lets start this forum out with a controversial topic

[shodog]

Is the high lift the true successor to the Bruiser everyone has been clamoring for?

I say yes and I’ll even say it’s better in a lot of ways

What are your thoughts?

[william]

I believe it is more rugged, hence a better driving r/c. Successor, hmmm. I guess you could say that, however personally I think the metal framed trucks have more charactor as well as more scale appearence.

Will we ever see the mostly metal kit come back, I highly doubt it. I enjoy the highlift with some 2.2 tires just fine anyway and praise it's durability.

I do wish the highlift chassis rails were more realistic, and the transfercase section didn't hang as low, but both can be compensated for. Junfaq and Dave Diaz both make a more scale pair of rails.

[monster_beetle]

I agree with William, I love the details from the old 3 speeds more than the durability from the modern ones. Should be great when they will release something with a scale frame, higher gearbox etc.

[Mouton]

I would say that it is the successor to the old 3-speeds. Why would it not be considered a successor?

The High-Lift is etter in most ways but worse in some ways.

It is better in terms of driveability than the old Hilux but when it comes to scale appearnce it is beaten by a mile by the "fantastic four". Tamiya could have done more that just reuse the Juggernaut body and change the wheel arches. I am also a fan of the lockable freewheeling front axle hubs on the Hilux/Blazer. William points the finger on the High-Lifts major flaw, its low transfer case. :Good Point: I too would have prefered to have the transfer case placed higher up in the truck.

Still, you gotta love them all!:Tamiya1:

[spankrjs]

I built a NIB Mountaineer and a NIB Hi Lift. Mountaineer looks better but I would rather run the Hi Lift (mainly because of parts availability):Tamiya1:

[Larrio]

I built a NIB Mountaineer and a NIB Hi Lift. Mountaineer looks better but I would rather run the Hi Lift (mainly because of parts availability):Tamiya1:

Post up some pictures!! :bump:

[spankrjs]

I'll take some pictures when I get home and post tomorrow. Posted a picture while still NIB.

[Anttoys4x4]

Hey all, i think thats its great that Tamiya has given us another 3 speed 4x4 truck, its hard to believe that they would ever make another hilux/bruiser because of the cost, although, in 1986 when those bruisers were selling for $600 that was unheard of for an "rc car". if Tamiya wanted to bring back the bruiser, they would have. but hey we have the hi lift, and the soon to be released Hilux (mountaineer body on hilux chassis) so, we cant have it all, lets take what we get. besides, there are enough aftermarket sources to build a "new" bruiser/hilux they way we want it to be built.

[adam1973]

I would agree also because it's a good way to get into "scale" RC in one complete, reasonable priced package. I would like to get one, or all, of the original 3-speeders, but they can priced a little silly IMHO. For now though, these "new" 3-speeders are great runners with a few modifications.

Adam

[DREADY]

It's a great truck but never having owned and old three speed i can't really compare it.

It's an easy build with endless possibility to modify, the body is a bit of a let down lacking in the detail that the others had but that's easily fixed with a bit of head scratching, build an interior if you can get round that bleeding motor!. Lowering the bed's not that hard and you got yourself a great looking truck.

And the clincher for me was the fact that you can get one of these trucks for not alot of cash.
Hours of fun for all the Family, except the wife oh and the kids and if that cat goes near it again he's history too ;-)

With the upcoming Toyota Release Tamiya are deffinately listening to all of us who love these 3 speed trucks. :Tamiya1:

[bronco brother]

i think the bruiser is a great truck, but from what ive heard the highlifr is better

still dont have a highlift, will soon!

[william]

It's a great truck but never having owned and old three speed i can't really compare it.

It's an easy build with endless possibility to modify, the body is a bit of a let down lacking in the detail that the others had but that's easily fixed with a bit of head scratching, build an interior if you can get round that bleeding motor!. Lowering the bed's not that hard and you got yourself a great looking truck.

