DriftMission has been working on a listing of the best top rated RC Drift chassis. We are often asked to provide our opinion on the best RC Drift chassis available for certain price ranges. Below we have compiled a listing of what we believe to be the top rated RC Drift chassis available on the market. These listings have been compiled based on a number of factors including but not limited to cost, quality, availability, spare parts, option parts, countersteer options, adjustability. The listings are broken down in 3 categories the under $150, $150-$400, and $400 and over price range. This post is the first in a series of three that will cover those RC Drift chassis available under $150 US Dollars.
The TOP 3 RC Drift Chassis rated by DriftMission.com under $150 US Dollars
Full Details Below
1. Yokomo Drift Package Basic2. 3 Racing Sakura D3 CS Sport3. Tamiya TT-01 ED
The Tamiya TT-01D is a good entry level chassis from one of the most recognized names in RC. The TT-01 is one of the most common entry level chassis on the market. It is widely available and has a good selection of option parts and hop ups. The TT-01 also has a few countersteer options. Unfortunately it does suffer from soft plastic, torque steer, and low steering angle. This is most well known as an entry level chassis in the hobby grade RC community. The TT-01 has been a flagship chassis for Tamiya and continues to be an icon in the RC world. Many people start here and quickly move on due to its limitations. The overall levels of growth on this chassis is limited.
The HPI E-10 is HPI Racing’s entry level chassis for RC Drifters. The E-10 is a shaft driven chassis with adjustable front and rear motor configurations. This is a very popular package in North America especially with HPI’s influence in the market. The E-10 is highly promoted by Formula Drift Series and several of its drivers, so many people still purchase and use this chassis. Spare and option parts are generally easy to find, HPI does a good job maintaining supply of the market but often out of stock for longer periods of time. This is very much a beginner chassis and tailored for outdoor drifting in rougher surfaces.
Includes CVD’s and several aluminum parts in the kit
Includes full hex fastening hardware
Large selection of option parts
Front motor setup
Spare parts
Center belt is loose and requires additional tensioner
Pulley expanding pins (not easy to remove or install)
Only available in high CS ratio
Long center belt
The Sakura D3 CS Drift Sport is 3Racing’s answer to the new Front Motor RC drift chassis market. This extremely economical front motor chassis is among the cheapest alternatives to the other front motor chassis on the market today. 3Racing has done a very good job making this chassis affordable for rc drifters everywhere. With a full line-up of spare parts and option parts to bring this chassis up to full option specification. This chassis is a very appealing package, many people have already purchased one.
This is the entry level RC Drift chassis from Yokomo. The Drift Package Basic is the bare necessities that gets the user started with RC drifting. There are a large amount of parts available for this chassis with 3rd party manufacturers as well. The Yokomo DP Basic is based on the very popular MR4TC chassis which has been in production since the early 2000’s. This chassis is very popular in Asia for entry level drifters and is also appealing because of the lower cost. The large amount of option parts enable this chassis to be upgraded and grow with your drifting skills. Unfortunately this chassis is only limited to rear motor position as it is adapted from a touring car chassis. Yokomo parts are still more difficult to locate in North America, but can always be found online.
This is a very common chassis for people, especially those who frequent ebay. These companies have done very well to market their products and really do appeal to the newbies everywhere. The package maybe very cheap, but it does have some serious limitations. This is one of thoese very generic chassis, although it can work for drifting, is not ideal. If price is a high priority, then this would likely be the most appealing factor. Careful when buying cheap items, it is good for testing if this hobby is right for you, but it is very limited in capabilities.
R2 Hobbies TEH-R31
Good
Bad
Cheap
Many countersteer options available
Good amount of option parts
Abundant spare parts
3rd party option parts
Soft plastic
Soft mounting hardware
Brittle parts
Drivetrain pulley pins are plastic, prone to breaking
Misaligned parts fitment
Total replacement parts could total a genuine OTA-R31 (without the headache of faulty or failing parts)
This was one of the first major clone chassis that hit the market in 2012 and successfully penetrated the RC Drift community. The chassis is cloned from the Street Jam OTA-R31 chassis and made with less than adequate parts. Many people that have bought this chassis have ended up replacing almost everything to get a reliable and durable chassis. The common lesson learned is to just purchase genuine brands rather than a clone manufactuerer. The cost factor is very appealing and ends up getting the attention of the economic wise shopper. Careful what you buy, because you get what you pay for. Nobody wants to over pay for anything, just know what you are buying and do your research. Supporting clones just hurts the RC Drift community! and your wallet in the end!
R2 Hobbies Devils Drift
Good
Bad
Cheap
Available countersteer options
Cheap option parts from R2
Cheap spare parts from R2
Soft Plastic similar to TEH-R31
Design requires some modifications for optimal driveability
Majority cloned from Eagle R31-FM chassis
End up replacing stock parts with more durable alternatives
Brittle parts
This is the latest clone to hit the market. Interestingly enough right after the release of the Eagle R31-FM chassis. The Devil Drift chassis is majority adapted from the R31-FM into a plastic low end chassis. This will definitely be appealing for the budget drifters. This is another avenue to test out the recent front motor movement without spending too much. The clone chassis requires some rework due to more flexible and less accurate parts, assembly requires some minor modifications to operate optimally. This chassis may be cheap, but currently unaware of its driveability to comment more.
