RC car for total beginner

[autococker04]

I was just at a bar talking with some friends, and we’re going to a bachelor party at one of their camps. There’s a field that’s about the size of two football fields of mowed grass and we want to have rc car races. A couple of the guys got some from Amazon already, electric ones in about the $120 range.

what should I be looking for in an rc car? I assume the gas powered ones are better, but I have no experience and want to be sure mine runs. If they all got the emek of RC, I’d like the edge and have the CVO equivalent. Maybe a little more temperamental, but better overall in the same price range. Are there brands to buy/avoid? Is anyone willing to trade paintball gear for an rc car? Are electric ones good at all, or does everything from Amazon break immediately?

any sort of guidance is appreciated, I want to win.

edit: a big part of the plan is to tie stuffed animals to the back for dogs to chase.

[Swedgin!!]

I raced r/c in my younger days, electric and gas powered. Back then I would say gas powered was way faster then electric and I love the sound they make BUT now days you can find brushless r/c vehicles that can reach well over 70mph. If you’ll be dragging stuffed animals around I would get a 1:10 scale or a 1:8 scale maybe. R/C has changed a ton since the early 90s

[autococker04]

Thanks! So is the scale 1:8, 1:10, basically bigger number, bigger car, so more power?

[Swedgin!!]

Smaller the number bigger the car. It’s scaled to a life size of the car so 1:8 scale would usually be bigger then 1:10. 1/8ths usually have more power, bigger everything, but I've seen 1/10ths smoke 1/8ths, with mods of course.

[markdem]

#1 choose a scale. Rc cars come in a variety of sizes. 1/10th scale is very popular size. Very much middle-of-the-road. I would suggest getting a similar sized car to your friends so you can handle similar terrain etc

#2 choose a brand that has parts availability. Call a local hobby shop and ask what brands they carry parts for.

#3 4wd or 2wd. I like the challenege of 2wd. 4wd is very much "point and shoot". Neither is better or worse than the other. Just personal preference

#4 gas vs electric. Electric cars are faster than gas and are easier to run/maintain. Also, they can reverse. Gas is reserved for the people who like to tinker and make noise and smoke

I would buy a car similar/identical to your friends. Its more fun racing when everyone is evenly matched. Failing that, i would duct tape a rock/stick/something behind your controllers trigger to act as a speed limiter and keep all the cars at a fair speed

Ive been playing with rc cars since the 90s. Ive had gas and electric, cheap and exepensive. My favorite car is the electric, 1/10 scale Traxxas Slash 2wd. Ive had this car for 11 years. Its moved countries with me. Ive smashed and repaired it many times over. Tippmann 98 for size reference

[markdem]

I see you plan on towing stuffed animals behind the cars. I would just get the cheapest car you can find with big knobbly wheels. Any extra money you spend on performance will be lost to the stuffed animal

[k_obeastly]

$1-200 on mowed grass...performance will likely smell of disappoint. I'd probably look at something 1/10 4wd from redcat at that price range. I can't say much for their electronics but I did pick up one of their blackout rollers (add your own electronics) a few years ago and other than the odd pinion gear sizing it did everything I needed it to (drove around the house/yard and carried a camera and light while I sat on the couch).

Redcat Blackout SC RC Truck - 1:10 Brushed Electric Short Course Truck – Redcat Racing

Redcat Blackout XTE RC Truck - 1:10 Brushed Electric Monster Truck – Redcat Racing

Redcat Volcano EPX RC Truck - 1:10 Brushed Elelectric Monster Truck – Redcat Racing


arma seems to be a pretty good budget brand as well
Arrma Senton 4X2 BOOST 1/10 Electric RTR Short Course Truck (Green) [ARA4103SV4T1] - AMain Hobbies

If you have dirt or concrete, I'd probably look for something 1/18 4wd from arma or redcat.

[SignOfZeta]

Nitro (gas) is basically dead since peak performance is now found in lithium powered cars.

IMO you want the Tippmann 98 of RC cars, which is the Tamiya Lunchbox. You’ll need like $300 all in if you don’t have any RC stuff yet. Upgrade the body catches and install a center axel brace and ballbearing kit. Maybe CVA shocks. I put lights in mine. Upgrade nothing else. Use the cheapest radio and servo you can get. Use basic NiMiH batteries and GO TO TOWN with the best RC of all time. It’s reliable as hell and delights people with its charm instead of irritating them like some nitro power Monster Energy POS. There’s a reason it’s been in production for 40 years!

https://youtu.be/U5wOTRJQd1g?si=euRM18Gh5X-rAPeM

[RAZRBAKK]

Man these are SICK. Definitely going to order one.

