Xtreme 4x4 Builds
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Join the PowerNation Email NewsletterParts Used In This Episode
4 Wheel Parts
9.5ti Multi-Mount Winch Kit
Artec Industries
Dual Battery Mount Kit
PowerBright
3000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter
Randy's Ring & Pinion
Yukon 4.88 Ring and Pinion Set for Chrysler 9.25"
Randy's Ring & Pinion
Yukon 4.88 Ring and Pinion Set for Dana Spicer 44
Randy's Ring & Pinion
Yukon Front Axles
Ruffstuff Specialties
3/8" Steel One Piece Differential Cover
Episode Transcript
(ANNOUNCER)>> WHERE THERE ARE
SPARKS, THERE ARE FLAMES, AND WHERE THERE'S IAN AND
CHRIS YOU KNOW ONE COOL 4X4 WILL GET BUILT. TODAY ON XTREME, OUR ABANDONED
NISSAN IS RESURRECTED FROM THE WAREHOUSE WITH A SOLID AXLE
SWAP, NEW GEARING, MASSIVE INVERTER, ALL TO MAKE
THE TV CREW HAPPY.
(IAN)>> THERE IS NOTHING MORE SATISFYING THAN WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER, LIKE BUILDING THE ULTIMATE TOW RIG OUT OF A CLAPPED OUT SUBURBAN, OR MAYBE TAKING A $750 DOLLAR S-10 AND TURNING IT INTO A ONE OF A KIND CRAWLER. OR MAYBE HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT BY PULLING A TRUCK OUT OF THE JUNKYARD WITH A BUNCH OF JUNKYARD PARTS AND BUILDING AN ECOFRIENDLY WHEELER. BUT SOMETIMES DURING THOSE BUILDS PLANS CAN CHANGE. YOU CAN GET DISCOURAGED, AND THE SAME THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO YOU GUYS AT HOME HAPPEN TO US ALL THE TIME. PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE, MAYBE CERTAIN PARTS ARE BACK ORDERED AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM, OR YOU LOOK AT THE TRUCK AND SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE BECAUSE THE PLAN THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER JUST SEEMS TO COME OFF THE RAILS. AND THAT IS WHEN IT CAN FEEL LIKE THE TRUCK IS ACTUALLY FIGHTING YOU NOT WANTING TO GET BUILT. CASE IN POINT, THIS '95 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WE PICKED IT UP IN HOPES OF TURNING IT INTO THE ULTIMATE TV TRUCK FOR OUR GUYS BEHIND THE SCENES RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THIS SHOW TOGETHER. WHEN THE XTREME CREW GOES ON A TRAIL RIDE, THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF GEAR THAT THEY USE, CAMERAS, BATTERIES, CHARGERS, TRIPODS, POV CAMERAS, FIELD MONITORS, TAPES, DISCS, BATTERIES, BATTERIES, AND EVEN MORE BATTERIES. IT WAS OBVIOUS THEY NEEDED A RIG OF THEIR OWN, BUT SOMETIMES IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE WALLS, THEY'RE CLOSING IN ON YOU. THE PRESSURE CAN GET TO YOU, SO WE PUT THIS TRUCK ON THE BACK BURNER.
(CHRIS)>> CHECK IT OUT, IT'S GOT LIKE A QUARTER INCH OF DUST ON IT TO PROVE THAT IT'S BEEN SITTING FOR A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS.
(IAN)>> SO WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STEP BACK AND REEVALUATE THIS ENTIRE PROJECT, AND WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES. NOW SOME OF THE CHANGES WERE MADE FOR US BECAUSE OF PARTS WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO RUN, AND OTHERS WE'VE MADE OURSELVES JUST BECAUSE WE'RE REEVALUATING THIS ENTIRE TRUCK AS A PACKAGE. BUT BEFORE WE JUMP IN TODAY AND GET TO WORK, LETS TAKE A LOOK BACK AND SEE WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
(CHRIS)>> SOME FLASHBACK GOODNESS!
(IAN)>> WE PICKED THIS TRUCK UP FOR A STEAL OF A DEAL BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. SO AFTER SWAPPING IN A NEW LONG BLOCK, INSTALLING A HEAVY DUTY BUMPER, THROWING SOME LOW GEARS IN THE TRANSFER CASE, WE PREPPED IT FOR A SOLID AXLE SWAP. THEN MEASURED IT UP FOR A SUPER COOL SET OF PORTAL AXLES TO GIVE US A LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY WITH TONS OF GROUND CLEARANCE.
(CHRIS)>> AND THAT'S WHERE WE RAN INTO OUR PROBLEM, MAKING THE PORTAL AXLES FIT THE WIDTH OF THE TRUCK. THEY JUST COULDN'T BUILD THEM NARROW ENOUGH TO FIT THE TIRES UNDERNEATH THE BODY.
(IAN)>> BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP. SO WE SPENT THE PAST YEAR LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT AXLE OPTIONS WE WOULD HAVE FOR THIS RIG. WE WANTED SOMETHING CUSTOM AND SOMETHING SUPER TRICK. BUT IN THE END, THE RIGHT AXLE CHOICE WAS IN FRONT OF US THE WHOLE TIME. WHEN WE FIRST SHOWED YOU THE PORTAL AXLES WE PLANNED TO PUT UNDERNEATH THIS RIG, A LOT OF YOU GUYS SENT US EMAILS QUESTIONING THAT DECISION BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING THE NISSAN MORE LIKE AN EXPEDITION TYPE OF VEHICLE. IT'S NOT BUILT TO CONQUER THE GREATEST TRAIL OUT THERE, IT'S JUST MEANT TO GET A LOT OF STUFF TO THAT TRAIL. NOW FOR THAT REASON IF YOU HAVE A TRICK AXLE LIKE A PORTAL AXLE AND YOU'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE LIKE BURNS, KANSAS. YOU BLOW OUT A PORTAL BOX, YOU'RE GONNA BE STUCK THERE FOR DAYS WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART. A BETTER SOLUTION IS A COUPLE OF JUNKYARD AXLES LIKE THESE ONES RIGHT HERE, A DANA 44 FRONT AND A CHRYSLER NINE AND A QUARTER REAR. NOW WE CHOSE THESE BECAUSE THESE ARE OUT OF A DODGE HALF TON PICK UP TRUCK. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE'S OVER ONE MILLION OF THOSE TRUCKS BUILT. THAT MEANS IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THESE AXLES WHEN THE RIG'S OUT ON THE TRAIL OR ON THE HIGHWAY, GETTING PARTS WILL BE EASY AS PIE, TORCHES!
