R/C Drifting FAQ

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Advanced RC Drift SetUp Guide What chassis is the best for a beginner? What chassis should I choose? What chassis would you recommend? Those are among the most asked questions by most new members. Not that we don't encourage posting new threads, but having the same threads with the same questions and answers does get quite annoying. So to get rid of some of those posts, I sat down. And did what you should do, everytime you want to buy new stuff.... Research!

Before I start, I'd like to point out, that all the prices are from TowerHobbies is not specified otherwise. Since I'm in Denmark (that's in Europe for those who didnt know he he), I don't have to the great insight in US based shops. And since prices from shops here in Denmark are so much different from those in the US, I cant use them. And before I start telling you about the chassis's, let me make one thing very clear. RWD RC cars, or just 2WD cars in generel will not work! You need a 4WD RC car like every chassis listed here in this thread. First things, first...

Choosing the brand:
There are quite a few manufacturers to choose from these days. And that's a good thing, even if it takes you that much longer to find just the perfect chassis to suit your needs. Because it creates market competition, as everybody wants to make the best possible chassis for the end user, at the lowest possible price. So, that gives us great chassis at a "low" cost (low being in "'s as everything is relative Wink).

But on to the contenders.

Yokomo:
Yokomo almost single handedly made RC drifting mainstream. They made a drift specific chassis bare on their successful MR-4TC. But their other chassis' still hold their own in drifting. The SD SSG is one of those other chassis' that is used extensively throughout the scene (Eddie in the UK D1RC competition just to name one).

Tamiya:
The inventor of the RC as we know it today. Tamiya today offer great entry kits, but also a selection of VERY high quality full race spec kits. Like the TRF 415MSX.

HPI:
HPI.... The maker of the RS4 Pro series. And the latest incarnation, the Pro4. HPI has always had an preference for belt driven cars (altho the Pro4 is shaft). Altho people always argue which is best (belt or shaft driven), HPI's kits do the job they are supposed to do. Many hop-up parts are available for almost every chassis they make. So an entry-level Sprint sporting almost a full carbon setup is not impossible.

Hot Bodies:
A fairly new contender in the top class RC racing scene. Their Cyclone is a Pro4 derived belt driven race car. With many alu. and carbon bits as standard. Team Associated The maker of the TC-X series of chassis'. Used throughout the 1:10 scale touring car championships. The TA kits have won numerous A mains. And there's no doubt that they make very capable chassis'.

Team Losi:
Losi might not be such a popular brand. But their quality is very good. And their fully enclosed belt drive system on their XXX-S. Is imo a briliant idea.

Trinity:
Trinity wanted to make a Spec class (essentially all cars in the grid are the same), that would show the drivers skill. And not just how good the car was. So they needed a chassis. The T-Spec is what they came up with.

HBX:
Although not widely available in the US. The HBX cars can be found on eBay shops. They are essentially just cheap versions of Tamiya cars.

X-Ray
Well known in race circles but lesser known in Drifting, X-Ray only produce top grade touring car chassis - that is until recently with their T2R, a de-carboned version of their T2.

Now what?... The chassis' of course!:

With most of the manufacturers listed you should know what to search for on Google... But that still leaves you with the chassis' to choose. I'm afraid that it's all up to your wallet what you can/want to get, but I would like to say this. Even if you are a rich kid (no offence), that can afford the top of the line TRF-SSG-Pro4-JRXS-Cyclone-Factory Kit car. I suggest you start out with something a little more modest. As all those carbon bits will start to become quite expensive to replace when you break something.

I wont go into details of what's required to make them run. I'll just start by saying this:

Most kits today come with the chassis, some wheels and tyres, a motor (sometimes) and a body. Some rare exceptions include ESC's, and some still have MSC's included (MSC's are not recommended hehe).

So you will need some radio gear to make it run. Which includes the following:

Transmitter (stick or pistol type, is up to you).

These usually include servo's and a receiver.

Electronic Speed Control
This allows you to change the speed of your motor... Quite useful if you ask me Razz

Batteries:
NiCD, NiMH, LiPO ect.. Bottom line is. You wont get your car moving, unless it's got some juice.

Charger:
Even if you have batteries. You wont be able to use them, if you cant charge them. If the kits are available in RTR (Ready To Run) form. I will list it.
In which case. You wont need any of the above.

