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Gazzalene

What monster truck do i need?

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I am still new to the hobby with a Beetle Blitzer, Lancia delta xv-01 and a TT-01 euro truck.

I do like the look of the "monster truck" style models BUT the "normal" slow speed and bouncy performance put me off BUT I have just found a YT channel called TRIGGER KING by chance and the ones on there a amazing. They were having freestyle and racing events. These models looked to me to be highly moded Tamiya clods and others I have no idea of.

Is anyone familier with this channel and the models they use, because this is the sort of thing I would like to have BUT I know here in the UK upgrade/mod/aftermarket stuff is hard to get ,the US are so lucky in this respect.

Any info on getting a good performing Monster truck easily parts wise from the UK etc would be great. 1/10th electric

Sorry if the question covers too large a area.

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Welcome new monster trucker. Trigger king has a build series where they break down the various classes of trucks they run. 

Yes a stock clod is bouncy but, still great fun and even the supplied silver can motors wake up quite well with a 2s lipo. I think an alternate esc would be needed for 3s, hobbywing 880s are a cheap upgrade and handle the voltage fine. 

There is a lot of people out there who really like the Axial truck, to me I was always underwhelmed by it in comparison to the TXT-2. I don't know your price point but I feel that by the time you build an SMT to be capable and stop breaking parts, you are well into Tamiya money. Since you're in the UK check Tamico for the Agrios, 300ish USD is a bargain from them.

As you are browsing content I have to suggest my channel to you.  I have some runs and build info of my TXT-2 Agrios up with 3s and silver can motors. It goes really well with that power and I have yet to break anything after two years with larger JConcepts tires. Link in my signature. YT name Geniusanthony. And no, I am not nice to the truck.

 

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Thanks for the reply and the info, I have not yet looked at your channel i wanted to reply to your post. The TXT-2 Agrios is totally new to me so will be good to look up. Do these run pretty much standard? The problem with the UK on most things RC is lack of "specialist/mod/upgrade"  makers AND importers for these parts. I used to fly RC heli apx 10 years ago and that was the same and got feed up buying from overseas.

Also prior to your reply i see the Axial SMT monster truck builders chassis,which looked very nice.  I was surprised when you sais the SMT needed some money spent to get into the Tamiya class. I thought probably wrongly the Tamiya Monsters were not serious models a bit gimmicky. Will get back when looked at your channel.thanks 

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I own many Clods and the TXT-1 and 2. I'm still on the fence about the SMT10 but the fact you can get it as a kit and it been upgraded means I'll probably give it a try after this virus problem dies down.  Both the Clod and TXT are engineered from the start to use big, Clod-sized tires. Everything from the axles to the hubs, etc. is meant to take the punishment from those big rollers. I'm always amazed that, all these years later, the Clod axle is still the basis for some of these incredible trucks. If you want to do some of that extreme freestyle stuff (I've seen Clod based trucks jumped nearly to the ceiling indoors and keep running) a Clod is probably your best bet. They aren't particularly cheap to build and you toss everything but the axles before you're done so take that into account.

The TXT-2 in stock-ish condition is a big, heavy beast. Its not going to tolerate some of the more extreme things those mod-clods do. If you stripped one down with a  light weight race chassis you might get away with more. That's not to say its a bad truck. You can throw brushless power to a TXT-2 and it will be a fun truck that is plenty fast for it weight. The sight of one of these beefy monsters barreling down the road under brushless motivation is impressive. They're realistic and well designed out of the box plus only need one brushless system to get going (two for the Clod due to its motor-on-axle design. Its a far more impressive kit out of the box than the Clod. Money being no object however, the Clod will take more power and has more hop-ups in the end. I've personally experienced driveshaft and axle gear wear in long-term brushless use with my TXT I'll note, while none with my Clod. Best "performing" (that's subjective depending on what you like) truck stock is still the TXT though.

