The Bashing Guide.

RC bashing involves using a powerful and durable remote-controlled car on various terrains, with bumps, jumps, and obstacles, without seeking the constraints of competition on a track.

For this practice, I recommend a robust brushless 4x4 RC bashing car, equipped with good suspensions and a transmission sized for the motor power.

Not all RC cars are suitable for this use. A buggy, a truggy, and a monster truck will not behave the same.

A 4S, 6S, or 8S power supply also makes a big difference.

So, I will explain how to choose your RC bashing car, what power to prioritize, and what mechanical elements to look at before buying.

I will also compare several architectures, with well-known examples such as the Traxxas X-Maxx and Sledge, ARRMA Kraton, Team Corally Kagama, and the Gunner 6S MHDPRO.

What is RC bashing?

RC bashing is a free practice of remote-controlled car modeling that involves using an RC car on various terrains, with sharp accelerations, bumps, jumps, and obstacles.

There is no time to beat, nor necessarily a track.

The goal is simple: to enjoy the vehicle's off-road performance and capabilities.

A session can take place on dirt, gravel, grass, or a rugged path. A suitable private area may also include ramps and allow for jumps.

More experienced drivers may seek maneuvers like wheelies, backflips, and other stunts. However, this type of use requires mastering the car and choosing a suitable terrain.

This explains the use of expressions like RC basher, RC basher, RC bash car, or monster truck basher.

To practice bashing with a highly performing 1/8 RC car, the Gunner 6S Truggy is a particularly suitable solution.

This idea is also found among manufacturers. ARRMA uses the term "basher" on some models in the Kraton range, while Team Corally clearly positions the Kagama in this universe.

What is the difference between RC bashing and competition?

Bashing emphasizes versatility, robustness, and driving pleasure, while competition primarily seeks efficiency and consistency on a defined track.

A competition buggy is designed to be fast and precise on a track. Its weight, geometry, tires, and settings meet this objective.

A vehicle intended for extreme RC bashing meets other constraints. It must withstand terrain irregularities, changes in grip, repeated accelerations, and jump landings.

Therefore, durability plays a significant role.

This does not mean that an off-road vehicle is indestructible. A bad landing can damage an A-arm, a shock tower, a driveshaft, or another part, regardless of the model's reputation.

Which RC car to choose for bashing?

For regular practice, I would prioritize a 4x4 brushless RC car with good suspensions, a reinforced transmission, and mechanical parts adapted to its power.

The choice between buggy, truggy, and monster truck then depends on the terrain and your driving style.

If you mainly drive on a relatively flat surface and seek precision, an RC buggy may be suitable.

If you want to combine speed, stability, jumps, and off-road capability, I find the RC truggy particularly interesting.

If you are mainly looking for large tires, ground clearance, and a strong ability to navigate degraded terrain, look more towards the RC monster truck.

In any case, a good RC bashing car is not solely judged by its maximum speed.

I would first look at:

• 4x4 or 4WD transmission;
• brushless motor type;
• accepted LiPo power, 3S, 4S, 6S, or 8S;
• chassis design;
• differentials;
• driveshafts and transmission components;
• shocks;
• suspension arms;
• chassis reinforcements;
• ground clearance;
• tire diameter and width;
• adjustment possibilities;
• availability of spare parts.

Power is therefore only part of the equation.

Which RC car for big jumps?

For big jumps, I recommend an RC truggy or monster truck with a long-travel suspension, good shocks, and a chassis designed to withstand strong stresses.

It is important to understand what happens during a jump.

Acceleration allows for taking off. The motor power can also help an experienced driver control the vehicle's attitude when in the air.

But the landing is the delicate moment.

The energy accumulated by several kilograms of a car must be absorbed in a very short time. The tires, suspension arms, shock absorbers, and chassis are then heavily stressed.

That's why I prefer a coherent design over just a power race.