Let us know what you think! Stay tuned for the next 2 categories!
Couldnt agree more! Cheap is good IF you follow the advice of the people that have experience! Dont make uneducated purchases! Ask a seasoned Drift expert!
Great review! This is a good quick guide to point everyone who is just starting out in the right direction. One option I have to add though is the secondhand option. Yes, its tricky as you never know what you are going to get, but there are some gems out there for a bargain price! I can remember my Associated TC5R for 65€, my TRF415MSX for 85€, my TA05R with loads of spares and other stuff for 75€ and I can go on.
True story Tijs! I started out drifting with a pair of used Yokomo MR4TC SD’s for cheap! Only problem with some of the older second hand is finding parts can be tricky.
well seems like the sakura cs d3 is the best drift chassis under 150USD available on the market…I`ve already got one and that is a sweets drift chassis.. even better than my yok type-c.. so far so good it’s my best drift chassis…better than ta03f as well..I highly recomend it
I have the redcat racing epx lightning drift the same as hsp flying fish/ exceed rc drift it works great with hpi t drift tires I just don’t know the required setup for camber and toe and I heard that tt-01 hop-ups fit on it
well seems like the sakura cs d3 is the best drift chassis under 150USD available on the market…I`ve already got one and that is a sweets drift chassis.. even better than my yok type-c.. so far so good it’s my best drift chassis…better than ta03f as well..I highly recomend it
Couldnt agree more! Cheap is good IF you follow the advice of the people that have experience! Dont make uneducated purchases! Ask a seasoned Drift expert!
Great review! This is a good quick guide to point everyone who is just starting out in the right direction. One option I have to add though is the secondhand option. Yes, its tricky as you never know what you are going to get, but there are some gems out there for a bargain price! I can remember my Associated TC5R for 65€, my TRF415MSX for 85€, my TA05R with loads of spares and other stuff for 75€ and I can go on.
True story Tijs! I started out drifting with a pair of used Yokomo MR4TC SD’s for cheap! Only problem with some of the older second hand is finding parts can be tricky.
I have the redcat racing epx lightning drift the same as hsp flying fish/ exceed rc drift it works great with hpi t drift tires I just don’t know the required setup for camber and toe and I heard that tt-01 hop-ups fit on it
Couldnt agree more! Cheap is good IF you follow the advice of the people that have experience! Dont make uneducated purchases! Ask a seasoned Drift expert!
This is a GREAT review of all the budget drift chassis, I was a lucky one! I bought the Sakura D3 right when it came out.
Great review! This is a good quick guide to point everyone who is just starting out in the right direction. One option I have to add though is the secondhand option. Yes, its tricky as you never know what you are going to get, but there are some gems out there for a bargain price! I can remember my Associated TC5R for 65€, my TRF415MSX for 85€, my TA05R with loads of spares and other stuff for 75€ and I can go on.
True story Tijs! I started out drifting with a pair of used Yokomo MR4TC SD’s for cheap! Only problem with some of the older second hand is finding parts can be tricky.
I don’t think Yokomo have parts that are “easy to find” unless you live in asia 🙂
theres a tun of importing sites though. they are fairly easy to get
well seems like the sakura cs d3 is the best drift chassis under 150USD available on the market…I`ve already got one and that is a sweets drift chassis.. even better than my yok type-c.. so far so good it’s my best drift chassis…better than ta03f as well..I highly recomend it
I have the redcat racing epx lightning drift the same as hsp flying fish/ exceed rc drift it works great with hpi t drift tires I just don’t know the required setup for camber and toe and I heard that tt-01 hop-ups fit on it
is it ok to install a
Diffuser & Upper Bumper Set For Sakura D3 for 3Racing Sakura D3 CS Sport to a HSP drift chassis
well seems like the sakura cs d3 is the best drift chassis under 150USD available on the market…I`ve already got one and that is a sweets drift chassis.. even better than my yok type-c.. so far so good it’s my best drift chassis…better than ta03f as well..I highly recomend it
This is a GREAT review of all the budget drift chassis, I was a lucky one! I bought the Sakura D3 right when it came out.
Couldnt agree more! Cheap is good IF you follow the advice of the people that have experience! Dont make uneducated purchases! Ask a seasoned Drift expert!
Great review! This is a good quick guide to point everyone who is just starting out in the right direction. One option I have to add though is the secondhand option. Yes, its tricky as you never know what you are going to get, but there are some gems out there for a bargain price! I can remember my Associated TC5R for 65€, my TRF415MSX for 85€, my TA05R with loads of spares and other stuff for 75€ and I can go on.
True story Tijs! I started out drifting with a pair of used Yokomo MR4TC SD’s for cheap! Only problem with some of the older second hand is finding parts can be tricky.
I don’t think Yokomo have parts that are “easy to find” unless you live in asia 🙂
theres a tun of importing sites though. they are fairly easy to get
I have the redcat racing epx lightning drift the same as hsp flying fish/ exceed rc drift it works great with hpi t drift tires I just don’t know the required setup for camber and toe and I heard that tt-01 hop-ups fit on it
is it ok to install a
Diffuser & Upper Bumper Set For Sakura D3 for 3Racing Sakura D3 CS Sport to a HSP drift chassis