FMS FCX18 II Ford F-100 Brushless vs Brushed — Which Should You Buy?
The FMS FCX18 II Ford F-100 is now available with two very different electronics packages built around essentially the same scale crawler platform. One uses a conventional 180 brushed motor and compact 2-in-1 ESC/receiver; the other combines a 1312 brushless motor with a dedicated 10A ESC and separate receiver. The question is not simply which technology is newer — it is which version better matches the way you intend to use, modify and keep the truck.
This comparison focuses specifically on that buying decision.
If you want a deeper technical look at either model individually, read the FCX18 II Ford F-100 Brushed Guide and the FCX18 II Ford F-100 Brushless Guide.
Quick Answer — Brushless or Brushed?
Choose the brushless FCX18 II F-100 if you already know you want a more modular electronics package, intend to keep and develop the truck over time, or would otherwise convert a brushed truck to brushless later.
Choose the brushed FCX18 II F-100 if you want to experience the new FCX18 II chassis in a simpler configuration, intend to drive the truck largely stock, or would rather discover what actually needs upgrading before committing to a more developed electronics package.
Neither choice changes the fundamental character of the vehicle.
Both remain FCX18 II Ford F-100 scale crawlers with the same 199 mm wheelbase, classic hard body, low-centre-of-gravity chassis concept, straight axles, two-speed transmission and extensive upgrade ecosystem.
Explore the FCX18 II Ford F-100 Brushless at FairRC
Explore the FCX18 II Ford F-100 Brushed at FairRC
Brushless vs Brushed — The Important Differences
| Feature | FCX18 II F-100 Brushless | FCX18 II F-100 Brushed |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | 1312 brushless | 180 brushed |
| ESC | Dedicated 10A brushless ESC | Integrated 2-in-1 electronics |
| Receiver | Separate FMS-R6B-BS-B receiver | Integrated with ESC |
| Battery | 2S 7.4V 900mAh | 2S 7.4V 900mAh |
| Listed maximum speed | 11 km/h | 11 km/h |
| Transmission | Two-speed | Two-speed |
| Wheelbase | 199 mm | 199 mm |
| Tyres | 58 × 19 mm BFGoodrich KO3 | 58 × 19 mm BFGoodrich KO3 |
| Chassis concept | FCX18 II LCG straight-axle chassis | FCX18 II LCG straight-axle chassis |
| Best suited to | Long-term builder / brushless-first owner | Stock-first owner / simpler starting point |
The Biggest Difference Is the Electronics Architecture
It is tempting to reduce the comparison to one word: motor.
That misses the most important distinction.
The brushed truck uses a 180 motor connected to a compact 2-in-1 ESC/receiver system.
The brushless model separates those functions.
Its 1312 brushless motor is controlled by a dedicated 10A ESC, while radio duties are handled by a separate FMS-R6B-BS-B receiver.
That makes the brushless version more modular from the beginning.
If one component eventually needs changing, or if the truck develops into a more specialised build, the electronics are already organised as separate systems.
The brushed version takes the opposite approach.
Its integrated electronics reduce the number of separate components and give the truck a straightforward stock configuration.
Neither philosophy is automatically better.
The difference becomes important when you know what you want to do next.
Do Not Buy the Brushless Version Just for More Speed
This may be the most important buying point in the comparison.
Both versions are currently listed with an 11 km/h maximum speed.
That means the brushless truck should not be viewed simply as the faster F-100.
Instead, the reason to choose it is the power system and electronics architecture.
That distinction fits the purpose of the vehicle.
The FCX18 II is a scale trail crawler with a two-speed transmission, not a vehicle whose value depends on maximum wheel speed.
Low gear is there for controlled crawling and obstacle work.
High gear gives the truck more useful pace between obstacles and on open trail sections.
Changing from brushed to brushless does not change that basic mission.
What Stays Exactly the Same?
A surprisingly large part of the truck.
