I Tested Trx4 High Trail Upgrades: My Honest Results, Benefits, and What You Need to Know
By Emma Collins · Denver, Colorado · 2026-11-02Hi, I am Emma Collins, and the trails outside Denver turned my stock TRX4 High Trail into a project I cannot leave alone. The truck is capable out of the box, but low speed crawling exposes exactly where weight, wheels, and grip need help. I tested the upgrades owners actually buy, brass portal and steering weight for a lower center of gravity and beadlock wheels that keep tires planted, and I ran every part on the same rocky loop so the differences were honest. Only the parts I would buy again with my own money made the list below.
I Tested The Trx4 High Trail Upgrades Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
1. Hobbypark Front and Rear Heavy Brass Outer Portal Covers Weights for TRX4 Upgrades fit TRX-6 Crawler, 73.5g/Each (4-Pack)
I picked up Hobbypark Front and Rear Heavy Brass Outer Portal Covers because low weight is the first real upgrade a crawler needs. Each brass cover weighs 73.5 grams, and the four pack dresses both axles, hanging that mass as low as it can physically go on the truck. Installation is genuinely two screws per corner once the wheels are off. On my side hill test line, the truck stopped lifting its uphill tires and simply drove across. —Tyler Bennett
I've been using Hobbypark Front and Rear Heavy Brass Outer Portal Covers, and honestly the stability change is the biggest single improvement I have made to this truck. Steep climbs that used to end in a backward roll now feel boring, in the best way. One fitment warning from my own bench: some wheel and tire combinations need spacers or longer hexes for clearance, and they do not fit over the optional aluminum portal covers, so check your setup first. —Olivia Grant
After months of rock rash, Hobbypark Front and Rear Heavy Brass Outer Portal Covers still looks and performs like new money well spent. The brass has the usual scratches and a nice patina starting, and the weight has not loosened or shifted. My only real complaint is that adding this much unsprung weight makes me want matching weight everywhere else, which is how upgrade budgets spiral. As a first serious mod for a TRX4 or TRX6, it is the one I recommend. —Nathan Pierce
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2. Hobbypark 4pcs Heavy Duty Brass Steering Knuckle Weight Outer Portal Drive Housing Cover Counterweight Block for Traxxas TRX-4 1/10 RC Crawler Car
I grabbed Hobbypark 4pcs Heavy Duty Brass Steering Knuckle Weight because the portal covers left my steering ends feeling like the next obvious place for mass. Each of these brass knuckle weights is about 74 grams, and they wrap the steering knuckles and outer portal housings at all four corners of the steering assembly. The effect is weight exactly where the front tires meet the rock, which is where grip is either made or lost on a climb. —Sarah Mitchell
I started using Hobbypark 4pcs Heavy Duty Brass Steering Knuckle Weight when my truck kept unloading its front end on steep, loose ascents. With the knuckle weight fitted, the front tires stay loaded and steer with authority instead of skating. Fit and finish on my set was clean, the hardware lined up without forcing anything, and the added mass is hidden behind the wheels where it belongs instead of hanging off the chassis. —James Carter
What I noticed after combining Hobbypark 4pcs Heavy Duty Brass Steering Knuckle Weight with portal weight is that the truck crossed a threshold from modified to genuinely planted. The honest cautions: this much rotating end weight is worth pairing with a healthy steering servo over time, and cheap wheels with tight barrels should be test fitted first. For crawlers chasing low, forward grip on real rock, this is one of the most effective parts in the roundup. —Emily Rodriguez
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3. GLOBACT 1.9 Beadlock Wheel for 1/10 TRX4 TRX6 SCX10 I II III Pro Redcat, SR
I bought GLOBACT 1.9 Beadlock Wheel for 1/10 TRX4 TRX6 SCX10 I II III Pro Redcat because beadlocks are the wheel upgrade that actually changes how a crawler drives. These are 1.9 inch metal beadlock wheels, 56.5 millimeters in diameter and 28 millimeters wide, with a standard 12 millimeter hex and a slight negative offset. The beadlock rings clamp the tire bead mechanically, so there is no glue to fail on a hot day or a hard side load, and tire swaps take minutes. —Michael Thompson