IN THE DODGE PICK UP TRUCK, THESE AXLES HAVE LEAF SPRINGS ON THE REAR AND COIL SPRINGS ON THE FRONT. NOW WE'RE GONNA BE REVERSING THAT. WE'LL BE ADAPTING THE NISSAN COIL SPRINGS ONTO THE REAR AXLE, AND THE FRONT AXLE WE'LL USE THE INTEGRATED SPRING MOUNT PADS TO MOUNT IT TO OUR NEW LEAF SPRINGS. WHEN YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR A USED AXLE IN A JUNKYARD, IT'S BEST JUST TO GIVE IT A GOOD ONCE OVER AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HOUSING. THINGS LIKE CALIPERS, ROTORS!
OOPS!
(CHRIS)>> THERE'S YOUR AXLE.
(IAN)>> MAN IT'S A GOOD THING THESE ARE STRONG. ALL THE BALL JOINTS, NOT MISSING ANY NUTS AND BOLTS, STUFF THAT'S GONNA TAKE YOU DAYS TO FIND AT YOUR LOCAL PARTS STORE. WE WERE FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT WE WERE NOT GONNA BE ABLE USE THESE AXLES UNDERNEATH THE NISSAN AT FULL WIDTH. AND BY TEST FITTING THE REAR, WE COULD SEE NOW THAT THEY'RE FOUR INCHES TOO WIDE. BUT THE DOWNFALL IS WE DON'T WANT TO CUT THEM UP AND MAKE THEM DO A CUSTOM WIDTH AXLE BECAUSE THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF INSTALLING THEM. IF WE BREAK AN AXLE SHAFT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, A CUSTOM WITH SHAFT IS GONNA LEAVE YOU HANGING FOR DAYS OR WEEKS WAITING FOR ONE TO BE MADE. WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AND THE REAR AXLE IN THAT TRUCK, THE NINE AND A QUARTER, WAS AVAILABLE IN AN OLDER DODGE TRUCK WITH A SHAFT THAT IS TWO INCHES SHORTER ON EACH SIDE. THAT'LL PULL THAT WHOLE HOUSING IN FOUR INCHES IN TOTAL. NOW WE'LL DO THE SAME ON THE FRONT AXLE BUT WE'LL LEAVE THE LONG SIDE TUBE ALONE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE AXLE DISCONNECT IS. AND WE'LL JUST SHORTEN DOWN THE SHORT SIDE AXLE TUBE TRYING TO PULL FOUR INCHES OUT OF THE SHAFT BY ONCE AGAIN LOOKING FOR AN OFF THE SHELF SHAFT, WHICH SHOULDN'T BE HARD BECAUSE THIS DANA 44 WAS OFFERED IN ANYTHING FROM JEEP CJ'S ALL THE WAY UP TO THESE BIG DODGES. NOW WE'VE ALREADY SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THIS JOB MANY, MANY TIMES. MOST RECENTLY WE SHOWED YOU HOW TO BUILD A 100 PERCENT CUSTOM WIDTH AXLE UNDERNEATH OUR BLACK CJ AND QUITE SOME TIME AGO WE SHOWED YOU HOW TO BUILD AN AXLE TO FIT A SPECIFIC AXLE SHAFT WHEN WE CUT UP THE FRONT AXLE FOR OUR SCOUT 800-A. SO WE'RE NOT GONNA GO INTO DETAIL SHOWING YOU HOW TO DO ALL THAT JOB AGAIN. WE'RE JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND CHOP THESE UP, GET THEM UNDERNEATH OUR RIG.
(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, WHAT YOU CAN PUT INSIDE YOUR AXLES TO MAKE THEM TRAIL WORTHY. AND LATER ON, WE'LL KICK OFF OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER, TIPS ON HOW TO GET THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK ON A BUDGET.
(IAN)>> WITH OUR HOUSING CUT DOWN TO THE NEW WIDTH, CLEANED UP, AND THE SPRING PERCHES WELDED ON, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND FOCUS ON WHAT'S GONNA GO IN THESE AXLES. NOW IF YOU REMEMBER, WE'RE BUILDING OUR NISSAN CREW TRUCK KINDA LIKE AN EXPEDITION VEHICLE. SO WE DON'T NEED IT TO BE A HARDCORE CRAWLER BUT WE DO STILL WANT IT TO HAVE LOCKERS BOTH FRONT AND REAR, AND BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE DRIVING THAT, WE WANTED TO TAKE ANY GUESS WORK OUT OF THE REAR LOCKER. SO WE'RE INSTALLING A 100 PERCENT MECHANICAL LOCKER. NOW THIS IS AN EATON DETROIT LOCKER. NOW THE WAY THIS WORKS IS IT SENSES WHEEL SPEED AND THEN LOCKS UP. THAT MEANS THAT NO MATTER WHO'S DRIVING IT, THEY DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT TURNING THE LOCKER ON AND OFF. THEY'LL HAVE THAT LOCKED REAR AXLE WHEN THEY NEED IT. NOW THE FRONT END, WE WANTED A TRUE SELECTABLE LOCKER BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET INTO THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU NEED A LOCKER, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THAT FRONT END LOCKED UP. WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT'S NICE TO NOT HAVE ANY LOCKER IN THAT FRONT AXLE. SO WE WENT WITH AN EATON ELOCKER. NOW THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC LOCKER THAT HAS AN ELECTRIC PISTON IN IT THAT LOCKS THE TWO FRONT TIRES TOGETHER WHEN NEEDED. THERE'S A SIMPLE SWITCH THAT MOUNTS ON THE DASH TO EASILY TURN IT ON AND OFF. AND SINCE IT JUST USES A 12 VOLT SOURCE, IT WILL BE VERY EASY TO INSTALL AND VERY EASY TO OPERATE. NOW THE GEARS FOR OUR RIG, WE WENT WITH A SET OF 4.88 RING AND PINIONS BOTH FRONT AND REAR FROM RANDY'S RING AND PINION. NOW WE CHOSE THIS GEAR RATIO BECAUSE IT'S NOT SUPER LOW BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A HARDCORE CRAWLER. IT'S MAINLY BUILT TO GET TO THE TRAIL. SO THE LOW RANGE GEARS AND THE TRANSFER CASE WILL DO JUST FINE. NOW THE SHAFTS TO FIT OUR AXLE ARE ALSO YUKON SHAFTS, BUT LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, THEY'RE OFF THE SHELF SHAFTS. THESE ARE NOT CUSTOM LENGTH. THESE ARE TO FIT A FORD F-250. SO IF YOU'RE EVER OUT IN THE NISSAN CREW TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, BREAK AN AXLE SHAFT, FINDING A REPLACEMENT WILL BE EASY AS PIE. WE'LL STRIP THE HOUSING OF THE ORIGINAL DIFFERENTIAL AND PINION, AND INSTALL THE NEW BEARING RACES. PULL THE OLD BEARING OFF THE PINION TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE MASTER SHIM AND SWAP IT OVER TO OUR NEW GEAR SET. WE'LL MEASURE THE PINION DEPTH WITH THE NEW PINION IN THE HOUSING, INSTALL THE RING GEAR ONTO OUR ELOCKER WITH SOME LOCTITE 243 THAT'S DESIGNED TO BE USED WHERE THE FASTENERS WILL CONTACT OIL. THEN WE'LL MEASURE FOR THE SIDE BEARING, INSTALL THE SHIM, PUT THE LOCKER BACK IN THE HOUSING, AND CHECK THE GEAR PATTERN.
