Monster Truck Madness – What’s my ideal size for a Large Scale Monster Truck?

Greetings everyone and Happy Thursday!

It’s gotten cold out and I’m currently taking a break from wrenching on trucks as my next few weekends are devoted to the NFL playoffs (and building Legos!), so I figure this is a good time to talk about large scale monster trucks. In particular large scale solid axle monsters.

Large scale r/c is considered something that is bigger than 1/8 scale. These days it seems that scale is played with fast and loose, but even knowing that, this is still a good rule of thumb to follow…at least for this particular conversation.

Miniature solid axle monster trucks have gotten quite popular in the last few years, and I feel like with those starting to become common place, the next avenue for manufacturers to explore is large scale.

So, what is the proper size? That’s a tough question. I think for the mainstream, something like the Primal R/C Raminator/Grave Digger/Mega Truck is too big. That’s not saying they aren’t cool trucks- they are! But needing a pick-up truck to transport your r/c probably isn’t gonna fly with most hobbyists. And then there is the retail price that’s over $3k.

I think seeing a solid axle monster truck that’s on part with the size of a Traxxas X-Maxx or Axial SXC6 is probably about right. They are large enough to be noticeably different in scale and performance than their smaller counter parts, but not so big that they rival the size of a small ATV or something like that.

I’d hope that would allow it to retail for something in the low $1k range. Maybe more so if there was a special high-zoot edition.

While I’ve no data to back this up, that feels like it would be juuuuuust on the precipice to where it could still work and not be totally niche.

I mean, that kind of money is A LOT and you’d need to be pretty hardcore into the segment to buy one, but I think it’s at least at a somewhat attainable price point if you’re someone that’s really into it. You start pushing into the 2’s and I think it’s a truly different marketplace.

So economics aside, why do I think that’s also the best size? I think that’s probably as large as an r/c can get for most folks to reasonably be able to run it on the reg. I think at that size they could still be raced without major difficulty as well. The X-Maxx is probably the best example for this. I’d assume a solid axle truck, even if equipped with a high cell count, high powered brushless motor, probably won’t be able to get up and go like an X-Maxx on 8S….so if hobbyists can handle that alright, a solid axle truck would probably be ok.

I can tell you I am VERY much hoping we get a good large scale solid axle monster because I’d love to race one! Many of the negatives associated with large scale rc monster trucks in regards to performance would work well within the context of more scale, solid axle monster trucks. Full sized ones are heavy beasts that are still somewhat lumbering, even if a modern one is light years ahead of their old school brethren. I think the lack of “monster truck feeling” is the worst thing about miniature monster trucks, and it would be no problem on a large scale one.

So there’s my take. I’d love me a Losi LMTXL or something in this size range. What say you all?

Until next time, keep it on all 4’s!