2021 Best RC Trucks
Updated:
We spent over 30 hours analyzing and playing with the best rc trucks on the market. We analyzed everything from battery life to the trust of the company behind the product. Take a look at the top choices for 2021.
Video of our #1 Rc Truck Choice
#1. Altair Power Pro 4×4 RC Truck – Editor’s Choice!
See the best price on Amazon.com .
The best RC truck for drivers of all skill levels is this Power Pro 4×4 from Altair Aerial (you care read our full review here). If you’re looking for an RC truck that’s durable and easy to use, you will love the Power Pr 4×4. This RC truck comes ready to run (RTR) out of the box and is packed full with well-rounded features to give you the best driving experience.
One of the main reasons we chose the Altair Power Pro is because we trust the brand, they’re out of Lincoln, Nebraska and it’s always good to buy from the USA when you’re shopping for RC products. This leaves you in a good position to actually get support from the company if you have trouble. Buying from an international seller is always a risk.
Have fun racing this truck for up to 15 minutes at speeds of nearly 30mph. Plus, the Power Pro can travel at of range of 250 feet giving you plenty of space for off roading. Even beginners will be able to enjoy driving this RC truck because it comes it with two speed modes. You can start off slow, then as you become more comfortable with the controls you can move onto faster speeds. This is one of the best RC trucks available on the market, and Altair is known for their outstanding customer service so you can guarantee you will be taken care of.
Power Pro 4×4 Specifications:
• Includes vehicle, 2.4GHz radio transmitter, battery, and charger.
• 4 wheel drive
• 15 minute battery life
• 250 feet range
• 1/10 scale size
Pros:
• Fast speeds
• Extremely Durable
• Easy to use for all skill levels
Cons:
• Transmitter batteries not included
Traxxas Slash – Best Pro RC Truck
Read reviews and shop for the Slash
The Traxxas Slash is the single most popular RC truck for sale among serious enthusiasts in 2021. Simple controls and a programmable training mode make this radio controlled truck easy to use at any skill level. However, it also provides a ton of power and the high standards of quality we’ve all come to expect from Traxxas.
The Slash includes everything you need right out of the box, and comes with powerful parts like the Titan 12-Turn 550 Modified Motor and XL-5 ESC, the two of which combine to provide speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
Traxxas Slash Truck Specifications:
• Includes RC stadium truck, TQ 2.4GHz radio transmitter, Traxxas iD Battery, DC battery charger,
• 2 wheel drive
• 1/10 scale size
• 7-cell NiMH battery with iD technology
• Metal gear Magnum 272 transmission with Revo-Spec Torque-Control slipper clutch
• Titan 12-Turn 550 Modified Motor
Pros:
• One of the fastest RC trucks
• Fully waterproof
• Great for racing or off-roading
• Comes with everything you need
Cons:
• Drive time of only 10 minutes per battery
Axial Wraith
Read reviews and shop for the Axial Wraith RC Truck
The Axial Wraith is a very popular RC truck that’s specifically used for off-roading and competitive rock climbing. It’s a very powerful remote control truck that provides a ton of control in tricky terrain and allows for highly precise inputs.
The Wraith is also designed to be compatible with many after market upgrades, and will require a certain amount of assembly, since it doesn’t come with a battery or charger.
Axial Wraith RC Truck Specifications:
• Includes vehicle, body, 2.4GHz radio, motor, ESC, and realistic driver figure
• 4 wheel drive
• 1/10 scale size
• Compatible with 3S LiPo battery
• Ripsaw 2.2 tires
• AR60 OCP-Axle tubes
Pros:
• Great for off-roading
• Easy to upgrade
• Precise controls
Cons:
• Battery not included
Tamiya TAM58372 Ford F350
Read reviews and shop for the Ford F350 RC Truck
For the RC truck enthusiast who’s not afraid to spend some cash, the Tamiya TAM58372 Ford F350 is one of the toughest and most advanced pro remote control trucks around. The extremely durable ladder frame chassis features steel channel and resin cross members for high strength, meaning this truck rarely breaks even under extreme pressure or off-road terrain conditions.
That said, a significant amount of assembly is required to put this vehicle together, and you will have to buy most of the electronic parts separately, as described in the specifications below.
TAM58372 Ford F350 RC Truck Specifications:
• Includes vehicle chassis, wheels and tires, and transmission
• 4 wheel drive
• 1/10 scale size
• Compatible with LiPo or NiMh battery
• Highly durable ladder frame chassis
• 3-speed transmission allows gear changing and realistic low-speed driving
Pros:
• Most durable RC truck
• Extremely advanced control system, even includes realistic gear changes
Cons:
• 4-channel transmitter, ESC, battery, and charger not included
Redcat Racing Electric Volcano EPX Truck – Best Cheap RC Truck!
Read reviews and shop for the Electric Volcano EPX Truck
These RC trucks are more likely to be designed for beginners, or for recreational users who just want to have fun without breaking the bank. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to have a great time!