Big Bore shocks, solid shock mounts, suspension arms capable of absorbing some of the stresses, and a reinforced chassis are more compelling arguments than a few extra kilometers per hour.

The Gunner 6S MHDPROs are equipped with Big Bore hydraulic shocks, 5mm aluminum shock mounts, a central aluminum reinforcement bar, and high-strength composite front and rear reinforcements.

For use with bumps and jumps, these are characteristics that I consider relevant.

Monster truck or truggy for jumps?

Truggies generally offer more precise and stable behavior, while monster trucks prioritize ground clearance and the ability to navigate very rough terrains.

It's a matter of compromise.

With the Gunner Truggy 6S, I would seek more stability, directional changes, and a sporty behavior.

With the Gunner Monster 6S, I would prioritize large tires, ground clearance, and behavior more oriented towards extreme all-terrain.

For someone torn between the two Gunners, this is probably the first choice to make.

Brushless 4S, 6S, or 8S: which power to choose?

4S already offers high performance, 6S is an excellent level for a large 1/8 basher, while 8S is mainly for very large vehicles and drivers looking for even more power.

The "S" corresponds to the number of LiPo cells connected in series.

A LiPo cell has a nominal voltage of about 3.7 V. Therefore, you get approximately:

However, it would be wrong to conclude that an 8S vehicle is always "better" than a 6S one.

The vehicle's mass, motor KV, gear ratio, wheel diameter, ESC, and many other parameters influence acceleration, available torque at the wheels, and speed.

Why choose a 4S RC car?

A 4S RC car already provides a lot of power while generally being easier to handle than a larger 6S or 8S model.

The Traxxas Maxx is a well-known example of a 4S brushless vehicle.

For a driver discovering high-performance off-road driving, it's not always necessary to immediately seek the most powerful setup.

A more controllable car can be more enjoyable, especially on a relatively small terrain.

Why choose a 6S RC car?

The 6S is particularly suitable for high-performance 1/8 RC cars and, in my opinion, represents an excellent compromise between power, weight, and control.

It's a highly represented category.

You can find the Traxxas Sledge 6S, the ARRMA Kraton 6S, the Team Corally Kagama XP 6S, as well as the MHDPRO Gunner Truggy 6S and Gunner Monster 6S in this category.

It's not a coincidence.

A 6S power supply already provides a considerable power reserve for a 1/8 RC vehicle.

The accelerations become very sharp, and the vehicle has the necessary resources for difficult terrains, bumps, and jumps.

The Gunners use a Hobbywing 2000 KV brushless motor and a Hobbywing 150 A ESC, combined with a 4x4 transmission.

For me, this 1/8 + brushless + 6S + 4WD architecture is particularly coherent for an RC bashing car.

Why choose an 8S RC car?

The 8S is for those who want to use very large RC vehicles capable of handling nearly 30 V of nominal voltage.

The Traxxas X-Maxx is probably the most well-known example. It operates on 8S, and Traxxas advertises over 50 mph, which is over 80 km/h under the manufacturer's specified conditions.

The X-Maxx has dimensions and an architecture mainly designed for this power.

Therefore, I advise against reasoning in this way: "8S is better than 6S, so I need 8S."

A large 6S 1/8 can already offer impressive performance, with a more reasonable size and mass.

What is the difference between an RC monster truck, a truggy, and a buggy for bashing?

The monster truck focuses on big tires and ground clearance, the truggy seeks a balance between stability and off-road capabilities, while the buggy emphasizes precision and agility.

This is how I would summarize the three architectures.

The RC Buggy

The RC buggy is interesting if you prioritize precision and a competition-like behavior.

Its generally low center of gravity and architecture favor quick directional changes.

However, its ground clearance and tires are often less suitable than a monster truck for tall grass or very degraded terrain.

For driving on a large area of relatively smooth ground, it is very enjoyable. For extreme off-road driving, I personally prefer a truggy or a monster truck.

