Buy the Traxxas TRX-4M if you want one micro crawler that does everything well, the Axial SCX24 if you'll crawl mostly indoors, and the Redcat Ascent-18 if you want portal axles, a brushless motor and metal gears for the least money. All three come ready to run with a small LiPo battery and charger, and all three have big aftermarkets, so there's no wrong answer, only a better fit.
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 the current Amazon listings for each platform on October 3, 2026, and compared only what the manufacturers state: scale, motor, battery, axles, chassis and what's included. Sales signals came 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 100+, and the Ascent-18 APEX 100+. Where a spec isn't on the listing, we leave it out.
This is a How we pick comparison based on listings, manuals and 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. Modeled on the same full-size truck, a 1/18 crawler is 24 ÷ 18 = 1.33 times larger in every direction. That extra size is what lets the 1/18s roll over grass, gravel 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
The TRX-4M is the one we'd recommend to most buyers. Traxxas lists a full 45° steering angle for tight turns, a 2065T steering servo, oil-filled shocks and fully waterproof electronics, so puddles and wet grass aren't a problem. The High Trail edition adds a long-arm lift and bigger tires for more clearance, plus a full-size transmitter, and it's among 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
- Battery, charger and full-size radio in the box
- Waterproof per Traxxas
- Huge 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
The SCX24 is the original micro crawler and still the best size for indoor courses: a stack of books, a couch cushion, a garden of pebbles on the patio. The Gladiator version has a metal chassis with steel frame rails, oil-filled shocks and front LEDs, 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, perfect 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 packs the Ascent-18 with hardware that SCX24 and TRX-4M owners often buy as upgrades: portal axles for clearance, high-steer geometry for tighter turns, an aluminum ladder chassis, metal gears and bearings. The brushless motor and 750 mAh pack round it out. The trade-off is a smaller parts ecosystem than 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
- TRX-4M Bronco and TRX-4M Defender: the standard-wheelbase TRX-4M with different bodies.
- SCX24 Toyota 4Runner and SCX24 Power Wagon: same SCX24 platform, different scale bodies; the Power Wagon includes Pro-Line Super Swamper tires and an overland rack.
- Ascent-18 Scout II Brushless: a 3450KV outrunner motor, LED lights and an International Scout II body.
- Ascent-18 APEX: the performance version with a carbon-fiber low-CG chassis and 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, so a second battery is the most common first purchase. Match the replacement to the connector and the battery bay size: 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, but they're slow. A small balance charger with a storage mode, covered in our LiPo charger guide, makes it easy to keep packs at storage voltage between sessions.
Upgrades and parts
All three platforms are upgrade magnets, which is half the fun. On Amazon this month, SCX24 owners were buying aluminum shocks, brass skid plates and steel driveshafts by the hundreds; TRX-4M owners were buying threaded shocks, steel driveshafts and the waterproof INJS2065 replacement servo; Ascent-18 owners were buying stainless driveshafts and portal gear sets. Popular 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 are usually the best first upgrade; see the best RC crawler tires.
The bottom line
If you can only have one, get the Traxxas TRX-4M High Trail: it's the best balance of size, toughness and support. Choose the Axial SCX24 for indoor and desk crawling, and the Redcat Ascent-18 Brushless if you want portal axles and a brushless motor without buying upgrades. All three use LiPo batteries: charge them with their supplied charger on a fire-safe surface or in a LiPo bag, never unattended, and store 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