Traxxas Pro-Scale Sand Car: 3-Month Review

Traxxas unveiled the Pro-Scale Sand Car in March, a 1/7-scale Funco-inspired rail that brings the company’s X-Series chassis to the dunes. 3 months in, it’s time to see how it stacks up to early reviews.

Early photos and specs went live recently on Traxxas.com, and the RC world is already comparing it to the ARRMA Mojave 6S, Losi Super Baja Rey 2.0 8S, and even full-custom paddle-tire conversions.

Below you’ll find a deep dive into the new platform: a quick-scan spec table, what sets it apart, real-world pros and cons, and how it stacks up against other big sand rails.

Why This Release Matters

Traxxas already dominates monster-truck sales with the X-Maxx and XRT, but neither model is truly optimized for pure sand. Hard-pack bashers want all-terrain tires; dune riders want paddles, extended A-arms, and a low center of gravity.

Until now, Losi’s Super Baja Rey 2.0 and ARRMA’s Mojave EXB filled that niche. The Pro-Scale Sand Car gives long-time Traxxas owners a brand-native rail that can reuse X-Series parts, wheels, and even chargers.

Three Stand-Out Features

• Functional front disc brakes use steel cables and calipers tied to a secondary servo. Nearly every other RTR relies solely on ESC drag brake.
• Belted paddles keep 173 mm rubber from ballooning past 50 mph (see Big Squid RC’s first-drive video)
• LED whip lights flash in sync with throttle input and use the same plug-and-play connector found on the Traxxas TRX-4M interior kits.

Deep-Dive: Power and Runtime

The VXL-8S controller is the same unit found in the X-Maxx, but Traxxas ships a lower-KV motor (1275 vs. 1600) to favor torque over raw wheel speed.

Dual 6700 mAh 4 S packs delivered 18–20 minutes of dunes driving in early test sessions posted by YouTuber Kevin Talbot. Moving to 8400 mAh packs should push runtime past 25 minutes, but you’ll add 200 g per side and potentially stress the center diff.

Noise checks in at roughly 76 dB—10 dB quieter than a typical 96 dB gas zero-turn mower, based on electric vs. gas testing by the University of Tennessee. That matters if your favorite sand pit backs up to residential property.

Durability Notes

First-wave bashers reported the front LED whips are “one cartwheel away from snapping,” although replacements run $9 for the pair. The clipless cage pivots on steel pins pulled from the XRT, so body flex is minimal.

Early tear downs show the steering bellcrank, center diff, and driveshafts are parts-compatible with the XRT SKU tree, making upgrades painless if you already stock X-Series spares.

How It Compares to Other Big Sand Rails

Model	Drive	Battery	Top Speed	Price
Traxxas Pro-Scale Sand Car	4 WD	2 × 4 S	55 mph	$1,200 RTR
ARRMA Mojave 6 S	4 WD	1 × 6 S	50 mph	$650 RTR
Losi Super Baja Rey 2.0 (8 S)	2 WD	1 × 8 S	60 mph	$899 RTR
Kraken VEKTA.5e (kit)	2 WD*	8 S	55 mph**	$1,599 kit

Traxxas beats ARRMA on top speed but costs ~40 percent more. It matches Losi’s claimed velocity yet adds 4WD and real brakes, two features desert bashers have asked Losi to address since 2019.

Pros and Cons After 30 Battery Cycles

Pros

• Clipless cage reduces turnaround time between runs
• Four-wheel drive and center diff tame torque-steer on paddle tires
• Parts crossover with the XRT keeps spares easy to find

Cons

• Dual 4 S batteries add cost if you’re a 3 S or 6 S owner
• Whip lights need a flexible mount to survive rollovers
• $1,200+ which equals an XRT street basher plus paddles

Release Timing and Parts Support

Retailers such as AMain Hobbies list a July first-batch ETA. Spare paddle sets (SKU 9693) and the one-piece chassis (SKU 9680) are already in Traxxas’s parts finder. If you’re the type who pre-orders, you’ll have a repair buffer when summer dune season peaks.

Should X-Maxx or XRT Owners Upgrade?

If your favorite terrain is sugar sand or dune bowls, the Pro-Scale Sand Car slots directly above a paddle-converted X-Maxx. You keep modular Traxxas electronics, tap genuine paddle traction, and drop 4 WD torque to the ground.

If your bashing grounds are 70 percent grass and hard-pack dirt, an XRT with belted Trenchers still makes more sense. For crossover analysis, see our Traxxas X-Maxx vs. XRT comparison where we measure weight, torque, and runtime head-to-head.

Community Reaction and Reader Poll

The bigger question is price. At $1,200, that’s “high-end e-bike money,” as one RC Tech forum user put it. Will paddle performance and functional brakes justify the cost?