Are you a fan of Monster Jam and curious about the costs of the monster trucks? If so, you’ve come to the correct spot because we’re going to cover all there is to know about monster trucks.
How much does a monster truck cost?
A monster truck costs between $100,000 and $300,000. It costs between $20,000 and $70,000 to purchase a used monster truck. The problem is that it can be hard to find used monster trucks with the exact features you need.
Please read on for more detailed information.
What Is a Monster Truck?
As the name suggests, a monster truck is a truck. More specifically, a pickup truck that has been heavily modified, earning the moniker “Monster Truck.” Due to the interchangeability of this platform between full-size pickup trucks and SUVs, some monster vehicles are also constructed on it.
These vehicles are taking part in activities taking place within an arena. Each of these monster truck competitions draws tens of thousands of viewers. As we previously noted, Monster Jam is the greatest event featuring monster trucks, where the hottest vehicles gather to do daring jumps and stunts.
As we said, these events are extremely popular and are held in numerous stadiums around the US. And then there is the Monster Jam World Final which is the best and hottest race on the calendar. This race is basically the last final event of the winter season. Similarly to the Super Bowl in football. Many people call this event to be the Super Bowl of monster truck races.
Monster Truck History
As you presumably suspect, monster trucks are not as old as you may imagine. In the 1970s, the first monster trucks were created. These trucks were first created to compete in sports like mud bogging and truck pulling.
These activities were extremely demanding, and standard trucks couldn’t provide the necessary performance. After that, many individuals began to alter their trucks and build off-roading monsters.
There used to be huge truck competitions where participants would vote for the largest truck. However, soon after, there were occasions created especially for these trucks. Then, these trucks began to appear frequently at various organized motorsports events. These trucks were used to entertain the audience when there were breaks between races. People were entertained and really enjoyed it.
Monster Truck Main Characteristics
The original chassis of the truck that it left the factory with was used by the monster trucks that were deployed in the 1970s and 1980s. meanwhile, was heavily strengthened and outfitted with a beefier suspension that could survive the blows when the car was tumbling to the ground.
However, due to the fact that these trucks did not endure for many races, were very expensive to repair, and were also very heavy due to the addition of a large steel frame with two long beams, this design was quickly out of date.
In order to increase the reliability of the monster truck and lower its cost, something else had to be done. Utilizing a tubular chassis was the answer to this issue. This new chassis gave the vehicles a ground clearance of more than four feet, which is excellent for launching these trucks over steep obstacles.
These trucks also started using a four-link suspension. When it came to monster trucks, this suspension functioned better than anything that had been used in the past. The new monster truck also has a fiberglass body, which is much lighter and more easily replaceable than the conventional truck’s precious metal panels. Overall, the new style represented a generational shift.
Furthermore, the engines on these monster trucks have higher power. And believe me, that is a lot of power. More specifically, more than 1,500 horsepower. The large supercharger that is mounted on top of the engine makes all of this possible. Additionally, this engine was strengthened to handle all of this power rather than just a standard truck engine. See more about How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Food Truck?
The Cost of the Monster Truck
For either new or secondhand monster trucks, there is no predetermined cost. Some drivers decide to buy a new or used truck to compete in monster truck races. Drivers and teams who choose to build their own trucks rather than buy them can save money, but they must devote a lot of time to the effort.
An estimated $150,000 is needed to get the car competition ready. About $40,000 is spent on only the engine. Buying a brand-new truck offers the benefit of allowing the driver to start driving on the circuit straight immediately. The benefits of creating a custom truck include the option to add distinctive features and having a thorough understanding of how the vehicle operates, which can make diagnosing and repairing problems easier.
Monster Truck Cost Analysis
There is no getting past the fact that owning a monster truck will be very expensive. You must choose how much you want to pay upfront when you are just getting started. However, throughout the course of your truck’s lifetime, you’ll probably wind up spending hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Most Expensive Monster Truck
It’s difficult to determine what the most expensive monster truck ever created was because they aren’t normally purchased in bulk at an auto store, but one of the most well-known pricey monster trucks was the Sin City Hustler, which Motor Authority reports went on sale for $1 million in 2015.
That’s more expensive than the majority of monster trucks will be, but it’s not unheard of given that these vehicles are among the most potent on the road.
Can You Buy a Real Monster Truck?
A brand-new monster truck probably won’t be offered for purchase. Because they are so expensive to produce, monster trucks aren’t made in the same way as conventional cars.
Monster trucks are either specially constructed or modified pickup trucks. You must purchase used if you don’t want to create your own monster truck.
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Used Monster Trucks
Buying a used monster truck can cost from $20,000 to about $70,000, depending on how large it is, the quality of the truck, and where you’ll be buying it.
Where to Buy a Used Truck
Unless you know someone who is selling their previous model, it could be difficult to find a used monster truck. Since they are specialized automobiles, hardly everyone has a monster truck in their garage.
On occasion, used monster trucks are offered for sale on some websites. If you want to buy a used truck, keep an eye out in your neighborhood every few weeks for monster trucks listed for sale on Craigslist. Another excellent place to get old monster trucks is Racing Junk.
