You’ve been looking online as well as asking for recommendations from friends about the best underbody toolbox, preferably something reasonably priced. You’re currently working as an apprentice at an automotive repair shop. All your life you’ve loved cars but more so big trucks. Those modified monster big trucks. You remember very well when you were nine or ten years old, and your father would take you to the Monster Jam. The imagery, the power of the machines, and the adrenalin rush you felt stayed with you. Now, you’re a little bit older and doing work at an auto-shop.
The online research you’re making is all about a project you have in your head. You plan to build your monster truck. Working at the auto-shop has given you the necessary insights and skills to create one. But you want to be sure of what you are doing. You know that your skillset might not be enough. What does it take to build a monster truck?
A Brief Overview of Monster Trucks
Extreme modifications of pick up trucks perhaps began in the 1970s. With this also came the rise of the mud bogging and truck pulling as sports. Names and vehicles that rose to fame included Bob Chandler and his Bigfoot truck and USA-1 by Everett Jasmer.
The tires used in the monster trucks of yore measured 48″ (1.2 meters) in diameter. Watching reruns of monster truck TV shows were your initial inspiration.
Building Your Monster
If you break it down into parts, there probably isn’t anything too monstrous about monster trucks. Sure, the tires are big. Some designs might include shark’s teeth or dinosaur teeth, but the body is still the same. Here are a few things to note when building your monster truck:
- Investment. They’re marvelous to look at, but if you start down this road of building a monster truck, know that it’s going to require significant investment. You must have saved up enough money to buy the parts and make the conversion or have raised enough funds from other sources to cover your cost. There’s plenty of work to be done and a lot of money needed.
- A 4 x 4 body. The body of monster trucks is the same as any other ordinary truck. To build your own, select a base body, which should generally be the body of a 4 x 4 truck. Be cautious about using imported brands like Toyota or Nissan. While they can work, fitting in American engines like those of GM or Ford might create problems for you. Your body should come with a functioning engine and transmission.
- Tires and suspension. These two parts are the ones that make a truck a monster. The tires should be extremely oversized, but the suspensions must be strong enough to support it.
- The upgrades. To put more bite into the growl of this monster, you also need to upgrade some of the parts of the truck. The first consideration is usually the engine. Some builders would like to peg their desired horsepower at around 700. For some, a 400-horsepower engine would suffice.
You also need to consider the safety features of your truck, especially if you’re joining a show. That’s one necessary upgrade you shouldn’t forget. If you’re casually taking your monster truck for a spin, know that there are legal provisions that you should follow. Your research might yield more than these points, but this should get you going with your monster truck project.
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