The RC Truggy

The RC truggy is probably the most versatile compromise between sporty behavior, stability, and rugged terrain capability.

It takes some of the buggy's philosophy but with tracks, tires, and architecture adapted to more versatile use.

This is precisely the interest of the Gunner Truggy 6S MHDPRO.

You keep a sporty behaving car, but you have a 6S brushless motor, a 4x4 transmission, and suspensions suitable for much more aggressive use.

For fast driving on the ground, tackling bumps, and making jumps, the Gunner version is the one I would prioritize.

If you prefer to build your own car, discover the Gunner Truggy 6S 1/8 kit version.

The RC Monster Truck

The RC monster truck is the natural choice when prioritizing big tires, ground clearance, and challenging terrains.

It is the epitome of a monster truck basher.

Its large wheels more easily handle terrain irregularities. On grass, dirt, gravel, or rough paths, this architecture makes perfect sense.

The Gunner Monster 6S MHDPRO follows this philosophy with a 4x4 transmission and a Hobbywing 6S motorization.

If you enjoy bumpy terrains, bumps, and obstacles, this is the Gunner of the two that I would prefer.

If you are looking for more rock crawling and jump-absorbing capability, the Gunner 6S Monster is another option in the range.

The Gunner Monster 6S 1/8 kit version allows you to choose your own electronics and assemble your car.

How to choose a durable RC car for extreme off-road driving?

A durable RC car for extreme off-road driving must combine a sturdy chassis, a transmission sized for the motor, good suspensions, and parts capable of absorbing shocks.

Do not be mesmerized by the advertised speed.

For a bash RC car, I start by looking underneath.

Check the chassis and its reinforcements

The chassis is the vehicle's frame and must withstand the stresses transmitted by the suspensions and transmission.

A reinforced and properly braced chassis limits excessive deformations.

On the Gunner 6S, MHDPRO notably uses a central anodized aluminum reinforcement bar and high-strength composite front and rear reinforcements.

The principle is found in competitors as well. For example, the ARRMA Kraton 6S uses a 3mm 6061-T6 aluminum chassis. The Team Corally Kagama also uses a 3mm 6061-T6 aluminum chassis with chassis reinforcements.

The pursuit of rigidity and strength is therefore not a detail. It is a constant on large 6S models.

Look at the transmission before speed

A reinforced transmission is essential when the brushless motor delivers a lot of power.

Repeated accelerations, receptions with rotating wheels, and changes in grip put a lot of strain on differentials, drive shafts, gears, and transmission nuts.

The Gunner 6S features three reinforced differentials, hardened steel drive shafts, a 49-tooth crown gear, and a hardened steel motor pinion.

The wheel hexes are made of 17mm anodized aluminum.

These are exactly the kind of features I'm looking for in a 6S RC basher.

Inspect the shocks and suspension

For heavy use, shocks must control chassis movements and absorb irregularities without turning the car into a bouncing ball.

The Gunner uses Big Bore hydraulic shocks with protective boots.

Three anchoring positions are offered on the mounts. The suspension geometry is adjustable, with front and rear sway bars.

These settings are important.

A car intended to go fast on a compact surface does not necessarily require the same settings as a vehicle used on very rough terrain.

Big tires are not just for looks

The diameter, width, and tread pattern of tires directly influence traction and the ability to overcome irregularities.

This is particularly evident on a monster truck.

A large tire increases the ability to pass certain bumps and holes, but also adds rotating mass and changes the stresses imposed on the transmission.

It's all about balance.

Gunner 6S, Kraton 6S, Kagama 6S, Sledge 6S, or X-Maxx 8S?

The Gunner 6S falls into the category of large 1/8 4x4 brushless vehicles, competing against well-known models like the ARRMA Kraton 6S, the Team Corally Kagama 6S, or the Traxxas Sledge 6S, while the X-Maxx 8S belongs to a larger category.

