ARRMA Kraton is one of our best cars and here you'll find tips on how to improve your truck's performance even further:
The products we recommend are foundat the bottom of the page but you can also click on the links integrated in the text as you go
The Kraton (not including the EXB model) comes Ready To Run and includes everything you need EXCEPT for a battery and a charger. Here are our recommendations:
Battery
-We recommend starting out with a 4S battery. Even with a 4S battery the car has exceptional power and more than enough speed. We recommend you get a battery with a C-rating of at least 40 and a capacity of at least around 5000mAh. That way you should get around 15-20 minutes of run time according to how trigger happy you are with the throttle. Our recommendation would be the Team Orion 4S 55C Ranger LiPo Battery (14.8V/5000mAh) EC5 battery which has proven itself to be a quality battery that works as it should.
-A 6S battery will give you crazy power and speed, and we can't say we'd recommend that to someone just starting out. The car will have loads of power and controlling it may be difficult. If you're already an experienced driver and want to unleash the true potential of the Kraton a 6S battery will most definitely have enough power to get you in trouble. We recommend you choose a battery with a C-rating of at least 40 and a capacity of at least 4000mAh. Our recommendation would be theTeam Orion 6S 55C Ranger LiPo Battery (22.2V/4500mAh) EC5 battery which has proven to be a quality battery that works as it should. -You can also run 2x2S or 2x3S batteries. ARRMA Kraton has connectors for that assembled from the factory.
Charger
-For a charger we recommend a smart charger with over 60W. This is because big 4S and 6S batteries require a lot of power from the charger.
-Our recommendation for a great basic charger would be the Spektrum Smart S1100 G2
-If you want a really good 2-channel charger we recommend you get the Spektrum Smart S2100 G2
-Make sure your charger comes with the right charging lead Valuerc EC3 Female to EC5 Male
-The drivetrain is almost bulletproof but if you want to reduce the wear you can lubricate the parts of the drivetrain where metal rubs against metal with some graphite grease such as Hudy GRAPHITE GREASE
-When you're working on the diffs you can check that the gear mesh is okay. If necessary you can add shims to get the result you want.
-You should oil the bearings from time to time to keep the bearings rolling freely using, for example, the Avid bearing oil pen
Wheels and tires
-Our choice for general use: dBoots Backflip
-Kraton has 17mm hexes and 3.8" tires will fit the truck.
-It's important to regularly check the gluings and re-glue the tires back on the wheels if necessary.
-If you want to extend the life of the tires you should block out the holes in the wheels and instead punch holes in the tires. 2 holes/tire will help get any dust and moisture out of the tires while driving thanks to the centrifugal forces.
Aftermarket parts
ARRMA Kraton is a great truck right out of the box and doesn't need any upgrades. That being said, upgrading it is fun so here are a few ideas for upgrades.
-If you own a Kraton V1, V2, V3 or V4 model, you can upgrade it using the V5 2020/2021 parts.
-ARRMA EXB parts are ARRMA RC's own full option models' parts.
-A faster steering servo with more torque such as the Power HD LW25MG HV DIGITAL SERVO (Waterproof) 0.14s 25.0kg can make the truck more fun to drive.
-better tires such as dboots backflips can make it handle better.
-RPM makes great aftermarket plastic parts for the truck RPM parts
Body
The stock body is durable but can be improved
-You can make the holes a little longer (making the round mounting holes a bit more oval-shaped allowing the body to move forwards and backwards may extend the life of the body).
-If you want a different bodystyle you can look for bodies that fit the Traxxas E-Revo etc. Kraton's wheelbase is a little longer but modifying the bodies should allow you to fit most 1/8th scale monster truck bodies on the Kraton.
Electronics
-The motor and ESC are both powerful and reliable. We wouldn't recommend upgrading them.
-The servo is good too and works as advertised, but if you're looking for improved handling ou recommendation would be the waterproof Power HD LW25MG HV DIGITAL SERVO. If you're looking to upgrade the servo we recommend you get a servo with at least 20kgs of torque.
-Spektrum SLT3 is a good radio that'll get you started. Radios built for racing will however give you a better feel for the car and especially on a track can improve your driving. If you're going to upgrade your radio we recommend you choose a racing-oriented radio by Sanwa (MT-S and the more expensive ones) of course according to your budget.
Durability
ARRMA Kraton is one of the most durable cars and trucks we've seen but we've got a few tips:
-You should put a washer with an inner diameter of 6mm between the A-arm and the pivotball to support the structure. While you're at it, put a bit of thread locker on the threads of the ball so it doesn't come undone while you're bashing hard.
-Parts that are good to have just in case are the arms, steering blocks, a wing mount, chassis braces, ackerman plate, hingepin holders, a pinion gear and a front bumper.
-It's good to check the gear meshes and adjust them if necessary using the Ultimate Racing DIFFERENTIAL ADJUSTMENT SHIMS and Ultimate Racing DRIVE SHAFT ADJUSTMENT SHIMS kits.
-Remember to check that all the screws and nuts stay tight. It's good to apply thread locker to screws that thread into metal parts.
Where can I find other ARRMA enthusiasts?
-There's an active group for Finnish ARRMA users on Facebook: ArrmaRCSuomi group, welcome aboard!
-RC10 forums have a topic for ARRMA Kraton where you can find help: RC10 forum