It’s an incredible sight, and a mystery of the universe: how a Trophy Truck suspension works. Picture this, a 7,000-pound truck flying through the desert at over 100 miles per hour (mph), seemingly floating over bumps that would swallow a normal vehicle whole.

This is the world of unlimited off-road racing, and what allows these machines to perform such feats is a collection of highly specialized, purpose-built systems. A recent detailed animation breaks down exactly how a Trophy Truck suspension works in off-road settings.

Exterior and Frame + Engine

Like many race cars, a Trophy Truck uses lightweight fiberglass and composite body panels attached to a strong, underlying steel tube frame. This example uses a mid-engine layout, with the engine placed behind the cockpit for better weight distribution.

The engine itself is a naturally-aspirated big-block V8, meaning no turbos or superchargers. To handle the brutal, on-again, off-again abuse of desert racing, these engines are built for durability, with this one displacing over 9.0-liters (555+ cubic inches) and producing over 1,100 horsepower.

Fuel / Refueling + Drivetrain

To feed the massive 105-gallon fuel cell with a puncture-resistant Kevlar bladder fills the bed area. During a pit stop, teams use pressurized refueling canisters that can dump 80 gallons of fuel in just 30 seconds. From the engine, power flows through a 5-speed sequential transmission that also allows for direct gear selection, a key feature if a gear gets damaged during the race.

4WD vs. AWD

The truck’s drivetrain sends power to all four wheels. While the terms are often used interchangeably, the video clarifies the distinction. A four-wheel-drive (4WD) system, like this truck has, typically needs to be engaged by the driver. An all-wheel-drive (AWD) system is always active.

Suspension + Springs + Shock Absorbers + Bump Stops + Front Suspension

The suspension is what allows these trucks to perform their physics-defying feats, with 24 inches of travel in the front and 32 inches in the rear. The system uses a dual-spring, progressive-rate setup, where a softer spring absorbs small bumps and a much firmer spring engages for big hits and landings. These are controlled by advanced bypass shock absorbers.

These shocks have external tubes that allow oil to bypass the main piston in certain zones of travel, creating different levels of stiffness depending on how far the suspension is compressed or extended.

Finally, hydraulic bump stops cushion the last few inches of travel to prevent harsh bottom-outs. The front uses an independent A-arm suspension design.

Steering

To handle the huge suspension travel without affecting the steering, the truck uses a “swing set” style steering rack. This design allows the steering arms to move in a similar arc to the A-arms, which prevents the wheels from turning unintentionally as the suspension cycles up and down, an issue known as bump steer.

Portal Axles

To gain massive ground clearance while still delivering power to the front wheels, the truck uses portal axles. This is a gearset at the wheel hub that allows the drive axle to be mounted higher than the center of the wheel, lifting the entire front differential and A-arms further away from rocks and obstacles.

Wheel and Tire

The truck rides on giant 40-inch tires, which are run at low air pressure to create a wide, flexible contact patch for traction on varied terrain. To keep the tire from coming off the rim under these low-pressure, high-stress conditions, beadlock wheels are used to physically clamp the tire’s bead to the wheel.

Cockpit

The two-person cockpit is an office built for business. A driver and navigator are strapped into safety seats with nets instead of windows. The navigator is tasked with calling out obstacles from a large GPS display, communicating with the team, and managing various systems, while the driver focuses on piloting the vehicle.

Tools & Electronics

For inevitable trail-side issues, the truck is a rolling workshop. It carries two full-size spare tires, a cockpit-operated hydraulic jack system, spare fluids, and tools for field repairs. A massive set of powerful LED lights, some with amber lenses for cutting through dust and turning night into day.

Understanding How Trophy Truck Suspension Works

Understanding how Trophy Truck suspension works is key to appreciating how they survive the brutal Baja 1000. Huge shoutout to Animagraffs for their detailed animation.

For any truck owner, seeing these extreme solutions also helps visualize how their own vehicle’s suspension, drivetrain, and steering components function when they head off-road.