I prefer to be precise here.

Saying that a Gunner 6S is simply "better than an X-Maxx" wouldn't make much sense.

The architectures, dimensions, powers, and positions are not identical.

The comparison becomes much more interesting with the 6S models.

This comparison mainly shows one thing: the Gunner 6S performs well in the world of high-performance 1/8 RC vehicles designed for intensive off-road use.

Gunner Truggy 6S vs. ARRMA Kraton 6S

The Gunner Truggy 6S and the ARRMA Kraton 6S share a similar philosophy: 1/8 scale, 4x4 transmission, and brushless motor up to 6S.

The ARRMA Kraton 6S uses a Spektrum Firma 2050 KV motor and a Firma 150 A ESC. It has three differentials and a 3mm 6061-T6 aluminum chassis.

The Gunner responds with a Hobbywing 2000 KV motor and a Hobbywing 150 A ESC, three reinforced differentials, hardened steel drive shafts, Big Bore shocks, and several aluminum components.

Both architectures show how the 6S has become a coherent solution for this type of vehicle.

Therefore, the Gunner deserves consideration by a buyer looking for a 6S RC truggy alternative to the most well-known references.

Gunner Monster 6S vs. Team Corally Kagama 6S

The Gunner Monster and the Team Corally Kagama both cater to the demand for a 1/8 brushless 6S monster truck designed for off-road use.

The Kagama XP uses a Kuron 2050 KV motor and a Torox 185 A ESC. Team Corally advertises three differentials, aluminum Big Bore shocks, and a ground clearance of 90mm.

The Gunner Monster relies on the Hobbywing 2000 KV / 150 A combo, its three reinforced differentials, hardened steel drive shafts, and Big Bore shocks.

The choice must therefore be made based on the entire vehicle, the desired behavior, its equipment, its price, and the availability of parts, rather than just the number on the variator.

Gunner 6S vs. Traxxas Sledge

The Traxxas Sledge is another relevant reference point to understand the positioning of the Gunner 6S.

The Sledge is also a 1/8 brushless 6S vehicle. Traxxas equips it with a Velineon 2000 KV motor and has particularly worked on the rigidity of its architecture, with an aluminum chassis and several reinforcements.

The Gunner Truggy follows a similar logic of a large 6S all-terrain vehicle, but with its own Hobbywing set and MHDPRO design.

For the buyer, the Gunner expands the choice beyond the most publicized American brands.

Gunner 6S or Traxxas X-Maxx 8S?

The Gunner 6S and the Traxxas X-Maxx 8S are not strictly equivalent competitors, as the X-Maxx is a significantly larger vehicle powered by 8S.

Traxxas advertises a brushless 8S motorization for the X-Maxx and a speed exceeding 50 mph.

This power display is spectacular, but it comes with a much larger vehicle.

If you are specifically looking for a very large 8S monster truck, the X-Maxx meets that expectation.

If you want a 1/8 6S RC basher, closer to Kraton, Kagama, and Sledge in its positioning, the Gunner models are much more logically compared to these.

Gunner Truggy or Gunner Monster: which one to choose?

Choose the Gunner Truggy 6S to prioritize stability and sporty behavior, and the Gunner Monster 6S to prioritize ground clearance, large tires, and rough terrain.

Both vehicles share several technical elements and the same purpose: high-performance brushless RC bashing.

So, your choice should start with your terrain.

If you enjoy driving fast on dirt and gravel, taking curves, attacking bumps, and maintaining precise behavior, I would lean towards the Gunner Truggy 6S.

If you drive more on grass, degraded paths, uneven terrains, and you like the massive behavior of a monster truck basher, the Gunner Monster 6S seems more suitable to me.

In both cases, you have a 4x4 transmission and a brushless motor capable of running up to 6S.

Is a 6S RC car suitable for a beginner?

A 6S RC car is not the choice I recommend for starting without experience in remote control driving.

