Monster trucks
Discover the incredible engineering behind this super-sized motorsport
How epic engineering drives these truck titans
Every year millions of fans around the world travel to watch these magnificent machines race, crash and roar, captivated by their extraordinary power and strength. Once on the sidelines, these mechanised behemoths are now the main attraction.
The sport began with modified pick-up trucks with larger suspension and bigger tyres, but monster trucks have evolved into complete custom builds with giant wheels and impressive ground clearance, as well as custom-built tubular chassis with fibreglass bodies. This can attach to the chassis separately, allowing for easy removal when damaged.
These gravity-defying giants are durable monsters designed to bounce, crash and roll over. Monster trucks captivate audiences by crushing everything in their path. These truck titans typically weigh around 4.5 tons and are capable of making jumps ten metres high and 60 metres long. Few can beat Bigfoot, one of the first ever monster trucks, which managed to leap over a 727 jet plane!
Amateur monster truck driving sounds like a fun hobby, but competition rules mean really ramping up the game. If a driver wants to race, their monster truck must adhere to specific rules. The vehicle must be at least 3.6 metres tall and 3.6 metres wide and fitted with giant 209-kilogram BKT 168-centimetre off-road tyres. These tyres have extra-deep treads to provide optimal traction, which is needed to keep such a colossal truck stable, under control and safe.
Monster trucks usually battle against each other in the form of two versus two racing before a freestyle round, where the mighty machines have the opportunity to show off their spectacular stunts as they take on aerial jumps, wheelies and donuts. It’s this freestyle round where drivers demonstrate the power of a monster truck, as caravans, buses and other obstacles are placed in their path to be crushed.
HOW TO BUILD A MONSTER TRUCK
A monster truck starts life as a donor body taken from another vehicle, usually a four-wheel-drive pick-up truck. Most components will be upgraded to be more durable and robust, but it is
“these gravitydefying giants are durable monsters designed to bounce, crash and roll over”
helpful if the donor body has an engine and transmission so that some of the parts (including mounting brackets) can be reused.
Parts are upgraded with more heavy-duty replacements in order to transform the truck into a true monster. Often these replacements are taken from ex-military vehicles to ruggedise the steering axles and rear differentials. The suspension is raised an additional 0.9 metres to 2.4 metres to give good ground clearance and to accommodate the giant wheels.
An upgraded engine is essential, as well as transmission and transfer-case components suitable for high-impact use.
This supplies the horsepower needed to move such a mammoth machine.
SAFETY
Monster trucks crash, they’re built to, but this means the safety of the drivers and their fans requires special equipment. Perhaps the most important feature is that monster trucks are equipped with three shut-off switches to quickly turn off the electrics: one within reach of the driver, another in the rear of the truck, and a remote ignition interrupter that allows officials to shut down the engine using a handheld device.
These systems are in place so in the event of a truck rollover the risk of fire is minimised, but they can also be used if the brakes fail or the vehicle appears uncontrollable (and unsafe). Generally, internal moving parts of the truck are shielded to prevent injury, and any highpressure components are restrained with straps.
Roll bars and safety cages have to be installed to protect the driver, but drivers are still required to wear specified protective equipment to compete in monster truck competitions, which include a helmet, fireproof suit and a five-point safety harness, as well as head and neck restraints to prevent head injury. Most drivers sit in the centre of the cab, which is shielded with a polycarbonate screen to protect them from stones, mud or debris from the track.