7 Types of RC Cars

For those of you who are not sure which type of RC car to get I will break down the 7 main types. Each type has its own specific, and different characteristics. There is more than enough variety for everyone to find their niche. The 7 types are:

Kyosho McLaren F1 GTR

1- On Road

2- Off Road

3- Drift Cars

4- Crawlers

5- Touring

6- Monster Trucks

7- Short Course

Shumacher Cat

  On Road= Fast and furious comes to mind when I think about on road RC cars. They are lightweight, aerodynamic, and built for speed. While I am writing this a few popular ones come to mind. The Traxxas XO-1 1/7 scale. For sentimental reasons the 1/10 scale Tamiya TT-02 chassis. This one has many different types on multiple levels. Each is very customizable. But right now, I have to say my Favorite is the ARRMA Vendetta 3s 1/7 scale. Out of the box RTR (ready to run) it is capable of 70+ MPH, with included pinion and wing.

  Off Road= Off road cars are built tough to handle rough terrains, such as dirt, gravel, or grass. They are equipped with larger more durable tires that provide a better grip on loose dirt. Often off-road cars have stronger chassis, and a shock absorption system that can not only handle the uneven terrain of the track, but the many jumps we love to launch them off. This category has many options. Some are meant to race, some for stunts and bashing.

  Drift= Drift cars are specifically designed to perform high powered slides and drifts. They are engineered with a low center of gravity, and a stiffer chassis. The turning radius is set to allow for increased angles during turning. They are meant to be driven on hard flat surfaces. You may know what it feels like to drift if you have ever driven on the ice in the northeast during the winter. There are many different things you can adjust to get that perfect drift around a corner. Drifting is growing fast in popularity. Some drivers take it to a whole new level with their modifications.

  Crawlers= Now it is time to slow things down a bit. Compared to the other cars in this article the crawler category is a much slower car. It moves precisely and with purpose. Everything it does is deliberate. If that is what you want it to do. Crawlers are mainly off-road vehicles. A high clearance, and huge knobby tires are a must. If you are looking for a challenging experience on rough, uneven terrain with many obstacles, then a crawler might be for you. I have written a few articles about specific crawlers on this website.

CrossRC FR4 Demon Crawler

  Touring= Touring cars are high performance competitive RC cars that are often used in organized races. They are aerodynamic and lightweight. Based on some of your favorite real touring cars. Typically, they are 1/10 scale. Made to be driven on smooth flat tracks. With a more realistic driving experience touring cars appeal to the racing car driver in all of us. Just like other types of RC cars the touring class is also very customizable. Many manufacturers offer touring cars in RTR (ready to run), or Kits. They have amazing scale features to mimic the real cars they are modeled after.

  Monster Trucks=SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! I have a few Monster Trucks that hold a special place in my heart. The first one I ever got when I was a teenager. It was a Tamiya Blackfoot. I traded my Sims Jeff Phillips skateboard for it. Monster trucks are large pickup style bodies with high clearance, and massive shocks. Unlike crawlers they are much quicker. They can jump or drive over most obstacles in their path. Ranging in price and skill from entry level, like the Granite from Arrma, to the high end Traxxas XRT. They are durable and built to last.

Traxxas XRT

Tamiya Blackfoot

  Short Course Trucks= Just like the name indicates short course trucks race on short off-road courses, or tracks. Their suspension is made to handle off-road situations with rough, loose terrain. They have a distinctive truck-like looking body, and large tires. They have a wide stance and come in either 2wd or 4wd. Short course trucks are becoming very popular lately. Some top cars are 1/10 scale Redcat Blackout SC Pro, ARRMA 1/10 scale Senton, or the larger 1/7 scale Mojave. From Traxxas the top selling 1/10 scale Slash comes in so many options. If you have some extra cash, go for the Traxxas UDL (Unlimited Desert Racer). There are many more brands and styles in this category to choose from.

 If you are looking for a deeper dive into a specific type of RC car, check out some of my other posts. Or if you are not sure what car you are interested in, read all of them. I am in the process of writing a more detailed article about each class. Sign up for my newsletter to get email updates whenever I post a new article. If there is a car you want to know more about send me an email, or comment on one of my other socials. I will try to answer everyone.

Every Tuesday I release a new RC car review

Every other Thursday I release a review of RC related goods.(tools, upgrades, parts etc.)