Most people should buy the Traxxas TRX-4M. It's the micro crawler that does everything well. If you'll crawl mostly indoors, the smaller Axial SCX24 is the better fit. And if you want portal axles and a brushless motor for the least money, buy the Redcat Ascent-18. All three come ready to run with a small LiPo battery and charger, and all three have big aftermarkets behind them.
Quick picks
| Best all-rounder | Traxxas TRX-4M F-150 High Trail | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Best for indoors and desks | Axial SCX24 Jeep Gladiator | Amazon |
| Most crawler for the money | Redcat Ascent-18 Brushless | Amazon |
How we compared them
We pulled each platform's Amazon listing on October 3, 2026. The comparison sticks to what the manufacturers state about scale and motor, battery, axles and chassis, and what's in the box. Sales signals are from the same day. The TRX-4M F-150 High Trail and Bronco each showed 300+ purchases in the past month; the SCX24 Gladiator and Power Wagon showed 100+, as did the Ascent-18 APEX. If a spec isn't on the listing, it isn't here.
This is a How we pick comparison built from listings and manuals plus owner feedback, not a hands-on test. How we research.
Size: the difference you'll notice first
The SCX24 is 1/24 scale. The TRX-4M and Ascent-18 are 1/18. Copy the same full-size truck at both scales and the 1/18 version comes out 24 ÷ 18 = 1.33 times larger in every direction. That's the margin that lets a 1/18 roll over the grass and pine needles that stop an SCX24.
Spec by spec
| Axial SCX24 | Traxxas TRX-4M | Redcat Ascent-18 Brushless | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale | 1/24 | 1/18 | 1/18 |
| Motor | Brushed | Brushed | Brushless |
| Portal axles | Not listed | Not listed; long-arm lift on High Trail | Yes, with high-steer geometry |
| Chassis | Metal with steel frame rails (Gladiator) | Check listing | 2 mm aluminum ladder |
| Battery included | 350 mAh LiPo | LiPo (High Trail listing) | 750 mAh 2S LiPo |
| Charger included | 0.5A USB-C | Yes (High Trail listing) | USB |
| Radio | Spektrum SLT2 2.4 GHz | Full-size 2.4 GHz (High Trail) | 2.4 GHz; needs 4 AA |
| Waterproofing | Check listing | Fully waterproof, per Traxxas | Waterproof ESC and servo |
| Standout | Smallest, best indoors | 45° steering, toughest all-rounder | Most hardware for the money |
"Check listing" means the manufacturer's Amazon listing doesn't state it. Specs vary by body version; we used the SCX24 Gladiator, TRX-4M High Trail and Bronco, and Ascent-18 Brushless listings.
The best version of each
Traxxas TRX-4M F-150 High Trail
If a friend asked us which micro crawler to buy, this is the answer. Traxxas lists a full 45° steering angle for tight turns, a 2065T steering servo and oil-filled shocks. The electronics are fully waterproof, so a puddle or wet lawn won't end the session. The High Trail edition adds a long-arm lift and bigger tires for more clearance, plus a full-size transmitter, and it's one of the best sellers of the three.
- Scale1/18
- Liftlong arm lift kit
- Tires2.4" Mickey Thompson Baja Pro XS
- IncludedLiPo battery, charger, full-size 2.4 GHz transmitter
- Bodyclipless ABS
Why it stands out
- Comes with battery, charger and a full-size radio
- Waterproof per Traxxas
- Deep parts support from Traxxas and the aftermarket
Think twice if
- You want portal axles without buying upgrades; the Ascent-18 has them stock
Axial SCX24 Jeep Gladiator
A stack of books, a couch cushion, a patio full of pebbles: that's SCX24 territory. It's the original micro crawler and still the best size for indoor courses. The Gladiator version has a metal chassis with steel frame rails and oil-filled shocks, plus front LEDs, and it comes with everything needed to run. Its upgrade catalog on Amazon is enormous, from brass weights to aluminum shocks.