And the clincher for me was the fact that you can get one of these trucks for not alot of cash.
Hours of fun for all the Family, except the wife oh and the kids and if that cat goes near it again he's history too ;-)

With the upcoming Toyota Release Tamiya are deffinately listening to all of us who love these 3 speed trucks. :Tamiya1:

You can look into this interior http://myrcmt.com/review/scollins/index.html I reviewed.

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

Its not a successor, more of a modern take on the original design brief in my opinion!

But it does mean i have a realistic, scale truck with 3 gears and 4 wheel drive that i can use without fear of breaking something! :LOL:

Its totally different from any other rc on the market. Just about every other rc pickup truck has a lexan shell and doesnt look or drive realistically.

The chassis frame is obviously boring, but it does reflect the real F-350's chassis, which is a straight frame like a tractor truck.

[HawnMT]

I think the highlift is a worthy successor to the bruiser/mounty/hilux but I do not believe it will hold the same place in history. The hilux (and bruiser/ mounty) were marvels of engineering and innovation, especially considering how early in hobby grade RC history they came out. They were crazy expensive and a dream to most of us, yet quite a few managed to be sold and a lot of them still survive today.

[twisted]

to me the high lift is the bruiser or hilux that i couldn't afford when i was younger.the high lift is everything i would want in a scale truck.yes the tranny sits to low but its my only real gripe.

[T-Dubb]

The HIGH LIFT is a great addition to the three speed line but the metal parts on the first gen 3 speeds is alot more like a real truck but the cost to produce all those parts today would make a kit to expensive.

[Old_Busted_Hotness]

If it were a true successor, the frame would be flimsy and the axles would wear out at the kingpins after six months. Not to mention the cheesemetal-related failures in the axles and tranny. The new truck is functionally much better. While it may not have the style of the old 3-speeds, there's no doubt that it's more robust and better designed, with the exception of the lowrider tranny.

Odd that Tamiya took such a 2-dimensional approach to the layout, stacking everything up on the new truck, where the old one had shafts offset and beside each other, a much more efficient layout.
I've seen a few guys go after the gearbox to change the layout of the shafts and motor, and this makes the whole unit a lot more compact. I clocked my motor 90 degrees and was able to gain nearly an inch of ground clearance.

[fmw3speed]

True successor?? Hummmm. I thought about this for a long time when I first forecasted the numbers for the U.S. market. A buddy of mine at Losi, who's a die hard Bruiser/Mountaineer NUT :Tamiya1: has been on me for the better part of 8 years to get us to re-release the old kits. (Rich are you on this Forum :LOL:) Anyway, we knew it would be hard if not impossible to re-release those kits due to the parts being made out of metal and modern day costs. So the solution became to make something new with the mindset of keeping the price as low as possible. So I'd say it's a truck for the new take on what we've done in the past.

[william]

Stu is here :omg:


And I believe the truck would be over a grand if brought back all metal like before, doubt many takers on that price. :sorry:

[gtr]

Stu is here :omg:


And I believe the truck would be over a grand if brought back all metal like before, doubt many takers on that price. :sorry:

You got me thinking how much the Hi-Lift truck would cost if brought back in time $150:LOL:

I would pay a grand for an all metal 4-speed brusier:first:

[Electrohacker]

If it were a true successor, the frame would be flimsy and the axles would wear out at the kingpins after six months. Not to mention the cheesemetal-related failures in the axles and tranny. The new truck is functionally much better. While it may not have the style of the old 3-speeds, there's no doubt that it's more robust and better designed, with the exception of the lowrider tranny.

stop exagorating. the old frame was plenty as long as you dont remove too many braces my king pins are still stock tight after much more than 6 months, cheese metal is remedie with propor simming, which they had from the factory, none of my trannies has ever failed.

i will grant i like the screw style kingpins better and the new ones gear ratio's are nicer, just wish it had 2wd

[Mountymaxx]

I have to say that the high lift is a very cool machine and of course I had to buy one of my own but compared to the Bruiser or Mountaineer it still doesn't compare...Nothing beats the realistic metal axle housings, realistic shocks w/ boots and the realistic frame. Sure the high lift is more duarable and the parts are more accessable (today) but the Brusier and mountaineer are still on there own plain as you can't compare a metal model with that made of plastic. With kits like the High lift I think the best part building and creating new parts to make it more realistic . With the help of people like Mike and Hua at RC4WD my high lift will be an all metal monster anyways.

