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Street-Legal Monster Trucks You Can Actually Buy

Vukasin Herbez September 14, 2023

With their big tires, enormous engines, and insane performance capabilities, monster trucks are fantastic machines in many aspects. Now, the typical monster truck is of course not street-legal, mostly bound to shows at arenas and other special events.

But what about the real truck models that emulate that monster truck feel while still being legal for street use? Indeed, there are tucks out there that have all the characteristics, appeal, and appearance but with slightly milder specifications. Today, we looked at the best street-legal trucks that get as close to monster trucks as the laws will allow. Get ready to rip up the streets in these trucks below.

GMC Hummer EV

The Tesla Cybertruck might be the first fully operational prototype electric truck of the future. But GMC’s Hummer EV is newer, bigger, meaner-looking, and filled with several features that get drivers closer to owning a monster truck. But before attempting to reserve one, just know that the top-of-the-line version will cost around $100,000 (via GMC Hummer). It truly is close to a monster truck in that area.

The features on the Hummer EV are insane. The base version will have a 625 hp engine, the next up will have 800 hp engines, and the top-tier model has an astonishing 1000 hp at its disposal. As with all-electric vehicles, the torque figure is equally impressive, and its predicted range is 350 miles. But what really compares it to a monster truck are the drivetrain and suspension, which allow it to climb even the steepest obstacles. It can even go diagonally, bringing a new dimension to off-road driving. With an EV powertrain, the Hummer EV is blisteringly fast in a straight line. It can allegedly do 3.3 seconds from 0 to 60 mph, which is insane.

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Dodge Ram SRT-10

Produced from 2004-2006, the Dodge Ram SRT-10 is one of the craziest and fastest pickups ever produced. And that’s saying a lot since Dodge always had pretty wild special versions of their trucks. Anyway, just look at the specs of this street-legal monster truck. The 8.2-liter V10 engine has over 500 hp and 0 to 60 times in fewer than five seconds. Its fuel economy is in the single digits (via Hemmings).

Top that off with a bold, bright red or yellow paint job, racing stripes, and big chrome wheels, and you can what the SRT-10 is all about. It was a truck you couldn’t miss if you saw it on the street. Of course, with a price tag of over $45,000, the SRT-10 wasn’t exactly a sales hit, but Dodge did produce a decent number of them throughout the three-year production run.

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Chevrolet Big 10 1976-79

In the late 1970s, only Dodge presented muscle trucks and sold them as such. Meanwhile, Chevrolet had the same idea but cleverly disguised them as a special version of its main pickup line. Back in the day, Chevrolet sold many special versions, which were mostly trim and color choices. The Big 10 started as one of those. However, if you ticked the right boxes when you ordered your new Chevy truck, you could end up with a machine almost as quick as the ’79 Corvette (via Classic Car Studio).

The trick was, of course, in the engine. If you paid extra for a 454 big block V8 and four-speed transmission, you could get a 245 hp beast, which was more powerful than any other muscle car from the period. Of course, the pickup truck construction had its limits, but this muscle truck could still accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in the eight-second range.

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Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Introduced in 2010, the SVT Raptor took the pickup world by storm. Never before was there a fully prepared off-road truck available for sale and capable of doing things like jumping dunes and running through the desert at high speeds (via Car and Driver).

Although conceived as an off-road beast, the SVT Raptor also had muscle credentials in the form of a 6.2-liter V8 with a whopping 411 hp. The 0 to 60 mph sprint took 6.9 seconds, which is okay considering that the Raptor was designed to run through rough terrain, not drag race on back streets.

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Lamborghini LM002

To be honest, the LM002 is somewhere between a truck and an off-road SUV. It has four doors, a double cab, and a truck bed behind. This crazy creation debuted in the mid-1980s as Lamborghini’s attempt to enter the world of luxury SUVs. The LM002 used a special chassis, suspension, and Lamborghini’s famous V12 engine. The 5.2-liter unit had 400 hp and was the same one as you would find in the legendary Lamborghini Countach. For buyers who thought 400 hp was not enough, the factory could supply the LM002 with a 7.3-liter monster V12 engine from a racing boat (via Lamborghini).

With the nickname “The Rambo Lambo,” this truck was exactly that; a rugged, desert-going version of the supercar Lamborghini is well-known for making. Despite that enormous power and rugged looks, the LM002 was sort of a failure since it was very hard to drive on the road. It had a vast thirst for fuel and even had some problems with off-road stability. Not to mention that it was extremely expensive and that Michelin made tires only for this model, which you still can find today at the astronomical price of $5,000 per tire.

