It can be tough to decide on what radio control vehicle is right for you. There are so many manufacturers and different types of cars, trucks, and buggies that finding the best product for your application can seem nearly impossible. While we can’t narrow the field down to one vehicle for you without a one-on-one, face-to-face visit to our store, this guide can help you whittle out the ones that definitely won’t be right for you.
We’ll divide the various R/C surface vehicles into six categories: Cars, Stadium Trucks, Short Course Trucks, Monster Trucks, Buggies, and Rock Crawlers.
Most of the different vehicles have a terrain they are best suited to. Deciding where you’re going to run your R/C vehicle is the first step to narrowing down the choices.
Grass
Grass is probably the most popular surface — at least in our area — and is one of the most difficult terrains for radio control vehicles, because grass causes a lot of friction, which impedes the vehicle as it passes through it. Taller grass is harder than shorter grass, as well, so bear that in mind.
Short Course Truck
Monster Truck
Stadium Truck (marginal)
Rock Crawler
Pavement
From the most difficult to the easiest, concrete or asphalt provides the least resistance to R/C vehicles, and therefore doesn’t have any limitations. Pretty much any vehicle can work on pavement. Some may be more fun than others on this surface — a rock crawler, for example wouldn’t be very entertaining on flat pavement — but from a function perspective, anything goes.
Short Course Truck
Monster Truck
Stadium Truck
Buggy
Car
Rock Crawler
Dirt / Gravel
Dirt and gravel are usually about as easy-going as pavement when it comes to what vehicles perform well. The only category that doesn’t really work well here are the cars, and even then, there are some, like rally cars, that thrive on the dirt. Since we’re generalizing, though, we’ll consider that you probably don’t want a car if you’re heading over to a dirt track or lot to play.
Short Course Truck
Monster Truck
Stadium Truck
Buggy
Rock Crawler
Sand Dunes
If you’ve ever run a four-wheeler at the sand dunes, you know that sand is pretty terrible for anything mechanical, and this still holds true to radio control applications as well. That said, with the proper maintenance and care, most R/C vehicles can handle a trip to the dunes, though you’ll probably need to purchase different tires for this terrain. Again, I’m not sure how much fun a rock crawler would be in this situation, but to each his own.
Short Course Truck
Monster Truck
Stadium Truck
Buggy
Rock Crawler
Just like the cars you see making left turns all day in NASCAR are pretty different than the one you drive to work, R/C vehicles built for racing are not at all like their backyard-bashing counterparts. Deciding if you’re planning to race your vehicle is a major step in choosing what kind of vehicle, and even brand, you’re going to purchase.
Bashing
By far the most common use for R/C vehicles, ‘bashing’ is the term we use for pretty much anything that isn’t racing, from running around the backyard to hitting up the local skate park. You don’t have to actively be trying to destroy your vehicle to be bashing; it’s just a derisive term dreamt up by racers to describe non-racers, and the name stuck. This can even include having your buddies over for a race around the backyard – that’s still considered bashing.
Basher vehicles are usually built for durability and aren’t overly concerned about how heavy the vehicle is and how quickly it can get up so speed. They are more worried about surviving that fifteen-foot jump and not breaking every time you hit a rock.
Racing
When we talk about R/C racing, we are talking about an organized system where you aren’t just racing your friends. Most racers are at the ‘club’ level – meaning it usually isn’t for money. Sometimes there’s a trophy or ribbon, and sometimes it’s just for bragging rights. What separates it from bashing is the organization, track upkeep, and data tracking, and how serious it is taken by those who participate. Competition can be fierce, and constant tuning, research, and component upgrades are necessary to stay with the pack.
Vehicles intended for racing are very lightweight and built of more rigid, less durable material. The goal of a racing vehicle is to get to speed as quickly, be nimble in the corners, and handle well on a track. The overall goal is to sacrifice durability for performance, so you might not survive many collisions with other cars on track.
There are two types of motor in the R/C world: Brushed and Brushless. The next step in determining what type of vehicle would suit your needs is determining which of those two you would like.
Brushed
Brushed motors have been around since the beginning of the hobby. They are cheap and plentiful, and most vehicles equipped with brushed motors are less expensive than their brushless counterparts. These motors are usually open to the environment to help them keep cool, but this can also introduce dirt, sand, and other debris into the motors, wearing them out quicker.
Brushless
Brushless motors, compared to their brushed cousins, are basically more everything: more durable, more efficient, more speed, and more expensive. While they don’t wear out nearly as quickly as brushed motors, they are pricier to replace if needed, and just as vulnerable to high temperate degradation, but if you want more speed and power, brushless is where it’s at.
It should be noted that vehicles that start out with brushed motors can almost always be upgraded to brushless motors at a later date. It usually costs more in the long run to start brushed and upgrade later, but that cost is spaced out over time, as opposed to purchasing the more expensive, brushless-equipped truck right away.
It didn’t used to be this way, but there are plenty of both two-wheel-drive (2WD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles on the market today. Deciding which way to go here depends largely on where you’re running it and how you want it to handle.
2WD
This type of vehicle is usually pretty squirrelly. Going in a straight line and slamming on the brakes will usually result in at least a 180° turn, and controlling a 2WD vehicle at speed, especially on a low-traction surface, can be a handful. Many people like this challenge, however, and it does eventually make you a better driver to have to compensate for that kind of handling. 2WD vehicles are also usually cheaper, since they are somewhat less complex and require fewer moving parts.
