When it comes to Traxxas’ extensive line of RC vehicles, the undisputed king of the castle is its domineering monster truck, the X-Maxx. The X-Maxx’s awe-inspiring size, strength and speed have rewritten all that has come before it in the ready to run monster truck genre. As such a dominant specimen, what does Traxxas do to build on this well-established line?
Enter Traxxas’ latest large-scale truck, the XRT. To put it simply, think of the XRT as something like an X-Maxx scaled stadium truck, or you can also think of it as we do—a giant Traxxas Rustler 4×4. It’s a low-slung, go-fast truck that combines race-inspired design and engineering with X-Maxx’s impressive power and strength. Traxxas’ newest platform boasts nimble agility and rock-solid stability that is capable of taking full advantage of the upper range of Traxxas’ extreme 8s power and speed.
X-TRUCKS
With this introduction, Traxxas now has two fully capable 8s power trucks in its lineup. Known collectively as the X-Trucks, the X-Maxx and now the XRT deliver a one-two punch that speed-bashing fans can’t deny. Each of the X-Trucks offers its own personality and driving experience. The X-Maxx reigns as the ultimate monster truck with its big tires and generous ground clearance. The XRT, on the other hand, sits lower to the ground and is designed for sharp handling and all-out speed.
While XRT is a completely new offering with plenty of its own proprietary parts, it does share some of its components with the legendary X-Maxx. The X-Maxx, after all, has set the standard for strength and power, so it was a wise move for Traxxas to transfer much of its DNA onto the XRT.
XRT’s Gravix race tires feature a new hybrid design that delivers outstanding grip on hard-packed surfaces.
BUILT FOR ACTION
As mentioned, XRT was engineered with a focus on speed, handling and performance. XRT’s low center of gravity, ultra-wide stance and low-profile body deliver confidence and control as the truck accelerates across wide-open spaces and uneven terrain to an all-out speed of over 60 miles per hour.
XRT’s agility comes from a performance-focused chassis design that is configured to lower the center of gravity for superior handling and stability. The chassis holds dual 6700 4s batteries on either side, and the steering servo is positioned to place the weight as low as possible. Combine this low-slung setup with race-tuned aluminum shocks and an ultra-wide stance, which XRT shares with X-Maxx Widemaxx, and you’ll see why this truck sticks to the ground even at high speeds. The result is awesome powerslides and dirt-flinging rooster tails.
Being so low to the ground necessitates that the XRT’s chassis also has a smooth bottom that doesn’t snag or grab onto any bits of loose terrain or rocks. To accommodate this need, Traxxas designed the XRT’s modular chassis as a series of interlocking plates that integrate and seamlessly lock together to create a smooth undertray that uniformly absorbs ground impacts for snag-free performance.
Also locked into the chassis are XRT’s integrated shock towers. These towers are actually an integral design element of XRT’s frame and feature massive buttresses that help dissipate shock loads and spread them throughout the chassis.
XRT’s shock towers are integrated into the truck’s frame. This helps dissipate shock loads throughout the chassis.
PURE POWER
XRT runs the well-regarded Velineon 1200XL brushless motor. To keep the 8s motor cool, XRT is equipped with an aluminum heatsink that wraps around nearly 75% of the motor’s body. Dual electric fan shrouds draw air through the body’s vents for enhanced cooling, which results in longer component life and run times.
“To put it simply, think of the XRT as something like an X-Maxx scaled stadium truck…”
Heavy-duty steering blocks and axle carriers keep the XRT running and handling great.
Already Traxxas’ most powerful speed control, XRT’s VXL-8s goes even further with an aggressive XRT-exclusive tune that maximizes power output across the entire RPM range. More power under the curve delivers mid-range punch that hits hard for unbelievable bashing opportunities. Pin back the throttle at any speed and XRT responds instantly with effortless acceleration.
The proven all-metal driveline that’s found in X-Maxx also drives XRT. Why mess with success? The 8s power-capable, precision-engineered driveline consists of steel 4-gear differentials and steel driveshafts that are driven by a high-strength extruded aluminum center shaft.
XRT also utilizes Cush Drive, which both absorbs driveline shock and delivers uninterrupted power straight to the truck’s Torque-Biasing Center Drive (TBCD) for smooth yet powerful acceleration. The TBCD uses 20M-weight oil to evenly transfer power to all four wheels for even acceleration under full-throttle launches.
Easy-to-use snap-lock battery retainers securely keep the large and heavy batteries in place even under big shocks and landings.