Both versions are built around the FCX18 II platform and share the fundamental dimensions and chassis concept:
- 1:18 scale;
- 330 mm overall length;
- 145 mm width;
- 147 mm height;
- 199 mm wheelbase;
- 58 × 19 mm licensed BFGoodrich KO3 tyres;
- 59° approach angle;
- 53° departure angle;
- low-centre-of-gravity chassis;
- straight solid axles;
- two-speed transmission;
- threaded metal oil-filled shocks;
- metal chassis and drivetrain components;
- licensed Ford F-100 ABS hard body;
- detailed interior;
- magnetic body attachment;
- integrated magnetic lighting connection;
- functional headlights, taillights, indicators and roof spotlights.
That shared platform is why this is fundamentally an electronics decision rather than a choice between two completely different crawlers.
The Chassis Matters More Than the Motor on Difficult Terrain
Changing motor technology does not suddenly alter ground clearance, tyre contact patch, suspension articulation or the centre of gravity.
Those characteristics remain heavily influenced by the shared FCX18 II chassis.
That means the same obstacle can expose broadly the same physical limitations on either truck.
If the tyres cannot find grip, brushless electronics do not create grip.
If the centre of the chassis repeatedly catches an obstacle, a different motor does not change the skid geometry.
If excess weight is placed too high, changing ESC technology does not fix the centre of gravity.
This leads to an important rule for both versions:
powertrain choice comes first; crawler development still begins with grip, geometry and weight placement.
For more on the architecture underneath the Ford body, see our FCX18 II Ford F-100 vs FCX18 K10 chassis and upgrade guide.
When the Brushed Version Makes More Sense
You Want to Learn the Truck Before Modifying It
The brushed model makes a lot of sense if this is your first FCX18 II.
Instead of deciding in advance that you need a more elaborate build, you can drive the stock vehicle and observe what actually limits it.
You may discover that the biggest improvement for your terrain is simply a different tyre.
Or perhaps steering precision matters more.
Or perhaps the truck already does everything you expected and no drivetrain change is necessary.
That information is more valuable than modifying a crawler before you understand it.
You Expect to Keep the Electronics Stock
If you have no particular interest in changing motors, ESCs or receivers, the compact brushed electronics package is not inherently a disadvantage.
It is simply a different design choice.
For a scale trail truck that spends its life driving rather than becoming a technical project, simplicity has value.
Your Priorities Are Tyres, Wheels and Scale Detail
Some owners are far more interested in how the F-100 looks and interacts with terrain than in its electronics architecture.
For them, budget and attention may be better directed towards tyres, beadlocks, suspension adjustment, bumpers or alternative bodies.
The brushed truck leaves the same FCX18 II ecosystem open.
Explore the brushed FCX18 II Ford F-100 at FairRC
When the Brushless Version Makes More Sense
You Already Know You Want Brushless
If you would buy the brushed truck and immediately start planning a motor and electronics conversion, the factory brushless version is the more coherent starting point.
You begin with the power system already moving in the direction you intended.
That allows future modifications to focus on the chassis rather than replacing functioning stock electronics.
You Intend to Keep the Truck for a Long Time
The separate motor, ESC and receiver arrangement becomes more interesting if the F-100 is going to evolve over months or years.
A long-term crawler build rarely remains exactly as it left the box.
Tyres change.
Weight moves.
Suspension geometry gets adjusted.
Steering components may change.
The body may even be replaced.
Starting with separate electronics gives that development a more modular foundation.
You Prefer Components With Separate Functions
Some builders simply prefer knowing that the receiver is the receiver, the ESC is the ESC and the motor is the motor.
That separation makes the system easier to understand when diagnosing or developing the vehicle later.
For those owners, the brushless architecture has value even if maximum speed never changes.
Explore the brushless FCX18 II Ford F-100 at FairRC
Brushless Does Not Automatically Mean Better Crawler
This distinction is worth making because brushless technology can easily become shorthand for “better”.
A crawler is a complete system.
Motor technology is one part of that system.
Tyres determine how force reaches the terrain.
Wheel and axle mass influence stability.
Suspension geometry controls how the chassis responds when the terrain changes beneath it.
Steering precision influences how accurately the front tyres can be placed.
Chassis clearance determines whether the truck can slide over an obstacle after the tyres have already climbed it.
The brushless F-100 therefore gives you a more developed electronics starting point.
It does not remove the need to tune the rest of the crawler intelligently.
The First Upgrade Can Be the Same on Both Trucks
Because both versions share the same basic chassis and stock 58 mm KO3 tyres, the first useful upgrade may be exactly the same.
