The Redcat Racing Ascent 18 Changes Everything

In this video I run and review the brand new Redcat Racing Ascent 18! This is Redcat's first mini crawler, but it's evident they had done their homework. The Ascent 18 includes many of the performance focused features like it's big brother, the 1/10 Everest Ascent, including portal axles, oil filled shocks, and bearings throughout. The Ascent 18 is affordably priced at under $120, making this RTR an attractive offering for anyone looking for their first, or next mini crawler.
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Timestamps
Crawling montage: 0:51
First impressions and key features: 2:55
Size comparisons: 5:44
Performance tests: 7:24
Indoor course runs: 8:35
Rock crawling: 14:06
Final thoughts: 21:33

[@CapeCrawlers]

Timestamps Crawling montage: 0:51 First impressions and key features: 2:55 Size comparisons: 5:44 Performance tests: 7:24 Indoor course runs: 8:35 Rock crawling: 14:06 Final thoughts: 21:33

[@CrawlSD]

Ordered my Red one 30 min ago to match my 10th scale Ascent! If you want to donate the extra accessories you dont use on your demo rig, I'll put them to good use!😅

[@stlzjguy]

Love watching your videos. My house just caught fire sat and I lost all of my crawlers and drones. But your content gives me hope and looking forward to one day be able to have some cool crawlers

[@millzthrillzmtb2679]

Very sorry to hear that and best of luck, it wasn’t a lipo that started it was it ? 🫣

[@CapeCrawlers]

So sorry to hear that!

[@StreetBikeIke]

That comment took an unexpected turn ngl but best of luck to you. That really sucks

[@stlzjguy]

Yea it was a lipo. If anyone has any crawlers they wanna donate it would mean so much to me and I would appreciate it so much

[@VS666]

huge congratz on 100k!!! i think i've been here since like 12k... my subscriber list was spammed with everyone dropping this review at once but I had to watch yours, you're the mini crawler king! this thing is adorable. i never got around to getting an Ascent but I may have to get the little guy as well when I do get around to it. even at $119 this thing looks REALLY capable, oil shocks...portals, LCG chassis, big battery...looks like a winner!

[@CapeCrawlers]

Thank you!

[@ENGIEBENJY]

Checkers or wreckers bit got me haha @13.13

[@OutdoorMackie]

I just ordered mine! They look so goood and capable!

[@ericfaley9019]

I ordered one the day I received the email from RedCat. Just received my notification it shipped today Friday March 8th. I’ve extremely happy with my Marksman T8.

[@outcastrc8052]

Ordered my blue one a few hours ago! Thanks for the detailed review to confirm that I made the right choice to add this rig to the stable. Looking forward to the upgrade video to assist me in considering what needs to be added in the immediate term. THX

[@driven_by_rc]

I’m in love! Those wheels and that color look so good! Get me some injora stamped steel white wheels like that and some brass for them and some good tires maybe some brass up front and see how it performs!

[@Jerven88]

Thanks for yet another nice video, really enjoy watching them. Red and Blue Ascent 18's ordered 🙂

[@raymondwendt6205]

Ordered a red one already. Can't wait.

[@greggrube2948]

Awesome video Adam 😁 . Just ordered the red one an hour ago, can't wait to put it through its paces. Gotta put some beadlocks on it!

[@trininuyawka]

Love the supercut to the music to start! Until that first ad came in and interrupted it. LOL Great stuff as always!

[@Friskee62]

I purchased one about an hour ago...pumped to get this rig in my hands.

[@Friskee62]

What do you think would be the best tires? I only run on home made indoor courses. We have real rocks and of course, the usual plaster cloth over junk. I just installed the MB 100 ESC. Thanx...

[@Isuzu_Paul]

Just grabbed 2, I'm wondering if there are going to be any body options from injora. I would love to know if putting an ir40 on this chassis would work.

[@xelasoccer]

So cool! They have under/overdrive gears for the portals available but it looks like everything else is just stronger gears with the same tooth count. Would love to see a Furitek Cedar motor in this and some lower gears.

[@DennisH22A]

got 2 of these, cant beat the $100 WITH portal axles. Waiting on more aftermarket for them, kids love them too

[@RCplamodel]

You've Got to be loving this truck. New spots are always fun 🙏😎✝☮

[@Shane.of.all.trades]

Just ordered mine. My buddy brought his over and i loved it. He also has an EVO Pro but the servo went out and its broken a driveshaft on it. We ready this beat this guy up and i bet we push 3 or 4 hours of crawling on it and battery never died and we kept being blown away at what it could do.

