Just over more than a decade ago, the very first monster truck stunned over 70,000 fans occupying the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. It was 1974 when Bob Chandler built his dream truck, a 4-wheel drive Ford F-250 pickup with a jacked-up suspension and oversized tires. He called his creation Bigfoot. In 1982, in front of a packed house in Pontiac, this monster of a truck smashed two cars with a single blow. Bigfoot monopolized the monster truck scene until Bear Foot, a fierce competitor, came out of hibernation. Fred Shafer was the first monster truck driver to challenge Chandler's Bigfoot, and he would go on to win three worldchampionships.
The Monster Motor Monster truck engines are custom-built, alcohol-injected and usually cost around $35,000. These demons burn 2 to 2.5 gallons of methanol per run, a length of approximately 250 feet. The size of the motor is limited to 575 cubic inches as per USHRA rules.
Treacherous Tires
Each monster truck uses Goodyear or Firestone tires, more commonly manufactured as flotation tires for earth moving equipment. The tires are 66 inches high and 43 inches wide. The average cost for these tires, brand new, is $1,800 each.
Shocks
$1,500 each - The complete shock price includes a coil over kit, the spring and shock. Coil over is being surpassed by nitrogen charged shocks which run about $2,000 each.
Body
The rough exterior is made of fiberglass. The fiberglass company generally owns the mold for standard vehicle makes. The cost totals nearly $2,500 for standard pickups. However, a custom design such as that used by our monster trucks increases the cost dramatically. It cost $20,000 for the initial mold of Wild Thang but the cost dropped to $5,000 for each remake.
Paint
Each vehicle must be painted to cover the rough fiberglass body. Complex airbrushing logos and specialized artwork add to the cost. The cost of painting can be anywhere from $2-7,000.
The repairs and maintenance on the monster and the hauler, fuel for the beast and the hauler, racing uniforms, lodging and food can run in excess of $120,000+ per year.
Monster trucks are built for short, high-powered bursts of speed. They generate an average of 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds up to 100 miles per hour. These trucks can jump 110 to 115 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 20-25 feet in the air.
These beasts weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds. Some weigh as much as 12,000 pounds. The less the body weighs, the more strength and weight can be put into the frame and engine without sacrificing speed and maneuverability. A monster truck is usually 11 feet tall and is about 12 feet wide.
On most of the monster trucks, Grave Digger being the exception, the fiberglass bodies are continuous so there are no doors to open. Most monsters have manholes in the passenger side floorboards used for entry.
Chassis
One hundred percent custom built, there are no two trucks alike! These race trucks are built with a center steer seat position and full roll cage as standard.