The power and weight of these vehicles require more anticipation.

The Gunner models are also presented as remote-controlled scale models for adults, with a minimum age requirement of 14 years in their manual.

If you are a beginner, gradually learn to manage acceleration, braking, and the car's reactions before seeking maximum performance.

An open space is also essential.

Which LiPo battery to choose?

The LiPo battery must strictly adhere to the voltages accepted by the ESC and motor of your RC car.

Never choose a battery solely because it "fits" in the compartment.

Check the voltage, number of cells, dimensions, connector, capacity, and manufacturer's recommendations.

The Gunner 6S models accept different configurations up to 6S and use XT90 connectors.

The charger must also be suitable for the LiPo batteries used.

A LiPo battery requires special precautions for charging, storage, and use. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

4x4 or 2WD for off-roading?

For a powerful car used on rough terrain, I strongly prefer a 4x4 or 4WD transmission.

Four-wheel drive facilitates power transfer to the ground and provides more traction on dirt, gravel, or grass.

This is particularly beneficial with a 6S brushless motor.

The two Gunners use a RC 4x4 bashing transmission, like the main competing vehicles mentioned in this guide.

What speed is needed for fun?

There is no minimum speed, and maximum speed alone does not determine the capabilities of an RC car.

I prefer to emphasize this point.

A very fast car that is difficult to control or unsuitable for the terrain may not necessarily be more fun.

On rough terrain, traction, acceleration, suspension, and ground clearance may be more important than a few extra kilometers per hour.

For jumps, the ability to control the approach and landing is also more important than a theoretical maximum speed.

Can you drive on grass?

Yes, but grass creates more rolling resistance and can put a strain on the power system of an RC car.

The taller the grass, the more effort the motor and speed controller have to exert.

The large tires and ground clearance of a monster truck have an advantage here.

In this type of terrain, I would prefer the Gunner Monster 6S over the Truggy.

On very short grass or a mixed terrain of dirt/grass, both architectures can be interesting.

Always monitor the temperature of the electronics and follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Can you drive in water with an all-terrain RC car?

Electronics advertised as splash-resistant do not mean that the RC car can be submerged or used in water without caution.

This is a common misconception.

Mud and water can also affect bearings, transmission, and metal parts. After wet use, maintenance becomes even more important.

Always refer to the precise instructions from the manufacturer of your model.

What maintenance is required after an intensive run?

After an intensive run, I recommend cleaning the car, checking the transmission, suspension, wheels, and screws, and ensuring that no part has become loose or damaged.

An inspection takes a few minutes and can prevent a breakdown on the next run.

Pay particular attention to suspension arms, drive shafts, hubs, bearings, gears, shock mounts, and wheels.

Also, check that the tires are still properly glued.

A RC basher naturally undergoes more stress than a car used gently on flat ground. Maintenance is therefore part of the practice.

What is the best choice for starting in high-performance off-road driving?

To get into high-performance off-road driving, I prefer a good consistent and robust brushless 4x4 over a systematic race to 8S.

4S is already a high-performance level.

6S represents an additional step, particularly relevant on vehicles 1/8 designed to handle it.

This is precisely where the Gunner Truggy 6S and Gunner Monster 6S MHDPRO come in.

They combine the elements I look for in a car intended for intensive use: Hobbywing brushless motor, 150A ESC, 4WD transmission, three reinforced differentials, hardened steel drive shafts, Big Bore shocks, reinforced chassis components, and numerous tuning options.

The Truggy emphasizes a balance between precision and off-road capability. The Monster focuses more on large tires and challenging terrains.

It's up to you to choose your philosophy: fast trajectories and stability with the Gunner Truggy 6S, or the character of a monster truck basher with the Gunner Monster 6S.

In both cases, the principle remains the same. To succeed in a good RC bashing car, power matters, but the quality of the chassis, transmission, and suspension matters just as much.