HAIBOXING1/18 Scale Brushless Fast RC Cars 18859A, 4WD Off-Road Remote Control Trucks 48 KM/H Speed for Adults and Kids Boys, All Terrain Truck Toys Gifts with Extra Shell and Battery 40+ min Play

My son and I have a few HBX basher trucks and truggies and all have been great.We were trying to source one of these HBX 18859a trucks in the UK but couldn't get one by normal means, so I had to order from Amazon USA! However, it worked and we got our truck in around a week. Fantastic.The truck has basically the same mechanicals and overall design as the 1/16 16889 series, but the scale is smaller at 1/18 and most parts are not interchangeable.Due to time pressures and winter weather, we haven't run the truck that much so far, but it is very lively and shows all the same characteristics as the other HBX trucks we have; fast, durable and fun. Battery life is 20-25 minutes if you sensibly use a low voltage LiPo alarm to avoid draining the battery too much. Due to the size, you can have fun in a modest-sized garden rather than needing lots of space, which bigger RCs demand.Durability comes from very light weight, meaning less energy is carried into any crash, no obvious weak spots in design and use of a plastic that flexes very well to absorb energy. The drivetrain is metal throughout so seems rather bullet proof and reassuringly over-engineered for this size of truck. We don't smash our trucks about too much, but do run them quite a lot and so far, all our HBX trucks have never developed a fault.This truck comes with both pink and green bodies, so you have a choice of looks and a spare body, which is great. The body has been restyled over the older version for a more aggressive and modern look.Tyres are lower profile than the bigger trucks and despite the probably more aggressive acceleration from this tiny one, it seems less liable to flips and rollovers, despite no wheelie bar at the back. I consider wheelie bars as mandatory kit on the 16889 and while it would be nice to have one on the 18859, it isn't perhaps as essential. This would suggest the centre of mass is lower or the overall proportions make for increased stability.The rear suspension sags a bit out of the box, so a few turns of preload on the oil shocks sorted that. The front seems a little over-sprung and over damped, so could benefit from trying a lighter oil in future, but it handles well enough anyway. It is slightly skittish, due to light weight and short wheelbase, but surprisingly stable overall, even when doing a fast run on asphalt, when it pays to change the steering rate to reduce the chance of too harsh an input.The handset has been upgraded over the older model and is now the same as the 16889. These are good handsets, with lots of control, including power settings for inexperienced drivers, steering trim and rate. On open ground we have used these handsets at 100m range without loss of communication.The included charger is ok for a full charge, but cannot do storage charges, which are essential for long term battery safety and long battery life. I would recommend getting a universal charger that you can use to do full or storage charges and set the charge rate....I use 1 amp as it's a 1000MAH battery. This charger can then be used with any other RC batteries you have.Another recommendation would be a cheap LiPo battery alarm and checker. When running the truck you simply clip the battery balance lead into the alarm and it will beep when the battery cells discharge to a preset voltage. I have mine set at 3.4V per cell. If you discharge LiPo battery cells to around 3V they may not recover.Over all this is is an amazing little RC truck for the money and very good for small areas. It is easy to take on a camping trip or day out and a blast to drive.

