Roaring Realism – The Rugged Traxxas Ford Raptor Replica

Roaring  Realism – The Rugged Traxxas  Ford Raptor Replica

The Ford Raptor is one of the most exciting pickups to hit the streets, and the dirt, in recent memory. It’s a powerful high-performance pickup truck that is designed to dominate the truck segment and we have to admit, it’s done just that.

Based on the popular Ford F-150, the Raptor is equipped with a powerful engine, specialized suspension and rugged tires, making it capable of tackling even the toughest terrain. Its aggressive styling, featuring a wide stance and bold grille, sets it apart from other trucks on the road. With its combination of power, capability and style, the Ford Raptor has become a favorite among off-road enthusiasts and truck lovers alike.

Roaring Realism - The Rugged Traxxas Ford Raptor Replica

The Raptor’s dominance wasn’t lost on the good folks at Traxxas. In the world of RC off-road vehicles, Traxxas has been a major player for decades, so it’s only natural that when it came time to reproduce the Raptor in 1/10-scale, the company was a natural fit. Known for their high-quality builds and attention to detail, Traxxas has recently released their Ford Raptor replica, which takes scale realism to a whole new level.

The F-150 Raptor is based on Traxxas’ venerable two-wheel-drive Slash short-course truck platform.

The F-150 Raptor is based on Traxxas’ venerable two-wheel-drive Slash short-course truck platform.

The Raptor comes fitted with all-terrain tires that are wrapped in 2.2” satin-finish “beadlock” wheels that feature a black split-spoke center.

The Raptor comes fitted with all-terrain tires that are wrapped in 2.2” satin-finish “beadlock” wheels that feature a black split-spoke center.

LEGENDARY SLASH

Based on Traxxas’ two-wheel-drive Slash short-course truck platform, this Raptor is outfitted with Ford’s great looks as well as Traxxas’ legendary performance. Since its initial release, the Slash has remained a top seller in the RC world. Many experienced drivers fondly recall the Slash as their first RC vehicle and often own more than one of these short-course trucks.

Its continued popularity can be attributed to its enjoyable driving experience, ease of maintenance, and customizable features. In fact, we believe the Slash is the perfect platform for beginners to enter the RC hobby. Its upgrade parts support also appeals to seasoned enthusiasts, allowing for plenty of performance enhancements to supercharge the vehicle. It’s fantastic that we can now have a version of the Slash that looks like the hard-charging Ford Raptor.

The waterproof Traxxas XL-5 ESC supplies power to the motor. It features three throttle profiles, low voltage detection, thermal shutdown protection and a built-in BEC.

The waterproof Traxxas XL-5 ESC supplies power to the motor. It features three throttle profiles, low voltage detection, thermal shutdown protection and a built-in BEC.

The Slash chassis boasts oil-filled Ultra Shocks that deliver a smooth ride. These shocks are highly adjustable with a range of oils, springs and pistons to choose from.

The Slash chassis boasts oil-filled Ultra Shocks that deliver a smooth ride. These shocks are highly adjustable with a range of oils, springs and pistons to choose from.

RAPTOR LOOKS

The Raptor’s body is fully detailed with an injection-molded nylon composite grille and front bumper, which truly capture the depth and detail of Ford’s original design. The addition of integrated hood vents and side mirrors adds to the vehicle’s realistic appearance, making it the perfect choice for enthusiasts who want to experience the thrill of off-roading with a true-to-life replica.

The heavy-duty body is extra tough, designed to handle all of your off-roading adventures. Whether you’re driving over rough terrain or through muddy puddles, this vehicle is built to last. It does utilize traditional body pins and not Traxxas’ revolutionary clipless system, but we won’t hold that against this kit. The truck still looks great, especially finished in an eye-catching Fox Suspension livery. If a silver, orange and black color scheme is not to your liking, this pre-assembled ready-to-run (RTR) kit is also available in factory accurate blue and red colors as well.

The Titan 12T brushed motor features an integrated cooling fan that pulls cool air through the motor to keep temperatures down for extended runs.

The Titan 12T brushed motor features an integrated cooling fan that pulls cool air through the motor to keep temperatures down for extended runs.

Traxxas’ #2075 steering servo provides confident steering precision and power to the front wheels.

Traxxas’ #2075 steering servo provides confident steering precision and power to the front wheels.

The replica Raptor body looks great any angle you view it from.

The replica Raptor body looks great any angle you view it from.

THE PLATFORM

In addition to its impressive appearance, the Traxxas Ford Raptor is also equipped with advanced features that make it a top-performing off-road vehicle. With its high-performance suspension system and powerful motor, this vehicle can tackle even the toughest obstacles with ease. Let’s take a deeper look at what you’ll find under the body.

Raptor’s long, 13.2-inch-wheelbase Slash chassis provides stability while offering more than 3.5 inches of ground clearance. The composite nylon modified tub chassis includes drain holes and a battery tray channel for routing servo wires to the receiver. For racetrack competition, a transponder mount is located under the front shock tower.

