The 10 Best RC Trucks
Updated by · How we research
Rock crawlers, brushless monster trucks and kids' trucks compared on build, parts support and what's in the box. The Traxxas TRX-4M F-150 High Trail leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
"Ready to run" on an RC truck box doesn't always mean a battery and charger are inside, and those two parts can add a big share to the cost. This list covers scale pickups that crawl over rocks, fast brushless monster trucks for adults and sturdy toy trucks for kids, with every truck's box contents checked before it made the cut.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
A small licensed Ford pickup, the Traxxas TRX-4M F-150 High Trail, now leads this list. It climbs like a hobby truck, comes with its battery and charger, and Traxxas sells nearly every part for it. Every truck on the old list has since sold out, vanished or turned into a different model, so the whole list is new.
This page is about trucks: scale pickups and crawlers, monster trucks big and small, and toy trucks for kids. Racing buggies, short-course trucks and stunt cars live on our RC cars list, and we kept the two lists from sharing a single model. That's why the DEERC 9206E and the little Monster Jam Grave Digger are gone from here.
Box contents decided several spots. Horizon Hobby's own page says the Arrma Mini Kraton 3S DSC needs a battery and charger bought separately, and the CEN Racing F-450 SD KG1 does too, while the Hosim VEXARO MAX ships with two batteries and a charger. The gas-powered Rovan Baja honor is gone because it's a buggy, not a truck.
November 09, 2020:
There are two main types of buyers for these RC trucks: parents whose kids want to have fun with their friends, and hobbyists who enjoy all the minute details that go into their trucks. The latter, of course, is probably willing to spend more money and can appreciate an increase in power. However, while trucks like the Traxxas Rustler and Traxxas Stampede are fast and fun, they don't come with everything you need like wall chargers or even batteries in the case of the Stampede. That's not a big deal to grown-ups who enjoy switching out parts and customizing their trucks, but it means the unit that comes out of the box isn't perfect.
We've put an emphasis on value this time around, placing models like the Deerc Crawler and Phywess Offroad near the top because they come with everything you need. While speed can be fun, if the truck is too fast, it can be difficult to drive, so models like the Bezgar 6 Hobbyist Grade and Traxxas Stampede that have training modes can be helpful. The Bezgar 6 Hobbyist Grade also has kid-friendly controls, as does the Monster Jam Mega Grave Digger, so if you're shopping for a gift for a youngster, they are worth considering.
The top choice this time is the Laegendary Brushless because it fits perfectly into the middle ground between a kiddie toy and a major commitment. It's powerful without being overly expensive, and comes with the full package: two batteries, a charger, a wall adapter, and extra tires in case you get into some mischief.
November 12, 2019:
RC trucks come in a variety of styles, some of which are well-suited to racing and others that are better for rock crawling. They also come in various quality levels from expensive, hobby-grade models, to affordable kids toys. We did our best to ensure there is at least one model to suit every need, however, since this is a list of the best RC trucks, you will notice more of the former than the latter.
During this update, we felt the need to remove the K-5 Ascender. Though it performs well, it suffers from availability issues from reputable sellers, so we thought it better to replace it with the Vaterra 1972 Chevrolet K10 Pickup Ascender, which also features an officially-licensed Chevrolet body and is just as capable at rock climbing, but has the added benefit of coming with a functional spare and, in our opinion, a cooler and more detailed design.
We also eliminated the Traxxas Revo 3.3, which, surprisingly considering it comes from a well-respected manufacturer in the field, had many complaints of component failure. Taking its place is the HBX 1:18 Scale 18859E, which straddles the middle ground between low-quality kids toys and higher-end hobby-grade models. For its relatively affordable price, you'll get a durable model that has a decent control range, and which can stand up to tumbles well.
Another new addition is the Team Redcat TR-MT10E, which flies over mud, dirt, sand, and nearly any other low-traction terrain thanks to its extra-wide tires and powerful motor. It offers a lot of ride adjustability too, including the ability to change the camber, toe angle, shock mounting positions, and more.
October 22, 2018:
Did away with a few discontinued models, and found some even better models to replace them. The Traxxas 2WD Bigfoot No. 1, for instance, carves out its own niche, both in terms of price (middle-tier) and design. Most models here are either entry-level units or premium models meant for enthusiasts, but the list attempts to look at each item for its own merits and in the context of the position it holds in the market relative to its price and quality.
Crawler, Basher Or Toy: Pick The Truck's Job
It uses low gearing and soft, grippy tires to climb rocks, roots and steep dirt at a walking pace, and it often wears a realistic pickup body.
