Review - Element RC Enduro Ecto

What is the Enduro Ecto?

Element RC's Enduro Ecto is a 1/10 4WD trail truck ready. Although it is based on the Enduro platform, it has been constructed somewhat differently. Its lightweight body, long wheelbase, huge steering, and other features have prepared it for unadulterated performance.

However, we will address that. See our thoughts on the Enduro Ecto by continuing to read. Brett's video review is also available at the bottom of the page!

Let's talk about the body.

There is typically a range between performance and scale realism regarding RC trail vehicles. Sometimes, you have to give up some realism to gain better performance. You might have to sacrifice some performance to achieve more scale realism.

The basic Ecto has a straightforward, tidy, and lightweight body that leans toward the performance end of the range. This keeps the centre of gravity and weight low.

Like most RC bodies, it is constructed from Lexan and has an early American pickup truck aesthetic. Decals are used to add a few scale details, such as those on the side, windows, and front grille. Additionally, it has a roll bar and hard plastic fuel cell in the truck's bed that are connected from underneath. A handful of GoPro cameras and plastic antennae are among the additional scale components, but you can add them yourself.

Additionally, the front end has a hard plastic bumper with a non-functioning winch and winch fairlead. The bumper is movable and fastened to the chassis for stability.

What about the tyres and wheels?

The wheels and tyres are tiny. The tyres are 4.65 inches tall and are General Grabber X3 Crawler Tires with an official license. The wheels are 1.9-inch Beadlock plastic Element RC Ocho wheels.

Since the wheels have a standard 12mm hex, the Ecto can accommodate most aftermarket 1.9-inch wheels.

How is the Ecto out on the trail?

The Ecto's utilization of the Gatekeeper chassis is a significant feature. In place of a conventional link suspension, high-performance trailing arms are used in the Gatekeeper chassis.

More shock tuning is possible due to pushing the weight bias and shocks forward.

In addition, this chassis has a longer wheelbase (12.8 inches) than conventional trucks (12.3 inches). Although this doesn't seem like much of a change, it does provide some more stability, particularly when climbing.

A shorter turning radius is frequently a drawback of a more extended chassis. However, the Ecto combats this using an overdrive transmission and CVD front driveshafts. The CVD driveshafts give the front wheels a greater steering angle. Additionally, because of the overdrive transmission, the truck's front end is slightly dragging its back end around, making its turn radius sharper as a result.

What powers the Ecto?

Under the hood, we're looking at a water-resistant 550-size 14-turn brushed motor and SC480X brushed ESC. A water-resistant Reedy 1523MG metal gear steering servo drives the vehicle. The XP-R4 receiver is one item that is not water-resistant.

A battery is required to start your vehicle, but this is not provided. The Ecto is compatible with both 2S and 3S LiPo. A full-size battery tray is included for a crawler like this, but a short pack is best. You should run a 3S LiPo if you want the best performance.

For an RTR truck like this, a shorty pack such as the ProTek RC 3S 4500 mAh LiPo is ideal. Its ample power will keep you on the trails for a long time.

How is the Ecto overall?

Right out of the box, the Ecto performs exceptionally well—that's what it was supposed to be, as you can see. The Gatekeeper chassis and slender body make raw performance possible. While the CVD driveshafts and overdrive offset any potential adverse effects on steering, the lengthy chassis provides stability.

However, it doesn't end there. Upgrades can improve any RTR crawler. You can increase its performance by lowering your centre of gravity, choosing appropriate tyres for your terrain, updating your electronics, and much more. Adding scale embellishments and extras to your vehicle is a terrific way to personalize it and improve performance.