Before you decide what brand and type of vehicle to buy, you need to know exactly what you need to buy to have a fully operational nitro RC. Here are all the components you will need to purchase.
The “Vehicle”
The term “vehicle” is used to describe a collection of components that make up the core of a nitro RC. In other words, if someone told you they had a nitro RC for sale, you would expect it to include the following vehicle components, at a minimum:
- Chassis – the frame of the vehicle that all other components attach to
- Suspension – the shocks, shock towers, and control arms that connect the wheels to the chassis
- Drivetrain – the transmission, differentials, driveshafts, gears, and brakes that take the power from the engine and deliver it to the wheels
- Fuel tank – the container that holds the nitro fuel
If a nitro RC is for sale that only includes the above components, it is commonly referred to as a “slider”.
If a nitro RC is for sale that includes the above components plus wheels/tires, it is commonly referred to as a “roller”.
The terms “slider” and “roller” signify that the car requires additional components to become a fully functional nitro RC.
RTR vs. Kit vs. Slider/Roller
If you are buying a new, basher grade nitro RC, you will find the vast majority are sold RTR (ready-to-run). RTRs typically come with everything you need to run the vehicle except for a few accessories (see “Nitro Accessories” below).
As opposed to RTRs, kits require assembly and the purchase of additional components. For example, the Kyosho FW-06 is the only bash-grade nitro RC that comes as a kit. The kit requires assembly and only comes with the vehicle components listed above plus an engine, carburetor, and exhaust system. Additional components need to be purchased (electronics and a body) to complete the build, while an RTR will come with those additional components.
At the time of this writing (Nov. 2024), the Kyosho FW-06 Kit is the only basher-grade nitro RC kit that is in-production and widely available. All other nitro RC kits you see for sale are race-grade vehicles that are much more expensive and require even more components to be purchased separately.
Engine & Related Parts
The engine on a nitro RC is recognized by the large cooling head that screws into the top of the cylinder head. The following components are directly connected to the engine and are needed to complete a nitro RC:
- Carburetor
- Exhaust header, coupler, and pipe
- Air filter
- Fuel lines running from tank to carb and from tank to exhaust pipe
- Flywheel, clutch, and clutch bell
- Starting system – Pull start, EZ-Start (Traxxas), or Rotostart (HPI)
Electronics
Every nitro RC needs electronics to control the steering and throttle. The following components are needed to control both systems:
- Steering servo – drives the steering linkage
- Throttle servo – drives the throttle linkage
- Receiver – receives input from the transmitter to control both servos
- Transmitter – this is the controller you hold in your hands, sends inputs to the receiver
Starting System
Any nitro RC can be equipped with an electronic starting system, which allows you to start the vehicle with the push of a button (as opposed to pulling on a pull-starter or using a bump box). The most common electronic starting system is the EZ-Start system by Traxxas, which comes standard on all of their nitro RCs.
Body
The body is the plastic shell that covers the vehicle and makes it look like an actual vehicle. It’s not required, but a body provides additional protection and many people do not feel the vehicle is complete without one. Note that any RTR nitro RC purchased new will include a body. Kits do not typically include a body. Used RCs often come with a body, but not always.
Common Add-Ons
The following components are not typically included with any nitro RC (used or new), but are commonly added to vehicles.
- Wheelie bar – prevents the vehicle from flipping over when performing a wheelie
- Roll cage or cooling head protector – protects the vehicle components from damage when it flips over
- Storage/carrying case – makes it easy to store and transport a nitro RC and accessories
Nitro RC Accessories
You will need the following additional accessories to operate a nitro RC:
- Nitro fuel – sold by the quart or gallon, more on buying fuel here.
- Receiver battery – either AA batteries or a 5-cell rechargeable hump pack (typically NIMH)
- Fuel bottle – technically not needed, but it makes filling the tank easy
- Glow plug igniter – used to start the engine, not needed if vehicle is equipped with the Traxxas EZ-Start system although still good to have in case the igniter wire in the EZ-Start system fails
Here are some other accessories you technically don’t need to start a nitro RC, but you will inevitably need or want:
- Cleaning supplies (99% rubbing alcohol, gloves)
- Hex and nut drivers
- Hex sizes: 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm, and 3.0mm
- Nut sizes: 5mm, 5.5mm, 7mm and 8mm
- Heat gun for warming up an engine (makes starting easier, especially in cold weather)
- Temp gun for measuring engine temperature while tuning
- Air filter oil (needed to re-oil the air filter after every 1 hour of operation, comes with Traxxas models)
Now that you know what you need, you can start thinking about the type of nitro RC you want to buy.