Brave drivers who are not easily satisfied with any average car tend to look for more in order to pump some adrenaline into their system. Monster trucks are known to satiate every fearless driver’s desires. Get a pickup truck, modify it to have a larger suspension and tires, and allow it to crush anything that gets in its way. Most monster trucks stand tall, reaching at least 12 feet high. In the past, monster trucks were simply used as side shows for motocross events. However, they gained popularity such that there are now dedicated competitions for them to participate in.

In a monster truck show, the participants usually race in a 2v2 competition. Moreover, the trucks can have a freestyle competition where they do several stunts including backflips and wheelies. Some trucks even run over any barrier or fly in the air over several cars lined below. Freestyle competitions have become the highlight of most monster truck events. Badass drivers can choose their own course, track, and obstacles. During this part, drivers can perform doughnuts, wheel stands, large aerial jumps, and even backflips. Although it seems dangerous, there are precautions put in place to ensure the safety of the drivers.

Now, let’s see some of the biggest, loudest, and meanest monster trucks ever!

15. El Toro Loco

Living up to its name, El Toro Loco is a raging bull in the monster truck scene. It is described to smell the fear of its opponents. The truck debuted in 2001 and it arrived with a custom built bull when it was displayed to the crowd in Louisiana. Later on, El Toro Loco shared the Freestyle Championship title at the 2004 Monster Jam World Finals. In 2012, El Toro Loco expanded to a four-truck team adding more drivers to tame this wild beast. The pool of drivers included Becky McDonough, Chuck Werner, and Marc McDonald. El Toro Loco is one of the most iconic monster trucks in the world and it is known to give its all to any competition it participates in. At present, there are two looks for this truck – a yellow and black Monster Jam truck and the ever popular existing orange truck.

14. Raminator

Raminator is part of a successful monster truck team, joining the Ramunition and Hotsy-sponsored Ram trucks. Mark Hall is the man behind the wheel of Raminator while Tim Hall serves as the team’s crew chief. Tim and Mark grew up on a race track while their father announced tractor pulls, motorcycle, and sprint races. Later on, the two participated in races at local mud bogs. They even began modifying trucks to enter in this sport. They both entered the sport early on when it was still new. The brothers’ first monster truck was called Heavy Metal. Now, Hall Brothers Racing has five monster trucks, five transporters, and a merchandise rig.

13. Cyborg

The monster truck Cyborg debuted as a Dodge Ram but was later on modified as a Ford F-150. Jack Koberna originally owned and drove the truck, and he got it out of New Mexico. Cyborg is the only two-wheel drive (rear-wheel drive) monster truck in the world. Although this is a unique characteristic for the Cyborg, it comes as a disadvantage for the monster truck. Due to this, Cyborg often gets stuck on obstacles like bus stacks and van stacks. Moreover, this monster truck is not as fast as the other monster trucks. Cyborg comes in green skin, which is also something about this truck that’s one of a kind.

12. Predator

One of the few monster trucks on the scene with a 3D-printed body, Predator is a flagship truck operated by Allen Pezo. It is part of Predator Racing, and also one of the longest-running and most popular monster trucks around. Predator was introduced in 1988 and it came as a blue stock Chevy with leaf springs. The monster truck joined in four Monster Jam World Finals. Moreover, it has been in every Monster Jam video game. This monster truck somewhat resembles the look and style of the Prowler and the Pouncer. Both are Predator’s teammates. In 2016, Prowler was run as Predator for a show in Guatemala.

11. Black Stallion

Black Stallion is a monster truck that debuted in 1981 as a street legal truck before becoming a leaf spring truck that performed car crushes. After a decade, the truck moved up to a tube chassis truck in 1996 called Black Stallion 2000. It got featured in the video games Monster Truck Madness 2 and Monster Truck Madness 64. It also participated at the Thunder Nationals series where it got recognized. Michael Vaters, the man behind the wheel, competed with his then-wife, Pam, who was the pilot of the Boogey Van. At the turn of the century, Black Stallion received fame in pop culture. The monster truck was featured in the video game Monster Jam: Urban Assault.

10. Bear Foot

Fred Shafer, one of the oldest participants in Monster Jam prior to his retirement, was the man behind the famous Bear Foot. He owned the monster truck up until September 1997. As a pro in stock drag racing, Shafer became one of the first monster truck drivers when traction for this kind of sports was still growing. He was often seen driving with his two pet black bears, Sugar and Spice, in the truck bed. Hence, people started calling him Bear Foot. Shafer and his monster trucks won championships. Moreover, he set numerous elapsed time records, including the indoor jumping distance record and the long distance jump record.

9. Captain’s Curse

Based on a 1941 Willys pickup, Captain’s Curse is a monster truck owned by FELD until 2007. Pablo Huffaker was the main driver for Captain’s Curse. The monster truck has the same chassis as the Blacksmith, which was Huffaker’s older car prior to Captain’s Curse. However, Captain’s Curse sported a different color scheme and a pirate theme. In 2008, Huffaker stepped down as the truck’s driver and passed it on to Alex Blackwell. The monster truck debuted at the World Finals in 2007. It became popular due to its crash at the World Finals 10 in a race against Maximum Destruction. The two monster trucks were racing on Thunder Alley when in a turn, Captain’s Curse’s throttle got stuck, which caused it to tumble on stadium seats.Thankfully, the truck landed in a closed off area of the stadium so nobody was injured.

