RC Gas Cars and Trucks

Gas powered RC cars and trucks top the wish lists of all radio control hobby enthusiasts who make realism their highest priority. Most gas powered radio control vehicles are 1/5 scale or larger, like the Losi® 5IVE-T. They run on the same gasoline that full-size automobiles use, blended with motor oil for lubrication. The size, the sound, and even the smell combine to create a more authentic driving experience than any other type of remote control car. Gas powered RC cars are the hobby’s biggest, baddest machines!

That doesn’t necessarily mean gas powered radio control cars and trucks are beyond the capabilities of modelers with little hobby experience. In some respects, RC cars with gasoline engines are easier to drive than some 1/10 scale brushless electric speed RC vehicles. Large gas models accelerate less quickly and react more slowly to control inputs. You have a little more time to think. The down side is that if you do lose control and crash, a big 1/5 scale gas RC car can cause a lot more damage. For that reason, gas powered RC cars are best used by inexperienced drivers only if you have wide-open places to run with plenty of room to recover from mistakes.

Your initial cost for a 1/5 scale gas powered RC car or truck will likely be higher than most other types of radio control vehicles. The Redcat Racing Rampage Chimera 4WD, one of the lowest priced gas models available from Horizon Hobby®, is over $700 as a ready to run (RTR) model, without fuel. But large gas powered RC models are economical to run once you get past that first purchase.

One of the biggest advantages of gasoline power is the low operating cost. Gas RC vehicles use the same fuel that you put into your full-size automobile. Before you fill the tank, you’ll need to mix the gasoline with oil. Gasoline RC engines are lubricated for protection from overheating by the oil mixed into the fuel. The proper fuel-to-oil ratio is explained in your gas model’s instruction manual. Pre-mixed fuel can be purchased from hobby retailers or wherever lawn and garden equipment is sold.

Even with gas powered RC cars, batteries still matter. Receiver battery packs are required. With run times that last over 40 minutes and heavy-duty servos working the linkages, these vehicles demand a lot from their receiver packs. For most 1/5 scale gas RC cars, a high-capacity LiPo pack will be needed to power the onboard gear.

As equipped out of the box, a 1/5 scale, ready to run, gas powered RC car can reach about 35 to 40 MPH. Compared to a brushless 1/10 scale electric vehicle, that may sound slow. But remember the size difference. We’re talking about a nearly three foot long, thirty-plus pound RC vehicle like the 1/5 scale Losi® DBXL pounding the terrain at that velocity. “Can it go faster?” is usually the last comment you’ll ever hear!

If you’re wondering whether using high-octane fuel will give your gas powered RC car more power, the answer is no — at least, not unless your engine is optimized for it. The engines included with Horizon Hobby gasoline powered radio control vehicles are designed to run on regular gas. Save a few cents at the pump and use the low octane fuel.

Keeping your large gas powered RC car or truck in good running shape isn’t much different from maintaining a smaller model. You’ll want to inspect it after every use, cleaning the air filter and making sure to tighten any hardware or parts that have loosened. Clutch wear does require close attention. Otherwise, you can wear the shoes down to bare metal and possibly tear up the clutch bell.

If you have the budget for a 1/5 scale gas powered RC car and the space to run it, there’s no reason not to give one a try. Rather than translating into more work and complexity, the large size just means bigger fun! Replacement and optional parts for your gas powered RC vehicles are also available from Horizon Hobby.