Greaper

Every day I read these forums every day trying to figure out which way to go, and I am so confused. Read at least the last 10 pages of messages in several topics.

I want an RC, buggy or truck, to fool around with, have fun with my kids, not race, and not bash. Just to run it around the yard, street and school yard. I do want something that is good and durable. This would be my first RC vehicle.

Do I get a monster truck, or a good buggy? Any recommendation would be appreciated.

My hobby shop choices are Hobbytown, and a local shop. Been to both, got different answers from both. I feel the local might be steering me to what they make the most profit on.

G[sm=confused.gif]

homeless1

So many choices!!

Well if you plan to run around in the yard, I would consider a vehicle with higher ground clearance, like a monster truck. The friction of the grass on the bottom of the vehicle causes the motor to overheat and prematurely wear or burnout. If the street and school yard are your primary surfaces then I would consider a 1/10th stadium truck or buggy. A stadium truck offers more stability and durability because of slightly larger tires than a buggy. In general buggies and trucks are very similar(brother and sister) sharing many parts.

Depending on how old your kids are, much can be learned from buying a kit and assembling yourself. Especially if you need to make repairs or upgrades later down the road.

You didn't mention nitro or electric. I am assuming electric. But if your leaning towards nitro that is fine. But consider the following: Noise and fine tuning. Noise because of neighbors and the nitro engine requires fine tuning during outside temperature changes. But a REVO would make a for a durable, fun backyard basher.

Regardless, if you get hooked, you may end up at a track or if you don't get hooked you may end up on ebay, either way buy a quality vehicle.

gerwen

The best thing you can do to prepare is to read as much as possible. Both here and other places on the net. You will be better able to make an informed decision.
Are you handy? Like to fiddle? Do you have patience? Nitro may be for you. Nitro takes more maintenance, and can be a fair bit more frustrating, especially to the beginner.
Electric may be the way to go if you want to avoid that frustration. They aren't maintenance free, but they are easier to get running and maintain. Electric is a good way to decide if you want to progress further in the hobby.

A 1/10th stadium truck, either electric or nitro is a good place to start. They can run on a fairly wide variety of surfaces, are simpler and easier to maintain, and can be had at a decent price. They are also a good place to start learning to drive. The lessons you will learn maintaining a ST will transfer well to whatever you get next. (Mark my words, there will be a next if you stay in the hobby)

Monster trucks and 1/8th buggies will cost you more, and be a bigger challenge for you to consistently keep running. If you're sure you're gonna stick with the hobby whatever problems you face, go ahead and get what you want. A monster will give you the most options of where to run, with a 1/8th buggy not far behind. Both can be raced competetively (as can the stadium trucks) if there's a track in your area.

Don't stop reading once you make your choice and get your vehicle. There's piles of information and just about every imaginable problem has been covered around here. Knowing common problems and how to deal with them ahead of time is a good way to avoid frustration.

It's a good idea to go with a brand that your LHS supports. Make up a list of vehicles you're interested in and find out what they stock parts for. It's a bummer waiting a week for a $2 part to come in. It's much better when you can just pull one off a rack and walk out with it. Your LHS may or may not be a good source of info. Load up on your own knowledge and find out for yourself. Having a good relationship with the employees is valuable whether they know their stuff or not. I personnally got lucky and have a great LHS staffed with guys that bash and race and fly (Kudos AVF in London). You said you felt the LHS was pushing you to the most profitable trucks. That may be so, but they may also be pointing you to what they have good support for, and/or run themselves. Find out. What exactly were they pushing you towards? Ask around here if they were giving good or bad advice.

It's funny that buying a toy can be such a daunting task. Arm yourself with knowlege and happy hunting.

Midget

HAY lol a TOY thats not very nice way to speak about RC modles lol
my nitro staydium truck is ment for 14 years and over but im 13
so merr
a toy is one of those little $50 ones in the shop

Mitchb

My Feedback: (2)

I would say the Nitro Evader for cheap money. You have to run it rich though.

gerwen

Toy may not be a nice way to describe them it, but it is accurate. We play with toy cars and trucks. I'm 34 years old and not afraid to admit that. They're wonderfully complex and sophisticated technical marvels, but at the root, they're toys.