[bobtail74]

I think in the basic idea of a successor and not the letter of the definition the High Lift is exactly that. It shares the main ideas brought forth by the early metal trucks with modern flair and some improved engineering.
I myself having started in this hobby with a Rough Rider, I have a fondness for the early metal kits. I never had a 3 speed until the Mountaineer and can agree with the king pins always being loose but it may be in part to me USING my truck and not pampering it on the front lawn or in my living room. When building the High Lift and came to the front axles (kingpins), I immediately thought of the Mountaineer and every other plastic kit that had kingpins(screws). I love the metal bushings protecting the plastic. In reference to frame flimsiness I have a friend with a bent one but I agree the high lift lacks a scale feel. Not that I agree the early metal frames look like actual truck frames but they are closer than the High Lift. I will eventually buy a Diaz or a Junfac frame.

[350TacoZilla]

:Tamiya1: love the highlift (dont own one yet) and can agree with most you guys...the highlift is a better rc truck for driving as for true to scale looks...I think the hilux has it covered...if you mounted up scales tires like 2.2's on a real toyota pickup i think you'll wear out kin pins or snap axles...so thats even more real!! lol just saying some of the running you guys do with these would break a real F350...oh and i would like to thank tamiya for releasing the tlt again I ordered 3 one to build into a scale rig and 2 to help pay for my sclae rig build

[calm n sedated]

I been in this hobby a long time the tamiya hilux was one of my first scale rc models. Sure, they were expensive $600 was a lot of money twenty years age; it's quite a bit of money today. I guess you can't be expected to compare these trucks, they are different and from a different era. They both have good and bad parts. The hilux was scale down to faux locking hubs. The new truck is not scale....semi-scale at best but was built for the purpose of running and durability within a limited cost range. No matter what you buy, remember it's mechanical and will break down like it's 1:1 counterpart. IMHO I would have liked to see tamiya create another scale truck but with new CNC technology and use billet parts that are strong and over built. I know the cost would be over $1200 but there is a market for it. Look at rc4wd, their truck flew off the shelf and is a great scale model that will stand the abuse that most people throw at it. Like wedico, they have sold thousands of Cat 966g loaders at over $4000 a piece. A good quality item will sell, look at cost most people have spent upgrading the hilift......$25 here......$75 there...it all adds up and in the end it could be done right from the factory for cheaper. Although, it has started a nice cottage industry in hop up parts.

[Suprachrgd82]

Supra's thoughts....

From Tamiya's viewpoint, yes, the 'Lift and 'Lux are their answer to all of us who have been e-mailing, petitioning and whining about a re-release. It is 3-speed, ladder frame, and leaf sprung, so by definition, it's the updated offering from Tamiya. After all, they really did silence the masses asking for the re-releases...Larrio, true?

From a consumer standpoint, it's one hundred times better. It offers all of the same features and more. Differentials, hop-ups, compatible parts with other models, ease of modification, parts availability....The only thing it's missing is the iconic status of the original Hilux/Blazer/Bruiser/Mounty.

[Thorsteenster]

The only thing it's missing is the iconic status of the original Hilux/Blazer/Bruiser/Mounty.

That and the lack of scaleness.

[Suprachrgd82]

scaleness

Not in Wikipedia. You invented a new word.

