Transforming the Sledge into a Dedicated Truggy-Class CompetitorTraxxas Sledge® delivers peak 6s performance and over-the-top durability, ideal attributes for a track-focused truggy-class competitor. To show just how well Sledge can carry a transponder around the pipes, we’ve been racing the truck featured here regularly at Indy RC World. We went all out with our race build and this article will cover all the mods and upgrades we made, but you don't need to go to those extremes. All you really need to do is install the tires that are the hot setup at your local track and start racing. Build Parts 
Track-Optimized Chassis Flex Sledge doesn’t need anything added in the chassis department to make it race-ready. In fact, we took stuff off! The extra bracing that makes Sledge so incredibly tough for knockaround 6s stunt-driving isn’t required for racing. An overly rigid chassis can be detrimental to track handling too. Removing the T-Bar™ brace and rear side supports allows the chassis to flex more easily, and the weight savings helps the truck accelerate, brake, and change direction more responsively. For more weight savings, we also removed the quick-release battery hold-down system in favor of straps. 
Our Sledge’s original blue chassis plate was looking pretty thrashed, and replacing it was a good opportunity to try out a new color. You can keep things bright with green or red, or choose dark titanium like we did for a stealthier look. 
Removing the chassis’ T-Bar brace and rear side supports allows more traction-enhancing chassis flex. 
We kept the battery tray but replaced the quick-release hold-down mechanism with hook-and-loop straps to save weight. Low-Friction Shock Setup Sledge’s GT-Maxx® shocks are competition-spec right out of the box with their high-capacity threaded bodies, X-ring seals, and bolt-on lower retainers. For absolute minimum shock-shaft friction and maximum run time between rebuilds, we outfitted our truck with the optional titanium-nitride coated shafts. The low-friction coating is scratch- and scuff-resistant for long-lasting smoothness and ultra-responsive shock action. We also fine-tuned the damping and spring rates to suit conditions at Indy RC Raceway. Our setup uses stiffer springs and higher-viscosity oil than stock, which should also perform well on most other hard-packed tracks. To learn more about tuning with spring rate and oil viscosity, take a look at Part 2 of our Suspension Tuning Guide. 
You’ll find the TiN shock shafts and all the spring options on the Sledge Accessories page. Traxxas Premium Shock Oil is available in individual bottles, but if you really want to be ready for any track conditions, get the Shock Oil Set with carousel. 
The shafts’ TiN coating fights friction, extends wear, and looks trick. 
While the shocks were off the truck, we traded the stock mounting hardware for the even-stronger hardened steel pin set. High-Strength, High-Precision Suspension The engineering that allows Sledge to shrug off big-hit stunt action gives it more than enough strength for the track. We made some aluminum upgrades to the suspension, not to prevent breakage, but to increase stiffness for razor-sharp handling and responsiveness. We supplemented the stock steering blocks with machined-aluminum caster blocks, outfitted the rear suspension with aluminum rear axle carriers, and upgraded to 7075-T6 shock towers front and rear for flex-fighting rigidity. We also installed the optional 7075-T6 hingepin tie bars. These don’t alter suspension geometry or affect handling feel, but they do offer greater strength and precision. 
The blue-anodized caster blocks and rear axle carriers are also available in green, orange, red, and gray. We also swapped the standard blue-anodized serrated axle nuts for black. 
Tie bars installed. You can also get them in green, red, orange, and gray. 
We swapped the stock 6061-T6 aluminum shock towers for the super-strong, extra-rigid 7075-T6 versions with a dark-titanium finish. The towers are machined for precision and look killer with their polished highlights. Sway Bar Setup Ultra-long-travel suspension and massive traction makes truggies prone to chassis roll, so a set of sway bars is an essential tuning aid. Traxxas offers a full set of bars for Sledge in stiffnesses optimized for track-ready handling. Once you’ve determined the best sway bars for your track condition, you can further fine-tune your setup by moving the linkage position on the bar. Part 4 of our Suspension Tuning Guide covers everything you need to know about sway bars, and they’re an easy way to refine your truck’s handling. 
The Sledge sway bar set includes six color-coded bars to equip both ends of the truck, and all the required hardware. 
