How to Choose the Right 1/10 Scale RC Body

Choosing the right 1/10 scale RC body comes down to a mix of aesthetics, performance, and practicality. Here’s a complete guide to help you pick the perfect one for your rig.

1. “1/10 scale” does NOT mean one universal size. → A 1/10 touring car, a 1/10 short-course truck, and a 1/10 crawler can all be 4–6 inches different in wheelbase and width.

2. The two numbers that actually matter:

   • Wheelbase (front axle center → rear axle center)

   • Overall width (especially track width and body-post spacing)

3. Easiest ways to get the right body:

   • Buy the exact OEM replacement (check your manual for the part number)

   • Buy a body that explicitly lists your chassis in the “fits” section

   • Match the wheelbase ±3–5 mm and you’re usually safe

4. Some classes are very strict (touring cars, drift cars, buggies), others are forgiving (SCTs, monster trucks, crawlers).

5. You can sometimes force a body to fit with extended body posts, shims, or trimming, but it usually looks bad and hurts performance.

Wheelbase	Common Chassis Examples	Typical Bodies
323–328 mm	Traxxas Slash 2WD, most short-course trucks	Short Course Truck (SCT) bodies
335–340 mm	Arrma Senton, most modern 1/10 stadium trucks	SCT or stadium truck bodies
258–265 mm	Traxxas TRX-4M, most 1/10 crawlers	Hard-body crawlers, Lexus GX, Bronco, etc.
310–315 mm	Axial SCX10 III, TRX-4 (standard)	Jeep, Bronco, Ford, Toyota hard bodies
250–260 mm	Most 1/10 touring cars (Tamiya TT-01/02, Xpress, Yokomo)	Lexus, BMW, Supra, Skyline GT-R, etc.
257–260 mm	Most 1/10 drift cars	Pandora-style drift bodies (350Z, S13, etc.)
270–285 mm	1/10 buggies (Associated B6/B74, Losi 22, TLR 22)	Late Model, Buggy, or open-wheel bodies

Choose the Right Style for Your Discipline

• Short Course Truck (SCT) → Most popular for bashing (Pro-Line, JConcepts, Delta Plastik)

• Touring Car → On-road racing or street bashing

• Drift → Low, wide bodies with deep-dish wheels (Pandora One, Addiction Rocket Bunny, D-like, Overdose)

• Crawler/Scale Trail → Hard plastic lexan or ABS hard bodies (Chevy Blazer, Ford Bronco 2021, Toyota LC80, etc.)

• Monster Truck → Pro-Line 2021 Bronco, Ford Raptor, etc. for Traxxas Stampede/Rustler with extended mounts

• Buggy → 2WD or 4WD buggy bodies (JConcepts F2, Silencer, P2K)

Type	Pros	Cons	Best for
Clear Lexan	Light, durable, customizable paint	Requires painting & cutting	Racers, serious bashers
Pre-painted Lexan	Ready to run, decent detail	Paint chips easily, heavier	Beginners, casual bashers
ABS Hard Body	Insane scale detail, pre-painted options	Heavier, more fragile in big crashes	Scale crawlers & trail trucks

Aerodynamics & Performance Considerations

• Lower roof + smoother lines = less drag (better for speed runs & racing)

• Cab-forward designs (most modern SCT & buggy bodies) = better jumping/landing stability

• High-downforce wings (drift & touring) vs no wing (scale realism)

• Wider bodies can improve cornering stability but may rub on narrow arms

Popular & Reliable Brands (2025)

Top-tier quality:

• Pro-Line Racing (best all-around, huge selection)

• JConcepts (racing-focused, great aero)

• Bittydesign (premium touring/drift bodies)

• Delta Plastik (ultra-durable thick lexan)

• Pandora One / Addiction (JDM drift bodies)

• Killerbody (detailed ABS hard bodies)

• Tamiya (classic bodies, great for nostalgia)

Practical Tips When Buying

1. Check the included window masks, decal sheet, and wing (if needed).

2. Look for “0.7mm standard” or “1.0mm heavy-duty” lexan thickness (1.0–1.5mm for bashers).

3. Confirm body posts line up or buy adjustable body mounts.

4. For crawlers: get light buckets and interior sets for full scale points.

5. Read reviews for roof stiffness — cheap bodies flex and parachute when jumping.

Quick Recommendation Chart (2025)

Use Case	Best Body Picks (2025)
Traxxas Slash 2WD/4x4	Pro-Line 1979 Ford F-150, 2021 Ram 1500, Chevy Silverado
Arrma Senton / SCT	JConcepts 2021 Ford Bronco, Pro-Line Evader
1/10 Drift	Pandora One RX-7 RE Amemiya, Bittydesign E46 M3
Touring car racing	Bittydesign Nardò, Protoform Europa
Scale crawler (TRX-4)	Killerbody Mercury, Pro-Line 2021 Bronco hard body
Speed run / street basher	ZooRacing DogsBollox, Mon-Tech Racer 3

Measure your wheelbase first, decide clear vs pre-painted, then pick the style you love. The rest is just mounting and stickers!

2025 Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet (Most Common 1/10 Classes)

Vehicle Type	Typical Wheelbase	Typical Body Width	Popular Bodies (examples)
Touring Car (190 mm)	255–260 mm	190–195 mm	Protoform Europa, ZooRacing, Bittydesign
Touring Car (200 mm)	255–260 mm	200 mm	Mon-Tech, Xpress, Tamiya
Drift Car	257–260 mm	195–200 mm	Pandora One, D-like, Addiction, Overdose
2WD Buggy	270–285 mm	~190 mm	JConcepts F2, Schelle, raw speed
4WD Buggy	320–330 mm	~190 mm	JConcepts P2K, Silencer
Short Course Truck (SCT)	323–335 mm	280–300 mm	Pro-Line, JConcepts, Delta Plastik
Stadium Truck	325–335 mm	250–280 mm	Pro-Line Evader, JConcepts Illusion
Monster Truck (2WD)	300–335 mm	280–320 mm	Pro-Line 2021 Bronco, Ford Raptor
Crawler / Scale Trail	282–336 mm	varies	TRX-4 (312–324 mm), SCX10 III (313 mm), Redcat Gen8 (314 mm) → hard bodies from Killerbody, RC4WD, etc.

Pro Tip in 2025

Almost every reputable body listing (AMain, Horizon Hobby, Pro-Line, JConcepts, FairRC, etc.) now lists the exact wheelbase the body is cut for — usually right under the title. Example: “Pro-Line 2021 Ford Bronco – 12.3″ (313 mm) wheelbase – Clear Body for SCX10 III & TRX-4”

If you see that number and it matches your chassis, you’re golden 99% of the time.

So… what exact RC do you have (or are you building)? Give me the model (e.g., Traxxas Slash, Axial SCX10, Tamiya TT-02, Arrma Senton, Losi Mini-B, etc.) and I’ll tell you the exact wheelbase and the top 3–5 bodies that drop right on with no drama.