Just look at this thing! ;e
Rival is one tough truck. ;e
piggyback shock reservoirs
look nice, but don’t contain
any oil - they’re just for show.
OVERVIEW
Look familiar? ;e Rival is based on the Monster
GT, and uses the nitro-powered stablemate’s front
and rear dual wishbone suspension, which sports
two shocks at each corner. ;e chassis, which
has been appropriately modified to hold the truck’s
electronic components, swing-away battery straps,
and beefy motor mount, has also been stretched by an
inch for a longer wheelbase. ;e new chassis, combined
with new wheel hexes that push the width out by one-half inch, gives the Rival has a slightly larger footprint for
additional o;-road stability, but the biggest change in terms
of drivability comes from the new center di; that has never been
included in the nitro version. Other changes, like those done to the
turnbuckles and rod ends, were made for extra durability to support
the Qualifier Series’ aim at withstanding the inevitable crashes that
happen when learning to drive.
;e key to building a big, bad truck like the Rival is simple: horsepower. Team
Associated fits the Rival with an XP SC1300-DB brushless speed control that’s wired for dual
battery packs, and a Reedy 1515-SL 2000Kv motor that’s the perfect match for the included
Reedy 7-cell NiMH batteries but a total kick in the pants when two 2S LiPo packs are installed.
;e Rival is topped o; with the XP3G 3-channel 2.4GHz system and a new high-torque
DS1510MG servo that has no problem cranking the front wheels from side to side.
;e Rival is spec’d with the
XP3G transmitter, a 3-channel
version of the 2.4GHz FHSS
radio also used in the Pro-Lite
4x4 and Apex Touring (reviewed
in this issue).
Despite its size, the Rival sits with
a very racy and aggressive stance.
;e gigantic tires give it plenty of
ground clearance even with the
ride height set to arms-level.
