RC truck?? Hobby TOY Advice??

[Dirtcrasher]

I'm still just at kid at heart and I'd like a new toy. I'd like to have a radio controlled truck that's fast, holds a charge (or propels itself otherwise??) and holds up well.

Looking for something I can beat the crap outta on my MX track jumps (Maybe I'll make a little course for one). But, like everything else, there are so many choices, opinions and articles I just spent all night reading.

I found the "Best truck for your bucks on Amazon"; It turned out to be a 800$ RC truck :lol: That's allot more than I want to spend. Do you have to buy a TRAXXAS to have anything any good?

There are bodies and motors and chargers and types of batteries or chargers and other mind boggling options.

So since 3 wheeler people are usually great people :D, I figured I'd ask for some opinions here before I jump.

New hobby of sorts, pass some time away. "I just need a new toy"!! Good bang for my bucks...

Thanks for any comments :)

[125Mmadness]

Well, I have dabbled in the RC world and for what you want i'd say a traxxas slash brushless model. they come in 2 and 4wd and a 4wd model with lipo battery and charger should be around $525-550.

[86T3]

Hopefully HostileRob sees this, he's an expert in the field of RC

[atc007]

I bought my Son and his friend and I electrics 10? years ago. The batteries were USELESS, 6 Fn minutes.. The trucks were not brushless,was gonna go that way,but the batteries completely sucked . John Neary is a pro racer with these Steve.

[big specht]

We have/had nitro r/c trucks they are a money pit BUT are fun sound of the engines and the smell of the fuel. I have a revo and there are some t-maxs here too. It seems like every time you get them out it will cost you about $20 in parts or fuel. If you want any nitro truck let me know I know where are some that are for sale.

[jb2wheels]

I bought a Traxxas 2WD Brushless Stampede off Craigslist for $200 a few years back.
It's been a lot of fun and very reliable.
Easy to get parts and upgrades for if/when needed.
It was an impulse buy but they're much more $$ new and it was a good deal.
I ran a bunch of Tamiya trucks and buggies 25 years ago.
The Traxxas trucks are better.

[big specht]

Yea the new R/C trucks are a lot stronger than the old Tamiya trucks I have a Blackfoot truck and the traxxas truck take way more abuse than the old one ever would. Brushless are fun and quick

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I had a T-Maxx 2.5 years back. It was a TON of fun and pretty reliable for backyard bashing around. Still kicking myself for selling it. If I were to get back into it I would go Nitro again. My son bought a Traxxas Slash 2wd brushed and it seems pretty good for him... I like Nitro, 4x4, monster truck that will top 40mph. LOL!

You can get a new T-Maxx 2.5 for under $500 and all you need is batteries for the radio equipment and EZ-Start wand, and fuel. There are package deals out there that include a rechargeable battery pack for the truck, TX and EZ-Start too I believe, you literally just need to buy fuel.

[Onetrackmind]

My son has a Traxxas 2WD Slash and it's great. We recently upgraded to the brushless motor and it's a night and day power difference. So much torque now that he blew two ujoints out in the first week. Upgraded to the titanium CVT-type rear axles...they are bulletproof.



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[x-rider]

Traxass, Duratrax, and Axial are some of the big names you should be looking for. Not necessarily in that order. You will lose money if you buy brand new. It is better if you buy used. Go look at your local hobby store to see what you like. Check out the prices. Check out your local Craigslist for anything for sell. Most likely you can get the same for cheaper. They might even have upgrades and extra goodies. Good luck. Let us know what you get. Might even be able to find a good gasser HPI Baja or 5t for cheap.

[Rob Canadian]

HPI has some good stuff too. Savage.

Stay away from no name brands as parts are hard to get.

Do you want electric or nitro? Both have pros and cons. I have both. Battery technology has come a long way.

[x-rider]

Also forgot to mention Losi.

[HairyJR]

Like all toys, it depends on your plans for usage. Lots of fun when played with others, my son his friends and I all have several different models, no nitro but all battery powered except are 1/5th scale weed wacker 2 stroke gas powered trucks. We run ours in the sand at Glamis, setting in camp drinking beer, the gas powered models run for a lot longer time than batteries and don't need charged..

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"HJ" 245330 :beer

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Traxass, Duratrax, and Axial are some of the big names you should be looking for. Not necessarily in that order. You will lose money if you buy brand new. It is better if you buy used. Go look at your local hobby store to see what you like. Check out the prices. Check out your local Craigslist for anything for sell. Most likely you can get the same for cheaper. They might even have upgrades and extra goodies. Good luck. Let us know what you get. Might even be able to find a good gasser HPI Baja or 5t for cheap.

Piggy-backing on x-rider's post, check out Facebook for RC buy/sell/trade groups too. I am on a couple and there are some really good deals in those groups.