Ok, on to the really important stuff.

Chassis Options!!

Yokomo:

Drift Package
I might as well start with the most obviouse choice. The Drift Package.

This is what brought RC Drifting to the masses. It's now a widely used chassis, with many hop-up parts available. Good adjustability out of the box.

Specs: wrote:

Drive line: Shaft driven.
Shocks: Air shocks.
Differentials: Ball diffs all around.
Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber.
Ball Bearings: Yes, in gearboxes. Bushings at the wheels.
RTR: Partially... There is a Ready to Drift kit. But it dosnt include a shell and wheels/tyres.

Price on TowerHobbies: $229.99

MR-4TC SD
This comes in a varity of options, the Black Special, SSG Special and CGM Special. They are essentially the same car. The chassis and upper deck are made from different materials, which are:

Black Special: Black graphite chassis and upper deck.

SSG Special: SSG graphite chassis and upper deck.

CGM Special: Molded graphite tub chassis and chassis braces. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Shaft driven. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: Ball diffs all around. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: No. Special Notice: No motor included! Prices: Black Special: $528; SSG Special: $528; CGM Special: $478. Note, these are Yokomo's own M.S.R.P prices

Tamiya:
TT-01 This is the one most commonly suggested for people wanting to start out. Great tough chassis, but lacking adjustability in stock form. Also, forum member Sprinter says that part fitment can be tricky, as part quality wasnt the main concern when they designed this chassis. But dont let that turn you off. Many people dont even have that problem, and it's an excelent performer for it's price!

Specs: wrote: Drive line: Shaft driven. Shocks: Friction shocks. Differentials: Open gear diffs all around. Suspension Adjustability: None. Ball Bearings: No, bushings all around.

RTR: Yes, known as the XB-Expert Build Series. Special Notice: Good beginner chassis, includes TEU-101BK ESC in most kits, not all.

Price on TowerHobbies: Ranging from $89.99 to $112.99 for the kits.

TT-01D The drift spec kit of the TT-01. It features some upgraded parts compared to the vanilla TT-01. Most noticably, the oil shocks and ball bearings. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Shaft driven. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: Gear diffs all around. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: No. Special Notes: The TEU-101BK ESC is included, along with Tamiya's own Sports Tuned Motor.

Price on TowerHobbies: $134.99 TT-01R: The Racing version of the TT-01 chassis. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Shaft driven. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: Gear diffs all around. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: No. Special Notice: Includes 25T GT-Tuned motor.Price on TowerHobbies: $134.99

TB-02: A higher performance chassis in the Beginner - Advanced section. Fully adjustable out of the box. Good chassis for those wanting a solid platform to upgrade. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Shaft driven. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: Ball diffs all around. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: No. Special Notice: Includes foam inserts and motor heatsink. Price on TowerHobbies: Ranging from $159.99 to $164.99

TA-05: A new belt driven, mid-motor chassis. Comes fully adjustable and fully ball raced. Altho not recomended if you are going to drift in places with lots of small stones and pebbels. The kit sucks them up like a vacuum cleaner. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Belt driven. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: Ball diffs all around. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber, Ride height. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: No. Special Notice: Build for LCG and easy maintanace. Price on TowerHobbies: Ranging from $154.99 to $159.99

TRF 415 MSX Refine 2: Yes, it seems that the longer the name, the better the chassis Shocked. But this one really isnt for the fainthearted. You wont find more Alu and Carbon parts stock on any other Tamiya car. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Belt driven. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: I'm not 100% sure, but I guess spool diffs all around. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: No. Special Notice: If you only want to drift.. Dont buy this. If you want to race on the other hand.... Wink Price on SpeedTechRC: $429.99 Price on TowerHobbies: $549.99

HPI:

Sprint 2 RTR: Nice belt drive entry level chassis. If you are good at modding, many Pro4 parts can be modded to fit it. And it's available RTR! Specs: wrote: Drive line: Belt driven. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: Bevel diffs all around. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: Yes. Special Notice: Comes with a great electronics package, superior to most RTR cars out there. Lots of hop-ups available. Price on eHobbies / eBay: Ranging from $269.99 to $279.99

Pro4: Everything you could ever want in a chassis. This is a serious race chassis. But also a very successful drifter. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Shaft driven (alloy / carbon). Shocks: Alloy adjustable oil shocks. Differentials: One-way or ball diff front, ball diff rear, spool available. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber, Roll-centre, Ride height, wheelbase & track. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: No. Special Notice: Chassis only, not even wheels! Lots of alloy hop-ups available Price on TowerHobbies: $371.99 for the current Hara Edition.