(CHRIS)>> WHEN YOU'RE USING JUNKYARD AXLES LIKE WE ARE HERE, NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE ALL THE WORE OUT PARTS. THAT WAY WHEN OUR CAMERA CREW GOES TO HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT DOESN'T HIT THE FLOOR. PARTS LIKE BRAKE SHOES, WHEEL BEARINGS, AXLE SEALS, WHEEL CYLINDERS, AND EVEN THE HARDWARE KITS.
(IAN)>> WE'VE TOLD YOU GUYS BEFORE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PROTECT THE INVESTMENT YOU'VE JUST MADE IN YOUR FRONT AXLE BY INSTALLING A HEAVY DUTY DIFF COVER. SO WE'RE GONNA FINISH OURS OFF WITH THIS DANA 44 SPECIFIC UNIT WE GOT FROM ROUGH STUFF SPECIALTIES. IT'S A HEAVY DUTY DIFF COVER MADE FROM THREEEIGHTHS INCH PLATE THAT'S BEEN FULLY WELDED. THE BOLTS ARE RECESSED INTO THE OUTER CASING TO PROTECT THEM WHEN YOU'RE ON THE TRAIL, AND THE FILL PLUG IS LARGE ENOUGH TO FILL STRAIGHT FROM A BOTTLE OF GEAR OIL AS WELL AS USE IT FOR SOME INSPECTION INSIDE THE DIFF WHEN YOU NEED TO DO THAT ANNUAL SERVICE. NOW JUST LIKE THE REAR AXLE, WE'RE GONNA FINISH OUT THE FRONT WITH ALL NEW PARTS INCLUDING BALL JOINTS, AXLE JOINTS, NEW BRAKE CALIPERS, AND ROTORS.
(ANNOUNCER)>> AFTER THE BREAK, SEE WHY THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN BEGGING FOR THIS TRUCK TO BE DONE. IT'S THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO OUR EXPEDITION RIG WHEN XTREME 4X4 CONTINUES!
(IAN)>> WHEN YOU CHANGE DIRECTION MID STREAM ON A PROJECT LIKE WE HAVE HERE WITH OUR NISSAN, YOU'VE GOT TO BE READY FOR PROBLEMS TO JUST POP UP IN YOUR FACE. NOW WE HAVE ONE WHEN IT COMES TO THE RIDE HEIGHT AND TIRE CLEARANCE ON THIS RIG. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE WERE GONNA PUT PORTAL AXLES ON THIS TRUCK. THAT MEANT IT WAS GONNA SIT THREE OR FOUR INCHES TALLER THAN IT DOES RIGHT NOW. WITH JUST THE STANDARD SOLID AXLES ON HERE, IT'S SITTING WAY TOO LOW. WE HAVE TIRE CLEARANCE PROBLEMS BOTH FRONT AND REAR. NOW THAT'S EASY TO FIX. ALL WE'RE GONNA DO IS SWAP THE SPRINGS OUT IN THE FRONT AND THE BACK. THAT'LL GET THE TRUCK SITTING UP ABOUT TWO OR THREE MORE INCHES TALLER. WORST CASE SCENARIO, WE MAY HAVE TO DOWN SIZE THE TIRES JUST A LITTLE BIT. BUT EITHER WAY IT'S NICE TO SEE THIS RIG SITTING ON SOME SHOES.
(CHRIS)>> ASIDE FROM A COUPLE OF DRIVE SHAFTS AND SOME STEERING, THE CREW RIG DRIVE TRAIN IS FINALLY FINISHED UP.
