Looking for monster truck with personality

[steelo]

I’ve been looking for a ‘monster truck’ that I would enjoy for a few years now. I’ve owned an Arrma Granite, which was a great truck but it just had NO personality to it...it just felt...generic. I ended up selling it because it never excited me to run. Despite it being 2WD, it went over just about everything…however, every time I ran it, I just felt like, meh…

 

I love the Tamiya trucks like the ClodBuster but I’m also looking for something with relatively good performance that can scoot. The Clodbuster is a beautiful truck, but really it’s never going to compete with the likes of Traxxas, Arrma, Kyosho or HPI. 

 

I guess I’m looking for that fine balance between retro-awesomeness and detail and performance. Unfortunately, I haven’t found it yet…

[Klausen]

Build yourself a race Clod. I love mine and it drives great without absorbing everything.

[steelo]

Now, THAT has personality! How does it compare in performance?

[Kingfisher]

Konghead 6x6. 

 

[Jonathon Gillham]

Until the Konghead came out I always thought the Monster Beetle was the only monster truck that was a bit different. The rest all seem to be based on something like an F150. MIP diff and brushless should make it go ok

[Klausen]

1 hour ago, steelo said:

Now, THAT has personality! How does it compare in performance?

It drives far better than a stock Clod, but still a solid axle truck, so still very fun.

[Nitomor]

WT01!! (Personality, scoot and retro in blackfoot guise!)

Or DT03T in Monster Racer guise...

[Juggular]

1 hour ago, steelo said:

I’m looking for that fine balance between retro-awesomeness and detail and performance. Unfortunately, I haven’t found it yet…

same here... TXT-1 is good, but doesn't have the retro-awesomeness.  

[nowinaminute]

The Taxxas Big foot classic looks pretty good. I'm also a huge fan of the new mst mtx-1

[Aleblanc]

23 minutes ago, nowinaminute said:

The Taxxas Big foot classic looks pretty good. I'm also a huge fan of the new mst mtx-1

I came in to post the MST MXT-1 but the HPI wheely King is a crowd favorite too with plenty of character.

[steelo]

I just checked out the Wheelie King and it says it's 1/12 scale? How big is it compared to your average 1/10 scale?

[Prescient]

@steelo

Juggernaut 2 or TXT-2 if Tamiya. These two over clods because of the gearbox configuration you can run a single brushless motor solution.

Personally the TXT-2 has the edge as it's had the evolution of 18 years design behind it since the Juggs/TXT-1 era and can run very well on a single brushless set up, in fact much much better than dual brushless. Due to weight saving, simplicity of single  brushless (like every other modern monster truck) and battery config optimisation. The battery tray can take 3s / 4s packs without issue. 

It can run on TXT-1 wheels and tyres, juggernaut wheels and tyres or the standard TXT-2 wheels.

Suspension and handling is the best of all the proper Tamiya Monster Trucks out of the box and you would spend the same cost again as the TXT-2 kit to achieve the mod clod / mod jugg performance in one of those options etc. 

TXT-1suffers from horrendous torque flex/twist through the chassis due to the suspension layout. Hence why I'm not recommending it.

However, at best 30mph in one of these is pushing it. They are designed for scale speed whereas Traxxas etc are designed to go fast despite the scale size. Different design philosophy. 

My personal view is if not a TXT-2 and you want to go the mod clod route 1) your not actually left with a clod buster nor a Tamiya and 2) costs spiral very quickly. 

Otherwise, Traxxas X Maxx. 

[Prescient]

5 minutes ago, steelo said:

I just checked out the Wheelie King and it says it's 1/12 scale? How big is it compared to your average 1/10 scale?

About the same size as a 1/10 Tamiya 2wd chassis like Blackfoot, monster beetle, Blackfoot xtreme, Blackfoot III.

They get boring pretty quick imo.

Traxxas stampede 2wd or 4wd for smaller 1/10 scale or X Maxx for the ultimate fun monster truck, if not a TXT-2 as above.

[steelo]

I’m not knocking on those who buy Traxxas, but when I see their trucks, I just picture some 12 year old kid wanting something ready to run at 40mph. The same kid who’s dad would have no idea how to fix it and thus would return it to the retail hobby store to pay somebody $20 an hour to fix for them…

[Prescient]

18 minutes ago, steelo said:

I’m not knocking on those who buy Traxxas, but when I see their trucks, I just picture some 12 year old kid wanting something ready to run at 40mph. The same kid who’s dad would have no idea how to fix it and thus would return it to the retail hobby store to pay somebody $20 an hour to fix for them…

Indeed, hence the suggestion of the TXT-2. Very different design philosophies. Also large scale compared to the smaller Tamiya trucks so looks like a proper monster truck i.e. Bigfoot 18.

The wheelie king sits in the Traxxas camp imo.

What country are you in?

 

[steelo]

I'm in the U.S. I do like the wheelie king, but yeah it just feels like another generic Traxxas…I’ve also taken quite a few peeks at Kyosho’s mad crusher

[Nitomor]

If you want large Monster Truck like Clod that will scoot, the awesome Terra Crusher but converted to electric?!

They are proper heavy duty, 1:8 scale.

[steelo]

You can't get Terra Crushers anymore, can you?

[Prescient]

8 minutes ago, steelo said:

I'm in the U.S. I do like the wheelie king, but yeah it just feels like another generic Traxxas…I’ve also taken quite a few peeks at Kyosho’s mad crusher

Ow.....Tamiya always seems double the price compared to UK / EU and the alternatives come up much more favourable. 

If buying a monster truck, pick a current  one you can drive and enjoy without concern for spares support or legacy parts so things like the Terra Crusher aren't ideal. 

[steelo]

Agreed. I’ve looked at quite a few of the Tamiya monster trucks and ouch!

[Nitomor]

4 minutes ago, steelo said:

You can't get Terra Crushers anymore, can you?

No, would need to be second hand but many have been lightly used as they were horrible PITA nitro!!

[Prescient]

@steeloAt least you get Castle Creations brushless kits at a reasonable cost

 

[steelo]

edit: I remember having a Marui Big Bear when I was young…it wasn’t fast, it didn’t steer great but God, was it a blast! I would always try to race my dad with his Optima down the street, thinking maybe I'll get him this time...LOL

[Prescient]

4 minutes ago, steelo said:

I remember having a Marui Big Bear when I was young…it wasn’t fast, it didn’t steer great but God, was it a blast!

In that case, pick a Super Clodbuster, run it on a Hobbyking 860 esc, 3s lipo and standard silvercans + ballracers. With the servo horn mod it handles well enough. 

Great personality and 80s vintage bouncy goodness, goes over anything due to the wheel forward of bumper design.

15mph ish on 3s but is fast for this. Still cheap enough to buy in the USA and no need to mod further to get maximum enjoyment. 

[steelo]

I do like the ClodBuster and it definitely fits the niche…I am looking for something a little bit quicker (20-25mph) and agile though.