- Scale1/24
- Chassismetal, steel frame rails
- RadioSpektrum SLT2
- Included350 mAh LiPo + 0.5A USB charger
- ExtrasLED lights, licensed KMC wheels, Nitto tires
Why it stands out
- Smallest footprint; happiest indoors
- Biggest upgrade-parts selection of any micro crawler
Think twice if
- Grass and gravel stop it quickly
- Small 350 mAh pack, so buy spares
Redcat Ascent-18 Brushless
Redcat ships this truck with parts SCX24 and TRX-4M owners often end up buying as upgrades. Portal axles add clearance, and high-steer geometry tightens the turns. Underneath there's an aluminum ladder chassis with metal gears and bearings. A brushless motor and a 750 mAh pack finish it off. What you give up is parts availability, which is thinner than for Traxxas or Axial.
- Scale1/18
- Axlesportal, high-steer
- Chassis2 mm aluminum ladder
- Drivetrainmetal gears, aluminum spools, ball bearings
- Included750 mAh 2S LiPo, USB charger, 4 kg waterproof servo
Why it stands out
- Portal axles and brushless motor stock
- Largest included battery of the three
- Compatible with Scout-18 and MT-18 parts, per Redcat
Think twice if
- Transmitter needs 4 AA batteries
- Fewer parts in local hobby shops
Other versions worth knowing
The TRX-4M Bronco and TRX-4M Defender are the standard-wheelbase TRX-4M under different bodies. On the Axial side, the SCX24 Toyota 4Runner and SCX24 Power Wagon share the SCX24 platform; the Power Wagon adds Pro-Line Super Swamper tires and an overland rack.
Redcat has two more worth a look. The Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless has a 3450KV outrunner motor and LED lights under an International Scout II body. The Ascent-18 APEX is the performance version, with a carbon-fiber low-CG chassis and a Hobbywing 3500KV system on a 3S 200 mAh pack.
Which one fits you?
| If you… | Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Live in an apartment and crawl indoors | SCX24 | Smallest; a bookshelf is a full course |
| Have a yard, park or rock garden | TRX-4M | Bigger tires and clearance; waterproof per Traxxas |
| Want to tinker but hate buying upgrades twice | Ascent-18 | Portal axles, metal gears and bearings already installed |
| Want the strongest local parts support | TRX-4M | Traxxas parts are stocked in most US hobby shops |
| Are buying for a teen who'll share with a parent | TRX-4M | Full-size transmitter (High Trail) and simple setup |
| Plan to enter micro crawler comps | Ascent-18 APEX | Low-CG carbon chassis and forward weight bias |
Running costs: batteries and charging
The included batteries are small. Crawling is gentle on packs, but sessions still end sooner than you'd like, which is why a second battery is the usual first purchase. Match the spare to the connector and the bay. The SCX24's bay is tight, and the TRX-4M uses a Traxxas iD-style connector (Amazon sells a Traxxas iD charge port for TRX-4M batteries). The Ascent-18's 750 mAh 2S pack is the largest included pack of the three.
The USB chargers in the box work, slowly. A small balance charger with a storage mode, like the ones in our LiPo charger guide, makes it easy to keep packs at storage voltage between sessions.
Upgrades and parts
All three are upgrade magnets, and for many owners that's half the appeal. On Amazon this month, SCX24 owners were buying aluminum shocks, brass skid plates and steel driveshafts by the hundreds. TRX-4M owners went for threaded shocks and steel driveshafts, along with the waterproof INJS2065 replacement servo. Ascent-18 owners were buying stainless driveshafts and portal gear sets. Good first upgrades:
- Hardened steel driveshafts for TRX-4M (300+ bought last month)
- Brass skid plate for SCX24 to lower the center of gravity
- Stainless steel driveshafts for Ascent-18 APEX
- 1.0" brass beadlock wheel and tire set for 1/24 and 1/18 (check fitment for your truck)
Tires usually beat everything else as a first upgrade; see the best RC crawler tires.
Pick one and go
Buy the Traxxas TRX-4M High Trail unless you have a specific reason not to. It's big enough for the yard and tough enough for it, with the best parts supply of the three. The reasons not to are narrow ones. If all your crawling happens on a desk or a living-room floor, get the Axial SCX24. If you'd rather have portal axles and brushless power out of the box than buy them later, get the Redcat Ascent-18 Brushless.
Whichever you pick, it runs on LiPo. Charge it with the supplied charger on a fire-safe surface or in a LiPo bag, never leave it unattended, and store packs at storage voltage (Traxxas Battery Basics).
Specs come from each manufacturer's Amazon listing, checked October 3, 2026. Prices change often, so the buttons above show the current price on Amazon. How we research · Affiliate disclosure