Depending on the type of car you choose, these might cost anywhere from $10,000 to $70,000. In many cases, this is much easier and less expensive than building your own truck.
However, keep in mind that old cars, especially those that have been significantly modified, like monster trucks, can have a variety of problems that aren’t immediately apparent. As a result, you might choose to purchase a truck from a person you know and trust.
What to Watch Out for When Buying Used
If you’re ever buying a used monster truck (or car, for that matter), you want to double-check a few things:
- How many miles does the truck have on it?
- What kind of damage has the truck had in the past?
- When did an auto technician last see this vehicle?
- Can I take a look at the oil?
- Is this truck able to tow trailers or other cars?
- Why are you selling this monster truck?
- Can I take this for a test drive?
How Much Do Monster Truck Drivers Earn?
Though they are few and far between, some monster truck drivers do make a good income each year. Most people make do with meager wages.
According to Simply Hired, the average yearly pay for drivers is only $29,000. When you consider that they frequently put on fifty performances a year and are rarely able to spend a lot of time with their friends and family, that is not a lot of money.
Although there are many monster truck teams and drivers, not much of the sponsorship money goes toward the drivers’ salaries. It is used to pay for the truck’s upkeep, travel costs, and other costs associated with traveling on the monster truck circuit.
You must be willing to make numerous financial and personal sacrifices if you’re thinking about becoming a monster truck driver.
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Monster Truck FAQs
There are a few other factors you should think about before making the purchase or construction of a monster truck!
How Quickly Can A Monster Truck Travel?
The Guinness Book of World Records states that 100 MPH (160.9 km/h) is the top speed a monster truck has ever reached. Monster trucks may not appear to be able to travel very quickly due to their size, but their engines allow them to travel at fairly respectable rates of speed.
Who Drives A Monster Truck For The Most Money?
Dennis Anderson is reportedly the highest-paid monster truck driver, although organizations rarely disclose the exact amounts they pay their truck drivers. Nearly 30 sponsors are attached to Anderson’s car, Grave Digger.
What Became Of Bigfoot The Monster Truck?
Bigfoot was the first monster truck, and it was built by owner Bob Chandler after he made enough significant improvements to the vehicle to make it big and start garnering media attention.
Bigfoot has continued partnering with different brands well into the 2000s and has spawned more than 20 other “Bigfoot-inspired” trucks.
In a small town, Chandler operated an auto repair shop and customized his truck to his exact specifications. Bob Chandler is a great role model for aspiring monster truck builders!
Are Monster Trucks Legal?
Driving around your neighborhood, you probably won’t see many monster trucks on the road. However, have you ever questioned whether it’s against the law to transport monster trucks by car?
The headlights are raised too high off the ground, which in most states renders the monster truck illegal due to its height. Your headlights might be too high in states like Alaska and Washington where they are only allowed to be 54 inches (137.1 cm) off the ground.
However, if you own one of the smallest monster trucks available, you might be able to drive it. To determine whether you can drive your monster truck on public streets, be sure to check the website of your state’s transportation department.
Are Monster Trucks Difficult To Drive?
Driving a monster truck isn’t “hard” if you know what you’re doing. You should be able to operate a monster truck with ease if you have prior experience operating a regular-sized pickup truck.
Maintaining control while driving on the dirt, over abandoned cars, and through sharp turns is challenging. Driving such a cool car can excite you, and you run the risk of making a snap decision that results in a serious collision.
For this reason, you might want to install roll bars on your truck. Until you have some experience, avoid moving too quickly!
How Much Is A Monster Truck Rental??
You’ll be relieved to learn that you can still experience what it’s like to drive a monster truck for a lot less money if all this seems like a big undertaking or is simply out of your price range. Several companies rent out monster trucks for driving or for events.
Rentals of monster trucks typically begin at $500. Search the Internet for “monster truck rentals” in your area.
What Monster Truck Is The World’s Smallest?
According to Cosmos Magazine, the Bobcat Nanowagon is the tiniest monster truck in existence. This nano vehicle from Ohio University is only 3.5 nanometers long and is made of a substance known as pseudorotaxane.
This cute little car is obviously too small to hold any passengers and can only travel at a few miles per hour. Although it is technically a monster truck due to the size of its wheels in relation to the size of its body, you wouldn’t want to bring it to a rally.
You’ll have a hard time finding any miniature monster trucks besides the Bobcat. Going big and moving quickly is, after all, the whole point.
Conclusion
Few of the drivers currently engaged in monster truck competitions just woke up one day and chose to be one. A lot of people began by working in the pit crew, volunteering at events, or because they knew someone who was looking for a driver.
In this line of work, relationships are everything. The majority of the current drivers not only matched themselves with a truck and team using their connections, but they also rely on those same connections to secure sponsorships.
Being a driver at a young age is not unusual. Some of the drivers on the circuit compete despite not yet being old enough to hold a legal driver’s license.
You must be ready to make numerous financial and personal sacrifices if you’re thinking about becoming a monster truck driver.