1981

Bigfoot Monster Truck

Bob Chandler (b. 1941)

Sometimes the art of engineering can take some amazing turns. One great example is the monster truck. The progression starts innocently enough. A pickup truck owner gets some new rims that allow for bigger tires. But if the tires are too big, they start rubbing against the body. The simple solution to this is a body-lift kit—a set of spacers that separates the truck body from the ladder frame. Or suspension-lift kits that lift both the frame and the body.

The first monster truck was Bigfoot. Bigfoot’s owner, Bob Chandler, took 48-inch (1.2 meter) wheels and tires off of farm equipment and added them to his pickup truck. These tires demanded bigger, more complex axles. Turning became an issue, so hydraulically controlled steering for both the front and rear tires appeared. All of this added weight, requiring bigger engines. Then the tires got even bigger, to 66 inches (1.7 meters) because, why not?

Monster trucks completely abandon the original pickup truck that started the whole craze. Tubular steel frames resembling trusses hold together all the parts, and then fiberglass body panels bolt on to give the appearance of a pickup.

Looking at it from the outside, the engineering evolution happened at an amazing pace, fueled by a combination of envy, one-upmanship, fan accolades, sponsor dollars, and the creation of a monster truck racing circuit that gave these vehicles huge visibility. The whole trend started when Bigfoot crushed several cars in a farm field in 1981. The surprisingly large public response led to car-crushing stadium shows and monster truck races drawing tens of thousands of fans to every event.

It’s a great example of how rapidly engineering can move when a lot of money and public interest is involved. Think about how quickly airplanes evolved once the Wright brothers unlocked the basic principles. Or how fast space technology developed from the first satellite in orbit in 1957 to men on the moon in 1969. Given enough incentive and funding, engineers can make amazing things happen.

SEE ALSO Truss Bridge (1823), The Wright Brothers’ Airplane (1903), Lunar Landing (1969).

A monster truck jumping over cars in a show in Uppsala, Sweden.