Propelling Raptor forward is a reliable drivetrain that has set the standard for those around it. Its Traxxas Magnum 272 transmission features metal gears riding on ultra-smooth sealed ball bearings. Combined with the smooth 48-pitch gears, power transfers quietly to the durable telescoping U-joint driveshafts. The Magnum 272 is built to handle massive brushless power for when it comes time for a brushless upgrade.

The Torque-Control slipper clutch employs unique semi-metallic friction material and aluminum alloy pressure plates with fins to manage heat and deliver reliable traction control. This friction material remains stable across a wide temperature range, ensuring a smooth and linear engagement that you can depend on, run after run. Additionally, the truck’s planetary gear differential uses hardened steel internal gears for enhanced durability during intense off-road driving. With a low maintenance requirement and an efficient design, this type of differential delivers maximum power to the wheels for maximum tire-shredding performance.

The Slash boasts oil-filled Ultra Shocks that deliver a smooth ride. These shocks are highly adjustable with a range of oils, springs and pistons to choose from. They also feature pressure bladders that separate air from oil and spring clips that enable precise adjustments to the ride height and spring pre-load. The shocks are equipped with race-tuned, progressive-rate springs that absorb small bumps like a softer spring would, but when faced with rough terrain and big jumps, they become firmer as the suspension compresses, rising up to the challenge.

A robust rear bumper protects the tailend of the truck.

A robust rear bumper protects the tailend of the truck.

A robust rear bumper protects the tailend of the truck.

DRIVEN

Raptor is powered via a combination of Traxxas XL-5 Waterproof Electronic Speed Control (ESC) and Titan 12-Turn 550 Motor. Perfect for romps around the backyard and beyond, the Titan 12T is made to combine torque and acceleration for wheelies, powerslides, jumps and more. An integrated cooling fan pulls cool air through the motor to keep temperatures down for more fun behind the wheel.

Working in tandem with the Titan is the waterproof XL-5 ESC. The XL-5 handles the elements while smoothly supplying power to the motor. It features three throttle profiles, low voltage detection, thermal shutdown protection, a built-in BEC, and it can handle 4- to 7-cell NiMH and 2-cell LiPo batteries. It’s good to know that XL-5 has a training mode that reduces the overall power output by 50%, making it easier for young or new drivers to develop their control skills before unleashing Slash’s full power performance.

ALL-INCLUSIVE

We were glad to find out that the Raptor is not only pre-assembled, but it also includes a 7-cell Traxxas iD-equipped Power Cell NiMH battery along with Traxxas’ 4-amp DC Peak Detecting Fast Charger. We must point out that we are quite impressed with this charger. It utilizes a 12-volt DC power outlet for high-output charging and features an LED display that indicates the battery’s charging status as soon as it is connected. Automatic peak-detection circuitry ensures that the battery receives a full charge every time. During the charging process, the status LED flashes green, and once charging is complete it turns solid green, making charging foolproof and ensuring peak performance and maximum runtime. This charger takes all the guesswork out of battery charging. Just play and play.

BASHING TIME

We charged up the included 3000mAh, 8.4V, Power Cell NiMH battery and headed to the park. As we took the Raptor for a spin, we sought out a patch of loose gravel and dried-out grass to test it out. The first thing we noticed was how striking the Ford-licensed body looked. The lines were sharp and the Fox livery really stood out.

The Raptor’s brushed Titan 12T motor proved to be extremely user-friendly during our test run. The handling was predictable, which is a great characteristic for a vehicle. The more control you have, the better you can drive, and predictability in handling is key. However, the Slash 2WD-based truck was not without surprises. We were thrilled by the power generated when we floored the throttle, particularly when driving on dynamic surfaces such as loose gravel. We even managed to jump a few natural berms, and were delighted with the smooth landings and the smiles on our faces.

TRAXXAS FORD RAPTOR Vehicle Specs

P/N: 58094-1
MSRP: $249.99
traxxas.com

Scale: 1/10
Weight as tested: 4 lbs., 12.2 oz. (2.16kg)
Chassis: Composite nylon tub
Shocks: Oil-filled coilover
Suspension: 4-wheel independent
Differential: Steel composite planetary
Body: Pre-painted, decorated, pre-cut polycarbonate
Wheels: 2.2” satin-finish “beadlock” with black split-spoke center
Tires: Traxxas SCT 2.2”
Speed Control: Waterproof XL-5 ESC
Motor: Titan 12T 550 (12-turn)
Steering Servo: Traxxas #2075
Radio: Traxxas TQ 2.4GHz (2-channel)
Receiver: Traxxas TQ
Charger: Traxxas 4-amp DC Peak Detecting Fast Charger
Battery: Traxxas 7-cell NiMH battery with iD

FINAL WORD

Overall, the Traxxas version of the Ford Raptor is a fun kit for anyone who loves off-roading and wants to experience the thrill of driving a scale-looking replica. With its great attention to detail, Slash-based foundation and heavy-duty construction, this vehicle is sure to provide plenty of fun for a wide range of RC enthusiasts.


Text and Images by Jerry Tsai

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Updated: June 1, 2023 — 5:08 AM
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