Driving the MAXX

While it is indeed impressive to see a monster truck hurtle across the ground at 60mph, I usually find a lower-power setup to be much more drivable and fun compared to the frenetic craziness of the maximum power mode. And so, I thought for sure I’d prefer the Maxx on 3S power with 40+mph speeds instead of the full 4S, 55+mph monty, but I quickly forgot all about that. The Maxx delivers the same high-speed thrills as a 6S truck, but with a single 4S battery and much less drama. There’s little tire ballooning, and the truck doesn’t feel like it’s about to go out of control. It just goes. You can roll the power on slowly to keep the front end down, or stand on it to get on the wheelie bar. Even when the front wheels are in the air, the Maxx feels pretty stable—it doesn’t walk on the ‘bar, which is often when speed runs go bad, and the Torque Biasing Center Drive prevents power from dumping to the airborne front wheels. If much of your drive time is spent blasting up and down your street, the Maxx will not fail to entertain.

But of course, the dirt is where the real action is, and the truck is extremely capable there with its fat shocks and well-sorted suspension. Steam-rolling rough terrain has been a Maxx-series staple since the T-maxx, and this modern electric monster really flattens out bumps. The Maxx holds its heading impressively well even in the rough, which is owed not just to good design but also the Traxxas Stability Management system. The electronic assistance is easy to forget, since it’s not intrusive and doesn’t cut throttle. It’s all in the steering, and it’s easy to forget TSM is doing its thing to keep the Maxx going where you want, as opposed to where the bumps take it. Turn TSM down (via the knob on the transmitter), and you’ll be better able to appreciate much it actually helps. I don’t have any chip on my shoulder about driving without stability assist, so I kept TSM set at 50% and enjoyed feeling like a pro driver as I performed big roosty slides and long, tire-spinning speed passes.

Airing out the Maxx is blast, with plenty of suspension to keep the truck shiny-side-up after gravity reclaims it. The big tires and short wheelbase make it very responsive to mid-air throttle and braking, so be ready to get your stunt on. I’m definitely not good at flip tricks (flipping is easy, timing it so I land on the wheels is not), which gave the Maxx a good durability test and also let me try out the Self Righting tech. Taking a hike to flip a stuck truck is a drag, so I’m a big fan of the feature. As long as the ground is anywhere close to level and not too soft, the Maxx rocks itself back onto its wheels every time. Cool.