(IAN)>> SO NOW WE CAN TURN OUR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING THAT EVERY GOOD EXPEDITION TYPE VEHICLE NEEDS AND THAT IS A GOOD SOURCE OF A/C POWER. NOW TOOK A LIST OF EVERYTHING WE'RE GONNA NEED TO PROVIDE POWER TO, BATTERY CHARGERS, FIELD MONITORS, AND CAMERA POWER SUPPLIES, ADDED THAT ALL UP AND CALLED THE GUYS AT POWER BRIGHT POWER SOLUTIONS. NOW THEY SUGGESTED ONE OF THEIR 3,000 WATT PURE SIGN WAVE INVERTERS. NOW WHAT THE PURE SIGN WAVE MEANS IS THAT THE A/C COMING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE INVERTER IS A VERY CLEAN SIGNAL. IT'S THE EXACT TYPE OF SIGNAL YOU WOULD SEE AS IF YOU PLUGGED AN OUTLET RIGHT INTO THE WALL OF YOUR HOUSE. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH VERY EXPENSIVE ELECTRONIC DEVICES LIKE THOSE BATTERY CHARGERS AND CAMERAS. NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU GUYS WHO AREN'T USING YOUR EXPEDITION RIG TO SHOOT A TV SHOW, WELL YOU'D USE YOUR INVERTER TO POWER THINGS LIKE A FRIDGE TO KEEP YOUR FOOD COLD, MAYBE A MICRO WAVE SO YOU COULD HEAT IT UP AND HAVE SOMETHING WARM TO EAT AFTER A DAY OF HIKING AND HANGING OUT ON THE TRAIL. IF YOU BREAK ON THE TRAIL, YOU CAN USE IT TO RUN YOUR POWER TOOLS. YOU CAN EVEN USE IT TO RUN WORK LIGHTS, OR IN OUR CASE, WE'RE GONNA BE USING IT TO RUN TV LIGHTS. ALL OF THAT CAN BE HANDLED AND RUN FROM A SMALL 12 VOLT BATTERY. TO MOUNT OUR BATTERIES, WE'RE GONNA BE USING THIS RTEK WELDING SIDE BY SIDE BATTERY BOX AND PUT IN IT TWO OPTIMA DEEP CYCLE BATTERIES. THE DEEP CYCLE BATTERY WILL DELIVER THE 12 VOLT POWER THAT WE NEED AND DISCHARGE SLOWER THAN A TRADITIONAL BATTERY. TO KEEP BOTH BATTERIES CHARGED, TWO CTEK 250'S D/C TO D/C CHARGERS ARE USED. THESE CHARGERS INSURE THAT THE MAIN BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AT ALL TIMES BY THE ALTERNATOR BUT WILL ALSO DELIVER CHARGING POWER TO THESE BACK UP BATTERIES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING.
WELL, WITH THE TRUCK ALL FINISHED UP, AND IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET THERE, IT LOOKS LIKE THESE GUYS ARE PRETTY EAGER TO FILL IT UP.
(CHRIS)>> CAPTAIN I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT.
(HUTCH)>> HEY GUYS, WHERE DO YOU WANT THE JIB?
(IAN)>> I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THESE GUYS BROUGHT ALL THIS CRAP IN HERE.
(MO)>> HOW DO THEY EXPECT US TO GET ALL THAT STUFF IN THAT NISSAN.
(IAN)>> WRECK ALL MY TV STUFF, LIKE A GREAT TRUCK.
(MO)>> HOW ABOUT A DECENT SIZED TRUCK.
(IAN)>> I'M DONE!
(ANNOUNCER)>> XTREME'S LOW DOLLAR WHEELER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FOUR WHEEL PARTS, YOUR TRUCK AND JEEP ACCESSORY SUPER STORE ONLINE AT FOUR WHEEL PARTS DOT COM.
(IAN)>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT MONEY IS TIGHT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP THAT FROM ALLOWING YOU TO DO THE THINGS THAT YOU LOVE TO DO. AND FOR US THAT'S GOING FOUR WHEELING IN THE WOODS. NOW YOU CAN GET YOUR FIX BY MAYBE WATCHING YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW, OR MAYBE EVEN READING A MAGAZINE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE GETTING DIRT ON THE TIRES. WELL THAT LEADS US TO OUR NEW LONG TERM PROJECT.
(CHRIS)>> WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS CHEROKEE AND SHOW YOU ALL THE STUFF IT'S GONNA TAKE TO TURN THIS WORN OUT DAILY DRIVER INTO A HARDCORE WHEELER. AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, WE'LL KEEP TRACK OF HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPEND DOING IT.
(IAN)>> THE FIRST JOB WE'RE GONNA DO ON OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER IS INSTALL A GOOD WINCH, CAUSE WITH A GOOD WINCH YOU CAN GET ALMOST ANY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE RIG THROUGH ALMOST ANY TRAIL. YOU ARE GONNA PULL SOME CABLE, BUT EVENTUALLY YOU'LL GET TO THE TOP. NOW OUR JEEP CHEROKEE THAT WE PICKED UP, HONESTLY, IS NOT AN INVESTMENT IN ANY KIND OF MONEY. WE ACTUALLY HORSE TRADED A COUPLE OF AXLE AND A COUPLE OF WHEELS TO END UP WITH THIS SWEET CHERRY OF A FOUR BY FOUR, WHICH IS A GREAT BASE VEHICLE FOR A LOW DOLLAR WHEELER BECAUSE YOU CAN PICK THEM UP FOR NEXT TO NOTHING. NOW THE WINCH THAT WE'RE GONNA INSTALL IN THE FRONT IS A WARN 9,500 TI. NOW YOU DON'T NEED TO RUN OUT AND BUY A BRAND NEW WINCH TO INSTALL ON YOUR RIG LIKE WE ARE HERE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY PICK UP A GOOD USED ONE ONLINE FOR ALMOST HALF AS MUCH, AND THEN GET ALL THE PARTS TO REBUILD IT STRAIGHT FROM WARN. THE WAY WE'RE GONNA SAVE MONEY WITH THIS WINCH IS NOT ON THE WINCH ITSELF, IT'S WITH HOW WE'RE GONNA INSTALL IT. WE'RE GONNA USE ONE OF THESE UNIVERSAL MOUNTING PLATES. IT SLIDES INTO OUR RECEIVER HITCH THAT WILL MOUNT INTO THE FROM FRAME RAILS. NOW THAT MEANS WE CAN USE THIS WINCH ON OUR LOW DOLLAR RIG RIGHT, WE CAN USE IT ON OUR TOW RIG, AND WE CAN EVEN MAKE A MOUNT FOR IT IN OUR TRAILER TO HAUL STUFF INTO IT.
IF THE CHEROKEE HAS ONE DRAW BACK, IT'S THAT IT'S A UNIBODY DESIGN. THAT MEANS NO FRAME RAILS. SO TO MOUNT OUR WINCH WE'RE GONNA ADD A PIECE OF TWO BY THREE 120 WALL TUBING TO STIFFEN IT UP. THEN WE'LL CUT THE SLOT IN THE BUMPER TO CLEAR THE RECEIVER HITCH.