Hot Bodies Cyclone: A serious race chassis derived from the Pro4. With many Pro4 parts interchangeable. This is Hara's new track weapon. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Belt driven. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: One-way front, ball rear. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber, Ride height, Wheelbase. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: No. Special Notice: Roller only. Price on TowerHobbies: $434.00 for the normal version. $459.99 for the Hara Edition and $459.99 for the Surikarn Edition.

Team Associated: TC4 Team/Factory Team: The successor of the popular TC3. Good allround car. Can be used on the track one day, and be taken to the parkinglot for drifting the next. Good durable design, and perfect as a first car that you can grow with. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Shaft driven. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: Ball diffs front / rear. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: Yes. Special Notice: MIP CVD's instead of Dogbones insure no powerloss at the wheels, even with full lock on the wheels. Price on TowerHobbies: $219.99 for the Team Kit and $349.99 for the Factory Team kit. And the RTR is listed at $399 on the TA website.

Team Losi: XXX-S Sport RTR2: With it's enclosed single belt drivetrain, the XXX-S maybe the best designed belt driven car for parking lot usage. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Enclosed Belt drive. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: ? Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber. Ball Bearings: ? RTR: Yes. Special Notice: Comes with a Trinity 19T motor, Losi ESC (Pictures on the Losi site show a relabled Novak XRS), and a JR XR2i pistolgrip radio. Price on eHobbies eBay shop: $269.99 JRX-S: Losi's new race chassis. So adjustable, that you can even change the diffs possition (R/F and U/D) to finetune the CG. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Belt driven. Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: ? Center can be Spool or One-Way. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber and much more. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: No. Special Notice: You might end up fooling around with the endless settings this chassis offers, than actually driving it hehe. Price on UltimateHobbies: $359.99

Trinity: T-Spec: The T-Spec was designed for Trinity's own Spec class, which is a one chassis allowed class. Many parts that are only available as hop-ups on similar priced kits are standard on the T-Spec. Specs: wrote: Drive line: Shaft driven (alu). Shocks: Oil shocks. Differentials: Ball diffs all around. Suspension Adjustability: Castor, Toe, Camber. Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced. RTR: No. Special Notice: Comes with a Trinity 20T motor in the Motor/Body/Battery package. Price on TowerHobbies: $97.99 for the normal version. And $119.99 for the body/battery/motor pack.

X-Ray T2, T2 2007 & T2R
This is X-Ray's current touring car range, all related. The T2R was released late 2006 and is a T2 but with graphite composite chassis decks rather than woven carbon fibre and a front ball diff rather than the T2 multi-diff (all upgradable). The T2 2007 model was released at the same time utilising a lower rear top deck. All parts are otherwise completely interchangeable. With eccentric mountings for all the drive train bearings and suspension points, this is the most adjustable chassis range on the market.

Specification:
Drive line: twin belt driven.
Shocks: Adjustable oil shocks with externally adjustable 'clickable' piston hole choice.
Differentials: Center can be Spool or One-Way, front & back can be muli-diff, one way, spool,
spool/oneway, ball diff.
Suspension Adjustability: Castor, toe, camber, roll centre, ride height, track & wheelbase.
Ball Bearings: Yes, fully ball raced.
RTR: No.
Special Notice: As adjustable as it gets but comes with a full set-up manual. Great 'quick adjust' designs incorporated. The T2R is exceptional value given the minimal differences from theT2 at twice the price.

Price on web: T2 2007 circa £280 / $400-690. T2R circa £130 / $200-275.

HBX: HBX TG-01 (Tamiya TL-01 Clone):
The HBX TG-01 Evo is a Tamiya TL-01 clone. The TL-01 is famous for it's bulletproof monocoque design. Altho the car is quite primitive in suspension, it makes up for it in sheer toughness.

Specs:

Drive line: Shaft driven.
Shocks: Friction shocks.
Differentials: Gear diffs all around.
Suspension Adjustability: None.
Ball Bearings: Yes, at the gearboxes.
RTR: Yes.
Special Notice: So old that Tamiya discontinued it.

