Losi 5IVE-TG 3.0 vs. 5IVE-TE 3.0:
Same Truck, Same Price, Two Very Different Personalities
Losi just did something unusual: they built one 1/5 scale desert truck platform and gave it two hearts. The 5IVE-TG 3.0 runs a 35.2cc gas engine. The 5IVE-TE 3.0 runs a 12S brushless system. Both are $1,499.99. Both are ready to run.
Which means for the first time, the question isn’t “which truck?” — it’s “which power system?”
What they share
Underneath, these are the same machine, and it’s a serious one:
- 6061-T6 aluminum chassis — 42.9″ long, 21.2″ wide, 26″ wheelbase
- New 32mm big bore shocks with tapered pistons — 78% more oil volume than the original 5IVE-T
- Redesigned suspension arms with reinforced shock mounts and corrected shock geometry
- Officially licensed KMC KM549 wheels with Pro-Line Pro-Loc bead locks — tire changes without fighting glue
- Pro-Line Mirage TT tires, 8.5″ tall, with desert-truck sidewall ribs
- Injection-molded polypropylene body — six panels of the same material Losi uses on the Promoto-MX, not polycarbonate. It flexes instead of cracking.
- Spektrum DX3 Smart radio and 1,000 oz-in metal-top servos
The body change is the underrated one here. Anyone who’s put a 1/5 into a curb knows what a shattered lexan shell costs. These panels are meant to bounce.
The gas truck: 5IVE-TG 3.0
The headline is the Fujiwara FJ350RC 35.2cc engine — a larger bore than anything Losi has put in a 5IVE-T before, and the reason they call this “the largest and most powerful gas-powered 5IVE-T to date.”
- 35+ mph
- Final drive 12.64
- Twin servos — one steering, one throttle/brake
- 7.4V receiver pack included
- Needs: 91 octane, 2-stroke synthetic oil, a mixing container
Who it’s for: the runner who wants a tank of fuel and a full afternoon. No battery budget, no charge cycles, no waiting. Pour and go. It also sounds like a chainsaw at war, which is half the appeal of a 1/5 gasser.
The electric truck: 5IVE-TE 3.0
This one is the speed play. It’s the first vehicle to use Spektrum’s 12S power system — the most powerful factory-installed surface system they’ve ever built.
- Spektrum Firma 560Kv 70120 brushless motor (70mm × 120mm — that’s a beer can with a shaft)
- Firma 250A Smart ESC, 6S–12S capable
- Dual 50mm cooling fans on an aluminum heatsink
- 50+ mph on 12S, 35+ mph on 8S
- SR6200A receiver with AVC stability
- Final drive 14.12
- 51.4 lbs bare
- Needs: 8S or 12S of LiPo (180 × 52mm max) and a charger that can feed it
Who it’s for: the driver who wants instant torque, near-silent launches, and a genuine 50 mph. Note the AVC — the electric gets stability assist the gas truck doesn’t, which matters when you’re pointing 51 pounds down a fire road.
The Honest Comparison
| 5IVE-TG 3.0 (Gas) | 5IVE-TE 3.0 (Electric) | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Fujiwara 35.2cc | 560Kv brushless, 250A ESC |
| Top speed | 35+ mph | 50+ mph (12S) |
| Stability assist | — | AVC |
| Run time | Refuel in 30 seconds | Depends on your pack count |
| To get running | ~$25 of gas and oil | 8S–12S of LiPo + charger |
| Maintenance | Air filter, plug, tuning | Keep the fans clean |
| Price | $1,499.99 | $1,499.99 |
The price parity is the real story. Normally electric wins on sticker and loses on batteries. Here they’re level at the register — so your decision comes down to total cost to run and what you want the truck to feel like.
If you already own 6S packs, the electric is close to free to feed and it’s 15 mph faster. If you don’t, budget seriously — 12S of quality LiPo plus a charger that can handle it will add meaningfully to the $1,499.
If you’d rather never think about charging again, the gas truck is the one, and 35 mph on a 51-pound truck is faster than the number suggests.
Availability
Both are shipping now in limited quantity. These move fast at 1/5 scale, and Losi’s next production window is well out.