Priced at a very affordable $150 USD, the Redcat Racing Electric Volcano EPX Truck is a great off-road or on-road monster truck with all-around good specs. It’s one of the best RC trucks for beginners because it’s easy to drive and it comes with everything you need to start driving right out of the box. That said, you may want to grab an additional battery, as the 2000mAh version included as a default is pretty weak.
The Volcano EPX is also relatively fast thanks to a 19T RC550 Brushed Motor, with heat sink, and forward/reverse ESC
Electric Volcano EPX Remote Control Truck Specifications:
• Includes RC monster truck, 2.4GHz radio transmitter, battery, and charger
• 4 wheel drive
• 1/10 scale size
• Comes with 7.2V NiMh battery
• 7-10 minute battery life
• 19 MPH top speed
Pros:
• Easy for beginners to use
• Good all-around specs
• Can drive in many different terrain types
Cons:
• Low battery life
Blomiky 4WD Off-Road RC Truck
Read reviews and shop for the Blomiky 4WD Off-Road
The Blomiky 4WD is a truly great RC monster truck that you can purchase for less than $50 USD. It comes with everything you need to start driving including three extra batteries, giving you a very impressive combined total of about an hour of battery life. The truck also requires no assembly to put together.
It works indoors and outdoors in most conditions thanks to a powerful suspension system and can even drive on glass thanks to an anti-skid four-wheel drive. No wonder this particular truck is popular with kids and adults alike!
Blomiky 4WD Off-Road Remote Control Truck Specifications:
• Includes RC truck, 2.4GHz radio transmitter, batteries, and charger
• 4 wheel drive
• 1/18 scale size
• Comes with 3 LiPo batteries
• 20 minute drive time per battery
• 6 MPH top speed
Pros:
• Great battery life, especially since it comes with spares
• Great price
• Can drive in many different terrain types
Cons:
• Low top speed
• Some customers have reported problems with non-responsive controls
Maisto RC Rock Crawler
Read reviews and shop for the Maisto RC Rock Crawler
If you want to get into the sport of RC rock crawling but don’t have enough money to spend on the professional RC truck models, this is a decent cheap alternative. The stylish RC monster truck has articulated front and rear suspension, two motors, and TPE ultra grip tires, all of which make it ideal for difficult off-road conditions.
This is an especially great choice if you’re looking for a decent RC truck for a family, because the tri-channel transmitter lets up to three trucks in the same area drive simultaneously. It’s also easy to put together and doesn’t require unconventional batteries.
Maisto Remote Control Truck Specifications:
• Includes RC monster truck and 3-channel radio transmitter
• 4 wheel drive
• 1/8 scale RC truck
• Truck requires 6 AA batteries (not included)
• 45 minute battery life
• 6 MPH top speed
Pros:
• Great price
• Great battery life
• A good off-road option
Cons:
• Made of fairly cheap materials, not the most durable RC truck
• Eats lots of AA batteries
Yamix RC Dump Truck Kids
Read reviews and shop for the Yamix RC Dump Truck
This is a good mini RC dump truck that’s mainly designed for ages 6 and up, but which some adults may enjoy as well. It has a fully functioning bed and a decent drive time and range considering its extremely low price of under $30 USD. Its small size also means that it can be driven indoors or outdoors, although we would not recommend using this RC truck in serious off-road conditions.
Yamix RC Dump Truck Specifications:
• Includes RC dump truck, 4-channel radio transmitter, battery, and charger
• 4 wheel drive
• 1/64 scale size
• Comes with 1.2V/80 mah battery
• 6-8 minute drive time per battery
• 8-10 meter range
Pros:
• Functional RC dump truck bucket
• Suitable for aged 6+
• Can be used indoors or outdoors
Cons:
• Too small to use off-road
Axial RR10 Bomber – Best RC Truck Kit to Build
Read reviews and shop for the Axial RR10
Some RC truck enthusiasts prefer to build their own vehicles from scratch, or at least enjoy getting to assemble a set of parts themselves. These RC truck kits let you build your vehicle from the ground up, teaching you about the inner working of the trucks themselves before you take them out for a drive.
Axial makes another appearance on this list with the RR10 Bomber, a great RC truck kit for experienced pro users who won’t settle for less than the best. It runs for 45 minutes on a 2s 3000mAh LiPo battery and can easily compete with RTR models like the Wraith.
The fine thread hardware used in this kit means that it all holds together extremely well during assembly and during use, even on difficult terrain. Suspension tuning is quick and easy. And it looks great once it’s all been put together.