RC trucks split into three kinds, and they do very different things. A crawler is slow on purpose. It uses low gearing and soft, grippy tires to climb rocks, roots and steep dirt at a walking pace, and it often wears a realistic pickup body. The Traxxas TRX-4M F-150 High Trail is a 1/18-scale crawler about 10.6 inches long, small enough to drive in a living room, with a crawl mode that smooths the throttle at low speed.
A basher, usually a monster truck, is built for speed, jumps and crashes. Brushless motors give these trucks most of their punch: the maker figures for 1/16 brushless trucks run from the high 20s to about 50 mph, depending on the battery. That speed needs a park, a dirt lot or an empty field.
Toy-grade trucks are made for kids. They're cheap, light and fun, often with lights, music or the ability to swim, but they usually have no spare parts. Hobby-grade trucks cost more because you can fix them: the gears, arms, shocks and electronics are sold separately. If you're after racing buggies and short-course trucks instead, see our RC cars list.
What "Ready To Run" Leaves Out
RTR means the truck is built and the radio is paired, not that everything you need is in the box. Horizon Hobby's page for the Arrma Mini Kraton 3S DSC lists a compatible three-cell LiPo battery and a charger as separate purchases, and together they can add well over a third to the price. The CEN Racing F-450 SD KG1 also ships without either. Others include everything: the Traxxas TRX-4M comes with a two-cell battery and a USB charger, and the Hosim VEXARO MAX includes two batteries.
Battery cell count matters. A 2S (two-cell, 7.4-volt) pack is the gentle setting; a 3S (three-cell, 11.1-volt) pack makes a brushless truck much faster and harder on parts. Many budget brushless trucks ship with a 2S pack and advertise their top speed on 3S, so read the speed claim next to the battery it was measured with.
Also check the transmitter. Some remotes take AA batteries that aren't included, and a spare driveshaft or suspension arm in the box is a good sign the maker expects you to break things and fix them.
Batteries, Water And Safe Driving
Most hobby trucks run on lithium-polymer (LiPo) packs, which hold a lot of energy and can catch fire if they're damaged or charged wrong. Horizon Hobby's charging guide says not to charge a pack that is swollen, cracked or warped, to use the right charger settings, and never to leave a battery charging unattended. Charge on a hard, non-flammable surface, and store packs partly charged.
Water is a separate question. Waterproof electronics, as on the Traxxas TRX-4M and the CEN F-450, mean a truck can splash through puddles and snow, not swim. Amphibious toys such as the Dafotil KT912A are sealed to float and paddle. Either way, rinse off sand and salt and dry the truck afterward, or bearings and screws rust.
The 2.4 GHz radios these trucks use fall under the FCC's Part 15 rules, so no license is needed. Drive away from roads, people and pets: a fast truck can hurt a shin or an ankle. We searched the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database for every brand here and found no open recalls on these models.
How we researched this
We compared 23 RC trucks, read the makers' spec pages and box-content lists for the 10 finalists, looked at owner-feedback patterns on durability and run time, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall records. Prices were checked on October 26, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best RC truck?
For most people, the Traxxas TRX-4M F-150 High Trail. It's a small, realistic pickup crawler that comes with its battery and charger, and Traxxas sells nearly every part. If you want speed instead, look at the Arrma Mini Kraton 3S DSC.
What is the best RC truck for adults?
Adults who want speed usually pick a brushless monster truck such as the Arrma Mini Kraton 3S DSC or the Hosim VEXARO MAX. Adults who like detail and slow climbing tend to prefer a scale crawler like the CEN Racing F-450 SD KG1.
What is the best brand of RC truck?
Traxxas and Arrma, which Horizon Hobby sells, have the deepest parts catalogs and support. Hyper Go, Hosim, ZD Racing, UDIRC and WPL cost less and often include more in the box, but their spare parts are harder to find.
Do RC trucks come with a battery and charger?
Not always. Many hobby trucks sold as ready to run, including the Arrma Mini Kraton 3S DSC and the CEN Racing F-450 SD KG1, need both bought separately. Check the box contents before you buy.
How fast do RC trucks go?
Crawlers move at about walking pace. Budget brushed trucks run around 20 mph, and small brushless monster trucks reach roughly 30 to 50 mph by their makers' figures, usually on a three-cell battery.
Are RC trucks waterproof?
Some have water-resistant electronics that handle puddles, rain and snow, but they aren't made to go under water. Only amphibious toys are built to float. Dry any truck after wet runs.
