Overview

The Element RC Enduro Builders Kit 3 (EL40135) represents the pinnacle of rock crawling platform design, offering UK RC enthusiasts a comprehensively engineered foundation for building a serious off-road machine. This 1/10 scale 4WD rock crawler kit is designed for builders who want complete control over their setup and are looking for a premium chassis with race-proven components. Whether you're new to RC car building or a seasoned crawler competitor, this builders kit provides the perfect platform for whatever adventures lie around the next corner. Element RC has continuously improved this offering with updated features and materials, making the Enduro Builders Kit 3 an outstanding choice for anyone seeking a high-quality RC crawler in the UK market.

The philosophy behind this kit is elegantly simple: always forward, never back. Element RC has engineered every aspect of the Enduro to provide superior performance across rough terrain and challenging landscapes. With innovative features like the GKS shock tower system, adjustable drive ratios through the Stealth XF transmission, and behind-the-axle steering geometry, this is a crawler kit that rewards skilled builders with exceptional articulation and precise control. The modular design allows you to customise your setup based on your driving style and terrain preferences, making it equally suitable for weekend bashing or competitive crawling events.

What sets this ready-to-build RC crawler apart from competitors is the attention to detail in every component. From the machined aluminium threaded shock bodies to the Factory Team steel pivot balls, Element RC has selected premium materials throughout. The kit includes both 5.7% and 11.83% overdrive gears, giving you flexibility in how you tune your machine without requiring expensive additional purchases. This is a genuine builders kit that puts you in control of your RC car UK build from the very first component.

Key Features

• GKS Shock Tower System Front and Rear — The updated GKS shock towers incorporate shock mount inserts that allow you to adjust shock angle, droop, and vehicle ride height independently without affecting spring preload, giving you unprecedented tuning flexibility for different terrains and driving conditions.
• Factory Team Ultra-Smooth Bronze Shocks — The included race-proven shocks feature machined aluminium threaded bodies with bronze anodising, black plastic bleeder caps, and aluminium collars, providing exceptional damping performance across rough terrain while maintaining a professional appearance.
• GKS Aluminium Track Bar Mount — Bolted directly to the stamped steel frame rails, this component makes the front suspension significantly more rigid and flex-free, resulting in more precise steering feel and improved handling characteristics.
• Stealth XF Forward Bias Motor Transmission — This low-profile gearbox features a forward motor mount design that helps keep weight over the front wheels, crucial for maintaining traction and approach angle during difficult climbs and technical terrain navigation.
• Adjustable Drive Ratios Across Three Levels — The kit includes both 5.7% and 11.83% overdrive gears in the box, with a one-to-one ratio option available separately, allowing you to adjust front and rear drive ratios independently to match your driving style and terrain.
• Factory Team 12.3 and 12.8-Inch High-Clearance Links — These 5mm heavy-duty links feature black nitrate finish with FT branding and length etched directly on them for easy reference, paired with 30 durable Factory Team machined steel pivot balls for smooth, long-lasting articulation.
• Behind-the-Axle (BTA) Steering Geometry — This innovative steering design significantly improves approach angle and front-end clearance, making navigation of rough terrain and obstacles much easier whilst maintaining precise directional control.
• Factory Team Steel Wheel Hexes — The 12x6mm steel hexes add valuable weight down low in the chassis, providing a strong solid mount for your favourite plastic or aluminium wheels whilst improving overall stability.
• Solid Axle Front Suspension with Universal Drive Axles — This configuration provides robust articulation and durability, essential for serious off-road crawling and technical terrain navigation.
• One-Piece Rear Axle Design — The integrated rear axle construction reduces complexity and improves reliability during aggressive off-road use.
• Aluminium Steering Plates with Threaded Bodies — Premium aluminium construction ensures precise steering response whilst the threaded design allows fine-tuning of steering geometry.
• Integrated Servo Winch Mount and CMS Design — The chassis-mounted servo (CMS) approach with integrated winch mounting capability allows for modular accessory integration without requiring frame modifications.
• Enclosed Water-Resistant Receiver Box — Your receiver and electronics are protected from moisture and debris with this integrated design, important for maintaining reliability during extended outdoor sessions.
• Injection-Moulded Adjustable Width Rock Sliders — These protect your chassis during technical terrain navigation and ground contact, with width adjustment capability for different driving situations.
• Stamped Steel Frame Rails with Aluminium Motor Plate — The combination of steel frame rails for durability and aluminium motor plate for weight distribution provides an optimised structural design.
• Telescopic Driveshafts Front and Rear — These allow full suspension articulation without binding, essential for crawling performance, paired with extruded aluminium driveshaft splines for durability.
• Optimised Ball Cups for Fluid Axle Articulation — The refined ball cup design enhances smooth articulation of the suspension throughout its full range of motion.
• Metal Ring Gear and Machined Input Pinion Gear — Premium gear construction ensures reliability and smooth power delivery under load.
• Metal Ball Bearings Throughout — The use of quality metal bearings reduces friction and improves overall mechanical efficiency and longevity.
• Steel 25T Servo Horn Included — A robust servo arm suitable for demanding crawling applications where precision steering response is critical.