[JOCKTHEGLIDE]

It maybe a succesor, but I still favor the old school and please dont say, "high lift has a new improved 3 speed" it does not matter if its improved or not its the scale mor realism, metal parts, etc.. that the bruiser, mountainer, etc..made it popular. High lift is cool I admit, but my money is where the old school is everyone would be more excited than high lift. Tamiya has released old school items that were not improved either heck traxxas makes better vehicles now than the old school tamiya stuff thats been re-released which means to me they know that old school items do sell and are wanted. In the end I take high lift over NO 3 speed.................:Tamiya1::yourock:

[Pete359]

Is the high lift the true successor to the Bruiser everyone has been clamoring for?


Can't realy tell, never had a Bruiser before so i don't know.

[Thorsteenster]

I'd say its the B/M replacement, but I don't think it qualifies as a "successor".
I wish and hope they do an all out scale RC again, the High Lift just ain't it. No matter what body they put on it, the chassis will never reach the level of scale the H/BB/B/M did.

[mcovalsk]

I'm curious why some of the members say Hilux cost US$600, probably was the list price but I bought mine in 1983 in America Hobby center in NYC ( I think that the shop doesn't exist anymore) for US$400 plus 4000mA battery and fast charger and there were lot of boxes to be sold. Tower had the same price in the old catalogue I have from then.

If somebody knows where the time tunnel is working, please let me know!!!! i would like to buy few boxes.... just to collect :LOL:

[shodog]

At some point, retailers needed to start selling them at lower prices. I recall seeing an AHC add that listed the bruiser in the high $200 dollar range. In addition AHC used to move a lot of product and subsequently had smokin prices.

Another thing that needs to be mentioned is that $400 is not the same comparitivley to today's $400. it would be closer to $950 in today's dollars

[trailqeen]

cant really say because i only drive a high lift, but i like them both

[chafey]

Stu is here :omg:


And I believe the truck would be over a grand if brought back all metal like before, doubt many takers on that price. :sorry: why not people pay alot more than that for the old ones?

[tc1cat]

As my first RC truck was a Bruiser, I must say that the Hilift/Hilux is a much better designed and thought out truck. Granted the original 3 speeds are more scale looking as far as the frame and drive train goes, the Hilift is a completely different animal. Easier to modify and much cheaper to buy and run. Having to spend $300 to $400 for a Bruiser in 1983 when you only made $200 a week was a lot of money for an RC vehicle. Then add a radio, batteries, and a charger. No comparison to the cost of a Hilift.
All Tamiya has to do is make more hard bodies for the Hilift chassis and the Hilift will become the ultimate RC truck that anyone has produced. :Tamiya1:
The Hilift/Hilux is not the successor to the original 3 speeds. It is the logical offspring of the original 3 speeds.

[mcovalsk]

As my first RC truck was a Bruiser, I must say that the Hilift/Hilux is a much better designed and thought out truck. Granted the original 3 speeds are more scale looking as far as the frame and drive train goes, the Hilift is a completely different animal. Easier to modify and much cheaper to buy and run. Having to spend $300 to $400 for a Bruiser in 1983 when you only made $200 a week was a lot of money for an RC vehicle. Then add a radio, batteries, and a charger. No comparison to the cost of a Hilift.
All Tamiya has to do is make more hard bodies for the Hilift chassis and the Hilift will become the ultimate RC truck that anyone has produced. :Tamiya1:
The Hilift/Hilux is not the successor to the original 3 speeds. It is the logical offspring of the original 3 speeds.

After reading your message I was amazed as you explained very well the reality, we earned half of the money when that kits cost 400, which nowadays would be 800-1000.
Being in static modelling most of my life I can't understand why people are so desperately looking for absolute scale, the new Highlift is good enough for me and if I liked more scale looking then would follow building my Tamiya 1/12 static Caterhams and F1 kits.
Watching around forums I see newcomers claiming why the new Highlift chassis was straight instead the right shape, the answer is absolutely obvious, Tamiya used all 1/14 trucks technology, which is good because they got to offer a good product relatively cheap.
The lovely hard bodies is a must in my list of course, because those bodies let me play a little with the airbrush and the feeling of a real truck, but without to become crazy with lot of work. I still hope Tamiya hear us, the modelers who supported them, and manufacture the saga with other hard body.