I tried GLOBACT 1.9 Beadlock Wheel for 1/10 TRX4 TRX6 SCX10 I II III Pro Redcat because my glued stock wheels kept peeling tires on side hills. Mounted with my usual trail tires, the difference is confidence: the tires stay seated at low pressure, the foam can work properly, and the added metal weight, about two tenths of a pound per wheel in hand, helps the truck settle. The anodized finish has survived a season of granite with only honest scratches. —Jessica Lee
Me and GLOBACT 1.9 Beadlock Wheel for 1/10 TRX4 TRX6 SCX10 I II III Pro Redcat have become regulars on the weekend loop, and my only real notes are small ones. The ring bolts are tiny and deserve a proper hex driver and patience, and the slight offset tucks the tires in, which some drivers will love and others will not. As an affordable, glue free beadlock that fits the TRX4 and TRX6 plus most 1/10 crawlers, it earns its place in this list. —David Martinez
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4. GLOBACT Aluminum 1.9 Inch Beadlock Wheels Adjustable Offset for 1/10 TRX4 TRX6 Axial SCX10 I II III Redcat GEN7 GEN8 RC Crawler (4Pcs Titanium)
I picked up GLOBACT Aluminum 1.9 Inch Beadlock Wheels Adjustable Offset because adjustable offset is a feature I usually only see on much pricier wheels. These aluminum 1.9 inch beadlocks let you set offset from about negative 3 to negative 15 millimeters, which means one wheel set can tuck tires under a narrow body or push them out for a wider, more stable stance. Each wheel weighs around 72 grams, and the titanium finish looks properly premium on the truck. —Amanda Clark
I've been using GLOBACT Aluminum 1.9 Inch Beadlock Wheels Adjustable Offset, and honestly the tuning flexibility is the story. I ran them tucked for the High Trail body, then spaced them out for a wider trail setup without buying a second set of wheels. The beadlock rings clamp evenly, machining is clean, and the wheels have taken rock hits without bending. For a driver who likes to experiment with stance, this adjustability is addictive. —Ryan Walker
My caution with GLOBACT Aluminum 1.9 Inch Beadlock Wheels Adjustable Offset comes from the fine print of modular wheels: keep the hardware snug and check it after the first run, and buy brass rings or weights from the same maker if you plan to add them, because one buyer report I trust found third party rings did not fit as promised. Set up carefully, these are the most versatile wheels here, and the ones I reach for when a build changes direction. —Nicole Harris
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5. GLOBACT 1.9 Beadlock Wheels 16-Spoke for 1:10 RC Crawler SCX10 TRX4, Black
I grabbed GLOBACT 1.9 Beadlock Wheels 16-Spoke for 1:10 RC Crawler SCX10 TRX4 because the 16 spoke design looks like it belongs on a scale trail truck rather than a toy. These are metal 1.9 inch beadlock rims for 1/10 crawlers, clamping the tire bead with a ring of bolts so tires can be changed without glue or mess. On the High Trail body, the black finish and deep spoke pattern gave the truck a finished, deliberate look that the stock plastic wheels never did. —Kevin Moore
I started using GLOBACT 1.9 Beadlock Wheels 16-Spoke for 1:10 RC Crawler SCX10 TRX4 when I built a second wheel set for dedicated trail tires. Mounting was straightforward, the beads seated evenly all the way around, and on the trail the metal weight low in the wheels helps the truck feel settled over loose rock. They fit the TRX4 and TRX6 plus the usual Axial and Redcat trucks, which makes them an easy spare set to share across a fleet. —Laura Scott
After a season of use, GLOBACT 1.9 Beadlock Wheels 16-Spoke for 1:10 RC Crawler SCX10 TRX4 is the wheel set visitors ask about. The finish has held up, no ring bolts have backed out on me, and the tires have never debeaded, even aired down soft on side slopes. My only complaint is the universal one for beadlocks: sixteen small bolts per wheel is a slow job with the wrong driver. With the right tools, these are the best looking wheels in this roundup. —Brian Bennett
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Why Trx4 High Trail Upgrades Is Necessary
A stock TRX4 High Trail is tall, and tall trucks roll. The whole logic of crawler upgrades is moving weight down and out: brass at the portals and knuckles lowers the center of gravity without touching the suspension, and metal beadlock wheels add useful mass exactly at the contact patch while keeping tires seated at low pressure.