[HondaRidr]

Stampedes are hard to beat for simplicity and toughness imo

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[Dirtcrasher]

Thanks for all the great replies guys!!

[xrider]

Go oldschool DC with one of the re-run 80s models from Tamiya. I'm building a Tamiya Hotshot myself

[jb2wheels]

Go oldschool DC with one of the re-run 80s models from Tamiya. I'm building a Tamiya Hotshot myself

Great idea!

I keep talking myself out of a Sand Scorcher. Every few months I get the urge to blow the $$$ on one.
They're fun to build and look great. We had a few originals in the 80s. If only I had the sense to hold on to them and the Bruiser I had. I still have the ground frequency 4 channel radio it needed.

My Stampede is much better for playing and bashing about, though.

[Xhumeka]

Can't go wrong with Traxxas, although like you say, it sure gets pricey.

If you ever want to speed test your RC, don't do what I did!! I almost had mine ran over by a freakin' tractor lmao!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxoNx-IE6Y

[jb2wheels]

Great video. I enjoyed that thoroughly.

[90nut]

Rc cars all depend on what terrain and what you want to do with it. If your real mechanical, I'd go nitro. Modern day electrics are amazing, but for an rc truck I pick nitro. My planes are all electric. Truck is gas, If your running on ruff terrain you can't beat a t or e-max. Most hobby shops have demo models, I would start there. My current haul everywhere with me is my 1/16 revo with brushless motor and a big Lipo. If you buy electric, don't get anything but brushless imo

[big specht]

Nitro is a tinker's toy that's for sure. If I were to buy any more gas cars it would be the I think 5th scale with the weed eater motors on them cause gas is way cheaper and you arnt buying 7 dollar glow plugs all the time

[Dirtcrasher]

You guys likee??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Traxxas-36054-1-1-10-Stampede-2WD-Truck-Blue-RTR-w-TQ-Radio-iD-XL-5-ESC-/131700449258?hash=item1ea9f55fea:g:LnAAAOSwZG9WltR Q

[x-rider]

It's a good beginner truck. I have the 2wd stampede with the velenion which is very fast. My buddy's kid had one with the xl-5, which goes pretty good. Personally I think the short course trucks are better. They didn't have those when I bought my stampede. Mine originally came with a mechanical speed control and nimh batteries. Pretty slow and batteries only lasted 10-20 minutes. My brother just bought a new short course truck for around $200. I will ask him which one it is. Watched him and his kids bashing it at the skate park. Pretty cool.

I just text my brother. He said it is called the Hellion.

I also looked at this too. I think it would be a better option than the Hellion.https://www.ebay.com/i/201048261083?chn=ps&dispItem=1&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover %252F1%252F711-117182-37290-0%252F2%253Fmpre%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww .ebay.com%25252Fp%25252FTraxxas-58024-Slash-Pro-2-Wheel-Drive-Short-Course-Truck%25252F1403633268%25253Fiid%25253D20104826108 3%252526chn%25253Dps%252526dispItem%25253D1%2526it emid%253D201048261083%2526targetid%253D33013973874 8%2526device%253Dm%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googlelo c%253D9032857%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D8872 44408%2526adgroupid%253D44555984116%2526rlsatarget %253Dpla-330139738748%2526abcId%253D1129086%2526merchantid% 253D8123504%2526gclid%253DCj0KCQjw5arMBRDzARIsAAqm JexsZ4oZWe42m-YMz5mEzpFwLFW1V8bl2jgVfFScm34Uy-e1TCbY2bsaAu-nEALw_wcB%2526srcrot%253D711-117182-37290-0%2526rvr_id%253D1279955273902

[HondaRidr]

I say do it right the first time and go brushless. The xl-5/titan combo is ok but brushless is worth the money

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[jb2wheels]

I say do it right the first time and go brushless. The xl-5/titan combo is ok but brushless is worth the money

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Nailed it. The price difference isn't small but it's worth it.

I love my brushless 2WD Stampede. Amazing how fast it is compared to the stuff I ran 20 years ago.
I don't even us LiPo batteries.

I prefer big-tire (Stampede) vs small tire (Slash) versions of the same trucks.
Better for bashing around the yard. Tolerate grass, rough terrain, etc much better.
We figured this out when the first Blackfoot came out years ago.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Traxxas-1-10-Stampede-VXL-Brushless-Truck-2WD-Red-RTR-TQi-TSM-2X-iD-Battery-/361574172477?hash=item542f80073d

[Dirtcrasher]

Money doesn't really drive me at all; I guess that's because I'm okay in that area.

However, I do want the best bang for my buck and I too believe in "do it once and do it right".

Who would want 4WD? someone that puts it in the mud??

