X-Maxx. The identify itself signifies one thing monstrous and otherworldly on this planet of RC monster truck bashers. The X-Maxx’s legacy is well-known by RC monster truck fanatics and its rabid fandom is properly deserved. The truck has by no means didn’t take no matter abuse you’ll be able to throw at it and its efficiency and longevity are unmatched.
Traxxas has all the time accomplished a terrific job of protecting its platforms contemporary and related and it’s thrilling to listen to that the X-Maxx has now been up to date with a collection of cool new colours. The highly effective 8S X-Maxx now sports activities just a few new contemporary seems to be. But earlier than we get into that, let’s get into what makes the X-Maxx so beloved by its homeowners and for those who don’t have one already, why you might need to choose up one for your self.
The X-Maxx is one highly effective beast. In reality, it’s startling for first time drivers to drive, even for seasoned RC fanatics. This might be due to its unbelievable measurement and energy. This gigantic torquey truck can simply dig by way of any terrain you run it on. In reality, once we drove it too shut, a bunch of dust and rocks ended up in our faces and caught in our hair.
RAW POWER
Bashing across the X-Maxx gained us loads of dust and grass in our faces and on our garments. Beware of flying rocks, it’s no joke. This truck severely places the monster into the time period monster truck. Measuring over two-and-a-half ft lengthy and weighing virtually twenty kilos, it makes the already extra-large Traxxas Maxx look cute.
The X-Maxx packs 8S energy, which is completed by combining two separate 4S battery packs. Its Velineon VXL-8s pace controller is wired in order that each batteries might be plugged into it on the identical time. We fed the beast off of two Traxxas Power Cell LiPo 4-Cell 6700mAh batteries. The dual-battery set-up supplies 30-volts in 8S configuration. All this energy flows to a Velineon 1200XL brushless motor that’s geared up with twin cooling followers. The motor is a factor of magnificence that launches the twenty-pound X-Maxx simply onto its hind wheels.
DRIVEN
What’s shocking about driving the X-Maxx is that even with unbelievable quantities of energy coursing by way of its 4 large tires, it’s remarkably manageable to drive. You’d suppose 8S energy can be not possible to manage, and also you’re proper, in a manner it’s, however Traxxas has additionally made it very controllable too; it’s an unbelievable feat.
Driving the X-Maxx at pace over asphalt, tremendous sand and thru tall grass felt exhilarating but nonetheless predictable. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t respect it nonetheless. If you select to drive it civilly, it can comply. But the moment you go full throttle, get out of the way in which! The beast comes alive, untamed and able to shred something in its path.
X-Maxx is lighting quick and brutally highly effective however remains to be simple to manage.
The outsized aluminum bodied shocks come inventory, however the Traxxas Sledgehammer tires proven listed here are non-obligatory.
Thank goodness for its built-in wheelie bar. If it didn’t have one, the X-Maxx would most likely find yourself on its roof loads. Which wouldn’t be a lot of an issue because the truck comes with Traxxas Self-Righting expertise that flips itself over when it lands upside-down. Most of us can agree nonetheless, that we’d quite spend most of our time driving it on its wheels (and wheelie bar) and never its roof. The truck actually likes to launch laborious and quick and spend quite a lot of the time on its hind wheels.
We put in Traxxas’ non-obligatory LED mild equipment to our X-Maxx. The mild module might be configured to show the lights in a wide range of methods.
Dual 4S batteries assist mix to supply 8S energy to the X-Maxx’s VXL brushless set-up.
TOTAL CONTROL
Much of the truck’s controllability might be attributed to its built-in Traxxas Stability Management (TSM) expertise. Think of TSM as digital driver’s aids that you’d discover in actual life automobiles similar to traction management or perhaps a sports activities automobile’s launch management. TSM makes the X-Maxx a lot simpler to manage on slippery surfaces similar to free dust, clean concrete, and even ice and snow.