[@jonathanmcdonald5411]

Great vid! Pretty impressive for an RTR. The price is nice too. A good set of tires and some weight down low and that's gonna be a tough rig to beat.

[@Casitascrawlers]

With the right tires & metal beadlocks that would help a lot but it needs low gears or a brushless set up.

[@donfitz69]

You make fantastic content. Damn that truck looks amazing.

[@MN_XJ_Mike]

Well then. Looks like another one for the collection… awesome job Redcat!

[@OutdoorMackie]

I just ordered mine 10 mins ago! They look very capable and fun!

[@karoodroner.7631]

Very nice editing at the running part🥳

[@matthewcopeland4441]

Great video! Some good editing shots and timing, well done. I see it struggled some-but being a box stock truck did pretty impressive!

[@CapeCrawlers]

Impressive for $99! And thanks!

[@russellhudson6958]

I think we need to see a stock comparison outdoor run with the redcat Evo pro and traxxas that would be amazing. Love your videos keep up the good work!❤

[@nickhathaway4617]

It needs 1.3 heavy injora rims and tires would make a huge difference plus with some of their upgrades I think it will be pretty badass

[@JUSTTRYITDIY]

excited to see what you can do to make this even more capable

[@crawlerballer]

Definitely buying this one!

[@ReeseRC]

I need to pick one of these up!

[@chriskryder2994]

The out of box performance matches the 10 closely . I found on the 1.9 I used 2 5/8" heavy washers and used jb weld plastic to bond two washers per front wheel over the inside hex adapter. One washer per rear stock wheel tire. I also used +15mm brass hex extensions. Under $20. Made a world of improvement exactly in the areas your suffering from

[@William-McCueRC]

i ordered one! im excited!

[@gbresaleking]

Looks cool but I think my next build will be a custom comp crawler/lcg build with deadbolt links in front and gladiator or rcawd exrended trailing arms in rear, probaly starting with a carbon chassis I just dont know what is best chassis that wont break the bank

[@REACTIVETERRAINRC]

From one Adam to another I have to say I'm trying to get my hands on one of these but where the UK the PNP is more than the rig itself.most definitely want to get it on our huge scaled indoor minicrawler course.

[@jordanpacini7817]

13:18 gold 👌🏽🤣🤣

[@maxcouch868]

Just a idea for when you're measuring rti/sidehill/ vertical. maybe put a whiteboard and dry erase marker with a column chart of all your other builds/ brand trucks, behind you so everyone can compare #s to whatever build your working with at the time. Just food for thought love the content ended up scooping some billet x15s for my jlu build after seeing yours.

[@CapeCrawlers]

Ahh GREAT idea

[@Atlas_FPV]

Wow, I wish this was out when I started, I really want to know if those portal axles will fit a TRX4M, I wonder how much they copied. They could be a great and cheap option to add portals to the TRX4M and they look a lot better than any of the aftermarket portals that have come out.

[@oncady8304]

I am really in love with micro crawlers from what I see on youtube and this one looks great. I wish I would have money to buy one and get into crawling. But unfortunately I live in Romania and I can’t even afford a micro crawler. Life is certainly harder in the balkans.😢

[@CK4RC]

I ordered a graphite one last night, and I can't wait to get my hands on it! I was going to order some of the upgrades along with the truck, but the price on them was higher than I expected. I also really don't like that the front suspension links and rear suspension links are sold separately. I'm very curious to see what kind of aftermarket response for upgrades there is for these in the near future!

[@CapeCrawlers]

I'm sure Injora is going to be all over this thing. Can't wait to see what comes available

[@envious4504]

I just got the 1/10 in blue. It took so long to get at my shop. Back ordered for days 😭😭

[@Casitascrawlers]

Well it’s definitely nothing like my Evo Pro LCG but it has a lot of potential & at a good price.

[@erinyorke6774]

Side note: can you please make a video on your favourite oil filled shocks that would be great:)

[@DTW-bx2vy]

I think just changing out the shock oil weight & using softer springs will help this Ascent 18 sit much lower & allow it to have some sag, instead of being fully topped out.

[@harlemNYCrc]

Nice! Great Price Point..

[@HellaNorCal916]

For $99 frog skins the performance is super strong. It was definitely hitting some crazy lines on the rocks. 🤯

[@tjweer3587]

Can you do a video on the redcat gen 7 sport and pro..