Price on eBay: $54.99

Choosing what you want:

Best thing you could do if you are completely new, is getting one of the RTR kits above. That way you get all the electronics you need along with the kit. It will be cheaper for you in the end but, on the other hand, you are not able to customize your gear.

All the cars above are good cars (and are just about all the choices you have) but we have to pick a few of them out to recommend. So here we go, the recommended cars are:

Complete Beginner:
If you are a complete beginner, and you dont have any electronics or radio gear. And have never had a real RC. Then these are the recomended kits for you.

Tamiya TT-01 XB-Expert Build RTR Series:
A good chassis that many members will recomend you if you asked one of the questions I started this thread with. Mind you, that you will need to purchase a battery and charger to be fully RTR.

HPI Sprint 2 RTR:
With an electronics package consisting of Nosram goodies that include: Hawk ESC (waterproof ESC with 15T limit), Tornado SS3 motor (17T double), 1800mAh battery and a wallcharger. That and the fact that the Sprint 2 is a very good chassis, makes this a choice to be considered.

Team Losi XXX-S RTR II:
A good solid base, with good adjustability and a set of good radio gear. What more could you wish for?

HBX TG-01 (TL-01 Clone):
If you just want to get into the hobby, you wont find a cheaper way than this.

Novice:
If you have tried to build a car before (maybe you have been out of the hobby for quite some time), or you just want a kit that grows with your ability, then these are the choices for you.

Team Associated TC4:
Even if you go for the RTR, the car has great potential. As you progress, it will continue to suit your needs. It has great aftermarket support with many hop-up parts available. Tamiya TB-02: Being a step over the TT-01, you get some features that the TT-01 doesnt have. The fully adjustable suspension will be a welcome addition once you want to try you luck at setting your car up. And you will be happy that you didnt spend money on upgrading your stock TT-01.

Trinity T-Spec:
Considering it's price, and what you get for your money. The T-Spec should always be in your considerations when you start out. Yokomo Drift Package:
The one, the only, the original... With this car you cant go wrong.

Advanced: If you really have the money to burn, and think you are ready for the following options Wink. Then do look out for one of these. HPI Pro4: One of the greatest chassis' around. Masses of options even in stock form. And you can buy yourself poor in all the purple anodized aluminium you could ever want.

Yokomo SD Special's:
If it's the Black, SSG or CGM Special you happen to find. They will all be more than ample to suit your needs. And the looks of that silver SSG chassis almost makes up for the high price.

Final Thoughts:
No matter what you end up with, if you've chosen any of the above cars, you will be set to get into this great hobby. I know that there are some cars missing from the list (like the TC3), but I've compiled the list with cars that are widely available.

Also, please point out any mistakes I've made. And if you have additional info, please feel free to add it. Thank you for reading. ©SkipSkovhugger

HPI
RS4 Sport 2: $159.99
The Sport 2 uses a dual belt 4wd system, and includes oil shocks, ball bearings, pinion (28 tooth 48 pitch) and spur (87 tooth) gears, fiberglass chassis and a clear body of your choice (Dodge Stratus, Toyota Corolla Castrol, Porsche 911 996, Honda Civic SI or Nissan Silvia S15)

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
Electrical motor
ESC

RS4 Sprint RTR: $229.99
This kit is ready to run (RTR, and is also a good drifter, it's tough and durable, and doesn't require much maintenance.
The chassis, front bumper, upper deck, suspension arms and shock towers are made out of composite plastic.

Requires
N/A

RS4 Pro 4: $329.99
This is the most expensive kit from HPI, and it's only the roller, so you have to buy motor, wheels / tires, body, batteries etc.
This is really a serious race car, and HPI's own driver Atsushi Hara, travels around the world and races this chassis. It's fully adjustable, so ride height, camber, caster, toe-in and down-stops.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
Wheels and tires
190mm body
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
Electrical motor
Pinion gear
ESC

I couldn't find any prices on the Pro 2 and 3, since they have been discontinued, but they are also good drift cars, and if you can get a good one used, or maybe find an unbuilt example, then it's defiantly also a good choice.
The price of the Sprint is from RC Models ( LINK ), because TowerHobbies doesn't sell the sprint.

