Performance Parts for Your Axial Yeti XL
For this installment of Hop Up Corner, we’re going to check out some of the best upgrades for your Axial Yeti XL 4WD Monster Buggy. As of this writing, this buggy is still pretty new but we’ve come across some cool upgrades that are sure to catch your eye! Let’s check them out!
Suspension
The Yeti XL is a monster of a machine and one of it’s main issues is the massive amount of torque steer you get when you punch the throttle. This can cause the buggy to twist violently and, in all reality, take alot of the fun away from it. Axial does have a fix, though, and that’s the Axial Yeti XL Rear Sway Bar Set. This set almost completely tames this savage beast and makes it much easier to drive, even on 6S. Take it from me, this is a MUST HAVE item on your rig!
Electronics
The Yeti XL doesn’t come with batteries, opening the door for quite a few options. It can run on 4 or 6S LiPo, the former being much easier to drive. The set I installed first was the MaxAmps 9000mAh XL 7.4v 100c LiPo Batteries. They have awesome power but the best part is the runtime. The 9000mAh will keep you wheels up for almost 20 minutes depending on your throttle finger. If you want more power, I would recommend MaxAmps 6000mah 11.1v 3S LiPo Batteries. The run time drops a bit but the power is absolutley insane. Note that on 6S (dual-3S packs), this truck will be almost undriveable without the suspension sway bar! Even with that on it’s pretty crazy, but these packs basically double the fun!
Drivetrain
Since the wheel/tire selection is pretty slim at the moment, there have been a few guys out there that have gotten pretty creative, allowing them to mount 1:5 scale tires on their rigs. DollarHobbyz.com sells a 23mm hub adapter kit that, with some very minor modifications, will adapt to your Yeti XL. This conversion will allow you to mount any wheel that uses a 23mm hex, including HPI 1:5 scale hoops! The modification requires you to enlarge the hole slightly so that the Yeti XL axle will fit through it. Once drilled out, it opens up quite a few more wheel/tire options for different terrains! (See Wheels/Tires section below for more info).
Body
There are cool bodies, and then there are cool bodies. The stock Lexan body is cool, but why not throw on one of these Axial Yeti XL Aluminum Body Panel Kits? Made from 5051 aluminum, this 1.2mm thick shell is easy to install right on the existing cage. It comes hard-anodized in a few different colors for strength and style and will certainly give your XL a pissed-off appearance! Nine pieces are included and you can install some or all of them for a really unique look. It is a bit heavier than the stock plastic, but who cares when you’re rolling 6S power!
Wheels/Tires
I’m sure, if you installed the 23mm wheel hexes (above), you’re going to be interested in some new kicks. Proline has a great selection of 1:5 wheels and tires for their HPI 5B and 5T, all of which will now fit your Yeti XL. For a good, all-terrain setup, we suggest the Pro-Line Split Six Bead-Loc Wheels for the 5T wrapped in the Proline Trencher Front Tires. Once mounted, you’ll notice that the 5T setup is only slightly larger than the stock wheels and tires, so there’s no need to worry about changing gearing or overheating the motor. For you rock racers, there are some additional tread designs out there, including paddles for kicking up some huge sand roosts!
Accessory
One of the best upgrades for any offroader is, of course, lighting. There are quite a few options out there for this as well, but the Axial Universal Light Bar Set is probably the best bang for your buck. There are multiple options you can formulate from this kit including one for the roof and one for the front grill. They are a little on the small side but still look great and provide a lot of light for any outdoor excursions, day or night.
The aftermarket is still a little slim for this buggy so, at some time, I may revise this edition of Hop-Up Corner. This should be enough to get you started and the gears in your head turning. Good luck!
Like to see another car featured? Shoot us a message using the form on the Hop-Up Corner Request Page and we’ll get it added to the queue!
Links
Axial Racing – www.axialracing.com
Dollar Hobbyz – www.dollarhobbyz.com
MaxAmps – www.maxamps.com
Proline Racing – www.prolineracing.com
