Remote control cars and trucks are flying off the shelves. Quickly becoming one of the most popular hobbies, you can find all you need at your local hobby store. If you are brand new to Remote Control Cars and Trucks, here is a quick overview of your options. First, when you see RTR that means ready to run. In other words, it's ready to go straight out of the box.

The RC trucks are a vast improvement on the dune buggies. They are monstrous vehicles. In fact they are vehicles you would rarely see on the streets of your city. The tires are enormous, to give the truck enough ground clearance for rough terrain. Almost all RC vehicles are rated with a skill level suggestion from novice to expert.

There are good reasons for the skill level suggestions. One reason is because some of the vehicles behave better than others due to the scale and design being modeled. But the main reason for the skill level rating is the survivability and cost to repair damage from inexperienced operators.

RC trucks are enticing to those who are mechanically minded and who enjoy the challenge of tinkering with equipment to improve its performance. Serious RC fans can spend hours with their trucks, improving their range, speed and responsiveness. There are also a number of people who enjoy racing others with their RC trucks. They set up courses and compete seriously with one another to see who has the best rig.

There are two different types of fuel used to power cheap trucks: electric batteries and nitro gas. Electric-powered RC trucks use a battery pack to power the truck. If you use your truck frequently, you may need to recharge your battery or have a battery on stand-by so your truck does not die. Nitro-powered trucks use a tank to provide power to the vehicle. One gallon fuel is equal to one hour of racing. For serious racers, nitro-powered RC vehicles are a must.

Most RC helicopters can be used outdoors, although some of the really small ones struggle with the winds that are possible outdoors. RC helicopters for outdoor use can get to be very large and complicated if you have the money to spend. Some say the helicopter is the most difficult to learn to fly, but others say it is the airplanes that are the hardest to fly. If you are stuck for a gift idea, consider electric RC trucks. You will be glad you did and so will the recipient!