I like playing with toys.

jakjr

My Feedback: (18)

If you just want to run it around the yard, go get yourself a T4 RTR, or an RC10GT RTR if you want nitro.

Both great starter cars, and both have plenty of potential if you should decide to start racing later on.

Hobby town should have either one along with a full line of parts.

b4brawler

if you are looking not to race and just to have fun with your kids in the backyard i would deffinately go with either a stadium truck or a monster truck these both run on just about any terrain and are the most durable. then theres the question of nitro or electric, personally i would go electric because you are new to the hobby and a electric truck would be easier to maintain and would give you more time out having fun than working on tuning and repairing etc. as far as monster truck or stadium truck it really depends on what you like, a monster would be a little better in the grass and stuff like that and it would also be better for bigger jumps and things of that nature i would suggest a traxxas rustler because their very durable or a traxxas emaxx because they are in my opinion the best all aroundelectric monster out there.

Greaper

Thank you all so much for the information. I should have posted that while I am confused when it comes to rc vehicles, I have been doing RC Heli for almost 3 years. So for me, nitro would be the way.

I know when I started in Heli's that I was lucky to find an expert (compete's nationally) to held me in my product selection. That and the fact that 30 size heli's do not offer the amount of selection that RC cars/trucks seem to offer.

My LHS said they had a 4wd Ofna buggy due to arrive any day and that it would be a good vehicle for me.

Again, thank you very much for all the input.

G

jakjr

My Feedback: (18)

1/8th buggy = Terrific basher.

If you've got the money for it, I would get it instead of one of the ST's I mentioned.

tizdaz

If your new to RC models i'd prob go for an electric, (im not an elctric fan btw! I hate them tbh!!)

But as a 1st rc car/truck etc you wont have the hastle of running-in the engine..fine tuning etc which you will need to do regulary if you have weather that changes every 5mins!

With Nitro, A fine tuned engine is important, dont tune it right then it will run like crap, Tuning isnt hard, but it does take some getting used to which is why i recommend electric for your 1st model which requires no tuning what so ever, jus pop in the batterys & away you go.

The other alternative is 1/6 scale which is about twice the size of an average 1/8 scale but they dont use nitro engines, they use normal 2stroke engines similar to those used in garden strimmers/chainsaw's & usually between 23-26cc... & require next to no tuning.. But i will say these are far from toys! they use normal unleaded fuel mixed with 2stroke oil & they ARE heavy & powerful!

I just bought one as it was a toss up between a 1/8 nitro truck (LST) which imo is the best 1/8 truck out there at the moment, or take the plunge for a 1/6 scale..in the end i went for the 1/6 scale... not even used it yet! only just finsished spraying the body & fitting the elctrics etc :-)

But as i said, maybe best for your 1st model is go for a cheap electric, this will give you a feel for the hobby & if you decide you dont like RC trucks/buggys you havent spent a fortune to try it out!, I'd go for the truck as they have larger ground clearance than buggy's... but buggy's are usually better at handling..but if its fun you want..handling aint too important as it would be if u wanted to race them at comp level.

Dont go overboard spending hundreds on a new model at first, imo best bet pick up a cheap one, then if you decide you want bigger/better then go for it. Nitro are excellent trucks/buggy's & some can reach speeds of upto 70mph from stock (www.rctruckz.com)

G/L choosing & most of all... have fun!

P.S... they're ALL toys...but big boys toy's

tmasboa

i'm getting a ofna ultra lx comp tommorow, supposed to be a really good starter truck

capone12

My Feedback: (1)

Ive always liked the look of that buggy. Dont know much about 1/8th nitro buggies but that thing looks like a pretty good basher. Not a racer by any means but seems to be fine for just running around the house etc. If I were to get a nitro buggy that thats what I would get. Tell me how it runs when you get it fully broken in please! Although, I do like ofna's mbx because of the electric starting system.....

Also tell us how durable it is too.