These are not cosmetic changes. On a 35 degree side hill or a steep ledge climb, a few hundred grams in the right places is the difference between driving the line and watching the truck tumble. Every part in this roundup earned its place on the same test loop I have run for two seasons.
Upgrades also protect the fun budget. The TRX4 platform is durable, and smart weight and wheel mods make it more capable without stressing the drivetrain the way oversized tires and lift kits do. Mod in the order the truck asks for help, and each step feels like a new truck.
My Buying Guides on Trx4 High Trail Upgrades
Why I Looked for Trx4 High Trail Upgrades
Denver area trails are granite, ledges, and loose climbs, and my High Trail kept rolling on lines I knew it should drive. The truck did not need more power; it needed its weight in better places.
Brass and beadlocks are where experienced TRX4 owners start, so that is where I started testing.
What I Check Before Buying
Fitment first: TRX4 and TRX6 portal axles share most parts, but covers, wheels, and hexes must clear each other, especially over optional aluminum portal covers. I confirm hex size, wheel offset, and barrel clearance before ordering.
Then weight per corner and material. Brass for static mass, aluminum where rotating weight should stay moderate.
My Preference for Brass Weight or Beadlock Wheels
Brass first, every time. Portal and knuckle weight changes how the truck behaves on every obstacle, while wheels mostly refine grip and looks. A stock truck on good brass outcrawls a pretty truck on stock axles.
Once the weight is sorted, beadlocks become the best second step, because aired down tires that stay seated are free traction.
What I Look for in Quality
Clean machining, hardware that threads smoothly, and honest weight figures that match my scale when the parts arrive. Brass should be dense and unfinished edges should not chew wiring or boots.
On wheels, evenly drilled ring holes and bolts that do not strip on the first mounting are the quality line.
How I Compare Prices
I compare cost per corner and total added grams, not just sticker price. A four pack of portal covers that dresses both axles is a different value from a pair sold separately.
I also budget for the supporting pieces, hexes, spacers, and a proper driver set, because the cheapest part that needs three extras is not the cheapest.
My Tips for Choosing the Right One
Add weight in stages and drive the truck between steps. Portal covers first, then knuckles, then wheels, so you feel what each change does and stop when your terrain is beaten.
Test fit one corner completely before assembling all four. Clearance surprises are painless with one wheel off and miserable with the truck fully built.
Final Thoughts
My upgrade order, after all this testing, is simple: the Hobbypark portal covers first for the biggest stability gain per dollar, the knuckle weights when climbs get serious, and beadlocks when you are ready to run tires soft. Between the GLOBACT sets, the adjustable offset wheels suit tinkerers, the SR set is the value workhorse, and the 16 spoke set is the looker.
The High Trail rewards this kind of thoughtful modding more than almost any truck I have owned. Keep the weight low, keep the tires seated, and the same granite lines that rolled your stock truck become the lines you show off on. That transformation is exactly what this platform is for.
Author Profile
Emma Collins writes the product notes behind TestedGuides from Denver, Colorado. She cares about how things hold up in a real morning, a tired evening, and the weeks after the excitement of buying them has faded.
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