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Chevrolet Silverado ZR2

Although Chevrolet has the Colorado ZR2, which is a solid off-road truck, their marketing planners still wanted more. They decided to make a proper competitor for the F-150 Raptor and Ram TRX. The result was the 2022 Silverado ZR2 (via General Motors).

GM engineers took the standard Silverado frame, beefed it up, and installed a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp. Even though it’s significantly less powerful than the TRX, the Silverado ZR2 is equipped with specific components and is more usable as an everyday truck that can be used on extreme off-road trails.

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Jeep Gladiator Honcho

During the 1970s, most truck manufacturers experienced trouble selling their products. The recession and trucks’ lousy fuel economy repelled buyers from big and thirsty trucks equipped with V8 engines. During the era, some small compact trucks managed to achieve good sales results due to their cheap prices, smaller engines, and youthful image. To capture the latter, many US manufacturers introduced wild versions with bright colors and crazy wheels. Among all those trucks, the Jeep Gladiator Honcho was the coolest (via Weekly Driver).

This special model was a regular Gladiator truck. But on it, Jeep added some crazy graphics on the side and the “Honcho” name, as well as numerous interior details, special wheels, off-road tires, and a winch. Under the hood, two engines were available. The Honcho came with an optional 401 AMC V8, making it a seriously powerful machine for the day. Jeep implemented an aggressive advertising campaign, but despite all the efforts, they only made 1500 Honchos in seven years of production. Since then, the Gladiator Honcho has become a sought-after collector’s truck and prices are on the rise. If you decide on an unrestored one, but restoring one could be a hard, expensive job because there are so many unique trim pieces and details.

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Mercedes G-Class G63 AMG 6X6

The Mercedes G-Class is one of the longest-running models in the car world. First introduced in 1979 primarily as a military off-road SUV and truck, it’s still on the market with essentially the same basic design. Throughout almost 40 years, it survived many modifications and redesigns but always kept its distinctive appearance and basic mechanical layout the same. Over the years, the G-Class evolved from a pure military truck without luxury items to an overpriced, premium SUV with powerful engines, 20-inch chrome wheels, and acres of leather inside (via Mercedes).

But Mercedes created one monster of a truck using this. They attached a pickup truck bed, installed one more axle, and made it the fastest, most expensive, and rarest 6×6 in the world. It was a true monster truck by power and torque ratings, and a true monster by sticker price too. Under the hood is the 5.5-liter twin-turbo engine with 540 hp. That motor delivers power to all six wheels through a specially built automatic transmission unit. Inside the car is all about luxury with the finest materials and creature comforts. That made it one of the most expensive trucks available. When it was new, this G63 had a sticker price of $450,000.

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Ford F-150 Raptor

When talking about the second-generation Ford Raptor, it’s crucial to go over the sheer numbers of this street-legal monster truck. The Raptor boats a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 with 450 hp and 510 lb.-ft of torque, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and sub-five-second acceleration times. Those figures seemingly suggest that it’s close to an exotic supercar in many ways (via Auto Evolution).

But it isn’t, and this is a full-size pickup truck with room for five people and a regular truck bed behind. Of course, this isn’t your ordinary pickup, and the Ford Raptor is the closest thing to a full Baja 1000 racing vehicle you can buy today and put license plates on while driving on everyday roads.

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Hummer H1

Back in the mid-1980s, the US Military started using the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), affectionately known as the Humvee. This big, heavy military truck could run over anything and survive even land mines. Even though the Humvee was strictly made and engineered for the military, constant requests for a street-legal version made AM General think about entering the lucrative civilian market as well (via HummerH1).

Finally, in 1992, the civilian Hummer H1 was introduced. It looked almost the same as the military version and featured the same technology and engine. The power came from a 6.2-litre diesel V8 with just 165 hp and loads of torque. The only real difference between military and civilian Hummer was the interior, and the street legal model had a much plusher interior with air conditioning, leather upholstery, and a premium audio system.

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Legacy Power Wagon

Located in rural Wyoming, Legacy Classic Trucks is a perfect place for your classic truck needs and an area that will be less interesting to zombies. So it makes a perfect spot for looking for a special zombie apocalypse truck that will amaze you with quality craftsmanship, engineering, and original ideas. Several classic trucks are on offer, but the best and most interesting is the Legacy Power Wagon (via LCT).