NOW THE LAST STEP IS TO SIMPLY DROP THE WINCH INTO THE CRADLE AND WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE FRONT WHENEVER WE NEED IT.
(CHRIS)>> AND WHEN YOU DON'T YOU CAN JUST PUT IT IN THE BACK. THAT WAY WHEN YOU'RE WHEELING YOU DON'T CATCH IT ON EVERY OBSTACLE.
(IAN)>> NOW EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING TO THIS JEEP CHEROKEE YOU GUYS CAN DO AGAIN AT HOME. AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE GONNA KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE MONEY WE SPEND ON THIS PROJECT. RIGHT NOW WE'RE INTO THIS THING FOR $1,000 BUCKS, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE ARE READY TO GO WHEELING. BUT BEFORE WE GO, CHRIS HAS ONE IMPORTANT THING TO SAY TO YOU.
(CHRIS)>> FOR DETAILS ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS USED IN THIS EPISODE, JUST LOG ON TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM.
(IAN)>> DON'T LOOK AT ME, GO DO IT, DO IT RIGHT NOW, GO, LEARN ABOUT THAT WINCH!
Show Full Transcript
(IAN)>> THERE IS NOTHING MORE SATISFYING THAN WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER, LIKE BUILDING THE ULTIMATE TOW RIG OUT OF A CLAPPED OUT SUBURBAN, OR MAYBE TAKING A $750 DOLLAR S-10 AND TURNING IT INTO A ONE OF A KIND CRAWLER. OR MAYBE HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT BY PULLING A TRUCK OUT OF THE JUNKYARD WITH A BUNCH OF JUNKYARD PARTS AND BUILDING AN ECOFRIENDLY WHEELER. BUT SOMETIMES DURING THOSE BUILDS PLANS CAN CHANGE. YOU CAN GET DISCOURAGED, AND THE SAME THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO YOU GUYS AT HOME HAPPEN TO US ALL THE TIME. PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE, MAYBE CERTAIN PARTS ARE BACK ORDERED AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM, OR YOU LOOK AT THE TRUCK AND SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE BECAUSE THE PLAN THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER JUST SEEMS TO COME OFF THE RAILS. AND THAT IS WHEN IT CAN FEEL LIKE THE TRUCK IS ACTUALLY FIGHTING YOU NOT WANTING TO GET BUILT. CASE IN POINT, THIS '95 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WE PICKED IT UP IN HOPES OF TURNING IT INTO THE ULTIMATE TV TRUCK FOR OUR GUYS BEHIND THE SCENES RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THIS SHOW TOGETHER. WHEN THE XTREME CREW GOES ON A TRAIL RIDE, THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF GEAR THAT THEY USE, CAMERAS, BATTERIES, CHARGERS, TRIPODS, POV CAMERAS, FIELD MONITORS, TAPES, DISCS, BATTERIES, BATTERIES, AND EVEN MORE BATTERIES. IT WAS OBVIOUS THEY NEEDED A RIG OF THEIR OWN, BUT SOMETIMES IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE WALLS, THEY'RE CLOSING IN ON YOU. THE PRESSURE CAN GET TO YOU, SO WE PUT THIS TRUCK ON THE BACK BURNER.
(CHRIS)>> CHECK IT OUT, IT'S GOT LIKE A QUARTER INCH OF DUST ON IT TO PROVE THAT IT'S BEEN SITTING FOR A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS.
(IAN)>> SO WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STEP BACK AND REEVALUATE THIS ENTIRE PROJECT, AND WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES. NOW SOME OF THE CHANGES WERE MADE FOR US BECAUSE OF PARTS WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO RUN, AND OTHERS WE'VE MADE OURSELVES JUST BECAUSE WE'RE REEVALUATING THIS ENTIRE TRUCK AS A PACKAGE. BUT BEFORE WE JUMP IN TODAY AND GET TO WORK, LETS TAKE A LOOK BACK AND SEE WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
(CHRIS)>> SOME FLASHBACK GOODNESS!
(IAN)>> WE PICKED THIS TRUCK UP FOR A STEAL OF A DEAL BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. SO AFTER SWAPPING IN A NEW LONG BLOCK, INSTALLING A HEAVY DUTY BUMPER, THROWING SOME LOW GEARS IN THE TRANSFER CASE, WE PREPPED IT FOR A SOLID AXLE SWAP. THEN MEASURED IT UP FOR A SUPER COOL SET OF PORTAL AXLES TO GIVE US A LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY WITH TONS OF GROUND CLEARANCE.
(CHRIS)>> AND THAT'S WHERE WE RAN INTO OUR PROBLEM, MAKING THE PORTAL AXLES FIT THE WIDTH OF THE TRUCK. THEY JUST COULDN'T BUILD THEM NARROW ENOUGH TO FIT THE TIRES UNDERNEATH THE BODY.
(IAN)>> BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP. SO WE SPENT THE PAST YEAR LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT AXLE OPTIONS WE WOULD HAVE FOR THIS RIG. WE WANTED SOMETHING CUSTOM AND SOMETHING SUPER TRICK. BUT IN THE END, THE RIGHT AXLE CHOICE WAS IN FRONT OF US THE WHOLE TIME. WHEN WE FIRST SHOWED YOU THE PORTAL AXLES WE PLANNED TO PUT UNDERNEATH THIS RIG, A LOT OF YOU GUYS SENT US EMAILS QUESTIONING THAT DECISION BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING THE NISSAN MORE LIKE AN EXPEDITION TYPE OF VEHICLE. IT'S NOT BUILT TO CONQUER THE GREATEST TRAIL OUT THERE, IT'S JUST MEANT TO GET A LOT OF STUFF TO THAT TRAIL. NOW FOR THAT REASON IF YOU HAVE A TRICK AXLE LIKE A PORTAL AXLE AND YOU'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE LIKE BURNS, KANSAS. YOU BLOW OUT A PORTAL BOX, YOU'RE GONNA BE STUCK THERE FOR DAYS WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART. A BETTER SOLUTION IS A COUPLE OF JUNKYARD AXLES LIKE THESE ONES RIGHT HERE, A DANA 44 FRONT AND A CHRYSLER NINE AND A QUARTER REAR. NOW WE CHOSE THESE BECAUSE THESE ARE OUT OF A DODGE HALF TON PICK UP TRUCK. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE'S OVER ONE MILLION OF THOSE TRUCKS BUILT. THAT MEANS IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THESE AXLES WHEN THE RIG'S OUT ON THE TRAIL OR ON THE HIGHWAY, GETTING PARTS WILL BE EASY AS PIE, TORCHES!
