In this video Owen takes his Axial Capra 4WS and Axial Ryft into a wet, nasty swamp to see how well they hold up!
We seem to be having trouble with either the front axle of our Axial Ryft or the center differential. The first time we take the machine into the swamp, it doesn't get very far due to the front end just plowing down into the water. It seems this caused the motor to cog out and stop responding.
The second run got a little further, and you get to see some water spray!
The Axial Capra 4ws is never disappointing. It's durable and seems to like the water adventures we keep putting it through. It's still all-original too, with the stock motor and drivetrain.
The Axial Ryft has had some minor suspension parts replaced, and we installed a differential locker in the rear of the machine to make it perform better in the deep snow this winter. That being said, it seems like the Ryft needs more help than that rear locker. We may need to tear into the center differential or front end to see what the problem is after this video.
After watching the footage back, it's clear that the swamp's thick mud and water are tougher than we thought. Next steps? We're considering several upgrades to the Axial Ryft. No matter what, we need its 4 wheel drive to engage and work all the time. Without working 4 wheel drive, this machine fails to be impressive off road.
Stay tuned for the next video where we'll take a closer look at the modifications we decide on and test them out in an even more challenging setting. Will a few key upgrades make the Ryft unstoppable? Or will it fall short again when compared to the much simpler and more durable Capra? Subscribe and hit the notification bell to find out in our upcoming swamp redemption run!