[Swedgin!!]

Lunch Box!! Never had one but I did have a Clod Buster. Just seeing that brings back some good memories 👍🏾

[p8ntninja]

I do a ton of RC bashing and racing, hell I even got this sub forum added . That being said, stay away from nitro if this is your first venture into rc also stay from the Amazon specials, they will break and parts will be hard to source. You should be able to find a local rc shop in your area unless you are out in the middle of nowhere. I suggest getting a Traxxas as much as I despise the company, as the support for the vehicles is unmatched. Get an RTR, and buy a nice charger and some 2S or 3S LiPos if you plan on doing bigger than 1/10 scale. Nitro cars are fun as all he'll but the maintenance is a pain even for the RTR nitro cars. If you need more info, DM me.

[p8ntninja]

I was just at a bar talking with some friends, and we’re going to a bachelor party at one of their camps. There’s a field that’s about the size of two football fields of mowed grass and we want to have rc car races. A couple of the guys got some from Amazon already, electric ones in about the $120 range.

what should I be looking for in an rc car? I assume the gas powered ones are better, but I have no experience and want to be sure mine runs. If they all got the emek of RC, I’d like the edge and have the CVO equivalent. Maybe a little more temperamental, but better overall in the same price range. Are there brands to buy/avoid? Is anyone willing to trade paintball gear for an rc car? Are electric ones good at all, or does everything from Amazon break immediately?

any sort of guidance is appreciated, I want to win.

edit: a big part of the plan is to tie stuffed animals to the back for dogs to chase.

Where in the 'Burgh are you located?? I can point you in the direction of some really nice shops in our area that won't totally hose you.

[autococker04]

Nice, I’m about 10 minutes north of the city in the west view area. I appreciate all the advise, I can see this as another hobby I get way too far into

[autococker04]

So, what kind of parts are interchangeable between cars? If I buy a good battery can I use it on other cars (like a tank for a paintball gun)? Or are they all kind of standalone builds

[p8ntninja]

So, what kind of parts are interchangeable between cars? If I buy a good battery can I use it on other cars (like a tank for a paintball gun)? Or are they all kind of standalone builds

Yes. Pretty much every part is replaceable or upgradeable. Stay away from Spektrum systems, if you get Traxxas you will want to use their ID batteries and charger, luckily they do a lot combo sales throughout the year. You can always buy a kit and build it with the electronics you want, kit building is a lot easier than it seems and it allows you to get the car better. ACS Hobbies in Monroeville at the mall (next to Harbor Freight) is easily the best shop in the area.

[p8ntninja]

Hobby Express up in Cranberry is another really nice shop.

[autococker04]

Nice! Thanks, I just noticed where your location is haha. I’ll have to check them out. Do you know if either of those places do repairs? One of my friends has a non- electric one that’s been sitting for about 15 years

[p8ntninja]

They can do repairs but it most likely won't be cheap just because of the labor charge. Depending on the car and the repair parts may be nonexistent. I'm out in Beaver but visit ACS and Hobby Express, I really like Austintown Hobbies over in Austintown, Ohio as well.

[FredMnkyDad10]

I have some electric RC cars I am thinking of letting go. Would be open to doing trade.

[autococker04]

Limited-time deal: AMORIL 1/10 RTR Brushless Fast RC Cars for Adults,Max 50mph Hobby Electric Off-Road Monster Truck,Waterproof High Speed RC Car 4WD Remote Control Car with 3S Lipo,Green https://a.co/d/cRECXOG


so this is probably the RC equivalent of buying a 98 custom power pack from ANS. Given that my only goal is to go fast, would this be a terrible choice?

also, does it appear to you rc experts to include everything I need to make it go? and how much run time can you expect out of a battery this size?

[autococker04]

So, I got the rig and was ripping around my yard for 20 awesome minutes (in which time I think my neighbor was convinced to relive his youth and buy an RC car), then my battery died.

No big deal, just recharge it, right?

Having some issues getting the battery refilled. It came with a USB charger but no wall adaptor block. I tried an iPhone one and it seems like charging was seriously limited, the car ran slow then died repeatedly. I’m trying another and it seems like it’s taking way too long. With both blocks, the block itself and the flashing red and green light indicator get pretty warm, but the battery seems like it’s room temperature.

should I be using a different adaptor block to charge this thing?