This article was published with special permission from RC Car Action.

Minis are red hot, but the most combustible segment of this smokin’ scene is 1/18-scale 4WD stadium trucks. Team Associated’s RC18T was the first big mover, followed in quick succession by vehicles from DuraTrax, XRAY, Trinity and even Radio Shack. That’s a lot of choices—and potentially, a lot of confusion for the guy with cash in pocket who’s eyeballing a bunch of boxes on the shelf. Which is fastest? Toughest? Best equipped? We drove all the currently available 1/18-scale 4WD mini trucks to answer those questions and more.

The RC18T is available in two versions; Factory Team and RTR. The Factory Team version is packed as a kit and requires you to pick out the electronics. The Factory Team also includes many of the options that Team Associated offers. The RTR shown here comes assembled with electronics installed. A 6-cell battery and wall charger complete the package. Adjustable ball diffs allow smooth operation of the truck and permit slight adjustments so you can change how the truck feels in the turns. An aluminum driveshaft connects the front and rear diffs, and plastic dogbones drive the wheels. Rings around the drive cups prevent them from spreading and the dogbones from falling out when heavy loads are applied. Fixed-length camber and toe links keep the tires and wheels in position, and a molded plastic servosaver protects the servo’s gears.

DuraTrax first released a Vendetta buggy, and it proved to be quite a capable performer right out of the box. It features a tough 4WD gear diff drivetrain, independent front and rear suspension, a complete set of ball bearings, aluminum shock towers, fluid-filled shocks and a standard-size steering servo. DuraTrax took this proven design and refined it by adding front pivot-ball suspension, improved shock mounts, a hotter motor, a larger-capacity NiMH battery pack and an all new speed control. With these improvements and the addition of larger truck tires and truck body, the Vendetta ST (stadium truck) was born. The Vendetta ST is backed by the Stress-Tech plastic-parts guarantee: that replaces any Stress-Tech part that breaks within the first 12 months you own the car. This mini truck comes out of the box ready to go—requiring nothing extra to buy to get it running.

RadioShack has been a huge player in the toy-RC market for years, but the Pro-Pulse (built and serviced by Megatech) minis represent the brand’s first foray into genuine hobby-quality RC. Two models are offered: the buggy-flavored B100 and the truck-styled T100, tested here. Both share the same RC18-styled platform and are differentiated by body, wheels and tires. The Pro-Pulse cars are the most affordable in the shootout, even when you factor in the cost of the sold-separately battery and charger. Despite the low price, the T100 is well equipped with full bearings, oil shocks, independent speed control and receiver and 370 motor. In keeping with hobby theme, RadioShack offers a full line of replacement and accessory.

Trinity offers the Blade in three versions: Blade B, an RTR with Mamba brushless power; Pro Roller, a fully assembled chassis kit with body, wheels and tires but no electronic gear; and Blade RTR, complete with painted body and brushed-motor electronics. The standard Blade most closely matches the specs and pricing of the other trucks tested, so that’s the model we chose for the shootout, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find standout features. A full set of aluminum shocks are the most noticeable upgrade over standard mini fare, while the front and rear ball differentials are less easy to spot (unless you peeked at the specs). Steel turnbuckles and dogbones increase durability and adjustability, and the Blade’s unusual snub-nosed bodywork sets it apart from the crowd.

XRAY is well known for producing some of the highest quality and successful 1/8- and 1/10-scale RC racecars available. Its mini offerings are no different. The M18T is a back-to-back national champion in the U.S. with Zack Barry winning in ’06 and ’07. Besides being a winner on the track, the solid design and high-quality components of the M18T are readily apparent. The truck features ball differentials and a ball-bearing-supported steering system. In fact, the entire drivetrain spins on ball bearings. XRAY also includes front and rear anti-swaybars and four pinions, so you can dial in the gearing to any size venue. The M18T is only offered as a kit, which is what most racers prefer. Like the rest of XRAY’s offerings, the M18T seems designed to excel at racing, and what wins on the track usually does just fine in the backyard or the driveway.