My four year old is completely obsessed with monster trucks so I decided to make my own DIY monster truck arena! I found a way to make it better and cheaper than the ones I found on the market.
This post is all about detailing everything you need and every step to make a DIY monster truck arena that your monster truck lover won’t want to stop playing with!
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DIY Monster Truck Arena
What Will You Need to Build this DIY Monster Truck Arena?
Here’s your supply list of everything you’ll need to make this quick, easy, and insanely fun DIY monster truck arena!
Used Sandbox $15
The best container I could find for a monster truck arena was a sandbox. It’s big enough to build lots of ramps and also has little seats for my son to sit on while he plays. I snagged a used sandbox off Facebook marketplace for $15 and I’ve seen tons of others at a similar price point! They are insanely easy to find cheap or free used since just about every parent has a sandbox. That said, you could also repurpose your own sandbox or see if a friend is getting rid of theirs and spend nothing on this step!
Flower Foam Cube- $6
When I was looking for something I could use to build my monster truck ramps, I wandered Michaels and found flower foam! It was super easy to cut with a knife into the ramps we wanted and I ended up making 10 ramps with just one 8” cube!
If you have a Michaels near you or decide to purchase it online, don’t forget to use a coupon (they always have one!). Here is the one I purchased from Michaels.
If you don’t have a Michaels here are a few similar options I found on Amazon. This Flora Fom is the same brand I used, just a different size/shape. And this 8” craft foam cube is the same size that I found at Micheals but a little more pricey because it is considered a craft foam rather than a flower foam.
Old Bedsheet- $0
All I used to create the dirt look on the bottom was an old tan bed sheet I already had! You could also use an old brown or tan towel if you have one!
But if you don’t have one the right color, you can easily find a tan sheet or towel at any second hand store. Just make sure you wash it first of course!
Hot Glue- $3
I used hot glue to glue down the sheet onto the bottom of the sand box because it’s super cheap, easy, and dries fast.
Black Craft Paint- $1.25
You’ll need black craft paint to create the monster truck tracks at the end. If you have craft supplies at your house already, any black paint will do for this step. I used a black kids paint we purchased at Dollar Tree!
Toy monster Truck- $0
If you are building a monster truck arena, chances are high that you have a monster truck toy laying around you can use to make the tracks. You can use any truck you already have cause the paint should come right back off as long as you wash it off immediately.
How to Build Your DIY Monster Truck Arena
Cut Out Your Ramps and Dry Fit Them
Before you start building anything, you may want to talk with your little monster truck lover and see what kind of ramps they would enjoy most. I showed my son a video from a Monster Jam competition and he picked out ramps he really liked.
Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Two little ramps with a gap big enough for 3-4 cars so they can jump over them
- A singular ramp for jumping off of
- A wall ramp for backflips
- 3 or 4 ramps that all come together in the middle for driving over top (these are also great if you have any pull back and go or friction powered monster trucks!)
Once you decide what ramps you want, start cutting them out and organizing them in your sandbox however you like them! You may end up rearranging them quite a few times before you find a way you like.
Glue the Ramps Down
Once you have cut your ramps and decided where you want them in your box, you’ll want to use hot glue to glue down the bottom of each ramp to keep it in place. I also recommend gluing back to back ramps to each other and any wall ramps to the side of the sandbox.
Start Cutting Your Sheet
Lay your sheet down on top of all your ramps as close as possible to how it will be once it is glued down. Then cut your sheet or towel to remove the majority of the excess fabric, leaving an extra foot or so around all the edges to make sure you have enough as things get glued down.
Glue Down The Sheet
Hot Glue the sheet down onto the middle ramp(s) first, then the bottom of the sandbox, working your way outward towards the edges. Don’t stress over bumps in the fabric as it honestly makes it looks even more like a dirt track once the tracks are added!
Finish Up the Edges
Cut the sheet down again so you have about ½ inch to an inch on the whole perimeter. Then fold the edge of the sheet/towel over and glue down the edge to avoid it fraying later on.
Add the Monster Truck Tracks
You’re building a monster truck arena, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a monster truck lying around. So, grab any monster truck, some black paint, and a paper plate. Dip your monster truck into the black paint and then roll out a couple tracks on the paper plate to get some of the paint off before rolling out tracks on your arena. This will help you get more detailed tracks in your arena rather than just a black line. Repeat this process until you have all the tracks you want.
Add the Cars & Monster Trucks
Set up your monster truck arena with all the works. Line up your monster trucks for their first competition, add some cars in between your ramps, and don’t forget the firetruck (in case of crashes and fires of course).
Watch Their Face Light Up!
Enjoy your new monster truck arena at home just for fun or as a fun addition to a monster truck birthday party! It’s a super fun activity for them to do with their monster truck loving friends and a party decoration you’ll actually want to keep later on!
I tried for so long to find a monster truck arena that was big enough, had all the different ramps my toddler wanted, and didn’t cost a fortune. I really wish I would have made my own sooner! So, I hope this helps you make your own and that your kiddo absolutely loves it!
This post is all about helping you create a DIY monster truck arena that your child will absolutely love! (all at a price that you’ll love too!)
-Beautifully Busy Mom
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Meet the Author
This post was written by Monica, a former teacher turned stay at home mom. After feeling very lonely at the beginning of her motherhood journey, she started this blog in hopes that other moms wouldn’t feel the way she felt. So, this blog is filled with free resources and fun activities so that you can enjoy the beautiful chaos that is motherhood. Let’s be friends 🙂
