Hobby Plus DKR4-Fortis 1/18 Guide
Hobby Plus DKR4-Fortis guide covering brushed vs brushless versions, portal axles, 2-speed transmission, winch, LEDs, specs, pricing, and buying options.
Hobby Plus DKR4-Fortis 1/18 Guide
The Hobby Plus DKR4-Fortis is one of the more unusual 1/18-scale releases of 2026. Instead of fitting neatly into a crawler or basher category, it combines Dakar-inspired rally-truck styling with small-scale trail hardware: portal axles, long-travel suspension, anti-roll bars, a remotely operated two-speed transmission, a working front winch, beadlock wheels, and a full LED package.
Hobby Plus offers the DKR4-Fortis in both brushed and brushless RTR versions. The brushed model is currently listed at $199.99, while the brushless model is listed at $269.99.
TECH1RC first-look disclosure: This guide is based on manufacturer specifications, retailer listings, and published launch information. TECH1RC has not completed hands-on testing of the DKR4-Fortis yet. Driving impressions and durability observations will be updated if a test vehicle becomes available.
Why the DKR4-Fortis Stands Out
The Fortis takes several features normally associated with technical trail trucks and packages them into a vehicle designed to carry more speed across dirt, gravel, sand, and rough backyard terrain.
Key features include:
- 1/18-scale Dakar-inspired rally truck
- 4WD drivetrain
- Front and rear portal axles
- Remote-operated two-speed transmission with neutral
- Long-travel suspension
- Factory-installed front and rear anti-roll bars
- Oil-filled threaded shocks
- Working front recovery winch
- 1.3-inch beadlock wheels
- Rally-inspired all-terrain tires
- Full LED lighting system
- Factory rock lights
- FlySky 6-channel radio system
- Detailed hard body and interior
- Gullwing rear access panels
- Tilt-cab access to electronics
- Metal drivetrain components
- Growing replacement and option-parts support
That combination makes the Fortis more of a rally/trail hybrid than a traditional rock crawler or low-slung basher.
Brushed vs Brushless
| Feature | DKR4-Fortis Brushed | DKR4-Fortis Brushless |
|---|---|---|
| Current listed price | $199.99 | $269.99 |
| Power system | Brushed | Hobby Plus / Hobbywing brushless |
| Motor | Brushed motor | 2435-size 3500KV 4-pole sensorless inrunner |
| ESC | Brushed ESC/receiver system | Hobbywing MINI24 brushless ESC |
| Battery capability | 2S platform | MINI24 ESC is 2S-3S capable |
| Two-speed transmission | Yes | Yes |
| Portal axles | Yes | Yes |
| Working winch | Yes | Yes |
| LED / rock lights | Yes | Yes |
| Best fit | Lower-cost trail/rally use | Faster rally-style driving with stronger high-gear performance |
Which Version Makes More Sense?
The brushed Fortis is the lower-cost way into the platform and should make sense for drivers who are more interested in scale trail driving, exploring rough terrain, and using the two-speed transmission without prioritizing maximum pace.
The brushless Fortis is the version that best matches the rally-truck concept on paper. Its 2435 3500KV motor and Hobbywing MINI24 ESC give the high gear more reason to exist while still retaining the low gear for slower terrain.
TECH1RC will reserve a final recommendation until hands-on testing is completed.
Rally Truck, Crawler, or Basher?
The DKR4-Fortis borrows from all three categories, but it is best understood as a small-scale rally and trail truck.
Where It Should Be Strong
- Dirt and gravel courses
- Backyard rally loops
- Loose-surface trail driving
- Moderate crawling and rough terrain
- Scale recovery scenarios using the working winch
- Mixed courses where low gear and high gear can both be useful
Where Expectations Should Be Different
The Fortis has a detailed hard body, interior, rear structure, spare tires, portal axles, and a relatively tall stance. That gives it scale presence and clearance, but it also means it should not be expected to corner like a low-slung 1/18 basher.
Likewise, the suspension and rally-focused tires are not optimized around maximum rock-crawling articulation.
The appeal is the combination: enough low-speed hardware for technical terrain, plus enough suspension and power to carry speed on open sections.
Drivetrain and Chassis Highlights
Hobby Plus built the Fortis around hardware intended for mixed-terrain use.
Portal Axles
The front and rear portal axles increase ground clearance around the axle centerline and fit naturally with the truck's rough-terrain mission.
Remote Two-Speed Transmission
The transmission can be shifted from the transmitter and includes a neutral position. Low gear is intended for slower technical terrain, while high gear allows the Fortis to take advantage of more open rally-style sections.
Long-Travel Suspension
The suspension uses oil-filled threaded shocks and factory anti-roll bars. The anti-roll bars are especially notable because they show that Hobby Plus expects the Fortis to spend meaningful time moving faster than a conventional crawler.
Metal Drivetrain Hardware
Published launch specifications list metal transmission and differential gearing, heavy-duty metal outdrives and axles, steel pivot hardware, and other reinforced drivetrain components.
Brushless Power System
The brushless DKR4-Fortis uses a 2435-size 3500KV 4-pole sensorless inrunner motor paired with a Hobbywing MINI24 brushless ESC.
The MINI24 ESC is listed as 2S-3S capable, although TECH1RC recommends treating the stock RTR battery configuration as the baseline until the truck has been tested personally.
More voltage is not automatically better in a tall rally-truck chassis. Higher speed also increases the demands on tires, suspension, body roll, and drivetrain components.
Scale Details and Usability
The Fortis is not just a chassis with a rally body dropped over it.
Notable details include:
- Detailed molded body panels
- Interior cockpit
- Two full-size rear spare tires
- Gullwing rear access panels
- Tilt-forward cab for electronics access
- Working front winch
- Headlights and additional LED lighting
- Factory-installed rock lights
Those features should make the Fortis particularly appealing to owners who enjoy scale presentation as much as outright performance.
Current Pricing
As of October 2, 2026:
| Version | Hobby Plus Price |
|---|---|
| DKR4-Fortis Brushed RTR | $199.99 |
| DKR4-Fortis Brushless RTR | $269.99 |
Prices and availability can change.
Buying Options
Hobby Plus Official
FairRC
Amazon
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TECH1RC may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you when affiliate links are used.
Who Is the DKR4-Fortis For?
The Fortis makes the most sense for RC enthusiasts who want something different from another conventional crawler or basher.
It should be especially interesting if you want:
- Dakar / rally-raid styling
- A vehicle that can use both slow and fast terrain
- Portal axles and a two-speed gearbox
- A functional winch
- Scale lighting and body details
- A compact truck for backyard rally and trail courses
- A platform with replacement and upgrade parts already appearing
Drivers looking strictly for maximum rock-crawling articulation may prefer a dedicated crawler. Drivers looking strictly for jumps and high-speed cornering may prefer a purpose-built basher.
The Fortis sits in the middle — and that is exactly what makes it interesting.
TECH1RC Take
The Hobby Plus DKR4-Fortis may be one of the most distinctive 1/18 platforms released in 2026.
The portal axles, remote two-speed transmission, winch, long-travel suspension, anti-roll bars, lighting package, and rally body create a combination that is uncommon at this scale.
For TECH1RC, the biggest question is not whether it can crawl or bash. It is how well it transitions between the two.
That is what we want to test.
Sources
- Hobby Plus DKR4-Fortis product listings and lineup
- FairRC DKR4-Fortis product listing
- Big Squid RC DKR4-Fortis launch coverage
Updated: October 2, 2026