With TSM on, launching off the road received’t create an immediate donut. Instead, TSM senses the car’s course and makes steering corrections to supply straight full-throttle acceleration with out sudden fishtailing or spinouts. When cornering, TSM intuitively corrects the car’s line for sooner exit speeds. The expertise applies to breaking too, protecting the car straight till it reaches a whole cease. TSM might be fine-tuned or deactivated by adjusting the multi-function knob on the TQi transmitter or within the Traxxas hyperlink app.
Other the reason why the X-Maxx might deal with in addition to it does are most likely because of its pliable 8-inch tall tires, long-arm suspension and large oil-filled aluminum socks. The truck simply soaks up any terrain you throw at it. We took just a few passes on a Landwave ramp and as you’ll be able to think about, the sight of a big car launching excessive into the air placed on fairly the present. Again, because of its sturdy suspension, X-Maxx landed softly prefer it was no large deal.
THE DRIVETRAIN
Under the pores and skin of the X-Maxx lays engineering meant for not solely highly effective efficiency, however longevity and safety too. A composite nylon tub formed chassis shields vital elements such because the transmission and electronics from harm. The transmission itself can be designed to shrug off laborious situations and supply the whole lot you demand it to. It is fitted with what Traxxas calls a shock-absorbing Cush Drive. Due to its 8S energy system, X-Maxx is outfitted with Traxxas’ Cush Drive, which was initially created for his or her 100 mile-per-hour succesful XO-1 Supercar. The result’s a transmission that may ship nice a great deal of energy on to its Torque-Biasing Center Drive.
The Torque-Biasing Center Drive is made to soak up shocks that will shock the driveline. It additionally distributes energy to all 4 wheels seamlessly through sturdy sealed differentials. We may go on and on in regards to the unbelievable engineering work that Traxxas poured into the X-Maxx, suffice it to say, this factor is a beast.
The built-in wheelie bar is commonly referred to as upon to assist tame the X-Maxx’s excessive flying acrobatics.
ADDED OPTIONS
Because lights make the whole lot higher, we put in an non-obligatory Traxxas LED mild equipment to the X-Maxx. Built to deal with any state of affairs that the X-Maxx would run into, the manufacturing facility Traxxas mild equipment is the one one we belief to put in. Installation was simple and solely took us about half-an-hour to finish. The equipment is waterproof and has a very manufacturing facility feel and look. No surprises had been encountered throughout the set up course of.
The equipment produces an intense-white mild up entrance and is able to each excessive and low beams. In the rear, you’ll discover vibrant purple brake lights that work when brakes are utilized in each ahead and reverse instructions. Reversing will activate white reverse lights; going ahead will routinely flip them off. The electronics and wiring are simple to arrange because of Traxxas’ clear directions and easy bolt-on set up. If you equip your TQi transmitter with a Traxxas Link Bluetooth module, you’ll be able to flip the lights on and off with the Traxxas Link App and even additional customise its lighting modes to your specs. We need to admit that we actually dig the sunshine equipment.
We additionally put in Traxxas’ new Sledgehammer tires to our X-Maxx. At 8.4” tall, the Sledgehammer’s larger diameter provides X-Maxx a extra highly effective stance with even increased floor clearance. The tires come pre-mounted to 6-spoke X-Maxx wheels with an ultra-tough 8s-rated glue bead for worry-free operating.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The X-Maxx has been available on the market just a few years now however it’s nonetheless the king of kings in terms of monster vehicles. The X-Maxx is that it’s one of many largest, strongest, most sturdy, most ingeniously engineered vehicles that we’ve had the pleasure of driving. If that’s not what you need in a monster truck, you most likely don’t need a monster truck in any case.
Now out there in your alternative of 5 colours together with the colourful Rock N Roll shade scheme that you just see right here, the X-Maxx is all the time wanting updated and contemporary. To prime it off, Traxxas regularly comes out with improve components to additional push X-Maxx’s limits. If you’re nonetheless on the fence about getting one, belief us do it already. It’ll being you loads of smiles for years to come back; it has for us.
Text and Images by Jerry Tsai and Leigh Guarnieri
Source: Traxxas traxxas.com