If grip is the limitation, change the tyres.
The BATRAZZI 60 × 23.5 mm Precipice M/T tyres provide a modest increase in diameter and a wider, more aggressive tread while remaining relatively close to the stock scale proportions.
If the original KO3 tyres already work well for your terrain, keep them.
This is exactly the kind of decision that should be driven by use rather than by a parts catalogue.
Wheels Are Also Independent of the Motor Choice
The same applies to beadlock wheels.
The BATRAZZI 1.0-inch Revolver aluminium beadlocks can make sense on either powertrain.
They allow easier tyre and insert changes while adding low-mounted mass and giving the truck a more deliberate classic off-road appearance.
That means the question is not:
“Do brushless trucks need beadlocks?”
It is:
“Does my F-100 benefit from the functionality and weight distribution of these wheels?”
For a deeper look at this part of the build, read our BATRAZZI RC crawler wheels and tyres guide.
Brass Should Not Decide Which Truck You Buy
Both versions can make use of selective low-mounted brass components.
The BATRAZZI Brass 7 mm Wheel Hex Hub Adapters place additional mass around axle height.
The BATRAZZI CNC Brass Brake Disc Upgrade combines low-mounted weight with visible brake detail.
The BATRAZZI Brass Steering Servo Mount moves additional mass towards the front.
But none of those parts fundamentally favours brushed or brushless.
The right amount and location of added mass depend on how the complete truck behaves.
The Same Upgrade Philosophy Works for Both
A sensible FCX18 II F-100 build can follow the same sequence regardless of motor technology:
- Drive it stock.
- Identify the limitation.
- Fix grip first if grip is the problem.
- Adjust wheels or low weight only when stability needs it.
- Improve steering when steering becomes the limitation.
- Change suspension geometry only after observing the stock setup.
- Change major architecture only when your terrain actually demands it.
For the wider relationship between FMS stock trucks, FairRC and BATRAZZI upgrades, see FMS FCX18 Stock vs FairRC Mod RTR vs BATRAZZI Upgrade Build.
What About Runtime?
Runtime should not be the deciding factor between these two versions.
Both use a 2S 7.4V 900mAh battery, but published runtime figures can vary between product listings and revisions.
Real operating time also depends heavily on low or high gear use, terrain resistance, throttle behaviour, steering activity, lighting and the condition of the battery.
For that reason, it is more useful to compare the architecture of the two trucks than to treat a quoted runtime figure as a guaranteed result.
What About the Ford Body?
There is effectively no need to compromise here.
The powertrain decision does not require giving up the main reason many people will notice this truck in the first place.
Both versions retain the licensed sixth-generation Ford F-100 hard body with its classic Dentside styling, detailed interior and working scale lighting.
The magnetic attachment system also allows the shell to be removed without repeatedly dealing with conventional body clips and separate lighting plugs.
That keeps battery access and maintenance convenient on either version.
Can the Brushed Truck Become Brushless Later?
Yes, the wider FCX ecosystem makes drivetrain development possible, but a conversion should be treated as an electronics project rather than as a simple motor swap.
Motor, ESC, receiver compatibility, connectors, mounting and control requirements all need to be considered together.
This is exactly why the factory brushless version is attractive to someone who already knows where the build is heading.
If you do not know whether you need brushless, however, there is nothing wrong with starting with the brushed vehicle and allowing real use to answer the question.
Do the Same FCX18 II Upgrades Fit Both?
Many chassis, suspension, steering, wheel, tyre and body-related upgrades are relevant to both versions because they share the FCX18 II platform.
Electronics and drivetrain-specific parts require more care.
Always confirm the listed compatibility of an individual part before assuming that a component intended for one powertrain is identical on the other.
Browse BATRAZZI FCX18 II upgrades at FairRC
Which Version Is Better for a Scale Trail Build?
Either.
This is one area where motor technology should probably not dominate the decision.
A convincing scale trail F-100 benefits more visibly from:
- sensible tyre proportions;
- appropriate wheels;
- controlled suspension behaviour;
- realistic body movement;
- functional lighting;
- period-appropriate accessories and bumpers.
The brushed version provides all the fundamentals required for that.
The brushless version gives the same scale platform with a different electronics foundation.
