If you just picked up the massive Axial 1/6 scale rig, you're probably already looking into scx6 honcho upgrades to help handle that sheer weight and size on the rocks. It's an absolute beast of a truck right out of the box, but let's be honest—it's a lot of plastic moving a lot of mass. When you're dealing with a rig that weighs upwards of 25 pounds, the stock components are under a ton of stress the second you hit a technical climb.
I've spent a lot of time tinkering with these big rigs, and while the Honcho version looks killer with that classic cage back, it shares the same "room for improvement" as the original JLU Wrangler version. You don't need to replace every single part on day one, but there are a few key areas where a little bit of aftermarket love goes a long way.
Fixing the steering woes
The very first thing almost every owner notices is that the steering feels a bit mushy. That's because the stock servo is trying its hardest, but it's just not quite enough for those massive tires when they get wedged between two rocks.
High-torque servos
If you're serious about crawling, a high-torque servo is the single most important of all scx6 honcho upgrades. You want something that can push at least 800 to 1000 oz-in of torque. Brands like Reefs RC or AGFRC make some absolute units specifically for the 1/6 scale market. When you swap the servo, don't forget that you'll likely need a dedicated BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit) to feed it enough voltage. If you try to run a high-power servo directly off the stock ESC's internal BEC, you might experience brownouts or just underwhelming performance.
Aluminum steering horn and links
While you're messing with the steering, ditch the plastic servo horn. It's a known fail point. A solid aluminum horn won't flex under pressure, ensuring every bit of that servo's power actually reaches the wheels. Also, consider upgrading the steering links to stainless steel or heavy-duty aluminum. The stock plastic links have a fair amount of "noodle" factor when the truck gets bound up, which kills your precision.
Adding weight down low
The SCX6 Honcho has a decent center of gravity for its size, but it can still be a bit tippy on steep side-hills. The goal with weight-based scx6 honcho upgrades is to keep the "heavy" stuff as close to the ground as possible.
Brass portal covers
This is a classic crawler move. Adding brass portal covers at all four corners puts weight directly on the axles. This helps the tires bite into the dirt and keeps the front end planted when you're vertical. Just don't go overboard; too much weight can put excessive strain on your drivetrain and motor. I usually start with just the front covers to see how the balance shifts before doing the rear.
Heavy-duty beadlocks
The stock wheels are okay, but moving to a set of heavy aluminum beadlock wheels makes a massive difference. Not only do they look better, but the added rotating mass actually helps with momentum in certain crawling scenarios. Plus, beadlocks make it way easier to swap out foams or tires down the road without having to deal with the nightmare of ungluing massive 1/6 scale tires.
Better rubber and foams
Speaking of tires, the stock BFGoodrich KM3s aren't bad, but the foams inside them are often a bit too soft for a truck this heavy. You'll see the sidewalls folding over during side-hilling, which makes the truck feel unpredictable.
Dual-stage foams
Replacing the stock foams with high-quality dual-stage inserts is a game-changer. You want a firm inner ring to support the weight of the truck and prevent the tire from flat-spotting, combined with a softer outer layer that lets the tread wrap around rocks. It's one of those scx6 honcho upgrades that you can actually feel the benefit of immediately.
Stickier tire compounds
If you're crawling on slick rock or wet terrain, look into the Pro-Line Hyrax or JConcepts Landminds in their 1/6 scale versions. These tires have a more aggressive lug pattern and stickier compounds that can find grip where the stock tires just spin. Just keep in mind that larger, stickier tires put even more stress on that steering servo we talked about earlier.
Drivetrain and power upgrades
The SCX6 Honcho comes with a decent brushless system, but there's always room for more "shove." If you find yourself wanting more low-end control or just more raw power for mud and sand, you might want to look into the electronics.
Sensored brushless systems
While the stock Spektrum Firma system is sensorless, it's actually surprisingly smooth. However, if you want that "surgical" level of control at ultra-low speeds, a sensored setup like the Castle Creations Mamba Monster X 8S paired with a 1515 or 1717 motor is the gold standard. The sensor wire tells the ESC exactly where the motor rotor is, which eliminates that "cogging" or stuttering you sometimes get when trying to start on a steep incline.
Hardened steel gears
The SCX6 uses a two-speed transmission, which is great for hauling mail on the flats and then crawling in the rocks. If you start throwing 8S power or high-torque motors at it, you might want to look into hardened steel internal gears. It's better to overbuild the transmission now than to have a gear strip out while you're two miles deep on a trail.
Suspension tuning
The shocks on the Honcho are huge, and they hold a lot of oil. But out of the box, they can feel a little bouncy or under-damped.
Oil and spring adjustments
You don't necessarily need to buy all-new shocks right away. Sometimes, just changing the shock oil weight can transform how the truck handles. If the truck feels like it's pogo-sticking after a drop, move to a slightly heavier weight oil. On the flip side, if you've added a lot of brass weight to the axles, you might need stiffer springs to maintain your ride height. It's all about finding that sweet spot where the suspension fully cycles without bottoming out too easily.
Scale looks and protection
Part of the fun of the Honcho is that it looks like a real-world trail rig. Some of the best scx6 honcho upgrades are purely about aesthetics and keeping the body from getting shredded.
Inner fenders and rock sliders
If you hate seeing the "guts" of your truck through the wheel wells, a set of inner fenders is a nice touch. They also help keep mud and debris from coating your ESC and motor. Metal rock sliders are another great addition. The stock plastic ones are fine, but metal sliders will actually slide over rocks more smoothly and protect the sides of that expensive Honcho body from getting crunched.
Lighting kits
The Honcho comes with some light buckets, but adding a full LED kit—including rock lights under the chassis—makes night crawling an entirely different experience. There's something incredibly cool about seeing a 30-inch-long truck lit up like a Christmas tree navigating a dark rock garden.
Final thoughts on building your SCX6
The beauty of the SCX6 platform is that it's tough enough to enjoy right out of the box, but it has a massive ceiling for performance. If I were starting from scratch, I'd prioritize the steering servo and the tires/foams first. Those are the areas where you'll see the biggest jump in "crawlability."
After that, it's really just about personal preference. Do you want a high-speed basher that can also crawl? Go for the Castle motor swap. Do you want a scale-accurate beast that can side-hill like a goat? Focus on the brass and the suspension tuning. Whatever route you take, these scx6 honcho upgrades will help you get the most out of what is arguably one of the coolest RC trucks ever made. Just remember to bring a big enough backpack—carrying this thing back to the car if a battery dies is a workout you don't want!