Choosing my son's first RC

[Toby from MO]

I'm looking to get my son his first RC car for an upcoming 4th birthday and I’m looking for some unbiased, third party advice on my options. He is obsessed with Monster Jam so I was thinking this is a perfect time for a monster truck. I know he might a bit young but hey...never to early to start is my take on it, not to mention this is a toy that will also keep dad's interest for a lot of father/son play time.

In the lower cost/entry level arena I have narrowed my search to either the Traxxas Stampede or the HPI Wheely King. We watched one of the drivers playing with his stock Wheely King at the recent Monster Jam show.

My local dealer carries both models with a wide variety of parts for both.

Here is my pro/con list so far…my perception as advertised by my local dealer

- Cost = $175 vs $199, Stampede slightly cheaper
- Speed = Stampede faster but Wheely King is probably suitable for my son and easily upgraded to 20T motor
- Trainer Mode = Stampede
- Battery life = 10min vs. 20min, Wheely King slightly better on 1500mah battery
- Ground Clearance = Stampede better static clearance but Wheely King appears to have better suspension travel, i.e. easier articulation
- Drive Train = Stampede 2WD…favor the Wheely King w/4WD
- Upgrades = Wheely King appears to be designed with future adaptability in mind.

Further input would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Toby

[mann0mann]

I have a 5 year old and went through this same thing the last year as well. I think the stampede with the trainer mode (50% Throttle) will be alot of help for you.

I found my son was able to be more successful and do this on his own if the car was just slowed down some.

The alternative would be to pick up a cheap digital radio that has end point adjustments and you could do the same thing through the radio and use it on any car. That's what I ended up doing.

I built him a cheap micro rs4 drift car and dialed his throttle down to like 20% and then slowly brought it up as he got better.

The biggest trouble he has now is just going to reverse. He's a big kid for his age and his finger throw is not enough to push forward and engage reverse so he has to stop and sort of two hand it.

But the reduced throttle really made a big difference in his success.

Hope this helps!

-Mike

[constantmotion]

Have had both. Both are very good choices for an Intro to RC. The XL5 on the Traxxas vehicles is a good ESC and it also a good idea for beginners with the option the the "trainer" mode. You can easily get replacement parts for both vehicles. Different wheel options would be easier on the Wheely King vs. the Pede b/c of the difference in offset front to rear on the Pede. I really cannot find anything wrong with either choice. Extra ground clearance is good so that he wouldn't get hung up on a lot of things. The longer runtime on the Wheely King is b/c of the higher turn motor...less amp draw.

I would say get both...(if funds are available)...father and son both need one......

[breitenbach14]

yea i have had both too and i would have to say the hpi wheely king cheap fun and most of all durable on one of the rc mags they drove it off of a 100 or 150 foot cliff 3 times and only broke the chassis plate and battery popped off they are like industrutable =]"almost"

[rambuller84]

I've had both. Either one is going to provide you and your son with tons of enjoyment. I've ran both of these trucks into, over and through many things and haven't broken anything too severe. I think my most recent carnage was servo tabs on the WK from a 4 foot high jump landing wrong and I broke a gear when I was jumping myself with no landing ramp with my Pede. I'm 6'3 and it was about the 12-13th time by the way.

[Nova's Ark]

I started my son with a used Mini T when he was four. Then a new RC18MT about a year later and now he has crawler. He's six years old and took 7th in our last comp in 2.2. My son was never really into speed. When the rest of the family was racing on the driveway, he was out in the grass crawling over rocks, stick, bricks, etc. So the crawler was the perfect RC for him and he has really taken to it.

[Toby from MO]

Thanks for the input guys...both options seam to be a good value and I think either way I go I will end up wishing (at times) I had the functionality of the other.

Yesterday I was about 90% decided on the WK but after thinking long and hard about how it last night I am know leaning towards the Pede.

I agree the trainer mode is clear benefit for his enjoyment. Not to mention I would guess 75% of its use will be in the garage, driveway and paved street in front of our house. The extent of out off-road driving would be through the yard and/or on gravel surfaces. Though the 4WD and crawling functionality of the WK would be awesome I just don’t believe he will be able to control the throttle well enough in these situations to make it practical choice for him.

