SMT10 Body...

[soze]

I'm having the hardest time figuring out what bodies would fit.

I'd apprecicate some ideas.

Was looking at the Pro-Line Topkick, but it looks to be too big for the SMT10 chassis.

[TooOldForThis]

If you want a traditional monster truck look, its hard to go wrong with anything from JConcepts.

[JatoTheRipper]

Unfortunately, there isn't a good amount of info to determine this. Best solution is to find the body you like and see if others have used it and/or see if the listed dimensions will work. JConcepts is big into monster trucks. The owner actually purchased one of the 1:1 Bigfoot trucks (Bigfoot 6 if I remember correctly) and he's having it restored. So he's a monster truck nut in 1:1 and in RC. As a result they are making a few monster truck bodies that will fit the SMT10. Sadly, JConcept bodies don't hold a candle to Proline bodies. JConcepts bodies just don't have the details like Proline. JConcept bodies have subtle, washed-out features whereas Proline bodies have distinct lines.

[Mongol Pete]

I am going to try the Proline Baja Bug for the Slash for size. I think I'd like to make it up to look like the Tamiya Monster Beetle.

Otherwise, I like the JCon ford pickups, even the latest 2010 Raptor is nice.

[soze]

Originally Posted by TooOldForThis

If you want a traditional monster truck look, its hard to go wrong with anything from JConcepts.

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

Unfortunately, there isn't a good amount of info to determine this. Best solution is to find the body you like and see if others have used it and/or see if the listed dimensions will work. JConcepts is big into monster trucks. The owner actually purchased one of the 1:1 Bigfoot trucks (Bigfoot 6 if I remember correctly) and he's having it restored. So he's a monster truck nut in 1:1 and in RC. As a result they are making a few monster truck bodies that will fit the SMT10. Sadly, JConcept bodies don't hold a candle to Proline bodies. JConcepts bodies just don't have the details like Proline. JConcept bodies have subtle, washed-out features whereas Proline bodies have distinct lines.

I've seen the JConcepts bodies.... but none of them seem particularly "perfect" or interesting.

If I had to go JConcepts, I was looking at the '84 Ford F-250. The Ford Panel truck is too similar to the Grave Digger my son has, and the Bog Hog is interesting, but not sure if it would look good as a monster truck.

Of the Pro-Line bodies, I was looking at the 2008 Ford F-250, 1/8 '56 Ford F-100, 1/8 GMC TopKick, and maybe the Apocalypse. Problem is... I have no clue if any of those would fit.

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by soze

I've seen the JConcepts bodies.... but none of them seem particularly "perfect" or interesting.

If I had to go JConcepts, I was looking at the '84 Ford F-250. The Ford Panel truck is too similar to the Grave Digger my son has, and the Bog Hog is interesting, but not sure if it would look good as a monster truck.

Of the Pro-Line bodies, I was looking at the 2008 Ford F-250, 1/8 '56 Ford F-100, 1/8 GMC TopKick, and maybe the Apocalypse. Problem is... I have no clue if any of those would fit.

That's my sentiment about JConcepts - they make OK bodies. Their MT wheels and tires, on the other hand, are the best IMO.

Are you on the book of Faces? If so join SAMM (Solid Axle Monster Mayhem or something like that) and Showdown monster truck groups. They are much more active than any monster truck forum and you can ask guys and you'll get lots of photos as well. The owner of JConcepts is even very active on those groups should you have a JConcepts related question.

At the end of the day most bodies will fit monster trucks, but they might look silly or have other issues. Some wide bodies will get hit by the tires if you run the larger JConcepts, Proline or Tamiya 2.6" sized monsters. And the shape of the cage and its location presents another issue especially with pickup bodies. For some reason the cab of the truck body often doesn't line up with the driver's compartment of the cage. And then there's the issue of wheelbase. I don't care if the wheel wells on a body match up perfectly with the chassis, but I want them to be close. Other guys are sticklers.

[TooOldForThis]

The Proline power wagon body will work if you're feeling ambitious. It took a lot of cutting to get it down over the cage, and I also had to move the rear body mounts. The only downside is the top of the cage is about an inch too low so the driver can't see over the hood . I dug the look though. I sold it recently so I have some pictures handy:

[Chris-NL]

I would love to run the new Proline '78 Chevy C-10 body but I think it is way too wide ... I'll probably buy one anyway because there's something about that body I really dig and I can always run it on my Slash 4x4

[soze]

Originally Posted by TooOldForThis

The Proline power wagon body will work if you're feeling ambitious. It took a lot of cutting to get it down over the cage, and I also had to move the rear body mounts. The only downside is the top of the cage is about an inch too low so the driver can't see over the hood . I dug the look though. I sold it recently so I have some pictures handy:

Alright, that looks the most interesting so far. Didn't think it would work at all. I may try this body if it's possible to perfect that cage area.

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by TooOldForThis

The Proline power wagon body will work if you're feeling ambitious. It took a lot of cutting to get it down over the cage, and I also had to move the rear body mounts. The only downside is the top of the cage is about an inch too low so the driver can't see over the hood . I dug the look though. I sold it recently so I have some pictures handy:

That's what you call bad ass!

[Stray]

the proline bodies for the the yeti and TT fit well, I have the raptor yeti body on my SMT10

[sawback]

Any body fits, but only a dodge body looks good!

[durok]

Originally Posted by soze

I'm having the hardest time figuring out what bodies would fit.

I'd apprecicate some ideas.

Was looking at the Pro-Line Topkick, but it looks to be too big for the SMT10 chassis.

I have the larger of the two Proline TopKick bodies, sitting unpainted and uncut on a shelf.

Was going to use it on a Bomber-compatible rail-type chassis, still might as an alternate.

Any questions you might have about measurements, just ask!

(Got a set of calipers)

... But that Dodge is stunning!

[TooOldForThis]

Originally Posted by soze

Alright, that looks the most interesting so far. Didn't think it would work at all. I may try this body if it's possible to perfect that cage area.

It's a trade-off because if you lower the body to get the cage to line up better, it would lose some of the jacked-up monster truck look and also the tires could collide with the fenders.

[odomandr]

Originally Posted by TooOldForThis

The Proline power wagon body will work if you're feeling ambitious. It took a lot of cutting to get it down over the cage, and I also had to move the rear body mounts. The only downside is the top of the cage is about an inch too low so the driver can't see over the hood . I dug the look though. I sold it recently so I have some pictures handy:

That looks really good.

[soze]

Originally Posted by durok

I have the larger of the two Proline TopKick bodies, sitting unpainted and uncut on a shelf.

Was going to use it on a Bomber-compatible rail-type chassis, still might as an alternate.

Any questions you might have about measurements, just ask!

(Got a set of calipers)

... But that Dodge is stunning!

Yeah, the Topkick would've been nice, since it's less common.

Originally Posted by TooOldForThis

It's a trade-off because if you lower the body to get the cage to line up better, it would lose some of the jacked-up monster truck look and also the tires could collide with the fenders.

Thanks for the insight. I may still try it out. Still checking out options as far as bodies go.

[Mongol Pete]

I will build my SMT10 to look like a Tamiya Blackfoot, like a tribute truck. Anyone know of a good Ford pickup body that would work well?

Thanks,
MP