great deal as well. Since the DF02 will be going to my daughter and /or wife, I wanted something with a gear diff and minimal (read: no) upkeep. I'd feel oddly guilty letting nicer buggy like the DN01 go in the maintainance department.
DT-02 has the advantage there are numerous models available with increasing standard kit, which if you are in the habit of hopping up cars isn't a bad way to start and save money overall. The -02 also has lots of things you can tinker with over time, swapping the front arms over to increase wheelbase for instance.
Out of interest, when people say its more nimble and better in tight spaces, whats your definition of tight spaces? I have approx 400sqm backyard which is roughly square, is that tight? It would be enormous in London but barely room for a shed in Texas...
On the 02, I needed to reduce the slop at the front end with a few shims in all the joints for speed runs. Once the steering play has been sorted I run with the endpoints around 30-40%. That makes a huge difference to stability buy glossing over steering over correction at speed.
To be fair to that chassis though, someone at Tamiya must have been bitterly determined to make the solid axle design actually function because almost every difference between it and the Grasshopper chasiss exists purely to try and make the rear suspension actually work and they sort of succeeded.
It's not a great chasiss in the scheme of things but the rear suspension does actually work a little when the car is under power so it has one up on the hopper/hornet and it tends to spend less time on it's roof. The same crude effectiveness works well in the Mad Bull too.
Wanting a pair of steel pinions for my DT 03. Can anyone steer me in the right direction in terms of brand and part number. In my other thread a 0.6 mod pinion is mentioned but the standard part number, from the manual says its a 0.6 mod. I don't understand, please help.
i am trying to find actual module 0.8 pinions too, some 32dp pinions work but are still noisier than tamiya 0.8 items , even the 32dp robinson pinions ,which many members use, dont run quite right , i am most likely going for the maverick brass module 0.8 pinions , they seem like the easiest option that is harder wearing than tamiya aluminium (cottage cheese) items
I tried the Maverick 0.8 module brass pinions on my DT02, and found them even noisier than the RW Racing 32dp ones! They seem to be machined slightly oversize, and mesh too tightly with the spur as a result.
I use Carson steel pinions in all of my cars* and I think they run very good. The only issue I had once was a tiny bit of flashing left in the 3.17mm hole from the machining process. This was solved easily by using a round file or cautious drilling.
Tamiya includes hardened alloy pinions only for a few releases, e.g. TT-02 chassis and some racing chassis, in module 0.6. But the majority is either soft alloy, or brass in rare cases (example above). From what I know is they do not sell steel pinions.
I used 32dp Robson Racing 17T pinion in my DT02 Rough Rider and it's a lot louder than the Tamiya version, can't see any excessive wear though. I think I fitted a Mardave 17T pinion in my HB2010 which is quieter but I can't find them listed now.
Hi guy's use Robinson racing steel pinions they make them for the tamiyas if you did not already messed up your spur gears from worn or running the wrong pinion gears the Robinson racing ones run silky smooth.
Hi guy's use Robinson racing steel pinions they make them for the tamiyas if you did not already mess up your spur gears from worn or running the wrong pinion gears the Robinson racing ones run silky smooth.
hi all ,i have just fitted a maverick 0.8 module 19t pinion to my DT-03 , i wasnt holding out much hope after mr crispy reported they are a poor mesh , took the buggy out and it is easily the quietest the dt03 or dt02's have run, even better than the awful aluminium alloy tamiya items , not sure how robust they are , only time will tell but as far as meshing goes they are fantastic , now wondering if our Mr Crispy got one that was packaged wrongly ?
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