Monster Truck Madness – Racing the LMTs
Hello everybody and Happy Thursday!
I simply had my first monster truck racing weekend of 2023 and acquired to get my fleet soiled! I need to give attention to my LMT’s right here, although. Both are fairly a bit completely different from one another given they’re the similar platform, however each vehicles are my two favourite r/c’s that I at the moment personal.
Let’s begin with my new TLR Tuned LMT “Rotten Candy Apple”. That’s the truck above. Man, this factor feels superior on the observe!
I’m utilizing a sensored Graupner 5.5 system on 2S (it’s a 540 measurement motor and I’m utilizing a Robinson Racing pinion shaft adapter). I’ve been having some brownout points beneath laborious acceleration although, so I believe I’ll swap that powerplant out earlier than the subsequent race. More on that in a later column, as I need to give attention to the dealing with of the truck.
The carbon fiber geared up TLR tuned truck feels quick, nimble and gentle. That lengthy wheel base retains it steady in the air. The feeling of the truck is considerably much like a mod Clod or aftermarket chassis’d SMT10 in that it has loads of energy on faucet and may be very reactive which I believe is because of the hyperlink on trailing arm setup.
I set mine up with completely open entrance and rear diffs using no oil, simply grease, and I actually preferred the way it felt.
My equipment got here in only a couple weeks earlier than the occasion, and it was a mad sprint to complete it. I’m trying ahead to the race subsequent month as a result of now I’ve ample time to dial in the setup. It’s most likely getting a brand new paint job quickly too, as I rushed the present JConcepts Snoop Nose at the final minute because of an airbrush mishap, and I’m not likely pleased with the way it appears. Initial efficiency impressions are extraordinarily spectacular although!
My different LMT is one which I’ve talked a couple of good bit, however I need to focus on it some extra. Whereas my TLR Tuned Losi is gentle weight with trailing arm mounted shocks, my “Rotten Apple” LMT is completely kitted out in machined Treal components, runs 3S via a Spektrum brushless system, and has the commonplace axle mounted shocks.
The Treal LMT is a heavy pig comparatively, and I adore it. It’s acquired loads of energy on faucet, and the weight helps it carve via the observe in a really steady trend. It’s not as reactive as the TLR Tuned LMT, however on a slick, unfastened dust observe like we have been racing on final weekend, I believe it was a optimistic.
That truck is driving on new JConcepts Firestorm Racers (blue compound) and Slam-Tech closed cell foams. Man, these items really feel AWESOME. It’s laborious to check them pretty towards Renegade tires, as this truck weighs greater than different vehicles in my fleet, however the tires and foams are a killer combo on this truck.
Both of my LMT’s really feel very completely different from one another, however each are completely killer stable axle race vehicles of their present configurations. I’ve a sense that when I get extra wheeling and tuning time in with the TLR Tuned model, it’s most likely going to be my favourite on the race observe (particularly when working on excessive chunk surfaces), however the Treal LMT feels so much burlier and extra “monster truck-y” and is the place it’s at for bashing and freestyling.
Love ’em each. More to return quickly on the TLR tuned truck after I’ve some extra tuning and run time!
Until subsequent time, preserve it on all 4’s!