Technical Performance

The Element RC Enduro Builders Kit 3 represents a masterclass in crawler engineering with its comprehensive approach to off-road performance. This 1/10 scale 4WD rock crawler measures 462mm in length, 236mm in width, and features a 313mm wheelbase, creating a compact yet capable platform. The kit is designed as an un-assembled unit for Skill Level 2 builders, meaning you'll have a moderate understanding of RC mechanics to complete the build. The construction utilises stamped steel frame rails for structural integrity combined with aluminium components throughout the suspension and drivetrain for optimised weight distribution. The Stealth XF transmission represents the engineering heart of this crawler, featuring independent front and rear drive ratio adjustment across three distinct levels (5.7%, one-to-one, and 11.83% overdrive), giving you precise control over power delivery characteristics. The inclusion of Factory Team components throughout — including the bronze-anodised shocks, machined steel pivot balls, high-clearance links, and servo horn — demonstrates Element RC's commitment to race-proven engineering. The water-resistant receiver box protects your electronics during demanding terrain navigation, whilst the telescopic driveshafts and extruded aluminium splines ensure full articulation capabilities without binding. Whether you're tackling rock gardens, tree-lined obstacles, or technical climbing courses, the Enduro Builders Kit 3 provides the mechanical foundation for serious off-road crawling performance.

What's in the Box

• Complete chassis assembly with stamped steel frame rails
• GKS shock towers (front and rear) with shock mount inserts
• Factory Team ultra-smooth bronze shocks with black plastic bleeder caps and aluminium collars
• GKS aluminium track bar mount (bolted assembly)
• Factory Team 12.3-inch high-clearance links (black nitrate finish)
• Factory Team 12.8-inch high-clearance links (black nitrate finish)
• 30 Factory Team machined steel pivot balls
• Factory Team steel wheel hexes (12x6mm)
• Stealth XF gearbox with forward motor mount
• 5.7% overdrive gears
• 11.83% overdrive gears
• Machined input pinion gear
• Metal ring gear
• Metal ball bearings
• Aluminium motor plate
• Aluminium steering plates
• Solid axle front suspension assembly
• Universal front drive axles
• One-piece rear axle assembly
• Telescopic driveshafts (front and rear)
• Extruded aluminium driveshaft splines
• 5mm heavy-duty Factory Team high-clearance links
• Optimised ball cups
• Behind-the-axle (BTA) steering assembly
• Integrated servo winch mount
• Enclosed water-resistant receiver box
• Injection-moulded adjustable width rock sliders
• Threaded aluminium shock bodies
• Steel 25T servo horn
• Adjustable bumper mounts

What You Need to Complete

• 540-size electric motor with 48-pitch pinion gear
• 1/10 scale electronic speed controller (ESC)
• LiPo battery pack (capacity and cell count dependent on your chosen speed controller)
• RC battery charger compatible with your battery type
• 2-channel RC car surface transmitter with batteries
• 2-channel receiver compatible with your transmitter
• Steering servo
• Body shell and paint
• Wheels with 12mm hex mounting
• Tyres suitable for 1/10 scale crawler use

