June 8, 2023

Model Sport
The 11 Best Remote Control Trucks in 2023

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1

Best Overall

Haiboxing All-Terrain 1/18 Scale RC Monster Truck

The 11 Best Remote Control Trucks in 2023

All-Terrain 1/18 Scale RC Monster Truck

1

Best Overall

Haiboxing All-Terrain 1/18 Scale RC Monster Truck

Now 24% Off

This badass monster remote control truck takes our top spot for a solid top speed and a rugged build. It can hit 22 mph and has working headlights, plus it’s waterproof, so it can tackle terrain in tough weather conditions.

The body is made of flexible PVC and there are high-grip off-road tires, plus a four-wheel-drive chassis, metal drive shafts, and front and rear differentials. Other features include independent suspension, classic ball bearings, and a remote with a 280-foot range.

There are also two included rechargeable batteries deliver a total runtime of about 40 minutes.

Key Specs

Dimensions 9.7 x 7.8 x 4.1 inches
Scale 1:18
Top Speed ~22 mph
Battery (2) Li-Po 7.4V, 850mAh

2

Most Affordable

Heneroar All-Terrain 1/14 Scale Crawler

Best Seller

All-Terrain 1/14 Scale Crawler

2

Most Affordable

Heneroar All-Terrain 1/14 Scale Crawler

Cons
  • Slower top speed

This best-selling four-wheel drive remote control truck is a customer favorite for both value and performance. With two rechargeable battery packs included, you’ll get up to 90 minutes of time on the road.

The 1:14 scale RC monster truck features all-terrain shock absorbers for off-road adventures, with a metal shell to withstand impact, plus anti-skid tires and dual motors for extra power. The pistol-grip remote control works at a distance of 165 feet and has an independent signal to prevent interference.

Key Specs

Dimensions 10.8 x 7.4 x 6.1 inches
Scale 1:14
Top Speed ~15 mph
Battery (2) Li-Po 3.7V 1200mAh

3

Coolest Graphics

Holyton Dinosaur Monster 1/12 Scale Remote Control Truck

The 11 Best Remote Control Trucks in 2023

Dinosaur Monster 1/12 Scale Remote Control Truck

3

Coolest Graphics

Holyton Dinosaur Monster 1/12 Scale Remote Control Truck

Now 20% Off

Kids and adults alike are sure to go gaga over this dinosaur monster remote control truck, with its big 1:12 scale and cool graphic design. A major highlight is its ability to transform from a rock-crawler to an off-road vehicle by adjusting the height of the chassis, giving you the ability to drive it through all kinds of terrain.

Other top features include a durable PVC shell and shock absorbers, a pistol-grip remote, plus a 30-minute runtime for each of the two included rechargeable batteries. Also, the remote works from an impressive distance of 328 feet.

Key Specs

Dimensions 7.7 x 13.4 x 8.5 inches
Scale 1:12
Top Speed ~12 mph
Battery (2) Li-Po 7.4V 1200mAh

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4

Best High-Speed Buggy

Bezgar High-Speed 1/10 Scale Remote Control Truck

The 11 Best Remote Control Trucks in 2023

High-Speed 1/10 Scale Remote Control Truck

4

Best High-Speed Buggy

Bezgar High-Speed 1/10 Scale Remote Control Truck

Now 45% Off

With a powerful 540 brushed modified motor, lightweight nylon frame, and 14,000 rpm, this four-wheel-drive remote control truck can burn rubber up to 25 mph, with an average 25-minute runtime.

It’s capable of climbing slopes up to 45 degrees, with heavy-duty tires and an oil-filled metal shocks. The RC truck is also splashproof to handle all kinds of terrain, and the piston-style remote operates at a distance of 263 feet.

Key Specs

Dimensions 14.4 x 11.0 x 7.2 inches
Scale 1:10
Top Speed ~30 mph
Battery 7.4V 1800mAh LiPo

5

Best Under $100

Bezgar Hobby-Grade 1/16 Scale 4WD Remote Control Truck

The 11 Best Remote Control Trucks in 2023

Hobby-Grade 1/16 Scale 4WD Remote Control Truck

5

Best Under $100

Bezgar Hobby-Grade 1/16 Scale 4WD Remote Control Truck

Now 25% Off

Pros
  • Value-packed with excellent features
  • Clear shell for DIY design
  • Working headlights and oil-filled metal shocks
  • 390 brushless motor

Here’s another top-notch hobby grade remote control truck from Bezgar loaded with excellent features, and this one includes an additional clear shell to spray paint with your own design.

It also has working headlights, a durable lightweight nylon chassis, and nylon-reinforced frame to protect it in collisions, plus four oil-filled metal shocks and a 390 brushed motor. The truck comes with two rechargeable batteries, with each giving you roughly a 20-minute runtime.

Key Specs

Dimensions 10.2 x 9.1 x 5.2 inches
Scale 1:16
Top Speed ~25 mph
Battery (2) Li-Po 7.4V 800mAh

6

Best Upgrade

Laegendary Off-Road Monster RC Truck

The 11 Best Remote Control Trucks in 2023

Off-Road Monster RC Truck

6

Best Upgrade

Laegendary Off-Road Monster RC Truck

Now 35% Off

Pros
  • Solid and solid range
  • Can handle 45-degree inclines
  • Two batteries and fireproof charging bag
Cons
  • Runtime could be longer

Laegendary’s 1:16 scale off-road monster truck can power through everything from sand and rocks with a solid top speed of about 25 miles per hour. It can also handle inclines up to 45 degrees.

