Originally posted by dan1220
not sure there really is a beginner truck. I would find out which engine is easiest to tune, and go from there. I would NOT start with a 2.5 from all the bad I have heard of them.

RTR or Kit?

You have two choices to choose from, RTR and Kits. RTR is Ready To Run which means it will run out of the box if you have a battery and charger. For those people who don't want to do too much working on their cars or trucks, RTR is for them. RTR is about the same price, but has cheap parts. You also don't get as much thrill when you buy a RTR RC. The major fun is in driving it, but building it is also great fun! The other option is to purchase a kit and build it yourself. Its pretty easy if you follow the instructions that come in the box. When you purchase a kit, you will need to buy a ESC, Servo, Receiver, Transmitter, Battery, and a Charger. Or a receiver, transmitter, glow starter, nitro methane gas, a transmitter, and two servos. Now you can't really set standards on which parts are the best because all parts have different features. You will have to research the electronics yourself and see what fits your needs.

Nitro or Electric?

After you decide on whether you want to purchase a RTR or Kit, you will have to decide what type of RC you will buy. Now keep in mind that Nitro cars and trucks are made to go fast, and are loud. Nitro cars and trucks run on a special fuel called Nitro Methane. The plus to having a Nitro is you never have to charge a battery. You spend about 30 seconds refueling, and your off. Electric cars and trucks run on batteries. Electric cars are easier to maintain, and usually have cheaper replacement parts. Electric cars or trucks also have reverse, unlike most nitro cars and trucks. Nitro cars and trucks are mainly for experienced drivers who have driven electric models for a while. Electric cars and trucks often die down after about half the battery is gone. Now, The nitro engine is the heart and soul of any nitro r/c car or truck. If you get the engine tuned and set up right, it makes everything else a lot easier. With Nitro, your RC doesn't stop, until its out of gas. So you have a continual speed. Last but not least, Nitro cars reach higher speeds. A average electric RC reaches about 20MPH. A Nitro RC reaches about 50MPH. Remember that you should choose a RC that fits into your driving conditions, and neighborhood. You don't want to have neighbors coming after you!

Off-Road or On-Road

Now this shouldn't be too hard. Simply you need to think of where you are going to drive your car or truck. If you drive off-road, get an off-road vehicle. If you drive on-road, get an on-road vehicle. The off-road trucks allow you to race your vehicle anywhere and can handle the abuse of large jumps and uneven terrain, while the on road cars are built for the ultimate in speed and realism. Off-Road vehicles are nice because they can be on or off-road. You can always buy on-road tires, shocks, etc. I personally have four off-road vehicles, and 3 on-road.

Racing your RC

Now that you have your RC, You might want to race it. The first thing is are you racing on-road or off? Also do you already have a RC meant for this type of Racing? One thing you must keep in mind is quality. If you are racing, you need some nice parts. You don't have to have the best to win, but it helps a little. Don't forget, most tracks disallow reverse. Make sure what your track guidelines are before you buy your electronics. The main problem today is people spend a few thousand dollars on their RC, and they still lose. This is because of their driving skills and that old saying, "Practice". You also have to always remember to think if your car or truck fits the race tracks guidelines, NORCCA guidelines, and the ROAR guidelines (If your track uses them).

Hop-Ups

The second best thing about Remote Controlled Vehicles. The Hop-Ups. Hop-Ups come in all types, colors, durability, weight, etc. A Hop-Up is an aftermarket part bought for your RC to make it perform better, or just look better. With some hop-ups, you can have a nice looking car or truck. Hop-ups do cost a bit more that the stock part. The Traxxas Maxx vehicles are the main trucks that have the most aftermarket hop-ups. RPM, Hardcore Racing, and RRP are greatly known for aluminum and plastic hop-ups, mainly for the maxxes though. Check out the links and go to some of the sites that interest you, and you'll find some hop-ups.

Electronics

Like I said above, you will have to research this your self. But there are some standard tips. You have three choices for motors. Modified, Stock ,Brushless, or Spec. For Speed Controls you have two choices, a ESC, Controllers (ONLY use with Brushless motors) or a MSC. ESC's are greatly more efficient. ESC's come in forwards/brake, and forward/reverse. You need to keep in mind your motor too. Some ESC's have a motor limit. the controller is the brushless equivalent of a speed control. It has three wires that control the motor which is what sets it apart. Once you have decided what ESC to use, you need to pick a Receiver. All receivers are different, but there are three main types. 2-Channel, 3-Channel, and BEC. Since receivers are easy to pick, we will move on. Next you will need a servo. You should by a metal geared servo for off-road, and a plastic one for on. Next you need a Transmitter. Transmitters come in 2 types. Pistol Grip, and Two Thumb. Some even come with Digital LCD's. For bashing and off-road you don't need LCD transmitters. Last you need Batteries and a Charger. Batteries come from 1400mAH to 3300mAH. Chargers are simple, their are Peak Chargers and quick chargers. Peak Chargers charges them until they are done. Quick chargers are timed and sometimes do not fully charge a battery. Last, never drive your RC around water unless you properly waterproof it.