Buying Guide for the Best Rc Trucks
What could be more fun than racing off road and ramping pavements like a professional monster truck driver? RC trucks are a fun way to bring out your inner dare devil and their growing popularity shows you are not alone. Whether you are looking for an RC truck for you and your kids to drive around your backyard or something more professional to build yourself, there is a remote control truck out there for you. To help you find it, we have put together this comprehensive RC truck buying guide to ensure you easily find the right RC truck for you.
Types
Much like other RC vehicles (cars, planes, boats, tanks and helicopters), RC trucks can be bought ready to run (RTR) or as build-your-own models, and can be on or off road and electric or gas powered. To help you choose which type of RC truck is perfect for you, here are the main kinds of remote control trucks for you to compare and review:
RTR RC Trucks: Ready To Run RC trucks will allow you to ride your new RC truck as soon as it has been taken out of the box. Pre-assembled, they come with all the parts needed, saving you the hassle of having to buy parts separately.
Build-your-own RC Trucks: Offering more flexibility and much better deals on hobby versions, build your own trucks are ideal for the RC truck enthusiast who wants to modify and adapt his RC truck.
On-Road RC Trucks: Designed to be driven on paved roads and carpet, these RC trucks make for great driving in and around the home. Fast and zippy, on-road RC trucks are excellent holiday or birthday gifts for the kids.
Off-Road RC Trucks: Off-road RC trucks have high suspensions which make good clearers. Able to tackle uneven surfaces, these trucks can handle bumpy paths and off-road adventures.
Nitro RC Trucks: Running on nitrous fuel, nitro RC trucks include a two-stroke engine. Best suited for pro drivers looking for more speed, they are fast on the road and off the starting line.
Electric RC Trucks: Electric RC trucks run much quieter than other types of powered RC trucks and offer a variety of engine types to choose from, depending on preference, budget, and maintenance options. Easier to ride and maintain, electric RC trucks are great for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
What Reviewers Have to Say
Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:
- Speed: Reviewers rate their RC trucks higher when they not only have competitive forward driving speeds, but also when the truck is built to be as fast going in reverse as it goes forward. The ideal is for RC trucks to remain easy to control without forgoing on speed. If this is a concern for you, look out for a top rated brand with good speed and control reviews.
- Controls: RC trucks with responsive, easy to use controls are rated well, while trucks without responsive controls are not. Vibration controls are especially appreciated by drivers and are worth considering when choosing your RC Truck.
- Surfaces: Trucks that can handle concrete and grass with ease are appreciated by their owners and receive good reviewes. More surface variability means more driving opportunities and in this regard, off-roads are king.
- Range: RC trucks that offer good remote control range (i.e the truck and the driver can be further apart) are top scorers and get great reviews from online commenters. Checking and comparing range specs of prospective trucks will ensure better product satisfaction.
Important Features
- The first thing to consider is, who is the RC truck for? Children and beginners may feel more comfortable with an entry level electric RC truck, whereas professional hobbyists may want to upgrade to a more complex, build-your-own nitrous truck.
- Where you will be driving your truck is a big factor when choosing your new RC truck. If you will be driving around the house and/or a paved driveway, on-road RC trucks will suit you perfectly. Go with an off-road model if you want to take it on uneven surfaces, as they will withstand the bumps and grooves much better .
- Next is budget. For smaller spends, opt for electric over fuel RC trucks.
- Aluminum RC truck parts will give pro drivers more steering control.
- The scale of an RC truck refers to the size of the vehicle compared to the size of a real truck. For example, a 1/10 scale truck will be one-tenth of the size of an actual truck. Generally, the bigger the truck, the faster it will go.
- If you are buying an RTR RC truck keep in mind that the nitro fuel and the glow plug ignitor will more than likely be sold separately.
- When buying an electric RC truck, consider buying an additional battery pack to prevent having to wait for your RC vehicle to recharge before your next drive.
- Electric RC trucks come with a variety of motor options: sealed endbell motor, open endbell motor, which gives users the option to maintain and clean their own motor, and a brushless motor which is the longest lasting kind of motor.
Top-Rated Brands
Maisto:
Part of May Cheong Group, Maisto aims to create toy and replica RC vehicles since forming in 1990.
Redcat Racing:
Specialising in Electric and fuel RC cars, Redcat Racing was established in 2005 and provides quality trucks in various scales.
Traxxas:
Formed in 1986, Traxxas manufactures quality, fully-assembled RC trucks that offer all the benefits of a hobby class RC vehicle.