Which Version Is Better for a Technical Build?
This is where the brushless model becomes more compelling.
A technical build is more likely to evolve.
It may receive different tyres, beadlocks, selective brass, steering components, chassis parts and suspension geometry changes over time.
An owner approaching the truck in that way may appreciate having the separate ESC and receiver architecture already in place.
But even here, brushless should not be confused with instant crawler capability.
The chassis still has to be tuned as a complete system.
Which Version Is Better for a First FCX18 II?
For someone who genuinely has no preference, the brushed model is arguably the more educational starting point.
Drive it.
Learn low gear.
Learn high gear.
See how the straight axles behave.
See where the KO3 tyres lose grip.
Observe the body on climbs and side slopes.
Only then decide what needs changing.
The brushless truck becomes the stronger recommendation when the buyer already knows that its electronics architecture is something they specifically want.
Which Version Is Better for the Long-Term Owner?
If everything else is equal and you expect to own and modify the truck for years, I would choose the brushless version.
Not because it is listed as faster — it is not.
Not because brushed motors suddenly became unsuitable for crawlers — they did not.
I would choose it because the separate motor, ESC and receiver provide a cleaner starting point for a vehicle that is expected to evolve.
That is a use-case decision rather than a technology ranking.
Simple Decision Matrix
| If this sounds like you... | Best starting point |
|---|---|
| I want the simplest way into FCX18 II | Brushed |
| I intend to drive mostly stock | Brushed |
| I do not yet know whether I need brushless | Brushed |
| I already know I want brushless | Brushless |
| I would convert the brushed truck anyway | Brushless |
| I want separate ESC and receiver components | Brushless |
| I expect a long-term technical build | Brushless |
| I mainly care about the Ford body and scale trail driving | Either |
| I mainly want better tyres, wheels and chassis tuning | Either |
Our Choice
If we were choosing specifically for a long-term Scale & Motion project build, the brushless version would be our starting point.
The reason is not speed.
It is the separate electronics architecture and the fact that this leaves the rest of the build free to develop around tyres, wheels, suspension, steering, weight placement and scale detail.
For someone buying an FCX18 II simply to enjoy the new F-100 platform with minimal complication, however, the brushed version remains entirely logical.
This is not a case of good versus bad.
It is a case of buying the correct starting point.
Final Verdict — Buy for the Build You Actually Want
The Ford F-100 body makes these two trucks look almost identical.
Underneath, their electronics tell two different stories.
The brushed FCX18 II is the straightforward version: 180 motor, integrated electronics and the full second-generation FCX18 platform underneath.
The brushless version takes the same truck and gives it a more modular power system built around the 1312 motor, dedicated 10A ESC and separate receiver.
The clever buying decision is therefore not to ask which technology sounds more impressive.
Ask what happens after you open the box.
If the answer is “drive it, enjoy it and only change something when necessary”, brushed makes perfect sense.
If the answer is “this will become a long-term build and I already want brushless electronics”, start with brushless.
Either way, the FCX18 II chassis, two-speed transmission, straight axles and growing FairRC/BATRAZZI ecosystem give you plenty of room to develop the truck later.
Choose the FCX18 II Ford F-100 Brushless at FairRC
Choose the FCX18 II Ford F-100 Brushed at FairRC
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Further Reading
- FMS FCX18 II Ford F-100 Brushless — What Changes, Who It Suits & Best Upgrade Path
- FMS 1:18 FCX18 II Ford F-100 RTR Brushed — New Chassis, Scale Detail & Smart Upgrade Path
- FMS FCX18 II Ford F-100 vs FCX18 K10 — New Chassis, BATRAZZI Upgrades & Build Guide
- FMS FCX18 Buying Guide — Stock RTR, FairRC Mod RTR or BATRAZZI Upgrade Build?
- FairRC’s New Direction — Stock FMS, Custom Mods & the BATRAZZI Build Ecosystem
- BATRAZZI Upgrades for FMS FCX18 and FCX24 — Wheels, Tyres, Shocks and Brass Parts Explained
- BATRAZZI RC Crawler Wheels and Tires Explained — What to Buy for FCX24, FCX18 and FCX10
Image Credit: FairRC / FMS Hobby / BATRAZZI
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