Interested in RC monster trucks, and want to learn more? Thinking of moving up from a small toy to a more serious (and more fun!) remote control truck? Here’s an overview of remote control monster trucks: how they came about, what they’re powered by, and what they can do.
Basically, a remote control monster truck is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a small scale remote control version of the real-life monster truck: that powerful, massive-tire, truck that runs over smaller cars and sloshes through mud like it’s nobody’s business. In toy form.
Of course, before they started making monster truck versions, there was a long period of low power remote control cars. They would drive weakly and clumsily on flat surfaces only. But now that technology has picked up, you can go off-roading with excellent power and speed and agility. That’s what the RC monster truck is about.
With most remote control cars, you get the choice between toy grade and hobby grade. For monster trucks, you can get a toy size truck that looks like a monster truck, but if you’re serious about power the way real monster truckers are, or if you plan on racing and competing, you’ll definitely want to go for a hobby grade truck.
RC monster trucks that are toy grade are all powered by electric motors that run on battery power. But hobby grade comes with more options. You’ll have three fuel choices:
- Electricity (battery powered)
- Nitro fuel
- Gasoline fuel
The fuel engines both have more power than the battery powered truck. This means that they can support a larger truck size (with more weight and bulk). They can also go faster than battery powered trucks. And they can power over obstacles (assuming they have off-road equipped tires) with more force.
Nitro fuel is a blend of nitromethane (hence the name), methanol, and oil. It’s the most commonly used fuel for remote control trucks. Gasoline is becoming a little more popular than it has been, as it allows for even larger RC monster trucks.
For either of the fuel powered trucks, the higher speeds mean more forceful impacts, so it’s important to have a more durable truck body to withstand that impact without damaging the truck.