RC Mudding Trucks Take Off-Roading to the Extreme!

An RC mud truck, like full-size mudding trucks, has one primary mission. It must get across a wet, muddy pit, trail, or track without becoming hopelessly stuck.

Full-size mudding events attract thousands of drivers to join in the mud-flinging fun with their ATVs, UTVs, and mega trucks. Overseen by the American Mud Racers Association and the National Mud Racing Organization, these events feature contests in which the winners are determined by how far they can travel through a mud pit and/or how long it takes them to do it.

RC mudding truck enthusiasts test their machines and driving mettle against the elements in a similar way. Check out this short video from Axialfest to see an Axial RC mud truck power through mud and water up to its wheel hubs.

The rig is an Axial SCX6 Jeep JLU Wrangler, not a remote control vehicle that was specially built for swampy crawls. That’s part of the excitement in RC mudding — diving head-first into the muck with a relatively stock RC truck to see if it’s got the right stuff to be an RC mud truck!

RC mudding trucks, like those seen in this compilation of RC mudding videos, must be powerful and durable enough to handle sudden stops, drops, and collisions, along with the adverse effects of water, mud, and hidden obstacles like sticks and stones.

Does that sound like fun? Of course it does! So let’s take a closer look at the qualities that make a successful RC mud truck, how to prepare one for the hazards of RC mudding, and how to set up an RC mudding course of your own.

What to look for in an RC mudding truck

If you don’t have access to a real truck to take mudding, an RC mud truck may be the next best thing. It’s almost as much fun, at a much lower cost.

The ideal remote control trucks [link https://www.horizonhobbyshop.com/rc-trucks] to use for RC mudding are those designed and equipped to withstand extreme off-road environments. While there is no RC vehicle in the Losi brand lineup that’s specifically called a Losi mud truck, the overpowered, overbuilt Losi LMT King Sling 4X4 brushless mega truck is up to the challenge — as you can see for yourself as it leaps and attacks the mud in this video. The same is true of the King Sling’s brother, the Losi LMT Bog Hog 4X4 brushless mega truck.

With their detailed, licensed mega truck bodies, the Losi King Sling and Losi Bog Hog look ready and willing to do the work of RC mud trucks. But you can rest assured that the Losi team didn’t just slap scale bodies and big tires onto their existing LMT platform to call them Losi mud trucks. Some factory changes were made to the platform to better prepare them for the challenges of RC mudding. For a detailed look at those changes, watch this video from RC Driver:

Your RC mudding truck is bound to take some hard hits from competitors or from slamming into mounds of dirt, clay, and rock. You want it to be a rugged 4X4 that you can control reasonably well over slippery surfaces. An RC mud truck’s top speeds shouldn’t compromise its handling ability, and the shocks should be able to absorb bruising impacts. If it’s not equipped with them stock, install a set of high-traction off-road tires and add mud flaps if possible. When you head out for the RC mudding track, take along plenty of towels, a tool kit, and spare parts.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, be extra diligent about making sure the electronics of your RC mud truck are as waterproof as possible. Read on for some tips on that subject.

How to waterproof your RC mud truck

Many RC manufacturers promise that their equipment is waterproof. That may be true, but if you’re going RC mudding, you’d be well advised to take some additional waterproofing measures. As you saw in the RC mudding videos, the conditions you’ll encounter are beyond extreme. Going RC mudding sometimes quite literally means taking your RC mud truck for a swim.

Start by removing the receiver box, ESC, servo, and motor from your RC mud truck’s chassis so you’ll have better access to all of the electronic components. Clean the electronics carefully and thoroughly to remove any dirt. Now you’ll need a spray-on rubber sealant. It should be designed for use on electronics and be resistant to moisture and vibration. Plasti-Dip is a good choice that’s available at most hardware stores.

Apply the sealant in thin layers following the manufacturer's instructions, covering your RC mud truck’s exposed circuit boards, wires, and connectors. Be sure to seal around edges and solder points. Avoid building up a thick layer of sealant, which could trap moisture and damage your electronics. Other spots where you’ll want to apply sealant on your RC mud truck’s electronics are around exposed wire connections and the antenna wire exit hole in the receiver box. Heat shrink tubing can also be used to waterproof these areas.

After protecting the electronics from water, move next to your RC mud truck’s gears and axles. To do this, first disassemble the differentials. Then apply enough marine grease to the gears and bearings (as well as to the axles) to repel water. Inspect the chassis for any gaps or openings that might allow water to enter. Seal them using silicone sealant or rubber gaskets. It’s also wise to look for gaps or cracks in the body shell and seal them with the sealant or a layer of waterproof tape. That will help prevent water from splashing into the electronics compartment of your RC mud truck.

Test out your waterproofed RC mud truck before taking it into deep mud and water. Run it in a controlled environment, checking to make sure the electronics all still function properly. As part of your maintenance routine, and especially after heavy sessions of RC mudding, inspect the areas of sealant to make sure they’re still holding up. Apply more sealant for effective waterproofing as needed.

Build your own RC mudding track

It’s pretty simple to build your own mud bog pit for having fun anytime with your RC mud truck. Grab a shovel, dig a trench or some holes, and just add water! If you have a garden tiller, use that to make the digging a bit easier on your back. You can line the bottom of your pit with a tarp or plastic trash bags to keep the water from seeping quickly into the ground. Then fill the pit or trench with clay and topsoil, grab a hose, soak with water, and let the fun begin.

Be sure to add in some hidden challenges. For example, by digging one side of your mud trench a little deeper than the other, your RC mud truck will be forced to drive on an angle. That makes it a bit more difficult to crawl your way out of the muddy hole.

You can also change up the degree of difficulty by using different thicknesses of mud. Mix more dirt and clay into the water for thicker, stickier mud. Add more water for a soupy, swampy scene. Give your RC mudding trucks a real challenge by tossing some branches into the mud pit. Now not only do you have to maneuver your truck through the muck, but you have to navigate around floating logs!

Don’t forget to clean up your RC mud truck

At the end of every exciting RC mudding session, you’ll be left with a big grin on your face and a truck whose every nook and cranny is caked with mud. This is not the time to pop a cold one and revel in your mudding victory. Clean up your RC mud truck as quickly as possible, before it turns into a big, hard ball of dirt with tires sticking out.

The good news is you already thoroughly waterproofed your RC mud truck. Now you can just grab a hose and give your rig a thorough car wash. And if you didn’t take the time to waterproof your RC truck before sending it into the bog? In that case, you probably have bigger problems than just getting the mud off.

Once you’ve hosed all the mud off of your RC mud truck, grab a can of WD-40 and spray all the nuts and bolts to keep them from locking up with rust. For an especially thorough cleanup, take the axles apart and clean the bearings. Do not skip this step if there was any sand in your mud bog. Sand has a way of sneaking in and wreaking havoc on the bearings.

Now that your RC mud truck is spic and span again, there’s just one thing left to do. Charge up your batteries and dive right back into the mud!