[@PaydayRC]

After getting the essentials in brass for it you’re in Ascent 1/10 price.

[@wvlfkvnt]

Snagged a Red one. Gotta support Redcat since they’re based out of Arizona. Would this still classify as a C1?

[@stlzjguy]

So I used a pack. Pulled it out checked the battery and was 3.5v per cell so all good. Battery wasn’t hot. Sat it down ran upstairs to get something to eat and my mother in law was screaming fire. Ran down and was like wtf. Got her out ran upstairs and got kids and wife out. Ran inside got the animals out. Ran back inside turned heat off turned attic fan on ran downstairs and started to put fire out. Was so Smokey from ceiling to floor. Ran into a door half opened and got a concussion. Continued to fight the fire and saved the house. Was in the icu burn unit on breathing tube and induced coma for 4 days. I’m out now but sucks losing all my hobby stuff and couple rooms in my house. Crawling is my stress reliever and could deff use that now. Been stressful last week but family is safe and I’m in recovery. If you could help a long time subscriber out and donate anything to get me crawling again I’d be so grateful and happy. Thanks

[@superbiker3526]

Do you think that you can change lower gears later on or are there some that would recomed? thinking about bying one as my second crawler from some real cheap crawler

[@CapeCrawlers]

I am going to try the traxxas gears in mine this weekend. The transmissions look the same visually. We'll see! I did strongly suggest to Redcat that they offer lower gearing options.

[@Caliwarriorkent]

How big of a deal is this truck? And is it actually worth getting? Coming from a guy with 10 trucks lol. Bc I don’t wanna get anything unless it actually changes everything

[@tonsoffun49]

Hopefully someone will compare it to the FCX18 LC80.

[@DialupGaming]

Can't find any upgrades in Canada :(

[@kevinpoole8880]

I like it 👍🏼

[@AMurderOfTurtles]

So torn!! I am watching both this video and the Furitek FX118 KATANA one. Not sure which to get as a first RTR.

[@CapeCrawlers]

I REALLY like the Katana. Huge bang for the buck there. Not that there isn't here with the Redcat, but if you aren't put off by the $200 price tag that Katana is quite a rig.

[@jpmiller7922]

If possible, could you add a graphic during the tests listing the scores of other crawlers so you can quickly know how the one your currently reviewing compares?

[@CapeCrawlers]

After reading another comment, I think I will develop a leader board with the stats of RTR's that I've tested. Probably a white board I will maintain, or a spreadsheet I can put up on the screen

[@edwardlove4300]

David, for starters maybe some white metal bead lock wheels. 😅

[@paulmccarter908]

How does it change everything when it seems so familiar?

[@CapeCrawlers]

So familiar and significantly less money! That's the differentiator

[@snorrevonflake]

I beginn to wonder if the market is that big, the pace and number of models released recently. I will stay with my SCX24s, acquired a big stock of spare and mod parts, several chassis builds in the work - would not start with anything new.

[@calebprescott9822]

My only concern with this is the transmitter receiver combo. If it's the exact same axial v2 combo there's been plenty of people who've had issues with it burning up and/or losing steering on the tx. Myself included. Over all though it's a huge competitor at an incredible price.

[@CapeCrawlers]

I can say that the receiver/esc is not the same as the v2 unless it's in a different case. It feels and behaves much differently and it's smaller (significantly) than the axial unit.

[@Bucky5068]

I ordered graphite!

[@scottbeville4908]

the crawler gears from the trx4m won't fit in the transmission of the ascent 18, will the transmission case itself from the trx4m fit by chance? I really want the ascent 18, I have been procrastinating getting it because of the lack of crawler gear availability

[@CapeCrawlers]

Not without modification, significant ones. The case of the ascent is much slimmer

[@scottbeville4908]

@@CapeCrawlers if it takes significant modification then im not gonna worry about it, i still probably get the ascent and just 🙏 they bring that to the table soon, its a cool little rig

[@manuelrobles4475]

How is the slop on the portals compared to the fx118?

[@CapeCrawlers]

I feel like there is significantly less with these

[@macharleys72]

Had to have one in graphite, the wife’s gonna kill me….😫

[@LucasOutdoors54]

I've got a couple of scx24's, now looking at the 1/18 line. Which is your favorite, Traxxas or redcat, or other brand? I've got the trx4 sport, and the redcat scout 1/10. The Traxxas seems better built in 1/10. Looking for a "expert" opinion in 1/18

[@CapeCrawlers]

I need to get more time on the Redcat and see how it responds to some upgrades. I like the features of the Ascent a lot but if you're looking for a scale appearance, you aren't going to get it with the Ascent. Although you could throw different bodies on it. Right now I am really pleased with the Ascent out of the box and I would take it over a TRX4M.

