ARRMA Kraton 8S Review: BLX VS EXB Specs & Batteries

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This review first covered the original 1/5 ARRMA Kraton 8S BLX. Horizon Hobby now lists that truck (ARA110002T1) as discontinued, and the current ready-to-run version is the 1/5 Kraton 8S EXB AVC (ARA5808V2T1). This update compares the two using Horizon Hobby product pages and the ARRMA manuals for each version (linked in Sources). We have not run speed or durability tests, so every number below comes from Horizon or ARRMA.

Prices change often, so we do not list them. Each product mentioned has a “Check current price” link.

Quick answer: If you are buying a Kraton 8S today, Horizon’s current listing is the EXB version. It keeps the 1/5 scale, 8S power and AVC stability control of the BLX, and adds a 5mm 7075-T6 aluminum chassis plate, a 1100Kv 5687 motor, a stronger S6510 steel-gear servo and a wheelie bar. Horizon rates it at 50+ mph. Batteries and a charger are sold separately: the manual calls for two 4S LiPo packs, 5000mAh 50C minimum.

Kraton 8S BLX vs Kraton 8S EXB: Specs Compared

	Kraton 8S BLX (original)	Kraton 8S EXB (current)
Horizon SKU	ARA110002T1 (also ARA110002T2, orange)	ARA5808V2T1
Horizon status (Oct 8, 2026)	Discontinued	Listed (orderable)
Scale / type	1/5 speed monster truck	1/5 speed monster truck
Motor	Spektrum Firma 4685 1250Kv brushless	Spektrum Firma 5687 1100Kv brushless, 4-pole
ESC	Spektrum Firma 160A Smart	Spektrum Firma 160A V2 Smart
Servo	Spektrum S905 metal-geared digital	Spektrum S6510 steel-gear waterproof, 820 oz-in at 8.4V
Radio	Spektrum DX3 with SR6100AT AVC receiver	Spektrum DX3 DSMR with SR6200A AVC receiver
Chassis plate	6061-T6 aluminum 0.16 in (4mm) thick	5mm 7075-T6 aluminum, laser-etched
Final drive / internal ratio	25.06:1 / 9.06	not listed / 9.06
Top speed (Horizon rating)	not listed	50+ mph
Length / wheelbase	760mm / 491mm	771mm / 491mm
Weight	11kg (24.2 lb), Horizon	11.2kg (24.69 lb), manual
Battery tray max	180 x 55 x 53mm	180 x 55 x 53mm (manual)
Wheel hex / tires	24mm / dBoots Copperhead2 SB	24mm / dBoots Copperhead 2 Big Block

Sources: Horizon Hobby spec tabs and “In the Box” lists for ARA110002T1 and ARA5808V2T1; weight and tray size for the EXB from its manual.

What Changed in the EXB Version

Motor: Horizon says the 5687 1100Kv motor has a 56mm diameter and 10% more torque than the previous Kraton 8S RTR motor (Horizon Hobby).
Servo: the S6510 is rated at 820 oz-in at 8.4V, which Horizon describes as nearly 50% more torque than its predecessor (47% in its feature list).
Chassis: the BLX used a 4mm 6061-T6 aluminum plate; the EXB uses a 5mm 7075-T6 plate, a red-anodized aluminum front brace mount and an impact-absorbing front bumper.
Steering and suspension: 8mm steel rear turnbuckles, 7mm steel steering turnbuckles, and 20mm bore oil-filled shocks with 6mm shafts on composite towers.
Included extras: a wheelie bar, a CNC aluminum 24mm wheel wrench and, per the manual, an optional Safe D8 Mod1 30T “speed” pinion.

What stayed the same: 1/5 scale, 8S power from two packs, the 491mm wheelbase, 24mm wheel hexes, the easy-access 3-bolt sliding motor mount, an all-metal drivetrain with steel driveshafts, and a waterproof electronics module.

Batteries and Charging

What the manual requires: two 4S LiPo packs with EC5 or IC5 connectors, 5000mAh 50C minimum, plus a charger and a LiPo charging bag (EXB manual). The BLX manual also lists two 4S packs (BLX manual).
What Horizon lists: the “Needed to Complete” tab says two 3S or two 4S packs, and the spec tab lists 8S and 6S LiPo compatibility. Two 3S packs make 6S; two 4S packs make the full 8S.
Pack size: each pack must fit a 180 x 55 x 53mm tray. Check a pack’s dimensions before you buy it.
Charging two packs: Horizon pairs the truck with the Spektrum S2200 G2 2x200W charger and Powerstage 8S bundles that include two 4S 5000mAh packs and a charger.
LiPo care: Horizon’s LiPo guide says to store packs at about 3.8V per cell and never discharge below 3.0V per cell under load (LiPo guide).