The sway bars are easy to install and adjust and can make a big difference in handling feel—and your lap times. Camber & Toe Adjustability You can start racing your Sledge with the fixed-length camber and tie links but being able to fine-tune those setting with adjustable turnbuckle linkages will help you dial in your truck for best handling, easier driving, and faster laps. Rigid turnbuckle links will also sharpen up steering and suspension response, and turnbuckle links don’t come stronger or stiffer than Traxxas TUBES. Instead of threading a single steel rod (heavy) or titanium rod (expensive), TUBES feature heavy-duty threaded steel inserts and hollow 7075-T6 aluminum bodies to deliver the lightness of titanium with even greater strength and stiffness. 
The TUBES front camber links, front toe links, and rear camber links are sold separately as pairs. 
We went stealthy with dark-titanium anodizing. You can also get TUBES for Sledge in red, blue, orange, and green. Maximum Steering Power You can go straight to the track with Sledge’s stock High Torque-347 steering servo. It’s got metal gears, an aluminum mid-case, and digital circuitry for precise performance with 347 ounce-inches of torque to keep your truck on the fastest line. More power is always better, however, and the High-Torque Red 400 Brushless Digital servo delivers it with an additional 53 oz-in of torque (400 total) and even faster steering response thanks to its brushless motor. All the benefits brushless power brings to powering your truck also apply when powering a servo, and the Red 400 is unbeatable for rapid steering response and tire-aiming muscle to tame big truggy treads in high-traction conditions. 
The Red 400 servo is a direct replacement for the stock servo. Drivetrain Efficiency Upgrades Sledge has drivetrain durability handled right out of the box when it comes to sheer strength. For racing action, the optional Heavy Duty Steel CV Driveshafts offer even greater strength and wear resistance, plus the best possible efficiency for maximum power transfer. The center and rear CV shafts replace dogbones and that’s where you’ll see the biggest gains. Sledge includes front CV shafts as stock equipment. You can also do what we did: keep the stock front CV shafts and upgrade them with hardened steel stub axles. 
Hardened-steel construction and efficient CV-style universal joints make sure every watt of power finds its way to the tires. 
Trading the rear dogbones for CV shafts will significantly extend drivetrain life and ensure bind-free power delivery throughout the suspension travel range. Race-Ready Rubber As mentioned previously, selecting the correct tires for the track is the most essential aspect of a race-winning setup. Thankfully, all you need to do to make an informed tread choice is take a look at what competitive drivers are running (or just ask the track operator). Our go-to from the Traxxas tire lineup is the Response Pro tread on 3.8″ dish wheels, which arrive professionally mounted and are a good match for most hard-packed tracks. They’re also very affordable compared to some other mounted competition truggy tires, which makes Response Pros a great choice as a practice tire if the ideal tread is something more expensive. 
The Traxxas Response Pro is an excellent and affordable all-around track tire. Finishing Touches We’re almost ready to hit the track. We need a battery, of course, and naturally we’re using a genuine Power Cell LiPo. Class rules call for 4s power, and 5000 mAh is plenty for a heat of racing. We also installed a fan on the motor to keep temperature down and efficiency up. And finally, our Sledge’s rear wing had a lot of stunt-driving wear and was due for replacement, so we bolted up a freshie and secured it with a blue-anodized wing washer for bonus style points. We decided to go with a white wing in race mode, for better visibility on the track. 
Sledge is a 6s-capable truck, but the racing class calls for 4s power. We’re using the 5000 mAh Power Cell LiPo pack, mounted all the way forward in the tray for maximum steering grip. 
The optional cooling fan keeps motor temps down, which increases power and efficiency. 
Now that looks like a serious race machine—which it is. SLEDGE SETUP SHEET – Indy RC Raceway, Garland TX Indy RC Raceway is a hard-packed, swept and watered indoor track. If you’re racing on a similar surface, our setup should get you close to dialed in. On rougher/softer tracks, you’ll likely find that softer springs, lighter oil, and reduced sway bar stiffness will improve handling. As always, change one thing at a time and test thoroughly before deciding if a change is helping or hurting. Good luck, and have fun! 
Click On the Image to Download the Full Setup Sheet Parts List
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