4WD
4WD vehicles, by contrast, are much easier to drive, and generally go exactly where you want them to. Since all four tires are pulling the car or truck along, there isn’t need to compensate for the 2WD’s built in bias, and it means a more predictable performance. 4WD trucks are also better on rough terrain. The big downside here is price; 4WD trucks are generally more expensive due to their added complexity and, in many cases, default inclusion of a brushless motor.
Unlike with the motors, however, it’s almost universally impossible to “upgrade” a 2WD vehicle to 4WD, since the chassis and overall design is completely different between the two archetypes. So whichever style you purchase, you’re stuck with it unless you purchase a new vehicle later.
We’ve sold many brands of R/C vehicles over the years. Only one brand consistently outshined the others in terms of quality, durability, and value: Traxxas. They continue to be the largest R/C surface company (in terms of market share) and earned that position by offering fantastic products at reasonable prices and backing them up with top-tier customer service. So if you followed the above selection process, here are some vehicle suggestions for your potential answers.
Note that none of these are for the racing category; we never supported the racing community much here in the store (largely due to a lack of racing community in our immediate area), so our knowledge of racing vehicles is limited. Additionally, the vehicles being allowed on the track change all the time, so check with your local track before buying anything!
Brushed • 2WD • Stadium Truck
The Rustler is a great entry-level vehicle for any age. It’s low to the ground, which makes it handle pretty well, though its low ground clearance could make grass a difficult terrain for it.
The Rustler has the benefit of having been around for over 25 years, meaning there are plenty of hop-up parts available to really make it your own. Toss on some larger tires to help on grass or add a better front bumper to avoid part-breaking collisions. However you use it, the Rustler is a great entry into the R/C world.
Brushed • 2WD • Monster Truck
The Stampede regularly made our Top Ten list most years, and for good reason: it’s one of the oldest, most reliable R/C monster trucks still on the market today.
The truck’s tall stance means it tackles most lawns with ease, but also adds to its instability. The Stampede, like most monster trucks, likes to roll on turns, so watch out for that. Still, it’s one of the best-selling trucks we’ve ever carried — people love their Stampedes!
Brushed • 2WD • Short Course Truck
The Slash has been was our best-selling truck for over a decade. Simply nothing beats this truck for durability, accessorization, and fun. We have run ours into concrete parking bricks and it drove away. We’ve jumped Dumpsters with it and it drove away. The Slash is, in my opinion, the ultimate two-wheel-drive basher.
With plenty of upgrades available from multiple manufacturers (including a selection of top-of-the-line parts from Traxxas themselves), the Slash never stops giving you something to do. Drive it, upgrade it, repair it, drive it some more. It never quits. The Slash is my top pick for anyone looking for a 2WD brushed basher.
Brushless • 2WD • Stadium Truck
Brushless • 2WD • Monster Truck
Brushless • 2WD • Short Course Truck
The Slash VXL doesn’t just have the fact that it comes with a brushless motor system going for it; it also sports the Traxxas TQi radio system, which includes Traxxas Stability Management (TSM) to help control the truck better. As mentioned above, 2WD trucks tend to be quite squirrely — more so on loose or slippery terrain — and TSM helps you to better keep the truck driving in the direction you want to be heading. The TQi radio system can also accept the Traxxas Link Bluetooth module, allowing you to control various aspects of the radio from your smartphone.
So yeah, the Velineon brushless motor and speed control is awesome, but the Slash VXL isn’t just a fast version of the Slash. It has the tech needed to control the speedy truck too!
Brushed • 4WD • Stadium Truck
Brushed • 4WD • Monster Truck
Brushed • 4WD • Short Course Truck
While I’d argue most people are better served to spend a little extra money and buy the brushless version of this truck (a little later down the list), the brushed version of the Slash 4x4 is still a solid entry-level vehicle. It’s easy to work on, handles very well, and isn’t as expensive as its brushless cousins. It has pretty much all of the same upgrades as its more popular brushless kin, so you’re not sacrificing any customization by sticking with the cheaper option, either!
Brushless • 4WD • Stadium Truck
Brushed • 4WD • Rock Crawler
Brushless • 4WD • Short Course Truck
This truck is right up there with its 2WD cousin in terms of popularity. The Slash 4x4 VXL actually got the top spot in our Top Ten of the Decade for just how successful it was. I loved selling these trucks because I knew my customer was going to go home and have a great first experience with R/C. It’s easy to drive, handles most terrain, and is super easy to work on.
The Slash 4x4 VXL goes down as my all-time favorite R/C truck, no question. If you get one of these trucks, you’ll truly love it — even after you continue on to bigger and faster vehicles, the Slash 4x4 VXL is still a blast to drive.
Brushless • 4WD • Monster Truck
Brushless • 4WD • Monster Truck
Hopefully, this guide has helped to narrow the field a bit. The best thing to do, of course, is talk to your local hobby shop and discuss what vehicle is right for you. These broad questions can certainly help educate you on the choices, but nothing is a substitute for that conversation. Every hobby shop carries different items too, so what makes sense for our area might not do much for you somewhere else.
Whatever vehicle you pick, just make sure you have fun with your hobby!