From others have shared with me about the SMT10, its not really designed to be slinging around Clod tires and thus take upgrades. The original was very slow, had an annoying drag brake, and ate transmission gears while not being cheap. The new version RTR, is quicker, with a new ESC and has metal transmission gears and is cheaper. Much better. Furthermore, you can get a bare bones slider without electric, body or tires for even cheaper as a kit. Tempting. Its still saddled with AR60 axles which I've gleaned aren't great with Clod tires. I find the wheelbase ridiculously long, ruining what could be a nice scale look. There are kits to remedy that but again, that's more money. If I do try one , it will stay a 2.2 tire monster.

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I'd grab a TXT or SMT, myself.

The upgraded SMT is pretty viable now. You might want to add hardened ring and pinions, aluminum c-hubs, knuckles, and lockouts, and, if you're going to put any power to it, the optional link stiffeners and upper links. They drive surprisingly well, and there are plenty of option parts for AR60 axles, because they are very popular over here for U4 rigs. Probably wouldn't put Clod tires on it, though.

The TXT is a beast. Still haven't had seen one in person though, but I've sold a few kits. I'd rather have one than a SMT. The stock wheels and tires have got to go; I can live with the body with a different scheme. 

As for the Clod, I just don't like 'em. I've had the opportunity to wheel a bunch of them, and while they're all awesome to look at, even the highly modified ones just weren't that much fun. Honestly, Redcat Groundpounders are more fun to me when they aren't broken, which is never. Stock Clods are disappointing and rickety.

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11 hours ago, Gazzalene said:

Thanks for the reply and the info, I have not yet looked at your channel i wanted to reply to your post. The TXT-2 Agrios is totally new to me so will be good to look up. Do these run pretty much standard? The problem with the UK on most things RC is lack of "specialist/mod/upgrade"  makers AND importers for these parts. I used to fly RC heli apx 10 years ago and that was the same and got feed up buying from overseas.

Also prior to your reply i see the Axial SMT monster truck builders chassis,which looked very nice.  I was surprised when you sais the SMT needed some money spent to get into the Tamiya class. I thought probably wrongly the Tamiya Monsters were not serious models a bit gimmicky. Will get back when looked at your channel.thanks 

You bet. I personally was never into monster trucks as a youth, that was 20 years ago. The only truck I used to run was a  Losi XXT and everything else was pan car and buggy from my racing days. Eventually ran touring cars and then life got in the way and I put it all up until a few years when I rediscovered the hobby.

I discovered them quite by accident after my obsessive searches led me down the Tamiya rabbit hole and eventually to the CR-01 cars. I was amazed at how well they ran and the complexity and materials of the build drew me further down the big tire path. 

Post rabbit hole, the most impressive parts of the TXT-2 were the materials and complexity. The plastics are different than a basic buggy, a lot of glass fiber reinforcement where necessary, still ABS where it doesn't matter.

If you go down this path you'll need bearings and an esc, a strong servo I use Hitec 5641s I think... two if you want 4wheel steering, and a 3s will make it cook.

The tires and body never really bothered me, the truck is really an unlicensed Bigfoot 18 according to stories on here and elsewhere.

Plenty of good advice on here whichever direction you go. 

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Thanks guys for all the info. Done a bit of looking and not sure where to go. First off I looked at the TXT-2 , looks like its not even available in the UK? and when I did see a UK price it was £400+. That's out my bracket. I do like the look of the SMT rolling kit BUT the mention of the "weak" axles as me worried,would like the big wheels and tyres. I have a Axial Yeti 1/10th and find getting any upgrades parts for that hard work in the UK. So I am left with the Clod and not sure its "extreme/tough" enough. Going to have to look at more vids and posts.

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The AR60 axles are plenty tough. You might break something down the road, but they're fine. Since Horizon has acquired Axial, the quality has improved noticably.

Wouldn't worry too much about durability on the SMT unless you are planning on overpowering it and beating it to death.

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As previously mentioned, Tamico (TC sponsor based in Germany) have the Agrios for less than you would see over here, if you ever see it.

https://tamico.de/Tamiya-Agrios-Monster-Truck-TXT-2-Bausatz-58549

I've had a few orders from them - include an an Agrios - with no trouble (DHL delivery at c.€14) and they were really helpful when my M05-RA chassis had a mould error. Occasionally they will discount a model. I think my TXT-2 was €275. Still yet to be be built so I can't add anything more to this topic...😔

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