Back around this time last year we had the incredible opportunity to test out a 2WD version of the Slash 1/10th scale electric short-course racer. This was used in our Christmas gift guide with two other competing models. This year, a new version of the ever-popular machine arrived at our door, and without any hesitation we were ready for the bashing to begin.

The Traxxas, “Mark Jenkins” Edition, Slash 4X4 was ready to run right out of the box. Well almost. This package comes with the items that make it almost RTR, but you do need 4 AA batteries and a charge on the included 7-cell battery pack to get rolling, but a wall charger is included in the box so no worries.

The Slash 4X4 is a very aggressive-looking short-course truck. From the replica stance to the “officially licensed” BF Goodrich tires, this machine bares similarities to its full-scale brethren. The front and rear of the Slash 4X4 is protected by massive, almost full-width bumpers to keep the other bashers in the ‘hood honest.

The Velineon extreme brushless power plant is the heart of the Slash 4WD package and with the correct gearing, a lipo battery and some street smarts, you can bounce the Slash around at a claimed 60mph. Brushless motors in RC cars and trucks multiply the speed of the vehicle many times over, and the sealed, water-tight system almost takes care of itself. The power and torque delivery is smooth and fast. Instructing the brushless motor is the new Traxxas 2.4Ghz radio system with Traxxas link. The radio receiver and speed controller in the chassis are watertight, and the steering servo is too.  The advances in radio control science allow this controller to be programmed for virtually any style of driver, whether it’s bashing or racing. The torque control slipper clutch manages the load on the transmission to protect you from yourself, and sometimes that’s a blessing in disguise.

What really caught our attention were the details to tuning this short course truck. Starting with toe-in and toe-out adjustments both front and rear, you can also adjust the progression of your shocks with the many positions on the shock towers both front and rear. The Revo spec diff’s are also adjustable with many gear combos for varying terrain and the need for speed. Having a slipper clutch setup with tuning ability can be beneficial to the racer. We chose to leave all the stock settings for the first few batteries just so we could legitimately get familiar with the “Traxxas” baseline.

The Slash 4X4 has many great features but there are a few things that did catch our attention. The radio set up was a bit complex, but once we got the hang of the blinking lights and what they meant it wasn’t so bad. Traxxas says the ground clearance on the Slash 4X4 is higher than other models in its category, which is great for bashing but could be a slight disadvantage on the track. Although you can adjust the ride height of the truck simply by moving the shocks around on the suspension arms, it still seemed like it carried its weight just a little high.

The chassis roll at maximum traction while cornering was apparent at times. Maybe some tuning of the shocks with a more linear spring and a touch of re-valving would help too. The stock tires do need a little trimming of the tread to get some grip out of them in the loose stuff, but once again, for the yard warrior these will be fine and seem to be very durable.

The shear acceleration of this machine is incredible. Smooth yet powerful, the Slash climbs hard with the 4WD, and turning this machine at speed is sure to get your attention. Similar to its 2WD sibling, this Slash 4WD gets down to business so you better have skills in the driving department if you want to maintain control, or at least slow down when turning. Our 2.4ghz radio never once gave us any trouble, and we were able to maintain control even with several others roaming around us with multiple radio setups.

As far as maintaining the Slash, it can be easy or hard, depending on what type of terrain you play in. The good thing is that Traxxas designer Tim Roberts made the disassembley for maintenance part very easy. After a great day of five runs, we had a mess on our hands. The waterproof receiver, motor and ESC were safe, but dirt and rocks found the weak spots around the drive line, and a total tear down was in order to get it back to its shine.

Overall this Slash 4X4 with the Velineon Brushless motor is very fun, and for a basher I think it would be a great find under the Christmas tree. We will keep on thrashing this beast, and maybe we’ll try the 3s lipo with a few gear changes to see if we could get to the 60 mph peak that is inked across the box.

RS