Image editorial credit: Pavel L Photo and Video / Shutterstock.com

My first monster truck extravaganza was on a continent very far from the USA, and the smell of gasoline and excitement filled the air. Thousands of people flocked to see these massive powerhouses perform stunts and their roaring engines ripping up dirt and crushing metal. As an overthinker, I started to wonder how these trucks get here besides obviously via a big cargo aircraft? How are monster trucks transported?

Monster trucks are transported in specially designed trailers or abnormal weight low beds. They are carefully disassembled after each performance by a dedicated road crew using forklifts, slings, and ladders. A variety of trucks are implemented for the transportation of the body, massive tires, and all the extra spare parts.

Obviously, the enormous amount of work that goes into the assembly and transportation of these behemoths is not something many people will ever see. The road crew is highly skilled, and each of them has a specific role to play. Some are mechanics, and others are lifting engineers. Taking the weight and size of the monster trucks into consideration, it is a dangerous job, and health and safety precautions need to be taken at all times. Let us look at the ins and outs of transporting a monster truck.


How Do You Make A Monster Truck Smaller?

To be able to fit a massive truck into a trailer or onto a specially designed low bed, there are certain steps to follow;

  • Securing the truck. The truck is slightly lifted off the ground with the help of a forklift and a sling, huge hydraulic jacks need to be placed under the frame on either side, and then the truck is lowered.
  • Removing the front tires. The forklift is then used to secure each tire with a heavy-duty sling. The tire is loosened and removed with a special attachment on the forklift. First, the front tires are done.
  • Replacing the front tires. After the two front tires have been removed, the truck is then lifted off the jacks by the forklift and the heavy-duty sling and lowered. Regular size pickup tires are then fitted to the front of the monster truck.
  • Removing the back tires. The same procedure is followed for removing the back tires taking care not to tip the truck too far forward as it is very unbalanced at this stage.
  • Replacing the back tires. The same procedure is now followed to replace the two back tires with regular size pick up tires.
  • Loading the monster truck. The monster truck is now ready to be loaded. It can now be driven into an enclosed trailer or onto an open low bed.
  • Loading the tires. The monster truck’s mammoth tires get loaded into a separate trailer or onto the back of the low bed.
  • Securing the monster truck. After the truck and the tires have been loaded, they get secured with chains and slings attached to the low bed with special hooks.

After an inspection and safety check, the monster truck is now ready to be transported to its next destination.


Do You Need Special Equipment?

Considering how big most monster trucks are, you definitely need special equipment to disassemble and transport them. Let us look at what you might need;

  • A powerful horse and abnormal load trailer or low bed.
  • At least two forklifts.
  • A crew of at least three people.
  • Heavy-duty hydraulic jacks.
  • Pneumatic drill for the changing of the tires.
  • Heavy-duty slings and chains.
  • Safety gloves.
  • Safety shoes.

If you can ever partake in the disassembly and transport of a monster truck, always put safety first.


How Big Are Monster Trucks?

If we go by the name Monster Truck, we already conjure up images of something gigantic and powerful. These trucks are massive but let’s look at the facts;

  • How much does it weigh? Most monster trucks weigh between 12000 and 20 000 pounds. The average SUV weighs around 4000 pounds.
  • How high is it? The average height of a monster truck is around 12 feet. The tallest SUV is only 6.5 feet.
  • How wide is it? The average monster truck is about 12.5 feet wide. The average SUV is about 6.5 feet wide.
  • How long is it? Most monster trucks are around 17 feet long, the same length as the average SUV. The longest monster truck ever built was the Sin City Hustler that reached a whopping 32 feet.
  • How much does a tire weigh? Each tire can weigh upwards of 800 pounds each. The average weight of an SUV tire is 22 pounds.

As you can see by the measurements and weight, monster truck transportation is serious business.

Editorial credit: Nigel Jarvis / Shutterstock.com

How Often Do Monster Trucks Get Transported?

Monster trucks that participate in shows and extravaganzas typically get transported up to 25 weekends a year. Considering the enormous amount of work that happens behind the scenes, the tons of equipment that gets transported, the logistic involved in this industry is very involved. A seasoned logistics company will ensure that all permits for abnormal size loads are attained way in advance, weigh stations and random inspections also have to be considered.

Sometimes, monster trucks have to get transported overseas, and special cargo planes are hired to show another country. The cost involved in an operation such as this is enormous.


Countries Monster Trucks Have Visited

Since monster trucks are a typical American tradition, there is a huge fan base across the world that have been privileged to see a monster truck show. To get the monster trucks to these countries would have been a huge operation, road transportation, permits, spare parts, specialized tools, and all of the road crew.

Countries where monster trucks have been transported to outside of the USA, are;

  • Canada
  • Japan
  • Europe
  • South Africa
  • Mexico
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore

Large events can draw crowds of up to 150 000 people in attendance


Can A Monster Truck Drive On The Road?

Depending on the lift laws in your state, you can make your monster truck street legal. It would be advisable if you can research and stick to certain parameters, and you will be allowed to drive your monster truck in traffic. I doubt it will be very popular in certain neighborhoods, but it sure would be fun. Here is what you would need to do if you want to drive your monster truck instead of loading it on a low bed;

In Texas, for example, you have a lift law that states you can raise your truck up to 14 feet maximum height; the headlights can be at 54 inches but no less than 24 inches from the ground.

In Florida, you have a lift law that states you can raise your monster truck no to more than 13 feet 6 inches maximum height, have a maximum width of 102 inches, and a length that is not exceeding 40 feet. The lift law also expects you to abide by the vehicle lighting laws and brakes and chassis regulations. If you can do that, you are welcome to drive your monster truck in traffic.


Conclusion

Nothing would be cooler than driving a monster truck down the freeway or to the local mall and be able to find parking where nobody else can. The monster truck is the ultimate symbol of power and mechanical fascination combined in one unit, but it has various limitations, as we now know. Due to the truck’s enormous size, the extreme weight, and the massive tires, it is just not always practical to drive one from one location to another.

Size aside, the fuel cost for methanol alone would be astronomical, and since it powers abnormally sized terra tires, driving in traffic could cause it to break down. We learned that the disassembly and transportation of these giant trucks is a specialized and dangerous event. Many people are involved in the logistics and safety aspects of it.

The next time you are fortunate enough to see a monster truck show live, you will know precisely how they transported, assembled and after the show, cleaned, and disassembled the massive monster truck ready to head off to the next destination.

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