[@LucasOutdoors54]

@CapeCrawlers awesome, thanks for the info, I've got 3 kids, 3, 8, and 11. They enjoy getting the crawlers out and running over their toys 😆. Personally I like scale look, but they could care less, they just enjoy playing with them!!

[@LucasOutdoors54]

Well mine came in yesterday and my 3 year old successfully broke the body within 10 mins LOL. But this thing is SMOOTH!! Really like this thing, bought the red body, my 3 year old pointed out the blue one on the box and said he wants a "blue monster truck" so now we've got the blue one on the way!!

[@yiarkungfu]

Unlike the Evo Pro the Ascent doesn't seem to have any torque twist. Overcoming that torque twist does limit its performance. I'm stoked for this little truck.

[@CapeCrawlers]

I didn't spot any twist either! They did a good job with this thing.

[@rctraildriversuk-lone-wolfvide]

Looks real good shame it works out pretty expensive shipped to UK

[@William-McCueRC]

i wonder if a T word transmission will fit... or if the gears will fit

[@CapeCrawlers]

I will try it this weekend

[@franktl3423]

Seems a nice, even almost must buy for home country hobbyists. Buying one to join my 1/10 ascent (that already wasn’t a bargain to import) would make it almost double the price including shipping and taxes. Without a single upgrade… so will have to pass on this one 😢 you guys are lucky over there with lots of choices and upgrades to choose from for good prices. Over here choice is way less for mostly bigger prizes and rarely any great sales…

[@JS-ji5bl]

Id love to see it up against the Evo pro...

[@justindrumz2556]

is it more trx4m size or utb18 size?

[@CapeCrawlers]

Closer to a trx4m

[@therealcletusrc]

I watched your vid and 2fmrc’s vid and well… I ordered one, wanted to get the fcx18 k10 but I ordered this first to take advantage of the price, great video Adam 👍🏻

[@bidibulle6795]

It's nice and inexpensive but... Redcat is very very hard to find on the European market and as I live in Europe, I will not be able to get it. Just like for the 1/10, I couldn't get one so I took an rc ecto element instead and for the 1/18 well, I'm going to stay with traxxas...😕

[@mjspeedrunrc6220]

I'll stick to my 24s 🤣🤣

[@user-br1yo1kk3b]

The remote control is a good, inexpensive, widely used control, better than any Traxxas garbage control .

[@CapeCrawlers]

And the Furitek Python RXF will work with it.

[@robertom5808]

I want one

[@TwigoGamer]

Im thinking about it

[@rpgillil8150]

Is it waterproof?

[@CapeCrawlers]

It is not. The ESC is water resistant, not waterproof.

[@rpgillil8150]

Thanks! I’ll have to coat it when I get it.

[@carlinleneker-frisch976]

For 99 bucks how could you not order one, i did lol

[@GarryCox-tx5mw]

I could swear I heard motor noise when you had it on the test table at 8:16 , were you cheating? I have to ask.

[@CapeCrawlers]

I had to have it on in order for the wheels to hold. In off position it would roll right off

[@russellhall784]

Lemon

[@FEboats]

So basically it sucks but it was free?

[@CapeCrawlers]

No way, it’s bargain performance. Just not as good out of the box as the 1/10 ascent was compared to its competitors

[@FEboats]

@@CapeCrawlers I was looking at it for my son but the bigger one might be better since he’s only 2.

[@themountain59]

@@CapeCrawlers ...that made me chuckle😝...since when are ascent actually "good" out of the box?

[@mrbutchee1]

Can't really call Redcat Racing , Redcat Racing. They don't have anything that is track worthy or comp worthy.

[@themountain59]

...nor have they own products...they sell random things they find on Taobao😎

[@Paul-pm7qj]

Bro, this channel turned into an infomercial. Gotta go.

[@kickstart118]

Looks like a toy.

[@isaacreiner1623]

Don't be surprised if you can't find parts for it at your LHS. Redcat has a very predatory business practice in which if a hobby store wants to carry their product, they may only carry redcat products. Don't support!

[@scottmedhurst307]

Looks like a toy .