LEGO SET 42118 - Alternate build | Monster Jam Grave Digger
Unearthing Creativity: 20 Alternative Builds with LEGO Technic Set 42118-1 “Monster Jam Grave Digger”
From its colossal tires to its fierce chassis, the LEGO Technic 42118-1 “Monster Jam Grave Digger” is an engineering marvel in its own right. But beneath its iconic lime-green panels and menacing skull motifs lies an even greater treasure: a carefully curated collection of parts that can be transformed into entirely new mechanical wonders. Imagine swapping the wheelie-bar for a dump-truck bed, or trading those massive tires for sleek dragster slicks. With the same elements that bring Grave Digger to life—heavy-duty liftarms, robust axles, and rugged panels—there’s an endless playground of possibilities waiting to be unearthed.
In this article, we’ll explore the potential lying dormant within set 42118-1. Whether you’re a seasoned builder seeking fresh challenges or a Technic novice eager to flex your creative muscles, these alternative builds showcase how a single set’s inventory can spawn everything from nimble trikes and all-terrain ATVs to rustic rat rods and quadricycles. Each project leverages the unique synergy of Technic parts—pin-and-axle mechanisms, gear differentials, and structural liftarms—to deliver functional novelties that go far beyond the monster-truck arena.
As you embark on your own build journey, remember that the true joy of LEGO Technic lies in experimentation. Don’t be afraid to mix and match subassemblies, adjust gear ratios for speed versus torque, or repurpose panels in unconventional ways. The following gallery presents twenty standout MOCs (My Own Creations) drawn from the Rebrickable community’s finest designers, each meticulously crafted to work within the parts list of 42118-1. Dive in, draw inspiration, and prepare to rediscover Grave Digger’s hidden potential—one innovative build at a time.
42118 Dump Truck
Designer: Keep On Bricking
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-73836/Keep%20On%20Bricking/42118-dump-truck/
42118 TRUCK
Designer: Keep On Bricking
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-67568/Keep%20On%20Bricking/42118-truck/
42118 Dragster
Designer: Keep On Bricking
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-72048/Keep%20On%20Bricking/42118-dragster/
42118 Sherp ATV
Designer: 13neat8
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-80063/13neat8/42118-sherp-atv/
42118 TRIKE
Designer: Keep On Bricking
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-71274/Keep%20On%20Bricking/42118-trike/
42118 Bat Buggy
Designer: Keep On Bricking
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-65857/Keep%20On%20Bricking/42118-bat-buggy/
42118 Rebel Tractor
Designer: Keep On Bricking
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-65764/Keep%20On%20Bricking/42118-rebel-tractor/
42118 T Wheeler
Designer: Keep On Bricking
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-69097/Keep%20On%20Bricking/42118-t-wheeler/
42118 PullBack MOCs
Designer: Keep On Bricking
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-111602/Keep%20On%20Bricking/42118-pullback-mocs/
42118 Stunt Bike
Designer: fysztof
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-78734/fysztof/42118-stunt-bike/
Off-Road Segway
Designer: zumaidi
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-75285/zumaidi/off-road-segway/
42118 Rat Rod
Designer: Keep On Bricking
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-111601/Keep%20On%20Bricking/42118-rat-rod/
Tractor 42118 Alternative
Designer: ErikGS
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-122497/ErikGS/tractor-42118-alternative/
42118 B-model LOVETRUCK
Designer: Roelofs Creations
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-93440/Roelofs%20Creations/42118-b-model-lovetruck/
Truck
Designer: ErikGS
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-99691/ErikGS/truck/
Offroad Formula One Car 42118
Designer: Davabo
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-64341/Davabo/offroad-formula-one-car-42118/
Henry Ford’s Quadricycle
Designer: zumaidi
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-75479/zumaidi/henry-fords-quadricycle/
Big Wheel Trike
Designer: zumaidi
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-74627/zumaidi/big-wheel-trike/
Single Engine Airplane 42118 Alternative
Designer: ErikGS
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-123968/ErikGS/single-engine-airplane-42118-alternative/
42118 HogBash
Designer: Løøse
Get the instructions: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-141343/L%C3%B8%C3%B8se/42118-hogbash/
With these twenty inventive MOCs at your fingertips, the 42118-1 Monster Jam Grave Digger parts set transforms from a single monster-truck build into a treasure trove of engineering opportunities. Which model will you tackle first?