IN THE DODGE PICK UP TRUCK, THESE AXLES HAVE LEAF SPRINGS ON THE REAR AND COIL SPRINGS ON THE FRONT. NOW WE'RE GONNA BE REVERSING THAT. WE'LL BE ADAPTING THE NISSAN COIL SPRINGS ONTO THE REAR AXLE, AND THE FRONT AXLE WE'LL USE THE INTEGRATED SPRING MOUNT PADS TO MOUNT IT TO OUR NEW LEAF SPRINGS. WHEN YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR A USED AXLE IN A JUNKYARD, IT'S BEST JUST TO GIVE IT A GOOD ONCE OVER AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HOUSING. THINGS LIKE CALIPERS, ROTORS!
OOPS!
(CHRIS)>> THERE'S YOUR AXLE.
(IAN)>> MAN IT'S A GOOD THING THESE ARE STRONG. ALL THE BALL JOINTS, NOT MISSING ANY NUTS AND BOLTS, STUFF THAT'S GONNA TAKE YOU DAYS TO FIND AT YOUR LOCAL PARTS STORE. WE WERE FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT WE WERE NOT GONNA BE ABLE USE THESE AXLES UNDERNEATH THE NISSAN AT FULL WIDTH. AND BY TEST FITTING THE REAR, WE COULD SEE NOW THAT THEY'RE FOUR INCHES TOO WIDE. BUT THE DOWNFALL IS WE DON'T WANT TO CUT THEM UP AND MAKE THEM DO A CUSTOM WIDTH AXLE BECAUSE THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF INSTALLING THEM. IF WE BREAK AN AXLE SHAFT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, A CUSTOM WITH SHAFT IS GONNA LEAVE YOU HANGING FOR DAYS OR WEEKS WAITING FOR ONE TO BE MADE. WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AND THE REAR AXLE IN THAT TRUCK, THE NINE AND A QUARTER, WAS AVAILABLE IN AN OLDER DODGE TRUCK WITH A SHAFT THAT IS TWO INCHES SHORTER ON EACH SIDE. THAT'LL PULL THAT WHOLE HOUSING IN FOUR INCHES IN TOTAL. NOW WE'LL DO THE SAME ON THE FRONT AXLE BUT WE'LL LEAVE THE LONG SIDE TUBE ALONE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE AXLE DISCONNECT IS. AND WE'LL JUST SHORTEN DOWN THE SHORT SIDE AXLE TUBE TRYING TO PULL FOUR INCHES OUT OF THE SHAFT BY ONCE AGAIN LOOKING FOR AN OFF THE SHELF SHAFT, WHICH SHOULDN'T BE HARD BECAUSE THIS DANA 44 WAS OFFERED IN ANYTHING FROM JEEP CJ'S ALL THE WAY UP TO THESE BIG DODGES. NOW WE'VE ALREADY SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THIS JOB MANY, MANY TIMES. MOST RECENTLY WE SHOWED YOU HOW TO BUILD A 100 PERCENT CUSTOM WIDTH AXLE UNDERNEATH OUR BLACK CJ AND QUITE SOME TIME AGO WE SHOWED YOU HOW TO BUILD AN AXLE TO FIT A SPECIFIC AXLE SHAFT WHEN WE CUT UP THE FRONT AXLE FOR OUR SCOUT 800-A. SO WE'RE NOT GONNA GO INTO DETAIL SHOWING YOU HOW TO DO ALL THAT JOB AGAIN. WE'RE JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND CHOP THESE UP, GET THEM UNDERNEATH OUR RIG.
(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, WHAT YOU CAN PUT INSIDE YOUR AXLES TO MAKE THEM TRAIL WORTHY. AND LATER ON, WE'LL KICK OFF OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER, TIPS ON HOW TO GET THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK ON A BUDGET.
