Monster Truck Madness – Talkin’ Truggy Bodies

Hello everyone and Happy Thursday!

I’m not a traditional 1/10 or 1/8 scale off-road racer these days, though many moons ago I used be fairly hardcore about it. I raced 1/10 2wd buggy, 1/10 4wd buggy, 1/10 SCT, 1/10 Stadium truck…I even dabbled with some nitro monster truck stuff in the early 2000’s.

I remember the discussion around that time frame when you had stuff like T-Maxx style trucks competing with what were basically larger 1/8 buggies with monster truck size tires on them, now known as truggies but at the time were called “arena trucks” by many, and man did many of the hardcore monster truck guys dislike them. I will admit I was one of them. The rise of truggies actually kind of killed my interest in nitro monster trucks as once they released, MT’s weren’t really welcomed at race tracks much anymore.

I’m not necessarily throwing shade at truggies, though. Racing Maxx style monster trucks (8 shocks, high COG) on an off-road track left a lot to be desired in the handling department so I understand how folks went truggy. Looking back, it made sense.

Ok, so why talk about them? This past week the r/c racing sanctioning body ROAR announced that-

“Rules update related to use of buggy designed bodies on Nitro and Electric 8th scale trucks. Beginning in 2025 bodies will revert back to previous designs that encompassed a full hood with covered front shocks and with full truck bed. Specific measurements to be announced publicly within the next couple months.”

It’s generated a lot of discussion.

As mentioned earlier, I’m not this kind of r/c racer anymore. However, I do have a spot on the internets to post opinions related to r/c monster trucks, so I will throw said opinion in here.

All’s I’ll say here is this- I applaud ROAR for trying to make truggies look more, well, truck like. As time has gone on, racing truggies have looked more like larger 1/8 buggies and IMO that ain’t cool. Full fenders make them look different and more unique as to what they are.

I’m all for racing vehicles to look different so as to better differentiate their class, so good job to ROAR. If they are truggies, they should look more truck IMO.

Ok, I’m stepping off my soapbox now. That’s it for me this week.

Until next time, keep it on all 4’s!