8. Towasaurus Wrex

One of the oldest monster trucks in the circuit, the Towasaurus Wrex originally came out in 1988. It was made from the body of a 1946 Chevy Tow Truck. Gary DeMauro was the original owner of the truck but it was later on acquired by Jeff Bursey. It is a unique monster truck – the only one designed from a tow truck in the sport. Towasaurus Wrex is joined by Bursey’s other truck, Hammer Time. Other alter egos for this monster truck include Tow Mater and Jethro Tow. Towasaurus Wrex is currently participating in many monster truck events in the US and even outside the country.

7. Sudden Impact

The main monster truck for the Sudden Impact Racing, this truck was created and driven for many years by John Seasock until it was purchased by Brandon Lagarde. The truck was built in 1993 and its iconic blue scheme first appeared in 1995. The third iteration of Sudden Impact, which has the Liquidator chassis, came out in 1999. In 2002, Sudden Impact revealed a new body and paint scheme with a white jagged line across each side of the truck. In 2005, after a decade of driving Sudden Impact, Seasock sold the monster truck along with the team to Lagarde. Seasock proceeded to work for Monster Jam. In 2015, Sudden Impact received an improved body scheme, sporting an offroad/RC body.

6. Blue Thunder

Blue Thunder first came out in 2001 and it was unveiled at the Houston Astrodome. The truck is owned by Monster Jam/FELD Motorsports. The truck is based on a Ford F-150. The pilot behind this truck is Matt Cody and he drove it at the Monster Triple Jam Series presented by AMSOIL Central. Former Grave Digger driver Lyle Hancock also drove Blue Thunder for a while. In 2011, Ford ended their sponsorship contract for Blue Thunder. Hence, all Ford references like the logo were removed from the truck. Moreover, the Build Ford Tough logo was replaced with the words “Blue Thunder” on its body instead. Although this truck has the same name and color with the Dabney’s Camaro Blue Thunder, the two are not related.

5. Bigfoot

One of the most controversial trucks ever, Bigfoot is a creation of Bob Chandler. Although most controversies either root from events that happen on the race track or incidents in the garage, Bigfoot’s controversy is something different but is considered monumental in motorsports. It happened when Chandler pulled out Bigfoot on the TNT series but allowed it to compete in other shows. At that time, Chandler and his team began creating a new truck that will bring the industry to a new level. They were successful in doing so and the result was Bigfoot VIII. Although their competitors tried to catch up with them, they were already in the lead. The new and improved Bigfoot was innovative but it stirred controversy due to its domination.

4. Monster Mutt

Monster Mutt is like having your dog grow into a monstrous beast with 6-foot tires instead of legs and standing 12 feet tall up in the air. You may be able to pet it but it is best piloted to crush anything that gets in its way. Right now, there are four versions of Monster Mutt that bring canine carnage on the track. These are the original brown Monster Mutt, Monster Mutt Dalmatian, Monster Mutt Rottweiler, and Monster Mutt Junkyard Dog. These angry mutts have massive floppy ears, tongues, and even tails, and are all thirsty to win! Two of the most amazing female monster truck drivers pilot the Monster Mutt Dalmatian – Candice Jolly and Cynthia Gauthier.

3. Maximum Destruction

Tom Meents, the man behind Maximum Destruction, is no stranger when it comes to death-defying stunts in motorsports. This futuristic SUV monster truck was originally Goldberg and was later on called Maximum Destruction or Max-D. It is one of the most popular trucks in Monster Jam with a name perfect for its freestyle performances especially with Meents behind the wheel. Fans from all over enjoy it being pitted against the legendary Grave Digger driven by Dennis Anderson. The two drivers have been long time rivals on the track but they are real life friends. Maximum Destruction’s name and design is owned by FELD while Meents owns the truck’s chassis.

2. Batman

The protector of Gotham City is one of the famous monster trucks in the Monster Jam series. Batman, a monster truck owned by FELD, has brought home two Monster Jam World Finals Racing Championships. It earned its first championship in 2007 and then again in 2008. Jason Childress was the original pilot of Batman but it was John Seasock who enabled it to win back to back championships. Seasock was the former pilot of Traxxas T-Maxx and Sudden Impact. In 2013, Batman underwent a total revamp and was constructed with a new gray chassis. They totally replaced its yellow color from its original body. It also got a new body and shape. Due to the expiration of DC license, Batman has now retired.

1. Grave Digger

Back in 1981, Dennis Anderson came up with the idea for a monster truck. The end result was the Grave Digger. This truck was originally built using a 1957 Chevy Panel Wagon. He used scrap parts from junkyards to modify and improve the truck. The paint job was changed from dull orange to the popular green and black motif. Apparently, this monster truck is one of the most decorated trucks in the world. It has won four Monster Jam Finals. Its first driver was its creator, Dennis Anderson. Later on, the truck was also driven by the likes of Adam Anderson, Carl Van Horn, Charlie Pauken, Jon Zimmer, Pablo Huffaker, Randy Brown, Morgan Kane, and Cole Venard.