(IAN)>> WITH OUR HOUSING CUT DOWN TO THE NEW WIDTH, CLEANED UP, AND THE SPRING PERCHES WELDED ON, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND FOCUS ON WHAT'S GONNA GO IN THESE AXLES. NOW IF YOU REMEMBER, WE'RE BUILDING OUR NISSAN CREW TRUCK KINDA LIKE AN EXPEDITION VEHICLE. SO WE DON'T NEED IT TO BE A HARDCORE CRAWLER BUT WE DO STILL WANT IT TO HAVE LOCKERS BOTH FRONT AND REAR, AND BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE DRIVING THAT, WE WANTED TO TAKE ANY GUESS WORK OUT OF THE REAR LOCKER. SO WE'RE INSTALLING A 100 PERCENT MECHANICAL LOCKER. NOW THIS IS AN EATON DETROIT LOCKER. NOW THE WAY THIS WORKS IS IT SENSES WHEEL SPEED AND THEN LOCKS UP. THAT MEANS THAT NO MATTER WHO'S DRIVING IT, THEY DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT TURNING THE LOCKER ON AND OFF. THEY'LL HAVE THAT LOCKED REAR AXLE WHEN THEY NEED IT. NOW THE FRONT END, WE WANTED A TRUE SELECTABLE LOCKER BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET INTO THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU NEED A LOCKER, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THAT FRONT END LOCKED UP. WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT'S NICE TO NOT HAVE ANY LOCKER IN THAT FRONT AXLE. SO WE WENT WITH AN EATON ELOCKER. NOW THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC LOCKER THAT HAS AN ELECTRIC PISTON IN IT THAT LOCKS THE TWO FRONT TIRES TOGETHER WHEN NEEDED. THERE'S A SIMPLE SWITCH THAT MOUNTS ON THE DASH TO EASILY TURN IT ON AND OFF. AND SINCE IT JUST USES A 12 VOLT SOURCE, IT WILL BE VERY EASY TO INSTALL AND VERY EASY TO OPERATE. NOW THE GEARS FOR OUR RIG, WE WENT WITH A SET OF 4.88 RING AND PINIONS BOTH FRONT AND REAR FROM RANDY'S RING AND PINION. NOW WE CHOSE THIS GEAR RATIO BECAUSE IT'S NOT SUPER LOW BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A HARDCORE CRAWLER. IT'S MAINLY BUILT TO GET TO THE TRAIL. SO THE LOW RANGE GEARS AND THE TRANSFER CASE WILL DO JUST FINE. NOW THE SHAFTS TO FIT OUR AXLE ARE ALSO YUKON SHAFTS, BUT LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, THEY'RE OFF THE SHELF SHAFTS. THESE ARE NOT CUSTOM LENGTH. THESE ARE TO FIT A FORD F-250. SO IF YOU'RE EVER OUT IN THE NISSAN CREW TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, BREAK AN AXLE SHAFT, FINDING A REPLACEMENT WILL BE EASY AS PIE. WE'LL STRIP THE HOUSING OF THE ORIGINAL DIFFERENTIAL AND PINION, AND INSTALL THE NEW BEARING RACES. PULL THE OLD BEARING OFF THE PINION TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE MASTER SHIM AND SWAP IT OVER TO OUR NEW GEAR SET. WE'LL MEASURE THE PINION DEPTH WITH THE NEW PINION IN THE HOUSING, INSTALL THE RING GEAR ONTO OUR ELOCKER WITH SOME LOCTITE 243 THAT'S DESIGNED TO BE USED WHERE THE FASTENERS WILL CONTACT OIL. THEN WE'LL MEASURE FOR THE SIDE BEARING, INSTALL THE SHIM, PUT THE LOCKER BACK IN THE HOUSING, AND CHECK THE GEAR PATTERN.
(CHRIS)>> WHEN YOU'RE USING JUNKYARD AXLES LIKE WE ARE HERE, NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE ALL THE WORE OUT PARTS. THAT WAY WHEN OUR CAMERA CREW GOES TO HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT DOESN'T HIT THE FLOOR. PARTS LIKE BRAKE SHOES, WHEEL BEARINGS, AXLE SEALS, WHEEL CYLINDERS, AND EVEN THE HARDWARE KITS.
(IAN)>> WE'VE TOLD YOU GUYS BEFORE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PROTECT THE INVESTMENT YOU'VE JUST MADE IN YOUR FRONT AXLE BY INSTALLING A HEAVY DUTY DIFF COVER. SO WE'RE GONNA FINISH OURS OFF WITH THIS DANA 44 SPECIFIC UNIT WE GOT FROM ROUGH STUFF SPECIALTIES. IT'S A HEAVY DUTY DIFF COVER MADE FROM THREEEIGHTHS INCH PLATE THAT'S BEEN FULLY WELDED. THE BOLTS ARE RECESSED INTO THE OUTER CASING TO PROTECT THEM WHEN YOU'RE ON THE TRAIL, AND THE FILL PLUG IS LARGE ENOUGH TO FILL STRAIGHT FROM A BOTTLE OF GEAR OIL AS WELL AS USE IT FOR SOME INSPECTION INSIDE THE DIFF WHEN YOU NEED TO DO THAT ANNUAL SERVICE. NOW JUST LIKE THE REAR AXLE, WE'RE GONNA FINISH OUT THE FRONT WITH ALL NEW PARTS INCLUDING BALL JOINTS, AXLE JOINTS, NEW BRAKE CALIPERS, AND ROTORS.
(ANNOUNCER)>> AFTER THE BREAK, SEE WHY THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN BEGGING FOR THIS TRUCK TO BE DONE. IT'S THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO OUR EXPEDITION RIG WHEN XTREME 4X4 CONTINUES!
(IAN)>> WHEN YOU CHANGE DIRECTION MID STREAM ON A PROJECT LIKE WE HAVE HERE WITH OUR NISSAN, YOU'VE GOT TO BE READY FOR PROBLEMS TO JUST POP UP IN YOUR FACE. NOW WE HAVE ONE WHEN IT COMES TO THE RIDE HEIGHT AND TIRE CLEARANCE ON THIS RIG. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE WERE GONNA PUT PORTAL AXLES ON THIS TRUCK. THAT MEANT IT WAS GONNA SIT THREE OR FOUR INCHES TALLER THAN IT DOES RIGHT NOW. WITH JUST THE STANDARD SOLID AXLES ON HERE, IT'S SITTING WAY TOO LOW. WE HAVE TIRE CLEARANCE PROBLEMS BOTH FRONT AND REAR. NOW THAT'S EASY TO FIX. ALL WE'RE GONNA DO IS SWAP THE SPRINGS OUT IN THE FRONT AND THE BACK. THAT'LL GET THE TRUCK SITTING UP ABOUT TWO OR THREE MORE INCHES TALLER. WORST CASE SCENARIO, WE MAY HAVE TO DOWN SIZE THE TIRES JUST A LITTLE BIT. BUT EITHER WAY IT'S NICE TO SEE THIS RIG SITTING ON SOME SHOES.
(CHRIS)>> ASIDE FROM A COUPLE OF DRIVE SHAFTS AND SOME STEERING, THE CREW RIG DRIVE TRAIN IS FINALLY FINISHED UP.