I'll be building a mini track out somewhere on my trike track to play on. Big jumps, double jumps, step ups and so on.

It's got to be tough!!

[Dirtcrasher]

Money doesn't really drive me at all; I guess that's because I'm okay in that area.

However, I do want the best bang for my buck and I too believe in "do it once and do it right".

Who would want 4WD? someone that puts it in the mud??

I'll be building a mini track out somewhere on my trike track to play on. Big jumps, double jumps, step ups and so on.

It's got to be tough!!

EDIT - I guess no one cares for the gas engines??

[x-rider]

EDIT - I guess no one cares for the gas engines??

Read my first response. Gas imo is the way to go. It seemed as though you wanted electric?

[Shep1970]

May not help you steve- i had this guy since early eighties ran it for two years, more power/speed u could ever ask for, then hit the only light pole in a 5acre parking lot....parked it went electric and the power/speed had NO comparison to the ol' gasser. Sadly from sittin the motors locked up:(
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Going gas gets my vote but electrics have come along way im sure.
Shep

[Toaster556]

Money doesn't really drive me at all; I guess that's because I'm okay in that area.

However, I do want the best bang for my buck and I too believe in "do it once and do it right".

Who would want 4WD? someone that puts it in the mud??

I'll be building a mini track out somewhere on my trike track to play on. Big jumps, double jumps, step ups and so on.

It's got to be tough!!


I recently sold my Traxxas Slash 2wd, it was a great fun truck just slightly modded. Velion motor VXL ESC, LCG chassis and aftermarket A arms and shocks. It even survived a high speed tag of a fence post that sent it spinning on it's roof and kicked my night driving light out.
I drove a bunch of my buddy's 4wd short course trucks, and the biggest thing I noticed is that the 4wd trucks come out of the hole harder and corner a bit better on the throttle. If money is no object and you want something different, there's the Axial Racing SCORE Trophy Truck, which has a solid rear axle and handles totally different than any other short course truck. Hit up your local RC shop and chat up the guys behind the counter, the ones locally were more than happy to let me test drive their shop demos and a few of their personal rigs.
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[x-rider]

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Here are some pics of my modified Smartech Bigfoot turned truggy. Very fast at 55-60 mph. Is not for beginners.

[Dirtcrasher]

^ NICE!!

I just want something that can jump things which I cannot :lol;

[Rob Canadian]

I will try an upload a couple pics of the rigs I have. I mostly run nitro Truggy. I have 3 of them . Raced electric short course 2WD indoors. I have a monster truck that is almost done (again).

[83ATC185]

Bringing this thread back from the dead, i just picked up a Losi 8ight nitro buggy and its a ton of fun, and scary fast!

[67Sport]

Check out headquake on YouTube. All slow speed crawling type rc's, but he builds pretty cool replicas of classic trucks. The detail is impressive.
The full build vids are awesome.

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[maxdallasfan]

I bought the Traxxas BigFoot monster truck last winter. Thing is awesome!

[kevin]

May not help you steve- i had this guy since early eighties ran it for two years, more power/speed u could ever ask for, then hit the only light pole in a 5acre parking lot....parked it went electric and the power/speed had NO comparison to the ol' gasser. Sadly from sittin the motors locked up:(
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Going gas gets my vote but electrics have come along way im sure.
Shep

What car is that, I had the same one many years ago but can't remember who made it

[90nut]

Cars are fun. Have a 1/16 revo, full brushless, lipos, etc. Fun as f. Have it's full size twin as well, that's tore down for a motor upgrade. Got out of wheeled rc for quite a while,took up flying.

[Shep1970]

What car is that, I had the same one many years ago but can't remember who made it
I have no idea. It’s not branded anywhere, no markings on engine either. It used to have a nice exhaust pipe too but that has disappeared. The servos are long gone too (used for other car) I’d like to get it going someday.
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I’ll have to clean up the engine better, it must be marked somewhere for engine size anyway right?

Shep

[Dirtcrasher]

I still want one of these... But, for now, I have a hundred other projects I have to complete.

Shep, you just missed one of our favorite ATC shifting parts, 20 minutes ago :D

[Shep1970]

I still want one of these... But, for now, I have a hundred other projects I have to complete.

Shep, you just missed one of our favorite ATC shifting parts, 20 minutes ago :D

I saw that:D. Kind figured you’d grab it. I think I’ve got 3 extras for each bike

Shep

[Dirtcrasher]

I saw that:D. Kind figured you’d grab it. I think I’ve got 3 extras for each bike

Shep

I bet I have 10 now :lol: 25$, couldn't contain myself :D

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Funny this thread came back up. Ordered one of these the other day. https://traxxas.com/products/models/nitro/revo33-tsm