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the Element RC Enduro Builders Kit 3 suitable for beginners to RC crawlers? — This kit is designated as Skill Level 2, meaning it requires moderate mechanical understanding. If you're completely new to RC assembly, you may want to start with a ready-to-run (RTR) model first. However, if you have some RC experience or are willing to learn, this kit provides an excellent learning platform with clear assembly instructions and quality components. The modular design and detailed assembly process will teach you valuable skills about crawler mechanics and tuning.
• What makes the Stealth XF transmission special compared to other crawler gearboxes? — The Stealth XF transmission features a forward motor mount design that positions weight over the front wheels, crucial for maintaining traction and approach angle during difficult terrain. The ability to adjust front and rear drive ratios independently across three different levels (5.7%, one-to-one, and 11.83% overdrive) without expensive additional gear purchases means you can dial in your setup for specific terrain or driving preferences. This flexibility is typically only found in much more expensive high-end crawler systems.
• What battery specifications do I need to know for this kit? — The kit requires a LiPo battery pack, but the specific capacity and cell count (2S, 3S, 4S, etc.) depends on which electronic speed controller you choose to install. This flexibility allows you to match the power system to your budget and performance preferences. Consult the specifications of your chosen ESC to determine appropriate battery options. Most 1/10 scale crawlers use 2S or 3S LiPo batteries, but some high-performance builds use 4S systems for increased power.
• Can I upgrade the one-to-one drive ratio option after building the kit? — Yes, Element RC offers the one-to-one ratio gears as a separate purchase. The kit includes both 5.7% and 11.83% overdrive gears, but if you later decide you want equal front and rear drive ratios, these are available as an aftermarket upgrade without requiring any major transmission modifications.
• What makes the GKS shock tower system better than traditional designs? — The GKS shock towers with integrated shock mount inserts allow you to adjust shock angle, droop, and vehicle ride height without affecting spring preload. This means you can fine-tune your suspension geometry for different terrains and driving conditions without the complexity of changing springs. Traditional designs require spring changes to alter ride height, making this a significant advancement in tuning flexibility.
• Why does the kit include both 12.3-inch and 12.8-inch wheelbase links? — Element RC provides both wheelbase options to give you flexibility in setting up your crawler for different driving conditions and terrain types. A longer wheelbase (12.8-inch) provides better stability and smoother climbing on technical terrain, whilst a shorter wheelbase (12.3-inch) offers tighter turning radius and quicker handling response. You can experiment with both configurations during your build.
• What is behind-the-axle (BTA) steering and why does it matter? — Behind-the-axle steering positions the steering linkage behind the front axle rather than in front of it. This design significantly improves approach angle and front-end clearance, allowing the vehicle to tackle steeper obstacles and technical terrain with less risk of high-centering or getting hung up. This is a critical feature for serious rock crawling performance.
• Are the Factory Team components included in this kit race-proven? — Yes, Element RC has selected Factory Team components throughout this kit because they're proven in competitive racing environments. The ultra-smooth bronze shocks, machined steel pivot balls, high-clearance links, and other FT components are engineered to demanding standards and tested in real-world competition. This means you're getting competition-grade reliability and performance in your builders kit.
• What tools and skills will I need to assemble this kit? — You'll need basic RC building tools including hex drivers, screwdrivers, and adjustable wrenches. The kit provides comprehensive instructions and the modular design makes assembly logical and straightforward. If you have experience building other RC vehicles, you'll find this familiar. The real value comes from understanding crawler suspension geometry and tuning principles.
• Can I use different motors and speed controllers with this chassis? — Yes, the kit is designed to accept 540-size electric motors with 48-pitch pinion gears, and is compatible with standard 1/10 scale speed controllers. However, you should choose components that work together as a system. Consult with experienced RC builders or retailer specialists to ensure your motor and ESC selection matches your battery choice and desired performance characteristics.

Why Buy from RC Model Shop?

RC Model Shop is a trusted UK RC retailer and authorised dealer for all the brands we stock, including Traxxas, ARRMA, Losi, FTX, Hobbywing, Spektrum and more. Based in Walsall, we have a physical store where customers are welcome to come in, view products and purchase in store. Whether you are a seasoned competitor, a weekend basher, or just discovering the world of RC for the first time, our team of experienced RC enthusiasts is here to help you find the perfect setup and provide ongoing support. Order the Element RC Enduro Builders Kit 3 EL40135 today with confidence, knowing you are buying from an authorised retailer with genuine products, expert knowledge and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Shop online or visit us in Walsall — we look forward to helping you get the most out of your RC experience.