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Are Traxxas RC Cars Waterproof?

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If you are looking to buy a Traxxas RC car or are just curious about whether they are waterproof or not then you are in the right place! 

Metallic items rust, and with more and more exposure to moisture, they can become entirely worthless. If you don’t clean your RC cars thoroughly when mud, water, and dirt get in them, the end result will be rust and corrosion. This also applies to your RC car regardless of whether the manufacturer claims that it is waterproof or not. 

If you don’t handle your RC car carefully, it will most certainly result in damage to the car or the internal components. 

But what about Traxxas RC cars, are they waterproof? 

Most of the Traxxas’ RC cars are designed with waterproof materials to ensure their safety even when they get run through water. But, this does not mean that the cars are submarines or that it will be alright to submerge them in deep water for long periods of time. You can use them in some water but total submersion will cause damage to the internal parts of the car. 

 Regardless of any brilliant technologies that they have come up with, your Traxxas RC will need a lot of maintenance if it goes deep into the water. The truth is, RC cars generally, even the ones labeled waterproof, are best kept away from deep water, and the Traxxas cars are not an exception.  

To see some information about how to properly waterproof your RC car you can check out the video below. 

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Submerging your RC car

There are a few different things on an RC car that can get damaged if you submerge them in water. Each of these is vital to the operation of the RC car so submerging them in water for a long time is never a good idea and won’t work well. 

Here are a few reasons submerging your RC car in water is a bad idea 

  • Receiver Boxes

Receiver boxes labeled as waterproof usually do a great job of keeping out the elements when your RC car races through shallow water or wet terrain. However, these boxes are not adequate for protection when the car is entirely submerged in water. There are many reasons water could still get in, and the first reason is that sometimes the receiver box is not assembled very well. If the O-ring shifts from its position on the main lid, the box will begin to leak, and water will get into the car and even the wires if they are not completely greased.

It only takes a little bit of water getting into the box before it will start to affect the receiver. Generally, these boxes offer a good amount of protection, but you cannot rely on them when you submerge your RC vehicle. Plus, you should know that the depth of the water and the length of time you immerse your car will also determine how waterproof the receiver is. 

One big problem with these receivers, however, is that you can’t know when the water gets in so if it gets in immediately when the car is submerged you could damage the car almost immediately. 

  • Radio Reception

Water can greatly affect the reception quality of 2.4GHz radio systems, which most hobby-grade RCs commonly use now. If a large amount of water gets in between your 2.4GHz transmitter and the vehicle, you would likely completely lose control of your RC vehicle, a surprise you surely won’t like when you’re in the middle of deeper water.

  • Drivetrain

The drivetrain of an RC car is usually not waterproof and the transmission and axles are not waterproof either. Even though the bearings may be resistant to water, water could easily drip into parts like the transmission and axles and cause issues. 

These parts actually have a tight fit that does an awfully good job of keeping the dirt out, but you will still find that dust and fine dirt can find their way in and it is this way that water can find its way in as well. Now, in addition to causing corrosion, water will also pollute the grease. Submerging your car in water will not only bring large amounts of water into your car, but it will also bring dirt particles that are not good for your RC vehicle.

  • Motors

Brushed motors are generally popular for their capacity to withstand wet conditions. As a matter of fact, they can even survive being completely submerged in water. However, even though a brushed motor can comfortably run in water, the truth still remains that getting submerged in water will result in the motor wearing out very quickly. Also, after submerging your brushed motor in water, you will need to lubricate the bearings to keep them in good shape. 

So, in the end, submerging it in water would still require some maintenance once you are done running it. 

Brushless motors, on the other hand, are not safe to submerge in water. Brushless motors come in two kinds; the sensored and the sensorless ones. Even though some of these sensorless motors are labeled waterproof, they are not always waterproof, and if you submerge them in water, you have to be prepared to disassemble and carry out maintenance on the vehicle. It is, therefore, advisable that you keep your RC car completely away from water. 

The shielded bearings that these motors use are neither watertight nor water-resistant. These RC vehicles also use high-quality stainless steel shields, which are designed to keep the debris off, but it does not work for water. Sensored brushless, too, are not waterproof because of the sensors they are designed with.

  • Tires

Compared to full-size tires, RC tires mostly use foam inserts instead of compressed air. RC tires also normally have venting holes in the wheel or tire. While the vents allow for the release of air, the foam helps the tire bear the weight of the car. If the foam gets soaked in water it is quite difficult to get dry plus, water will quickly cause the foam to break down. 

Unless your tires can be disassembled and dried out properly you will likely lose them completely if they get soaked.

  • Batteries

Even though both LiPo and NiMH batteries can operate underwater since the individual cells are sealed, both are designed with exposed tabs that corrode easily. Water will easily destroy these batteries; it’s best to keep them away from it. The battery packs can actually work in wet conditions, but damage can and may still occur. Because of the way they’re constructed, it will also be very difficult to dry a battery out if it does get wet. 

Conclusion

Traxxas, like a number of other RC companies, produces waterproof RC cars, and there’s a variety of them on the market. However, as we have seen from the above details, labeling a car waterproof does not exactly mean that it can withstand all wet conditions. It is typically best to keep your RC car away from water entirely but especially from being submerged.

 Even though mildly wet conditions like driving through shallow water can work out alright, the best option for your RC car is to keep it away from water, especially deep water. 

So, yes, many Traxxas RC cars are actually made waterproof. But you can’t do a deep dive into the water with your RC car!