Redcat Racing Volcano EPX is an entry level RC monster truck. If you are new to the world of RC trucks or you are thinking of getting a gift for someone who is, choosing the right truck is very important. Considering that you are probably buying this for someone who has little or no experience with RC vehicles, you don’t want to get something that’s on the high end. So an affordable, entry-level vehicle is just what you’re looking for and to a large extent, the Volcano EPX by Redcat Racing fits the bill. BUT, is it as ‘fast and powerful’ as the manufacturers claim? Well, I’ll tell you more about that with this review.The Redcat Racing Volacno EPX is a 1/10 scale ready to run entry level monster truck. As you read this review (and any other you find online), it is important to remember that the Redcat Racing Volcano EPX is an entry level truck and most RC vehicles cost at least twice as much. This is a very affordable truck and is not in any way, a pro-grade RC monster truck. I might be stressing the fact, but it’s necessary to get that firmly in view before we go on with the Redcat Racing Volcano EPX review. This is so that if you do decide to buy this, you know exactly what you’re getting.

Speed

At a maximum of 20 mph, the Volcano EPX is definitely not the fastest kid on the block, however this is a great speed for beginners who are just learning how to handle their first RC car. It is capable and steady on the ground and moves at a decent speed. I’ll say that it is a great way to get introduced into the world of hobby grade RC monster trucks.

Jumping

For a 1/10 scale 4WD vehicle, the Volcano EPX performs okay when it comes to making jumps. To be fair, it isn’t really made for jumping, but it gives a good show and lands okay when you make jumps that are not too high.

Turning

This is one area where this truck from Redcat Racing really shines. Watching it turn at full speed is simply amazing. Like I’ve mentioned before, it is steady on the ground and this is quite evident when you make a turn. It can turn at full speed on flat surfaces without suffering any flip. That is pretty amazing, if you ask me.

Handling

This truck handles quite well on different terrains. Even though it is not marketed as an all-terrain vehicle (probably because it isn’t), it does very well in rough terrains, on asphalt, in mud and water. Actually, it is said to be waterproof. I don’t know about that, but it does well in water without affecting the truck in a bad way. For a brushless truck, the Racing Volcano gives a great run.

Tires

The tires are built off-road with foam inserts and they are solid. You might read some complaints about the Volcano EPX, but you won’t get to hear much about the tires and that’s because they are durable and don’t wear out. The tires are large and keep the truck balanced and sturdy on the road. Also, the 4-wheel drive means that you get excellent traction. Another thing is that this truck maintains speed and balance on uneven terrain without wearing out the tires.

Servos

The stock parts are mostly plastic, so even though they’ll probably serve you on a few runs, they will eventually give out when you bash the truck a number of times. Since bashing is inevitable because of the speed of this truck, you should plan to replace these parts. An upgrade to an aluminum servo saver will extend the life of the truck. The steering servo is also plastic, so you should most definitely look into upgrading that for the aluminum version.

Bashing

So yeah, the Redcat Racing Volcano EPX can take a bashing, it really can, but you should expect broken parts. Considering that you can get this RC truck for under $150, I would say broken parts are only to be expected. Still, it’s nothing too damaging and the truck can take a fair amount of abuse before anything gets broken. On a personal note, it took several days of consistent use and abuse before the front fender got broken. So that’s something to look out for…it will take a beating, but only for a while before parts begin to break.

Durability

It is quite rare to find a hobby grade RC monster truck of such quality for this price. This is a truly durable truck. You would expect that a truck of that level would be totally destroyed after a couple of runs, but that isn’t the case. Even though you will have some broken parts after a while, they can all be replaced. Also, you can easily replace the stock plastic parts to aluminum parts, which are much stronger. If you decide on the upgrades, you will get to run this truck for much longer.

Broken Parts

No matter the brand, when you race an RC truck at top speed, you will eventually have to deal with broken parts. With the Redcat Racing Volcano EPX however, there seem to be a little more broken parts than you would get with a Traxxas for instance. Of course, since this truck is about half the price of a Traxxas, that isn’t too surprising.

When the time comes to replace the broken parts, prepare to search in several local stores before you find any, and maybe not even then. Very few local stores carry the parts of the Redcat Racing Volcano. However, you can easily get what you’re searching for online. Also Redcat Racing has amazing support and they ship out spare parts in good time.

Batteries

The stock battery is where I had issues with this truck. First of all, it’s almost as though the truck has more power than the stock batteries can handle. So you will only get about 10 minutes run time on fully charged batteries, which is in no way enough particularly since it takes so long to get the batteries fully charged. The good news is, you can switch to LiPos, which increase acceleration and last longer.

The stock battery charger is another problem. It charges slowly and doesn’t last. So changing that too might be a great idea.

Radio

The Volcano EPX uses a 2.4GHz Radio System. The remote itself is not particularly fancy, but it is functional. There is a rubber antenna that looks quite nice. It has rubber on the steering wheel and a steering dual ray. It does not feel like a pro-grade RC truck, but it’s okay.

Final thoughts…

Many professional RC truck racers will probably turn up their noses at the Redcat Racing Volcano EPX, mostly because of the price and also because it is not one of the heavy duty, all-terrain RC monster trucks. And that’s okay.

This is a truck that is perfect for a newbie. It has a lot of power and some speed, but not so much that it flusters the person controlling it. You certainly don’t want a truck that moves too fast for the user to control.

It is also important to note that a beginner is going to bash the vehicle a lot. So you need a truck that can take a beating without getting destroyed and the Volcano EPX will give you that. I like the fact that it is half the price of most RC monster trucks because it just means you are not hampered by the fear of destroying an expensive truck. You’re free to let it out full throttle and see what it can do.

Some tips to consider if you do decide to go ahead and buy the Volcano EPX. First, you need to read through the manual thoroughly before you take it out on the road. There are important setting up details that you shouldn’t miss. Second, prepare to carry out some upgrades. If you want to enjoy your Redcat Racing Volcano EPX for a long time to come, then you should upgrade to aluminum parts. Trust me, the stock parts will give out once you bash it enough times.

All in all, I would say that Redcat Racing Volcano EPX is a fantastic RC truck to have and makes the perfect first truck for a beginner. This is one monster truck that will give you a great bang for your buck.

I hope you enjoyed my redcat racing volcano epx review. Do you own a Redcat Racing Volcano EPX? If so let me know how you like it in the comments below.