Based on the legendary Dodge Power Wagon, Legacy’s interpretation keeps the original design, durability, and usability but adds many modern features and encasements. These transform a rugged truck from the 1930s into one of the best off-road vehicles of the 2010s. Prices start at just below $200,000 for the basic model powered by a 6.2-litre Chevrolet LS3 V8 engine with 430 hp. If you want, you can get a modern V8 diesel engine in your Legacy Power Wagon as well as an extended-cab or double-cab configuration. Of course, the latest state-of-the-art electronics, suspension, and interior comforts are part of the package.

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Earthroamer XV HD

For people who want to run away from any sign of civilization or just humans in general, Earthroamer has the perfect solution in the form of the XV HD. This specially designed vehicle has a 119-gallon fuel tank, 250 gallons of fresh water, 125 gallons of gray, and 125 of black water. But that’s not the end because the batteries have 20,000-watt hours, with solar panels adding 2100 Watts (via Earthroamer).

This unique vehicle has a 6.7L turbo diesel V8 engine producing 330 horsepower and it has special all-wheel drive for the most challenging terrain. The XV-HD starts at $1,500,000 with a required deposit of $375,000. Yes, the Earthroamer XV HD costs over a million dollars.

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Ram TRX

Although the car industry is inevitably going in the direction of electric and renewable energy sources, it’s good to know that the people at Dodge are still neck deep into gasoline oblivion. How else can we explain the newest and greatest addition to the extreme truck class – the 2021 Ram TRX? If you don’t know what the TRX is, it’s a cross between the Ram Rebel and a Dodge Challenger Hellcat. In other words, it is an all-terrain beast with a supercharged Hemi under the hood (via Ram Trucks).

With a starting price of $69,000, it isn’t cheap, but it is an extremely capable, fast, and durable vehicle whose sole aim is to beat Ford’s Raptor. That’s why it has a 702 hp engine under the hood, a specially tuned chassis, suspension, and gearbox. Dodge hopes it will be the new king of the hill when it comes to extreme off-road trucks you can get from your local dealer.

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Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392

The Jeep Wrangler is one of if not the biggest legends of the off-road class. However, for some users, the lack of a V8 power plant was always a downside of this model. In 2022, Jeep finally made things right with the Wrangler Rubicon 392. Under the hood was a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 470 hp and a rugged 4×4 drive train (via Jeep).

With massive tires, bigger brakes, and an amazing soundtrack, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is the most aggressive and most capable Wrangler yet. Yes, it is expensive and very hard to use on the street, but it is a proper Jeep monster truck nevertheless.

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Ford Raptor R

A cross between the Shelby GT500 and Desert Runner, the 2023 Ford Raptor R is an amazing machine that can work as a drag racer, Baja 1000 entry, or a regular truck. Under the hood is Shelby’s supercharged 5.2-litre V8 with 700 hp. The transmission has 10 speeds, making it capable of addressing any type of driving (via Ford).

The rest of the Raptor R’s package is equally impressive. Heavy-duty chassis, special shocks, massive tires, and brakes all make it a modern, street-legal monster truck. The result is also fantastic: the 2023 Raptor R can outrun almost a brand-new Mustang GT and cross the desert at alarming speeds.

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Hennessey Raptor 6×6

When there’s something that other automobile manufacturer can’t or doesn’t dare to do, Hennessey is usually the company to make it a reality. Offered for a whopping $350,000, it is one of the most extreme trucks ever produced. This monster truck is essentially an F-150 Raptor but enhanced in almost every way (via Hennessey Performance).

First, it has one additional axle, making this a proper 6×6 vehicle and one of the most extreme trucks. Second, it has upgraded shocks, suspension, and a modified drive train. Third, it has a 600 hp engine, quite an improvement over factory specifications.

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International XT-Series

Even though International produced a successful line of SUV models back in the day after the discontinuation of the Scout, it left the passenger vehicle market and concentrated on industrial users. However, in 2004, the company briefly returned to designing trucks with the enormous International XT model (via Top Speed).

The lineup consisted of three models; the CXT (commercial extreme truck), the RTX (recreational extreme truck), and the MTX, which was a military-spec version. Under the hood was a diesel six-cylinder or a V8, and the chassis was straight from International’s medium-duty truck lineup.

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Street-Legal Monster Trucks You Can Actually Buy

GMC Hummer EV

Dodge Ram SRT-10

Chevrolet Big 10 1976-79

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Lamborghini LM002

Chevrolet Silverado ZR2

Jeep Gladiator Honcho

Mercedes G-Class G63 AMG 6X6

Ford F-150 Raptor

Hummer H1

Legacy Power Wagon

Earthroamer XV HD

Ram TRX

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392

Ford Raptor R

Hennessey Raptor 6×6

International XT-Series

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