Jeff Hoy, American

Here’s a direct comparison of Losi’s Highroller and Traxxas’ Stampede.  They are backyard bashing specific trucks in the two wheel drive monster truck category.  You’re likely not going to find any club or track that races these, though I think it would be a really fun class to have.

Features

Both trucks feature full ball-bearings, oil-filled shocks, independent suspension on all four corners, a 12-turn 550 motor, 3 gear transmission with gear differential and slipper clutch, large 2.8 inch wheels and tires, prepainted body, and a complete 2-channel AM radio system with pistol grip transmitter and electronic speed control.

They are pretty much the same in most regards.  The Highroller does differentiate itself by offering some really nice and durable threaded aluminum shock bodies for easily adjusting spring preload without using separate clips that could be easily lost.  Another feature that the Stampede is lacking is adjustable tie-rods.  For most people the Highroller’s adjustable tie-rods won’t mean much, they are usually used for fine-tuning handling on race vehicles.  Still, it’s nice that they are there.  Where the Stampede outclasses the Highroller is in it’s waterproof electronics, meaning you can run it in the mud, snow, and rain with no worries.

Performance

Out of the box and using the same type and brand of batteries the trucks are neck and neck in a straight forward drag race.  Acceleration and top speed are close to identical.

Both are nearly worthless on high grip surfaces like pavement.  Due to their high centers of gravity they are prone to flipping easily.  When the trucks did flip, the Highroller had a greater tendency to land wheels down and ready to go.  However, the Highroller always spun out more under hard braking than the Stampede, due to it’s extremely loose gear diff.  Hitting the dirt was a different story.  Neither one is a super performer, but they do handle the rough stuff very well.  The Highroller has a slight advantage, but not enough to really matter.

Both trucks fly well, the Highroller is the better of the two though, it has a knack for self-righting in the air when the take-off is less than perfect.  When the take-off was good though, both flew straight and landed well.  They were responsive to throttle inputs throughout the flight and landed softly, ready for more jumps.

Durability and Maintenance

The Stampede has the advantage here.  Running both trucks at the same time, through the same conditions resulted in the Highroller having a broken shock end, bent outer axle, and a bent dog bone.  After replacing those parts there have been no further problems with durability on the Highroller.  The Stampede showed only cosmetic damage that didn’t need to be fixed.

Both trucks are relatively easy to work on.  They include basic tools for maintenance and disassembly.  The Highroller has more braces and hardware that needs to be removed to get at some of the major components.  Neither one comes with anything more than an exploded drawing for reference.

Hopups

The Stampede, having been on the market far longer than the Highroller, has a much bigger selection of aftermarket parts available.  Parts for increasing the durability and performance are available from makers such as RPM, MIP, and Robinson Racing Products.  The Highroller only has first-party hopups from Losi at this point, and most of them are only cosmetic.

The trucks have easily replaced electronics.  You will have to swap the electronic speed controls in both trucks if you wish to use more powerful motors.

Conclusion

They’re both RTR, requiring only batteries and a charger to get going.  They are similarly priced and represent a pretty equal value.  The Highroller offers more adjustment options out of the box.  Overall they’re both great trucks and the only deciding factor will likely be aesthetics, which one looks cooler to you.  Personally, I’m very happy with my Highroller and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Info

Manufacturers

Losi

Traxxas

Product webpages

Highroller

Stampede

Where to buy

 Stormer Hobbies – Highroller ($159.99) | Stampede ($169.95)

Your local hobby shop