The world of RC cars and trucks is an exciting one not only for kids but adults too. This type of hobby has been around since the mid 60s and it has stayed relevant this whole time. There's no kid that doesn't want to play with an RC vehicle especially when it comes to RC trucks. RC as a hobby can also make your kid socialise more and improve their hand to eye coordination whilst giving them something to have fun. With RC trucks that fun is on a different level as they are more powerful and can go over obstacles RC cars can't.
This can be more interesting if you were to go with an RC kit. While a kit may require you or your kid to assemble the truck before using it, it will teach you and your kid more about how the truck works. This can also help you learn a thing or two which can be useful further down the line when something needs to be fixed. Getting to know the internals of the vehicle won't require you to bring it to the local RC store for repair instead you can check it out yourself and see if the issue can be fixed at home. Before you purchase an RC truck kit though it's important to look into all the options before deciding what exactly is it that you want from your kit.
Types of RC Trucks
Stadium
This truck-style body vehicle has a similar open-wheel setup to a buggy and a decent suspension too. Stadium RC truck kits will allow you to build a good all-round vehicle that can run on different terrains. But keep in mind that this type of truck is not going to perform that well when it comes to extremely challenging terrains.
Monster
For the extremely challenging of terrains you'll want to get a monster RC truck. This beast of a vehicle has gigantic tires as well as suspension. While they are not going to be the fastest, monster trucks are going to overcome any hurdle and rough terrain with ease. If you want true power, monster RC truck kits are going to provide exactly that.
Short Course
If you are someone who wants more of a speedster when it comes to RC trucks a short course truck is the way to go. These are slimmer than stadium trucks and buggies too since they have small wheels. Short course trucks are designed for flat surfaces and terrain that is not as challenging since their suspension and ground clearance is not as good as the one on a monster or stadium truck.
Truggy
A truggy is a cross between a buggy and a truck. Similarly to short course trucks these also have low ground clearance and a narrow body. But the difference here is that these have wings on their bodies and better racing tires too. Truggies are a lot faster on the racing track than short course trucks.
Rock Crawler
If you want a modified version of the monster truck that can go over anything you want it to a rock crawler is your best option. While they are not as mean-looking as a monster truck, rock crawlers have an extremely responsive suspension that allows them to navigate so effortlessly over obstacles.
What to Consider
Nitro vs Electric
Like regular vehicles, RC ones can also be powered by either gas or electricity. Nitro powered trucks are more powerful than their electric counterparts whilst also being louder and needier in terms of maintenance. Electric trucks do not require as much maintenance and do not provide the same amount of acceleration as nitro-powered trucks which makes them ideal for beginner hobbyists. Usually more experienced hobbyists go for nitro powered trucks since they can do so much more. Electric trucks will last you longer and they have two options to choose from.
Brushed vs Brushless
Electric trucks come with either a brushed or brushless motor. Brushed motors have small brushes and are open meaning that they cool down quicker. But one big downside is exactly the open design. Debris and dirt can get stuck quite easily inside the components and thus repairs and maintenance is far frequent than on a brushless motor. While a brushless motor is more expensive than a brushed one it is also more durable and efficient. This is because they are closed and do not have brushes (less moving parts). Brushless motors are big on overheating due to their enclosed design.
Scale & Speed
The scale or the size of an RC truck is going to depend on personal preference. The scale of all RC vehicles refers to the real life size of the vehicle you're getting. Meaning that a truck is going to be as big as a certain portion of the regularly sized truck. Scale varies with every vehicle which means that the same scale truck of one model can differ than the one listed on another. Whilst a truck is not one known for speed usually a 60 km/ h truck is standard even if it's an electric one.
The battery of the truck (if it's electric) will determine run times. There are two options here, Li-Po and NiMh batteries. While the former are easier to use and not as powerful the latter are able to provide greater speeds but they are also costlier. While usually batteries will last about 15 minutes there are others that will go even longer.
The control range of the truck refers to a certain distance that you can control your RC vehicle from. Usually a 30 meter range is a good one but if that's not enough for you, you can get a truck kit with a wider range than that. Don't go overboard with range as it can become far less entertaining.
