In the beginning (1987), there was the 58065
Clod Buster. It was the first scale solid axle RC monster
truck. It had a motor on each axle and four wheel steering using a
single, chassis mounted servo. The suspension and steering were
not too good. In 2001 we got the first Tamiya Extreme Truck
(TXT-1) 58280.
It used the same massive tires and wheels but moved the steering servos
to the axles and the motors up into the frame. The shocks were
mounted inboard and used a rocker and pushrod system. The massive
aluminum vertical side frames made it bulletproof. The TXT-2 was
released in 2013 and is a moderated version of the original. The
side frames have been changed to a combination of aluminum and plastic,
and the tires have been replaced with smaller, though still massive,
versions. The shocks have been moved back out to the axles.
This results in a lighter, better performing truck though with somewhat
less curb appeal.This is a four wheel drive, four wheel steering, solid axle monster truck. It uses 8 shocks, 2 steering servos, and 2 motors. It is completely unlike "monster trucks" from other RC manufacturers because it actually works like a real monster truck and therefore does not have independent suspension or insane speed. You can be the judge if this is an advantage or a disadvantage. Because the front and rear axles use different steering servos, you can use regular steering, 4 wheel steering, and crab steering if you have the right capabilities in your radio. My truck is mostly stock except for the body and the motors. I found the use of a short course truck body on a monster truck to be odd, so I replaced it with an F-150 body. (I later discovered that this is a near scale model of Bigfoot 18 which also uses a short course body.) I also put in a pair of crazy brushless motors just for the hell of it. It still doesn't perform like an X-Maxx, but it is super fun to drive. This model does not have lockable differentials, but for the four wheel steering I used a pair of 15Kg Arrma waterproof servos. Thankfully there is plenty of battery space which allows me to use two Li-Po batteries for my twin brushless setup.
So what's with the name "Agrios"? According to Tamiya "Agrios, a mythical Greek giant, gives his name to this tough monster truck". That's an interesting way to put it. Agrios wasn't exactly a giant but was one of the Gigantes, offspring of Gaia who were normal size but great in strength. There were many Gigantes, and there is nothing notable about Agrios except that he was clubbed to death by the Fates. A strange choice for a mascot. He does appear first in an alphabetical list, so maybe they just wanted to pick a big monster and didn't look too closely. The graphic on the side of the truck showing a brute breaking some chains doesn't fit with any description of Agrios that I could find. On the other hand, the word "agrios" in Greek just refers to a feral or violent man. Maybe it's on a comment on the people who buy it.
Update: This model was destroyed in the 2022 fire. It has not been replaced.
 Page 1: Stock Assembly |
 Page 2: Upgrades! |
 Page 3: Final Photos |