When Losi announced the new 5IVE-T 3.0 Truck as an electric 1/5 Desert Race Truck the entire fifth scale market was put on notice! A complete new design from the ground up we were anxious to be the first to have all spare parts listed and ordered through our supplier for full availability at the time of release. You can view the full collection of factory spare replacement parts on our website HERE.
Are there any compatible parts for the older 1.0 and 2.0 parts to the 3.0 truck?
YES! We were excited to see that while most parts are new; Losi made the wise decision to keep certain parts shared with the older trucks. This is a key importance with supporting legacy models and the enthusiasts that still drive those trucks! Critical parts like internal differential bevel gears and shock rebuild sets are shared between both trucks. For common consumable parts being used between both platforms it means a lot of aftermarket pieces will also be a direct fit and ready to use! When browsing our website if you see the notation "All Losi 5IVE" or "All 5IVE"; that means those pieces are compatible with all versions of the Losi 5IVE including the 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and in most cases the TLR 5IVE-B buggy! You can also show compatibility with the filters found on our website to narrow down your search through model, brand or function!
What is new on the 5IVE-T 3.0 that we are excited about?
There are a number of new features on the 5IVE-T 3.0 that we are eager to explore a bit deeper. The first being that it is a 12S RTR Out of the box. We have had some powerful 12S cars available already including the VEKTA, KV5TT, VESLA, our Outlaw Hybrid and even some ARTR MCDs that we have built in-house. It is nice to see Losi is joining the trend of high powered electrification as a factory ready option. An all new straightened driveline will be a welcome update from the offset style drive on the older models. This should result in a stronger and more efficient drivetrain. Interesting is that the front gearbox remains the same as the older model, but an all new rear transmission gearbox is used. The differential housing is compatible with the older models, but a new gear ratio for the ring and pinion gears is used for both front and rear (12T pinion instead of 13T).
Brand new enormous 32mm big bore shocks are found on each corner - those are shocks with an internal diameter of 32mm featuring a tapered piston which is a new popular trend among high quality shocks.
The body is another one we are really pleased to see the updates. The roll cage is integrated as before; and a clever quick release side mounting system is pretty slick.
The panels themselves are no longer polycarbonate but a molded polypropylene. They may be heavier but we have found through our own results that many often prefer the increased durability with many 2.0 and 1.0 owners opting for the Big Flex body. The new cage, body and mounting system are not compatible with the 2.0 as the new truck is larger in both length and width from its predecessors.
What about the new truck are we speculative about?
The new truck passes the eyeball test on most measures. There are a few things about the new truck that has us questioning if the adoption rate will spark a big enough change for a few areas. Our first criticism would be the included electronics. While they are a 12S power system; Losi chose to spec the speed controller with IC5 connectors. We generally suggest a stronger and more durable connector with higher amp ratings like the QS8. This is likely something that has come down to keeping all things in the Spektrum family of things readily available and not having an IC connector larger than that currently offered.
Our next reservation will be with the servo. Losi claims an output of 1000 oz-in of torque. If they are able to achieve a reliable and good performing servo for that price point we will be very impressed; but we will generally advise an AGFRC servo for the highest performance and reliability particularly needed when piloting such a large and heavy machine. The last point where we are holding a reservation and will let time tell all is the new designed wheel and tire bead lock design. The new tires are head on the wheel with a whopping total of 42 screws per wheel.
The standard style of wheel has been a 20 bolts since its inception. The HPI Baja introduced nearly two decades ago set the standards for bead lock design before the age of huge power engines and full billet machines. We have pushed that initial design to extremes but it has been limited for some time. Losi and house brand Pro-Line choosing an entire new system is a great bit of progress but you are now fighting against time and market saturation of decades of tire, wheel and bead lock designs readily available for the fifth scale market. Will other manufacturers invest in new tooling and inventory to support a design that fits just one car? Will customers hesitate to buy the entire new truck based on limitation of tire choices readily available? Or will customers just yield to a slightly smaller tire size in favor of running what they have easy access to and know works for a given surface
What about a PETROL/GAS Powered 5IVE-T 3.0?
Losi only initially announced the electric RTR for the updated truck; their first factory electric offering for a 5IVE-T. Does that mean we will not get any gas model? Given how Losi has chosen to name their replacement parts as well as insider information it is safe to say that a gas powered Losi 5IVE-T 3.0 is coming. The manual has some parts designated as "5IVE-T 3.0 Compatible" and "5IVE-T 3.0E only" meaning electric specific 3.0 parts. Concessions for mechanical brakes are also a pretty telling sign for the forthcoming gas truck. Project manager and designer Chris Higa also all but confirmed the gas truck to be coming in the future via social media posts. They have been a little shy about specific release timing.
Final conclusion
We couldn't be happier to be a part of such a great moment of 1/5 scale. More and more are finding out how incredible these machines are to drive and the fun to be had. Losi has done an incredible job with an electric truck making things more accessible than ever before. Being a part of pushing what is possible and to be the global leader in upgrades and parts availability is what we do every single day! If you have thoughts or questions never hesitate to Contact Us.