RC Buggies

RC buggy radio control vehicles played a huge role in making the RC car and truck hobby as popular as it is today. The first remote control buggies appeared decades ago and were based on the dune buggies commonly found in full-scale desert racing. Today, the RC buggy category includes almost any radio control car or truck designed primarily for running on off-road surfaces, including grass, dirt, rocks, and sand, as well as on carpets and artificial turfs.

With their rugged designs and generous ground clearance, RC buggies can go almost anywhere — the rougher the terrain, the better! They love to take jumps. RC buggies feature full-travel independent suspensions, long-travel shock absorbers, and covered transmissions and radio compartments to keep them going in extreme conditions. On a 2WD RC buggy, the rear tires are usually spiked for traction, while the front tires are often thin and ribbed for good steering in dirt. On a 4WD RC buggy, all four wheels tend to have identical, spiked tires. They’re designed specifically for use on dirt. Running on pavement quickly wears down the spikes.

The selection of remote control buggies available from Tower Hobbies® is enormous. Through the years, the styles of RC off-road buggies that are available have expanded into other classes and now includes stadium trucks, monster trucks, and short course trucks.

Sizes range from compact 1/24 scale, or about nine inches long, to as large as 1/5 scale, or over two and a half feet long. If you want to start bashing immediately, you’ll find many RC buggies in the ready-to-run (RTR) completion level. For those who are mechanically minded, we also have RC buggy kits that require assembly.

The 2WD class of RC buggies tends to be the least expensive with fewer parts to maintain. For those reasons, 2WD RC buggies are usually recommended for beginners. However, they’re somewhat slower than RC buggies with 4WD transmissions. The 4WD RC buggies are also more aggressive and move more easily over rough terrain.

Whatever power type you prefer is represented in the RC buggies sold by Tower Hobbies. We have convenient, quiet, electric-powered RC buggies; RC buggies powered by muscular nitromethane (or glow) fueled engines; and for the highest level of realism, RC buggies equipped with true gasoline engines that roar like a real buggy as it rips over the dunes!

Best of all, you can buy a complete, ready-to-run RC buggy package without breaking the bank. For example, check out the 1/18 scale Axial® Yeti Jr.™ or 1/16 scale Losi® Mini JRX2. Both of these RC buggies offer realistic looks and are sized to run practically anywhere. And you can own either one for less than $200, with no other purchases necessary.

If you’re looking for an RC buggy that’s built for high speeds and serious bashing, the ARRMA® brand offers a number of good options. The 1/8 scale TYPHON™ 4WD is a brushless-powered electric buggy that’s also fully equipped, ready-to-run, and still affordably priced.

As your experience grows with radio-control buggies, your choices get even more exciting. The 1/8 scale Team Losi Racing® 8IGHT-X/E 2.0 comes it kit form and includes all the parts needed to build it for either electric or nitro power. This is a racer’s buggy, loaded with upgrade parts and a frequent sight on the winner’s podium at buggy racing competitions. Then there’s the 1/5 scale Losi DBXL 2.0 4WD Gas Buggy. At nearly three feet long and equipped with a 32cc gasoline engine, the massive DBXL buggy pulverizes the terrain at ballistic speeds. It’s not for budget-minded modelers, but if you’re looking for an RC buggy that will turn heads with its astonishing realism and high-impact excitement, this is the one.

Replacement and optional parts for your remote control buggy are also available from Tower Hobbies. Check out our full lineup and pick the RC buggy that suits you best.