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Old 09-20-2012, 11:38 AM
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BKoz559
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Default RE: rookie needs help buying a rc truck!

Of the 3 trucks listed, Iwould lean towards the Stampede, however, Ihave more suggestions.

If you wish to keep the price low and reasonable, then Istrongly encourage you to consider one of the vehicles made by ECX. They are owned by Horizon Hobby which also owns Team Losi Racing, a premier RC racing brand. All of the ECX vehicles are RTR and all sell for less than $200. The build quality is excellent, more aftermarket hop-up parts are becoming available and the electronics are made by Dynamite. If you buy the Ruckus monster or Torment short course, then you will receive an upgraded Spektrum 2.4ghz radio system. That alone seals the deal, especially for the price. Here are some links to look at.

$149 Torment short course truck w/ Spektrum 2.4ghz radio system

$129 Ruckus monster truck w/ Spektrum 2.4ghz radio system
$99 Circuit stadium truck w/ standard AM radio system

I would recommend them in the order I listed. Both the Torment and Ruckus have good ground clearance and all-terrain style tires that won't wear out too quickly on pavement but will still give reasonable traction on dirt. The Circuit is a lower stadium truck, which was a popular style to race in the late 90s / early 2000s. It's tires are better suited for dirt and will wear out on pavement. Plus the other two trucks already have upgraded radios. The Torment's size is ROAR legal so it potentially can be raced at your local club if you're so inclined later on. The battery pack and charger are basic but, they should last 15 minutes per charge. You can invest in a peak charger and another battery to minimize down time between runs. Lastly, all of their 1/10 vehicles are equipped with ball bearings in the axles and transmission.

If you feel you would like to invest a bit more then you are open to lots of possibilities. It depends on what style of truck and what drive type you are looking for.

Traxxas makes a durable product but, they tend to be overpriced for what you get. A Stampede still uses bronze bushings on the axles. In the $300-$350 range, you can consider a Traxxas VXL 2wd truck which are brushless powered. Brushless is the way to go if you can come up with the initial investment. They produce great power levels, can handle higher voltage batteries, will run faster, are more efficient and require virtually no maintenance. A brushed motor will eventually wear out it's brushes over time and the commutator will wear as well. Browse through this page of HPIvehicles or this page of Traxxas vehicles and see if something there doesn't interest you.

Remember also that most RTR vehicles still require a battery pack, charger, AA batteries for the transmitter just in order to drive it. Additional tools and accessories are nice to have but, are not always essential from the start. Leave room in your budget for other required items.