|
|
||
|
RC Trucks
RC Trucks vs RC Cars
RC Nitro Trucks
RC Nitro Engines
RC Nitro Fuel RC Monster Trucks Traxxas T-Maxx Traxxas JATO Traxxas Revo HPI Savage Trucks
Associated Monster GT
Team Losi LST HPI Hellfire HPI Baja 5B Cen Genesis Tamiya TNX Tanks Scale RC Off Road Go Karts Need for Speed Pro Street System Req Site Map
|
How do RC Cars compare to RC Trucks?Sometimes people use the general term "RC CARS" as a way to refer to both rc cars and rc trucks. In reality, an rc car is quite a bit different. As a simple generalization, it can be said that rc cars are designed to be driven on road (on flat, smooth, paved type surfaces) while most rc trucks are designed to be driven off road (on dirt, sand, gravel, grass, & similar surfaces).
Example of an RC Car
Example of an RC Truck RC Cars vs RC Trucks - Some Specific Differences GROUND CLEARANCE: RC cars are usually very low slung and only have a small amount of ground clearance since they are designed to drive on smooth, flat surfaces. On the other hand, RC trucks typically have a large amount of ground clearance so they have room underneath to clear obstructions such as rocks or other debris that might be present during off road driving. SUSPENSION: RC cars normally come with a suspension that has very little travel. The wheels do not move up or down much. That is because rc cars are designed for smooth surfaces and they are NOT intended to handle large bumps or obstructions that would require more suspension travel. RC cars normally come with very short shock absorbers. In addition, rc cars typically come with stiff suspension springs that also limit wheel travel. Stiffer springs can help with on road handling such as cornering stability. On the other hand, rc trucks typically have a LARGE amount of suspension travel, larger (and longer) shocks, and softer shock springs designed to soak up big bumps and jumps that might be encountered off road. Jumping rc trucks and getting lots of air is a popular activity for many, but jumping is NOT something that you can safely do with an rc car! WHEELS & TIRES: RC cars will normally come with small diameter and small width tires that have low rolling resistance. Tread on rc cars will often be very insignificant and some rc cars use slicks that do not have any tread. This is because rc cars are intended to drive on smooth surfaces where lots of tread are not needed for traction. On the other hand, rc trucks will typically come with very large tires that have aggressive off road tread designs. They need to be able to handle dirt, sand, mud, and other conditions that require a more aggressive and deeper tread pattern. They are usually larger and more aggressive and help provide more traction for driving rc trucks in off road conditions. GEARING: RC cars are usually geared for higher top speeds, while RC trucks are typically geared lower to handle climbing and other lower speed maneuvers that can be encountered off road. RC trucks are typically geared so they have good low end acceleration and power. As a result, higher geared rc cars will usually have a higher top speed than rc trucks. DRIVELINE: RC cars can come with a belt drive system that transmits the power from the engine to the wheels. RC trucks will most often come equipped with shaft drive systems that transmit the power from the engine to the wheels. This is because belt drive systems are not very well suited to off road conditions where small rocks or debris can become lodged between the belt and the pulleys. There are exceptions to this general rule and having an off road rc truck with a belt drive system is possible if the drive system is enclosed and therefore shielded from debris, but that is not very common. In addition, there are also some shaft drive rc cars, but in most cases you will see belt drive systems on rc cars and shaft drive on the trucks. SIZE: In general, a lot of rc cars come in 1/10th scale size, while rc trucks (especially monster trucks) often come in larger 1/8th scale size. There are exceptions to this, but the general rule is that rc trucks are typically bigger. Even when rc cars and trucks are the same scale size, the rc trucks will typically be bigger in overall size. WEIGHT: For a comparable scale size, rc cars are normally much lighter than rc trucks. This lighter weight gives rc cars powerful on road acceleration. RC trucks are usually heavier because they are built heavy duty to withstand the abuse they endure in off road conditions. In addition, the larger wheels and tires can also add quite a bit of weight to an rc truck. ENGINES: In most cases, the larger rc trucks come equipped with larger nitro engines known as big blocks (usually .21 cubic inches and larger). This makes sense since an rc truck usually needs to pull a lot more weight around and have the power to overcome the extra rolling resistance in off road conditions. On the other hand, many rc cars come equipped with smaller nitro engines known as small block engines (usually .18 cubic inches and smaller). These smaller engines are suited very well to the typically smaller size and lighter weight of rc cars. Even so, rc cars are often faster in acceleration and top speed as compared to rc trucks, so these smaller nitro engines can still work very well on road with rc cars. COST: In general, because of their increased complexity and heavier duty construction, rc trucks are usually more expensive to purchase than rc cars. A Closer Look At What's Underneath...
Sample layout of rc car (belt drive)
Sample layout of rc truck Which is better? The answer to that all depends on where you plan to drive your rc vehicle. If you have large areas of pavement accessible to you like big open parking lots, then rc cars may be a better choice. The powerful acceleration and higher top speeds of rc cars can offer a lot of fun in these on road conditions. On the other hand, if you have areas of dirt, sand, or gravel (even grass) available to you, then an rc truck might be the better choice. It can be a blast to drive off road, throw around the dirt, and get air while jumping. So, the choice is up to you and should be made based on the conditions where you have to drive. Don't try to drive an rc car off road. You'll probably get stuck real quick because of lack of traction or too little ground clearance, or worse yet something will get broken very easily. On the other hand, it is possible to drive an rc truck not only off road, but also on pavement. Just be aware that rc trucks can have a tendency to roll over with the high traction conditions found on most pavement because of their higher center of gravity. No matter which you choose, both type of rc vehicles can be a LOT of fun! Click on this link if you want to see more about: RC TRUCKS. Click this link if you want to learn more about: RC CARS.
RC-TRUCKS.ORG 2004-2008 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
|
RC Cars vs RC Trucks 