Axial RR10 Bomber Specifications:
• Hard anodized aluminum suspension links
• Hard anodized aluminum steering links
• Long travel rear sway bar
• Steel axles
• Aluminum lower link plates,
• Adjustable machined aluminum shocks
• BFGoodrich; Baja T/a; Kr2 tires
• 2.2 Walker Evans racing beadlock wheels
• Heavy duty bevel gears
• Rear axles for improved gear mesh and increased strength
Pros:
• Great RC truck kit for racing
• Extremely durable
• Great battery life
• Works great in all off-road conditions
Cons:
• Expensive
• Extremely not recommended for beginners
Bo Toys Building Bricks Roadster
Read reviews and shop for the Bo Toys RC
Looking for an RC truck kit that’s less advanced? Maybe something unique? How about something inexpensive? How about all three, with the new Bo Toys Building Bricks Roadster. This is a radio controlled truck you build yourself out of LEGO-like building blocks which can be built into one of two different designs. You can then drive the car yourself, and you might be surprised by its specs, which include a 20 minute driving time and a 30 foot range.
This interactive toy is great fun for everyone.
Bo Toys Building Bricks Roadster Specifications:
• Made of 426 plastic pieces
• Contains instructions for 2 designs
• 300mAh 3.6V NI-CD battery
• Radio transmitter included
• 2 hour charge time
• 20 minute battery life
• 30 foot range
Pros:
• Super fun and easy to build
• Great specs for the price, especially in the battery life
• Great for driving indoors
Cons:
• Not durable, because it’s made out of plastic building blocks
• Not very fast
Everything You Need To Know About RC Trucks
This section is designed to help RC truck beginners understand the hobby and what sort of things they should be looking for. If you’re looking for an overview of all things RC truck, read on. If you’re looking for the answer to a specific question, skip down to our comprehensive Radio Controlled Truck FAQ.
Remote control trucks, or RC trucks, are a popular type of toy vehicle usually measuring not much longer than a foot in length. Both children and adults enjoy driving them for recreational purposes. Adults may also enjoy using RC trucks for the purposes of competitive sport, either as part of a high-speed race around a set track or in an RC rock crawling event. We have covered the latter in another in-depth article on this site.
While other RC vehicles are usually built for speed, RC trucks are often designed to drive off-road with large gripping tires, powerful electric motors, highly durable chassis, fixed axles, and strong shock absorbers. However, there are a few radio controlled trucks that are specifically designed for indoor use, some of which we cover in our reviews.
When purchasing a radio controlled truck, most users look at the durability of the materials used to build the truck, the battery life or “drive time” that determines how long you can use the truck before recharging, the top speed, and the control range (which is how far the truck can drive away from the transmitter before driving out of control.) 10 minutes or more is a decent battery life for most RC trucks, and 30 meters or more is considered a decent range.
Advanced RC truck users will also look in-depth at the electronic parts housed inside a truck, particularly the axles, ESC, transmission, and motors. They will also want to know whether or not a given remote control truck can be upgraded, and if so, what kind of parts it can be upgraded with.
Some hobbyists prefer the model-making side of RC trucks, and will be most interested in radio controlled trucks that come in build-it-yourself DIY kits, or which accurately model real-life vehicles. The Tamiya TAM58372 Ford F350 is a popular example of the latter.
Radio Controlled Truck FAQ
Who makes the best RC trucks?
Traxxas is usually considered the best RC truck manufacturer, although Redcat Racing and Axial are also quite popular.
Are RC trucks waterproof?
Not all RC trucks are waterproof, but most pro remote control trucks (the first section covered in this review guide) at least have fully waterproof electronics. Always check the specs before you buy!
What is the best RC truck for a beginner?
The Redcat Racing Electric Volcano EPX is often considered the best RC truck for a beginner. However, some RC truck enthusiasts might prefer to start with something a little cheaper, such as the Blomiky 4WD Off-Road RC truck or the Bo Toys Building Bricks Roadster.
What is the fastest RC truck?
The Traxxas 36076-3 Stampede VXL is the fastest ready-to-race RC truck for sale, with a top speed of over 65 miles per hour. However, the fastest RC trucks are usually those that the racer builds and customizes themselves using upgradeable parts.
It’s worth noting that RC cars are typically faster than RC trucks because they’re a little more aerodynamic and built for speed, while RC trucks are usually built for off-roading.
How long do RC truck batteries last?
RC truck batteries generally last 10 to 20 minutes. The default battery that comes with a radio controlled truck can often be swapped out for a more expensive battery that lasts even longer, sometimes around 30 to 40 minutes.
What are RC stadium trucks?
RC stadium trucks are remote control vehicles that combine truck-style bodies and open-wheeled layout similar to buggies. They usually feature large, wide tires for increased ground clearance and improved stability. The Traxxas Slash, our best pro RC truck for sale, is a great example of an RC stadium truck.
Where can you buy RC trucks?
Sometimes brick-and-mortar stores will have a small variety of RC trucks for sale, but most enthusiasts now purchase remote control trucks from Amazon or similar online storefronts. We have helpfully provided Amazon links to each product mentioned in our review guides above.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped you learn more about the best RC trucks for sale. If you’re a beginner and you have any questions about the radio controlled truck hobby, or an experienced driver who thinks we left off one of the best remote control trucks on the market, be sure to let us know in the comments! At Dronethusiast, we pride ourselves on keeping our articles up-to-date with the latest product information.