The low profile and aggressive stance of the XRT is a crowd pleaser.
CLIPLESS BODY
Now let’s talk about the body, which is something we absolutely love. The thought and design that went into XRT’s body is a thing of beauty and, we feel, should set the standard for future kits. XRT’s clipless body easily removes and installs in just seconds, yet it locks in place with incredible strength and security. The system uses a cage inside the body to minimize flex while external skids are strategically placed to protect the body itself. The body is so easy to take on and off and it feels as sturdy as can be.
The body also includes built-in, integrated cold-air intakes, which guide fresh air into the ducts and force it over the motor and speed control for increased cooling. These intakes are found on the hood and the roof.
A clipless bodymount framework is mounted to the inside of the body to keep the body rigid and durable.
There’s no doubt that the XRT is a good-looking vehicle from any angle.
“It’s a low-slung,
go-fast truck that combines race-inspired design and engineering with X-Maxx’s impressive power and strength.”
BASHTIME
We took XRT out for some speed-bash runs on a large mixed grass and dirt field. Afterward, we took it to a large concrete aqueduct to see what it could do over varied terrain. Spoiler alert—it was awesome. The giant scaled, super-wide truck blasted at speed and handled like a dream. It did feel way different than the X-Maxx in that it was more nimble on its feet and didn’t have nearly as much suspension flex or top-heaviness.
It’s essentially a really big, powerful stadium truck. It’s truly a pleasure to drive over dirt, grass and concrete. We even got it over some puddled water and it handled like a champ. That said, we were glad that it’s equipped with Traxxas Stability Management, which, through integrated electronics, improves straight-line acceleration and braking on low-traction surfaces. Otherwise we may not have been able to fully tame the 8s power. This feature is adjustable from off to 100% assistance directly from the transmitter.
With regard to the clipless body, we had our reservations at first on whether the body would be able to stay on such a large and powerful truck after a few high-speed rollovers and impacts. Suffice it to say that the body hung on without any problems whatsoever. We feel strongly that all RC vehicles should use this system in the future. Good thing for Traxxas, then, that it looks like this system is proprietary.
Before we forget, we have to mention that the XRT runs on Traxxas’ latest Gravix race tires. These tires are a revolutionary new hybrid design with densely packed biting edges and sipes. They are made to deliver outstanding grip on hard-packed surfaces, along with fast and quiet-running precision. We found them to grip when we wanted them to grip and to break when we wanted them to break as well—that is, when we poured on the power. All in all, our bash sessions with the XRT were a smashing success.
Traxxas XRT VEHICLE SPECS
Height: 10.15 in. (258mm)
Length: 31.41 in. (798mm)
Width: 23.43 in. (595mm)
Wheelbase: 18.9 in. (480mm)
Scale: Large (1/5-1/6)
MSRP: $999.95
P/N: 78086-4
Length: 31.41 in. (798mm)
Width: 23.43 in. (595mm)
Height: 10.15 in. (258mm)
Wheelbase: 18.9 in. (480mm)
Weight: 21 lbs.., 0.5 oz. (9.54kg)
Chassis: Composite nylon tub
Shocks: Oil-filled, machined aluminum threaded body shocks
Suspension: Oversized double wishbone
Transmission: Heavy-duty Cush Drive, Torque-Biasing Center Drive
Differential: Sealed, silicone fluid-filled diffs with large module ring and pinion gears
Driveshafts: Aluminum-splined
Bearings: Full contact sealed driveline bearings
Body: Polycarbonate, painted
Wheels: 4.3 x 5.7 in.
Tires: Gravix Race Tires, 7.4 x 4.0 in.
Motor: Velineon 1200XL brushless with heatsink and dual fan shrouds
ESC: Velineon VXL-8s
Transmitter: Traxxas TQi 2.4GHz High Output Radio System
Receiver: Traxxas TQi 2.4GHz 5-channel micro receiver
Servo: Traxxas large-scale high-output steering servo
FINAL WORD
We found that the new 8s power XRT was the perfect addition to our ever-growing RC truck collection. The addition of a speed performance truck to the large-scale truck lineup is a welcome step, and we look forward to adding some Traxxas upgrades to it in the near future. If you’re looking for a large-scale truck but don’t want to go the monster truck route, we encourage you to check out the XRT. If you already have an X-Maxx but can’t get enough of it, we think you’ll love the XRT as much as we do.
Source:
Traxxas traxxas.com
Text by Jerry Tsai
Images by Jerry Tsai and Michael Wiene
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