Gearing and Speed

Horizon rates the Kraton 8S EXB at 50+ mph and does not list a top speed for the BLX. The EXB manual includes a pinion and spur chart for changing gearing, and the kit includes a 30T “speed” pinion. The manual’s How To section shows how to change the pinion, and the ESC LED shows when thermal or low-voltage protection is active (EXB manual). For mud, deeper puddles or other wet conditions, the manual recommends a smaller pinion or larger spur to reduce motor load.

AVC, Radio and Smart Telemetry

Both versions use a Spektrum DX3 radio with an AVC (Active Vehicle Control) receiver. The EXB manual says the ST Rate knob adjusts AVC sensitivity, so you can dial stability assistance up or down. Horizon says Smart telemetry from the Firma ESC can show motor RPM, ESC temperature, receiver voltage and drive pack voltage in the free Spektrum Dashboard app.

Maintenance

The EXB manual’s maintenance schedule covers wheels and tires, pivot balls, shocks, the center differential, the front and rear differentials and the driveshafts, with service intervals by run time (EXB manual).
After wet running: remove and dry the battery packs, drain water from the tires, rinse the wheels gently with a garden hose, blow out water with compressed air, spray metal parts with a water-displacing light oil, and never use a pressure washer.
Do not run in salt water or polluted water. The manual warns that running a wet motor at high speed can damage it quickly, and says not to spray the motor with oil.

Pros and Cons

Pros (from the specs, not our testing):

EXB parts come stock: 7075-T6 chassis plate, steel turnbuckles and front brace mount.
AVC stability control with adjustable sensitivity.
Smart telemetry through the Spektrum app.
Wheelie bar, 24mm wrench and speed pinion included.
Easy-access motor mount, diffs and electronics module.

Cons:

Batteries and charger are sold separately, and 8S means buying two 4S packs plus a two-port charger.
At about 11.2kg (24.69 lb) and 771mm long, it is heavy and big to transport.
Horizon rates it at 50+ mph, lower than some smaller ARRMA 6S trucks; it is built for size and toughness, not top speed.
The BLX is discontinued, so check part numbers in your manual before ordering spares for an older truck.

Should You Buy the Kraton 8S?

Buy the Kraton 8S EXB if you want what Horizon calls ARRMA’s biggest ready-to-run basher and are ready to budget for two 4S packs and a two-port charger. If you already own a BLX, the EXB’s main differences are the motor, servo, thicker 7075 chassis plate and EXB hardware, not a new platform. If you mainly want speed in a smaller package, look at ARRMA’s 6S trucks instead.

Products Mentioned (Check Current Price)

ARRMA 1/5 Kraton 8S EXB AVC 4X4 RTR (ARA5808V2T1)

Current Horizon listing of the Kraton 8S RTR
Battery and charger sold separately

Check current price

Spektrum 14.8V 5000mAh 4S 50C Smart G2 Hardcase LiPo, IC5 (SPMX54S50H5)

Listed by Horizon on the Kraton 8S EXB page
Meets the manual’s 5000mAh 50C minimum; you need two

Check current price

Spektrum 14.8V 5000mAh 4S 100C Smart G2 Hardcase LiPo, IC5 (SPMX54S100H5)

Listed by Horizon on the Kraton 8S EXB page
Higher C rating than the 50C minimum; check tray fit

Check current price

Spektrum S2200 G2 AC 2x200W Smart Charger (SPMXC2010)

Listed by Horizon on both Kraton 8S pages
Two ports, so it can charge both packs together

Check current price

Spektrum Smart Powerstage 8S Surface Bundle (SPMXPSS850)

Listed by Horizon on the Kraton 8S EXB page
Two G2 5000mAh 4S IC5 packs and an S2100 charger

Check current price

LiPo charging bag (any fireproof LiPo bag)

The EXB manual lists a LiPo charging bag as required
Charge and store packs inside it

Check current price

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ARRMA Kraton 8S BLX discontinued?

Horizon Hobby lists the 1/5 Kraton 8S BLX (ARA110002T1/T2) as discontinued. The current ready-to-run version is the 1/5 Kraton 8S EXB AVC (ARA5808V2T1).

What batteries does the Kraton 8S need?

The ARRMA manual calls for two 4S LiPo packs with EC5 or IC5 connectors, 5000mAh 50C minimum, each fitting a 180 x 55 x 53mm tray. Horizon also lists two 3S packs, which run it on 6S.

How fast is the ARRMA Kraton 8S?

Horizon rates the Kraton 8S EXB at 50+ mph. Horizon does not list a top speed for the older BLX version.

What is the difference between the Kraton 8S BLX and EXB?

The EXB uses a 5687 1100Kv motor instead of the 4685 1250Kv, an S6510 servo instead of the S905, a 5mm 7075-T6 chassis plate instead of 4mm 6061-T6, a 160A V2 ESC, steel turnbuckles and a wheelie bar.