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Tamiya
TL-01: $84.99
The TL-01 is a relatively old design, and was first released in '97, but it's still a VERY good chassis. It's tried and tested, so there are many replacement parts and hop-ups, so the design HAS to be good if it's still so popular. It's a monocoque chassis which is all plastic. It comes with friction shocks which are not adjustable and a Mechanical Speed Control (MSC from now on) and a 540 stock silvercan motor, slicks and wheels.
There is a WIDE range of bodies for the chassis to choose from. So you really have to go to TowerHobbies and pick the one you really like the best, there are just too many to list.
This kit is also a very good drifter, just tape up the tires and you're away! And it's dirt cheap too!

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
Two servos (one is you're going to use an ESC)
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
the stock MSC can be replaced with an ESC, which is recommended.

TT-01: $84.00
The TT-01 is a new chassis in the cheap end like the TL-01. It's a tub style chassis "similar" to the TC3. It's got friction shocks which aren't adjustable. Like the TL-01 it includes a motor and an MSC, which most likely are the same as the TL-01 kits. It also comes with foam front bumpers, so if you hit something, it won't damage the chassis (although it doesn't mean that you should run your new TT-01 into a wall just for fun!). It comes with a clear body, although TowerHobbies only list the F60 (Enzo) and the 350Z Race Car, Tamiya have made a few other bodies including the Subaru Impreza, Mercedes CLK-DTM, Nissan Skyline R34 JGTC Edition, Honda NSX Raybrig JGTC and Ford Focus RS WRC.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
Two servos (one is you're going to use an ESC)
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
the stock MSC can be replaced with an ESC, which is recommended.

N.B! Tamiyas site lists some of the TT-01 kits with the MSC and some without! So check this before you buy one!

TA-04: $269.99
The TA-04 is a race chassis, so it's got a fully adjustable suspension, with camber, toe-in and ride height. It's got a full ball bearing set a motor heat sink and hard springs in the oil-filled shocks, so the suspension is ideal for drifting.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
Two servos
Electrical Motor
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
ESC

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Yokomo
Yokomo Drift Car: $199.99
This is a kit made for drifting, it's got its own style of wheel/tires that have rings of plastic in a set of grooves in the rubber, that helps the car get sideways. Unfortunately they wear out pretty fast, and are pretty expensive compared to PVC. It's got a fully adjustable suspension, so you can adjust ride height, camber and toe-in/caster. The kit comes with a clear body, where you can choose from: Toyota Corolla AE86, Nissan 180SX or the Mazda RX7 FD3S.
Ultimate Hobbies ( LINK ) and SpeedTech ( LINK ) both have the Drift kit for $199.99, so it's a lot cheaper than TowerHobbies! (Thx to OppLock for info)

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
one servos
Electrical Motor
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
ESC
Yokomo MR-4TC SD SSG: $339.99
This kit is a pure race car, which means that it can drift. The fully adjustable suspension, gives plenty of opportunity to set camber, ride height and toe-in/caster. The chassis is made from graphite with a silver coat, so it's very light, and very expensive.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
Electrical Motor
190mm Body
Wheels
Tires
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
ESC

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Team Losi
XXX-S RTR: $269.99
The XXX-s is a RTR car, although you can get it as a kit, but I wasn't able to find it (I'm not from the states, so I don't know the stores). It comes completely assembled, so no need to worry about the build if that intimidates you. It's got Team Losi's one belt drive system, which is enclosed so no debris will get into the belt, it's also got a belt tensioner integrated into the system. It's also got MIP CVD's instead of dogbones, ball differentials and ball bearings. This kit was again found over at RC Models ( LINK ), because TowerHobbies do not sell them.

Requires
N/A

T-Spec: $109.99
The T-Spec is a shaft driven 4wd, made from a tub-style chassis. It comes with a full ball bearing set, oil filled shocks and ball differentials in both front and rear.
The suspension is fully adjustable with ride height, camber and caster/toe-in adjustments.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
Electrical Motor
190mm Body
Lexan paint for the body
6-Cell battery pack
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
ESC

T-Spec Kit: $134.99
The T-Spec Kit, is the same as the above T-Spec. The difference is, that the kit comes with a 1600mAh 6-Cell battery, a 21T motor and a 190mm body (which I cant make out what car it is). But the rolling chassis is the same as the above.

Requires
2 Channel Radio set (and batteries for it)
One servo
Lexan paint for the body
Charger (peak charger is recommended)
ESC

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