This leads to my next question…with the Pede already having a 12T motor are there any affordable motor upgrades to increase performance? All I have been told is fewer turns equal faster motor. Comparing the Pede to the WK (12T vs. 27T) there is obvious options to increasing the WK performance but where do you go with the Pede already having a 12T…battery??? I understand I can change pinion gear but as I understand it I would lose low end torque to gain top end speed.

Also…over on the Traxxas forum…I was reading many folks experienced very short life span of their Titan 12T motors. What have you guys experienced with this?

Thanks,
Toby

[Nova's Ark]

Toby,
Depending on your son's interest, I would lean towards the wheely king. That way you could always make it into a full blown crawler if he decides to go in that direction. In the mean time, he would have a large truck (looks like a monster truck from Monster Jam), he could go fast in stock form, and in general just bash it and have fun.

Cheap can motors are just that, cheap. They will last for a while if you keep them clean. For a child learning who will want to experience all the fun of water, mud, rocks, grass, etc, I would keep it cheap.

Understand he's going to break stuff and wear stuff out. Both my kids are pretty good drivers. But they still found all the weak links in the RC18's we owned. It was inevitable because we played with them almost daily. Sometimes cheap can be better than expensive. I had two new Trinity motors fail within 3 battery packs on my RC18T. It was one of the main reasons I went back to brushless. Just keep it simple.

Have fun with him, no pressure and no worry. Children think totally different then us adults. They haven't been tainted or programed by the world, society and culture. Your son may very well surprise you by his driving skill. Good luck,
N.A.

[Jasontville]

First let me say GREAT WAY TO SPEND TIME WITH THE KIDS!!

second,
I would go with the wheely king then drop a 55 or 65 turn motor in there... you will get slower speeds and longer battery run time.
Besides I don't know how fun it would be chasing a WK or a Pede down the driveway before it makes it to the road..

My sons started with the same truck I did.. A blackfoot. Now one son has a Pede (13 y/o) and the other has a RC18 brushless( 9y/o ).. and access to all of my trucks and cars. I even let my 13 y/o take my axial on a camping trip with him.. no issues. You have to think about the "cool" factor with your son too, you know what will keep him intrested. and something else you could to do is sit them side by side and let him pick.. that will give him more of a feeling of ownership. By the way I am painting an old blackfoot body pink with strawberries on it for my 4 y/o lil girl right now.. truck has been great since I got it back in 1990... She does keep trying to talk me out of my savage.. crazy kid!

Either way I thinks it's cool you are bringing someone else into the hobby!

[JavelinSST390]

Boy, that's a tough choice.... I mean a REALLY tough choice. if I had to pick one I;d have a hard time, too.

I've never owned a 'Pede, but a good friend of mine had one, and we had an absolute PARTY with it. That thing did stuff no R/C vehicle should ever have to endure, and just kept coming back for more!

I have a WK, and I think it's great. In fact, I've been thinking of putting a stocker (or nearly stocker) back together just for some Monster Jam style bashing action. The Wk is nearly as in-destructable as the "pede, but the handling on a Wk is CRAPPY compared to the Stampede. The Wk's are WAy more roll-over prone.

[Toby from MO]

JavelinSST390,

I hear ya...If I could only drive them before I buy it would be much easier.

I'm glad you made those points about rolling over. I had the same concern after watching 100's of you tube videos. My local dealer agreed but did say the Pede is prone to rolling over as well...just not as easily because it will be prone to slide before rolling. With the majority of our playing being on paved surfaces/grass/gravel I am starting to lean towards the Pede for the handling/stability aspect. I also believe a bit more fun when able to get it “squirrelly” sliding around. The only way I can relate to this is when comparing my ATV’s. My 4WD has is awesome but for a specific purpose and place….9 x’s of 10 I take the 2WD because its just more fun to ride when you can hang it out around every corner.

I talked to both HPI and Traxxas and I can see some real benefit in the trainer mode for both me and my son…gives him better control at reduced speeds and I can simply turn it off when I'm playing.

After talking to both HPI and Traxxas the best I can gather is the Pede in trainer mode will be about equal to the WK speed out of the box.

Heck the way I see it…if we have as much fun as I anticipate I may have more than one of these things before it is all said and done.

[nascarkeith]

You can't kill a Traxxas. I have tried.

[Pooflinger1006]

Originally Posted by nascarkeith

You can't kill a Traxxas. I have tried.

I killed a traxxas and wasn't trying. they are pretty tough though.