Upgrading Your RC Electronics: A Guide to Motors, ESCs, and Servos

Taking a brand-new RC truck out of the box is a fun moment. But for many people, this is just the start. Ready-to-run (RTR) trucks are great to begin with, but their real power is often held back by the stock parts. Changing important parts can really change your truck's performance, strength, and look. This guide will show you the ten best upgrades to turn a basic truck into a powerful machine ready for anything.

1. RC Truck Upgrade: Tires and Wheels

The best and easiest upgrade you can make to any off-road RC is a new set of tires. Stock tires are usually made from a hard rubber that is made to last a long time, not to have the best grip. Softer, better tires will give you much more traction on dirt, rocks, and loose ground. This lets your truck climb better and turn with more control.

When you pick tires for an RC rock crawler 1/10, look for a soft and sticky rubber. Also, pay attention to the foam inside the tire. The foam gives the tire support and can be changed for different types of ground. If you get a good set of wheels with your new tires, like beadlocks that hold the tire on, you will have a full performance and style upgrade.

2. RC Truck Upgrade: Brass Parts

For any 4-wheel drive rc rock crawler, controlling the center of gravity is very important for how it drives. The goal is to keep the weight as low as possible so the truck does not tip over on steep hills. An easy way to do this is by adding weighted brass parts to the lowest spots on the truck.

Common brass upgrades are steering knuckles and differential covers. When you replace the stock plastic or light aluminum parts with heavy brass, you add a lot of weight right on the axles. This lowers the truck's center of gravity. It also helps plant the tires on the ground and makes the truck much more stable and better at climbing.

3. RC Truck Upgrade: LiPo Battery

Most RTR trucks come with a Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery. They are okay, but they are not as good as a Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery. Changing to a LiPo is like giving your truck a big energy boost. LiPo batteries give a higher voltage and a steady amount of power as you use them.

This means you get more power from the start and higher top speeds. Your truck will also perform the same from the start of the run to the end. When you make this change, you need to make sure your Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) has a LiPo cut-off mode. This stops the battery from getting too low. You will also need a special LiPo charger to charge it safely.

4. RC Truck Upgrade: Brushless Motor

Changing your RC car electric motor from a brushed one to a brushless one is a big step up in power and how well it runs. A brushless motor and ESC will give you more speed, more power, and often longer run times because it runs better. For people who like to bash or race, the extra power is the best part.

For crawlers, a sensored brushless motor is the best choice. Sensored motors give you very smooth control at low speeds. This is very important for getting over hard obstacles. This upgrade gives you a new level of performance, so it is a good investment for serious drivers.

5. RC Truck Upgrade: Aluminum-Bodied Shock

The shocks keep your tires on the ground and soak up bumps. Many RTR trucks come with plastic shocks that can leak and don't always work the same way. Changing to a set of aluminum shocks is a big upgrade for strength and performance.

Aluminum shocks are made better, so they move smoothly and seal better to stop leaks. They also let you tune your truck more easily because you can try different shock oils to change how your truck handles. This makes your truck drive better and feel more stable.

6. RC Truck Upgrade: Metal Bumpers

Being strong is important in the RC world, and the stock plastic bumpers are usually the first thing to break in a crash. Changing to steel or aluminum bumpers protects your frame and body from hits. It also adds a cool, tough look to your truck.

For crawlers, new bumpers can also make the truck work better. Many are made with better angles so your truck can get over steep rocks without the bumper getting in the way. Some also have spots to attach hooks for scale recovery.

7. RC Truck Upgrade: High-Torque Steering Servo

The steering servo works very hard, but stock servos are usually weak and have plastic gears. This is a problem because when you add bigger, stickier tires, it takes more power to turn them. This is especially true when a wheel is stuck in rocks.

Changing to a strong, metal-geared servo is a must for any serious off-roader. It will give you the power to turn the wheels all the way in any situation. This gives you good and precise steering control when you need it most. Look at the torque number to find one strong enough for your truck.

8. RC Truck Upgrade: Metal Gears

After you add more power with a LiPo battery and a brushless motor, the stock plastic gears in your transmission are the first thing to break. The extra power can easily strip the teeth off the plastic gears. This will leave you with a broken truck.

Changing to hardened steel or other metal gears is a very important step to make your truck stronger. This makes sure the power gets to the wheels without breaking parts. It is an upgrade that will save you from getting a broken truck on the trail.

9. RC Truck Upgrade: Adjustable Suspension Links

To get the best performance from your truck, you need to be able to change its suspension setup. Stock trucks come with plastic suspension links that you cannot change. Changing to adjustable metal links lets you adjust your wheelbase and other angles.

This type of adjustment lets you make your truck better for certain things, like making it better at climbing or more stable at high speeds. Metal links are also much stronger than the plastic ones.

10. RC Truck Upgrade: Transmitter

The transmitter, or radio, is how you control your truck. The stock radio works, but a better radio can make driving much better. Better transmitters have a longer range, a faster connection, and feel more comfortable to hold.

They also give you more ways to tune your car and often have more channels. You can use these extra channels to control things like a winch, lights, or a two-speed transmission. This makes it a great upgrade for advanced electric RC cars for adults.

Important Reminder About the Top Ten RC Truck Upgrades

Upgrading your RC truck is fun, but remember, you don't have to do it all at once. The best way is to do one upgrade at a time and see how it changes the way your truck drives. Do the upgrades first that will help your driving style the most. If you do it this way, you can build the perfect custom truck that is set up just for you.