Things to Consider When Buying the Ideal RC Truck

Choosing just one RC vehicle may be one of the hardest decisions that you’ll ever have to make. With the sheer variety of cars, planes and rc boats, you’re bound to find something that will provide hours of fun. The same goes for trucks which are a varied category and as such you simply must take time to analyse and consider each of the options on the market. The wide selection of pre-assembled or build-it-yourself kits caters to a wide audience, from the complete RC novice to the seasoned hobbyist.

Buggies, Monster Trucks, Rock Crawlers, Rock Racers, Stadium Trucks, Short Course or Truggies
Yes, there’s so much to take in. The different body types of RC vehicles will perform their best on different types of terrain, and at different speeds. Monster trucks, for instance, have huge wheels just like the real thing, and can cope with dirt, gravel, sand, and grass and make for easy riding on the pavement. Buggies sit lower, have smaller wheels, and are built for higher speeds on the tarmac, or lighter sand trails.

Somewhere in between are stadium and short-course trucks, good for bashing around a competition course, or on mixed terrain at speed. Rock crawlers are just that and can negotiate the toughest terrain, albeit at a crawling pace. If you need to go faster, then look to rock racers. And lastly, truggies are the utes of the RC world and equally good at most things.

Should I get a 2WD or 4WD Truck?

source: rctechtips.com

Here there are a few considerations to mull over before parting with your cash. The 2WD trucks run just the rear wheels and will be harder to control over different surfaces. Plus, they’ll struggle over more demanding turf. Where they excel though is the lighter weight, and with a beefy brushless motor they can get up to decent speeds.

They’re also smaller in size, have fewer components, and are cheaper to buy. This a good starting point if you want to hone your RC driving skills. When you want outright versatility, and something that can go over just about anywhere you want it to, then there’s no replacing a sturdy 4WD RC truck which, although typically more expensive, can get you a lot for the extra money.

The components are often better, as they’ll have to handle more weight, and the fact that both the rear and front axles are driven means 4×4 RC trucks will be both fast and equally capable over flatter or rougher surfaces. Choose with caution between the two types, as you’ll have a hard time if you want to upgrade from 2 to 4-wheel drive. Basically, if you get a 2WD truck, that’s what you’re stuck with.

Motors

Older RC designs rely on bigger, heavier, and less efficient brushed motors. These have been around for ages, so are cheap to buy but the downsides extend to the lower power output, shorter run times, and the fact that they’ll wear out sooner. If you’re not keen on maintenance, then go brushless. These motors also supply that extra dose of power for quicker bouts of speed, and will generally last longer.

In addition, in things where precision is a must, like a rock crawler, they supply power more subtly when paired with the right components, allowing for micro-adjustments. The cons are that they up the price of the RC truck, and when they do finally wear out, they’ll be harder on the wallet. In general, if you can make up for the price difference, any 4WD RC truck with a brushless motor is a better buy and one that will get you more kicks.

Scale

source: rc-cars.store

All RC vehicles come in different sizes or scale. Since many are replicas of real-life cars, trucks, boats, and planes, this is given as a fraction of the size of the real thing. Scale determines how true-to-life the RC vehicle is, the level of detail it has, and to a large extent how it performs.

Scale sizes vary from smaller 1/24 in smaller RC vehicles. These are cheaper to buy but still decent to drive and ideal if you’re just getting into RC racing or bashing. Most hobbyists then graduate onto larger vehicles. Popular sizes are 1/10 and 1/6 scale. These can be a handful for novices, but in the right hands will be extremely fast, capable, and heaps of fun.

Ready-to-Run or Building Kits

Another thing to consider is whether to go for a pre-assembled RTR kit or build your 4WD RC truck with components that you hand-pick yourself. The two options are geared toward different groups. Go for an RTR if you want something that can be used straight out of the box, doesn’t require any previous knowledge to put together, and has all the basics straightened out.

Parts, motors, and controllers are basic, but still enough to get you hooked. Many also include batteries and chargers. RTR kits are also substantially cheaper, which makes them a good entry point. The downsides are that once you outgrow the kit, you’ll find that options for tuning are limited. Building your own kit is suitable for someone with sound knowledge of RC parts, batteries, and assembly.

RC brands let you build a truck to your liking, allowing you to fine-tune performance, speed, handling, and run times. Parts and accessories are often better made and more detailed, have higher performance, and are more durable. The downsides are that you’re paying more for the privilege and need to know what you’re doing to get the right results.

A Few of Our Ideal Picks

source: technokap.gr

Axial 1/24 SCX24 Jeep Wrangler JLU CRC 4WD Rock Crawler

An RTR 4×4 rock crawler packed with a sturdy chassis and high-quality components (ESC, brushed motor, servo, and LI-Po battery) offering great off-roading and rock-climbing capability, and hours of fun straight out of the box. Cheap to buy and easy to maintain.

Traxxas 1/10 Rustler VXL

This is a full-sized stadium truck built for speed and spectacular handling. Runs a high-power brushless motor, feeding off a 3-cell high-capacity Li-Po battery, spinning all four wheels. Top speed is guaranteed at over 100km/h.

Losi 1/10 LMT Grave Digger Edition Electric Brushless RTR RC Monster Truck

Looks the part, and goes even better. Riding on 1/8 scale driveline, beefed up suspension, sturdy chassis, solid axles, and strong electronics. A ready-to-run kit with all the goodies provided.