There’s been a huge explosion in the number of Nitro RTR monster trucks sold in the past few years, with users of all experience levels entering the hobby. One of the most appealing aspects of RC monster trucks is the ability to customize your truck with aftermarket parts. The number of option parts available is nearly limitless, which can make figuring out where to start especially confusing. We’ve spent some time recently going through many of the different hop-up options out there and tried to answer some of the most common questions you might have in regards to what to upgrade, why to upgrade, and what specific parts do. We will help explain the benefits (and some downfalls) of upgrading parts, what are some of the key performance upgrades, and which ones add that “Bling Factor.”

What are Hop-Ups?

One of the coolest things about RC monster trucks is the nearly limitless possibilities that are available in terms of option parts. Hop-up parts can encompass a wide range of products, each with a different benefit to you. Hop-up parts can be constructed out of different materials, such as titanium, aluminum, carbon-reinforced molded composites, to graphite. Some of these hop-ups make your truck more durable, others make your truck operate more precisely, some make your truck faster, while still others add style and flair to your truck. Half the fun is simply deciding on the parts you’ll install and the order in which you’ll hop up your truck. Before you get too far in a project, you should ask yourself what your end goal is in regards to upgrading your truck. This is less of a factor if you simply replace a broken or damaged part with, say an aluminum one. Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves, grab your tools, and dive in.