Update: 4/12/2025Increasing this review to 5 stars. Initially my main concern was parts availability and support. But this thing is an absolute beast for what it is (a 1/18 car), it deserves every bit of 5 stars. It is literally indestructible. I let every kid I know abuse the absolute crap out of it, and it just keeps going. Only minor maintenance needed (greasing bearings, diffs, etc.). Talk about bang for buck, this thing is awesome!TL;DR: This is a small scale hobby grade RC that has all the upgrades you would want, relative to competitors, at a great price. It is fast, durable and fun to drive.Pros and consPros:Great priceDurableMetal drivetrainFastNice bodyCons:Aftermarket supportParts prices and availabilityIn depth review -Here I will go into greater detail regarding this RC. Read on if you enjoy the nitty-gritty.Summary: if you want a small scale rig, or a beginner RC, at a good price with many desirable upgrades, this is it. Perfect for those in town or with limited space, just starting out, or wanting something different (smaller). Be aware that 1/18 is much smaller than your standard RC. That being said, it is a blast and stands up well to anything you throw at it, including bash sessions (jumping/etc.). It is hobby grade (upgradable/fixable), which is a step above toy grade (disposable/unfixable). Some might consider it a step below other hobby-grade brands (Arrma/Traxxas/Losi/etc.), but it is very close.Drivetrain: for me, this is the heart and soul of an RC - any rig is only as good as it’s drivetrain. This RC has an all metal drivetrain, with serviceable metal gear differentials, metal drive shaft, metal axels, and metal out cups/hub shafts. These are all upgrade options on most competitors. The differentials have a bit too much plastic inside them for my liking, but overall the drivetrain is very solid. The diffs do contain metal gears and have grease from the factory, although I did clean them up and add my own grease. They are easy to service, which is nice. Also note that the diffs are not sealed; silicone fluid will likely leak out (unless VERY thick). Grease is the most viable option, which leaves them very “open.”Suspension: this RC comes with aluminum shocks, again typically an additional upgrade on most rigs. And they operate effectively, although I did run into an issue with one shock shaft bending on me. They were filled with oil from the factory and do a great job dampening. The arms seem small but hold up surprisingly well.Chassis: this RC seems to have a solid chassis. It’s a bit cramped, but that’s kind of a given with the size/scale. Just be aware battery and electronics options are limited. There are bearings throughout, although most are non-serviceable.Electronics: the stock electronics are more than adequate for everyday driving and bashing. The speed is actually very good - it can be difficult to hit or maintain top speed due to the small size/wheelbase; controllability at top speed with this scale is tricky. On high traction surfaces (grass/carpet) you can pull wheelies; on low traction surfaces, slamming the throttle means spinning out, sometimes uncontrollably. On the downside, the throttle seems to lack initial/instant acceleration on throttle punch, and instead takes a while to “build up” speed. The brake is also fairly weak, barely slowing it down more than just letting off the throttle. This leads me to believe truly unlocking this beast means upgrading the ESC/Receiver/Transmitter. The motor could probably use a heatsink/fan, but doesn’t get overly hot.Body: I actually love the pink/purple/silver/black color scheme. And I normally do not like pink rigs. But it looks awesome. I also received the upgraded version with only one body, but including roof bars/roll bars/rear guard, and let me tell you, I LOVE THEM!!! It does such an awesome job protecting the body, and would much rather have the extra protection/support rather than two bodies. I did reinforce some critical areas with automotive goo and/or fiberglass drywall tape (on the inside), which seems to help quite a bit.Batteries/charger: batteries are sufficient, no problems, seem to work well. Didn’t even use the included charger. I have a dedicated LiPo charger, and highly recommend one over the included USB charger (research LiPo care, if needed). 3S LiPos do work (can confirm), but it makes a fast RC almost too crazy. The only reason I can see for 3S is speed runs (which this RC isn’t well-suited for) or enhanced acceleration. And going with 3S is at the expense of increased failure/decreased durability. If you don’t care about durability, or like fixing your rigs, go for it, but seems unnecessary to me.Wheels/tires: nothing special. They work. Planning on upgrading or trying something bigger at some point. Compound could be a tad softer; tires seem to perform better after being broken in a bit.Support/Maintenance : seller seems very responsive to issues. Third party parts support seems non-existent. Primary part support is spotty - availability can be limited, and granularity is lacking (example: need to buy a four-shock kit, for instance; can’t buy a shock repair kit, individual shocks, rods, etc.). That said, the parts you do buy seem cheaper than competitors for similar parts. One thing I do LOVE about this RC is the ease of maintenance. Everything is easy to get to, and simple to take apart. Nothing takes more than 10-15 minutes tops. I do wish they used hex screws though. Also wish the chassis/motor mount was easier to include aftermarket parts/upgrades/options.Overall, this is one of the best value RCs you can get. Sure, there are nicer rigs (that cost 2-3x as much), but this needs no immediate upgrades, works great out of the box, and can withstand quite a bit of use/abuse. I have many other brands of RCs, some quite expensive, and this one is just as much fun. And at the price I’m not afraid to break it! If you want to spend 800+ fully customizing/optimizing your RC, you may want to look elsewhere. If you want value, reliability and fun, look no further!