The RC truck comes with two batteries—and a fireproof bag for charging them—that’ll keep the action going for a total of 40 minutes, plus two USB chargers.

Its piston-style remote has a solid range of 250 feet, and other highlights include foam-filled tires with anti-skid treads and a water-resistant body to perform all kinds of weather. There are also several color options to choose from.

Key Specs

Dimensions 10.2 x 9.2 x 5.9 inches
Scale 1:16
Top Speed ~25 mph
Battery (2) Li-Po 7.4V 1000mAh

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7

Best Mid-Priced

Bezgar Hobby-Grade 1/10 Scale Remote Control Truck

The 11 Best Remote Control Trucks in 2023

Hobby-Grade 1/10 Scale Remote Control Truck

7

Best Mid-Priced

Bezgar Hobby-Grade 1/10 Scale Remote Control Truck

Now 11% Off

Pros
  • Solid top speed and range
  • Two shells included
  • Working headlights
  • Piston-style remote

This speedy RC truck has great horsepower, with a double 550 brushed motor to take the truck from zero to about 26 mph. Other top features include working headlights, a nylon chassis and nylon-reinforced frame, plus the truck has a splash-proof IPX5 rating to safely jet through puddles.

The piston-style remote has a 250-foot range and another major plus is that the RC truck comes with two shells—yellow and green—to switch off.

Key Specs

Dimensions 13.6 x 11.6 x 5.7 inches
Scale 1:10
Top Speed ~26 mph
Battery (2) Li-Po 7.4V 1600mAh

8

Best Splurge

Traxxas TRX-4 1/10 Scale Trail Crawler

TRX-4 1/10 Scale Trail Crawler

8

Best Splurge

Traxxas TRX-4 1/10 Scale Trail Crawler

This over-the-top grandaddy of a remote control truck is in a class of its own. The rugged Traxxas TRX-4 Land Rover Defender is made to tackle extreme off-road condition, blowing past terrain that most RC trucks can’t manage.

Of course, underneath the rad exterior is superior technology and engineering, including portal axles that give the truck huge ground clearance, plus chassis details like heavy-duty steel frame rails and links, new oil-filled coil-over GTS shocks, and an adjustable wheel base. It features a Titan 21T 550 motor and waterproof sealed electronic components for all-season off-road fun.

Key Specs

Dimensions 23.1 x 9.8 x 11.5 inches
Scale 1:10
Top Speed ~10 mph
Battery 6 or 7-cell NiMH or 2- or 3-cell Li-Po

9

Sleek and Fast

Traxxas Rustler 1/10 Scale Stadium Truck

The 11 Best Remote Control Trucks in 2023

Rustler 1/10 Scale Stadium Truck

9

Sleek and Fast

Traxxas Rustler 1/10 Scale Stadium Truck

Now 17% Off

Cons
  • Pricey

The 4×4 Rustler stadium remote control truck from Traxxas is another ultra-popular vehicle—and one of the fastest on the road, with an aerodynamic body and a top speed of approximately 35 miles per hour.

Its redesigned chassis sits lower and wider for better stability, and like the Stampede, it features a watertight electronic components for year-round play, a 550 modified motor and cooling system, plus it comes with the same 4-amp DC fast charger.

Key Specs

Dimensions 18 x 6.3 x 13 inches
Scale 1:10
Top Speed ~35 mph
Battery (1) 8.4V, 7-cell NiMH

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10

Best Premium Monster Truck

Traxxas Stampede 1/10 Scale Monster Truck

Stampede 1/10 Scale Monster Truck

10

Best Premium Monster Truck

Traxxas Stampede 1/10 Scale Monster Truck

Cons
  • Pricey

Traxxas’s ever-popular Stampede two-wheel-drive remote control truck is another speed demon that can hit 30 mph and bulldoze through rough terrain. It has 4 inches of ground clearance and features a 2.4GHz radio, along with a 550 motor with an internal cooling system to prevent overheating, maintain top performance, and extend the life of the motor.

Another highlight is that the Stampede’s electronics are completely sealed and watertight, so you can drive the monster truck through snow and deep mud. The included lightning-fast 4-amp DC charger is a bonus.

Key Specs

Dimensions 16.2 x 13 x 9.5 inches
Scale 1:10
Top Speed ~30 mph
Battery 7-Cell Hump 3000mAh NiMH

11

Best Supersized Monster Truck

Monster Jam Grave Digger 1/6 Scale Monster Truck

Grave Digger 1/6 Scale Monster Truck

11

Best Supersized Monster Truck

Monster Jam Grave Digger 1/6 Scale Monster Truck

Cons
  • No top speed listed

If it’s supersized monster-truck fun you want, this option from Monster Jam delivers. The official Mega Grave Digger is gargantuan at 1/6 scale — and more than 2 feet long — with a lightweight design and tremendous BKT tires. It features authentic graphics, working headlights, and a solid 250-foot range.

It also has a 2.4GHz frequency dual-joystick controller and a built-in USB charging cable, plus it runs on two AAA batteries.

Key Specs

Dimensions 28 x 18.9 x 17.8 inches
Scale 1:6
Top Speed Not listed
Battery (2) AAA
Headshot of Rachel Klein

Senior Commerce Editor

Rachel Klein is a Senior Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, where she writes about everything from garden hose reels and patio furniture to mesh wifi systems and robot vacuums. She started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and was a travel editor for more than a decade before she started testing and reviewing luggage, noise-cancelling headphones, and other travel-related products. Fast-forward another five years and her area of expertise includes home decor, appliances, tech, and outdoor adventure gear. In her spare time, you’ll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend. 

 

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RC Monster Truck