(IAN)>> SO NOW WE CAN TURN OUR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING THAT EVERY GOOD EXPEDITION TYPE VEHICLE NEEDS AND THAT IS A GOOD SOURCE OF A/C POWER. NOW TOOK A LIST OF EVERYTHING WE'RE GONNA NEED TO PROVIDE POWER TO, BATTERY CHARGERS, FIELD MONITORS, AND CAMERA POWER SUPPLIES, ADDED THAT ALL UP AND CALLED THE GUYS AT POWER BRIGHT POWER SOLUTIONS. NOW THEY SUGGESTED ONE OF THEIR 3,000 WATT PURE SIGN WAVE INVERTERS. NOW WHAT THE PURE SIGN WAVE MEANS IS THAT THE A/C COMING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE INVERTER IS A VERY CLEAN SIGNAL. IT'S THE EXACT TYPE OF SIGNAL YOU WOULD SEE AS IF YOU PLUGGED AN OUTLET RIGHT INTO THE WALL OF YOUR HOUSE. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH VERY EXPENSIVE ELECTRONIC DEVICES LIKE THOSE BATTERY CHARGERS AND CAMERAS. NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU GUYS WHO AREN'T USING YOUR EXPEDITION RIG TO SHOOT A TV SHOW, WELL YOU'D USE YOUR INVERTER TO POWER THINGS LIKE A FRIDGE TO KEEP YOUR FOOD COLD, MAYBE A MICRO WAVE SO YOU COULD HEAT IT UP AND HAVE SOMETHING WARM TO EAT AFTER A DAY OF HIKING AND HANGING OUT ON THE TRAIL. IF YOU BREAK ON THE TRAIL, YOU CAN USE IT TO RUN YOUR POWER TOOLS. YOU CAN EVEN USE IT TO RUN WORK LIGHTS, OR IN OUR CASE, WE'RE GONNA BE USING IT TO RUN TV LIGHTS. ALL OF THAT CAN BE HANDLED AND RUN FROM A SMALL 12 VOLT BATTERY. TO MOUNT OUR BATTERIES, WE'RE GONNA BE USING THIS RTEK WELDING SIDE BY SIDE BATTERY BOX AND PUT IN IT TWO OPTIMA DEEP CYCLE BATTERIES. THE DEEP CYCLE BATTERY WILL DELIVER THE 12 VOLT POWER THAT WE NEED AND DISCHARGE SLOWER THAN A TRADITIONAL BATTERY. TO KEEP BOTH BATTERIES CHARGED, TWO CTEK 250'S D/C TO D/C CHARGERS ARE USED. THESE CHARGERS INSURE THAT THE MAIN BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AT ALL TIMES BY THE ALTERNATOR BUT WILL ALSO DELIVER CHARGING POWER TO THESE BACK UP BATTERIES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING.
WELL, WITH THE TRUCK ALL FINISHED UP, AND IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET THERE, IT LOOKS LIKE THESE GUYS ARE PRETTY EAGER TO FILL IT UP.
(CHRIS)>> CAPTAIN I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT.
(HUTCH)>> HEY GUYS, WHERE DO YOU WANT THE JIB?
(IAN)>> I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THESE GUYS BROUGHT ALL THIS CRAP IN HERE.
(MO)>> HOW DO THEY EXPECT US TO GET ALL THAT STUFF IN THAT NISSAN.
(IAN)>> WRECK ALL MY TV STUFF, LIKE A GREAT TRUCK.
(MO)>> HOW ABOUT A DECENT SIZED TRUCK.
(IAN)>> I'M DONE!
(ANNOUNCER)>> XTREME'S LOW DOLLAR WHEELER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FOUR WHEEL PARTS, YOUR TRUCK AND JEEP ACCESSORY SUPER STORE ONLINE AT FOUR WHEEL PARTS DOT COM.
(IAN)>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT MONEY IS TIGHT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP THAT FROM ALLOWING YOU TO DO THE THINGS THAT YOU LOVE TO DO. AND FOR US THAT'S GOING FOUR WHEELING IN THE WOODS. NOW YOU CAN GET YOUR FIX BY MAYBE WATCHING YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW, OR MAYBE EVEN READING A MAGAZINE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE GETTING DIRT ON THE TIRES. WELL THAT LEADS US TO OUR NEW LONG TERM PROJECT.
(CHRIS)>> WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS CHEROKEE AND SHOW YOU ALL THE STUFF IT'S GONNA TAKE TO TURN THIS WORN OUT DAILY DRIVER INTO A HARDCORE WHEELER. AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, WE'LL KEEP TRACK OF HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPEND DOING IT.
(IAN)>> THE FIRST JOB WE'RE GONNA DO ON OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER IS INSTALL A GOOD WINCH, CAUSE WITH A GOOD WINCH YOU CAN GET ALMOST ANY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE RIG THROUGH ALMOST ANY TRAIL. YOU ARE GONNA PULL SOME CABLE, BUT EVENTUALLY YOU'LL GET TO THE TOP. NOW OUR JEEP CHEROKEE THAT WE PICKED UP, HONESTLY, IS NOT AN INVESTMENT IN ANY KIND OF MONEY. WE ACTUALLY HORSE TRADED A COUPLE OF AXLE AND A COUPLE OF WHEELS TO END UP WITH THIS SWEET CHERRY OF A FOUR BY FOUR, WHICH IS A GREAT BASE VEHICLE FOR A LOW DOLLAR WHEELER BECAUSE YOU CAN PICK THEM UP FOR NEXT TO NOTHING. NOW THE WINCH THAT WE'RE GONNA INSTALL IN THE FRONT IS A WARN 9,500 TI. NOW YOU DON'T NEED TO RUN OUT AND BUY A BRAND NEW WINCH TO INSTALL ON YOUR RIG LIKE WE ARE HERE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY PICK UP A GOOD USED ONE ONLINE FOR ALMOST HALF AS MUCH, AND THEN GET ALL THE PARTS TO REBUILD IT STRAIGHT FROM WARN. THE WAY WE'RE GONNA SAVE MONEY WITH THIS WINCH IS NOT ON THE WINCH ITSELF, IT'S WITH HOW WE'RE GONNA INSTALL IT. WE'RE GONNA USE ONE OF THESE UNIVERSAL MOUNTING PLATES. IT SLIDES INTO OUR RECEIVER HITCH THAT WILL MOUNT INTO THE FROM FRAME RAILS. NOW THAT MEANS WE CAN USE THIS WINCH ON OUR LOW DOLLAR RIG RIGHT, WE CAN USE IT ON OUR TOW RIG, AND WE CAN EVEN MAKE A MOUNT FOR IT IN OUR TRAILER TO HAUL STUFF INTO IT.
IF THE CHEROKEE HAS ONE DRAW BACK, IT'S THAT IT'S A UNIBODY DESIGN. THAT MEANS NO FRAME RAILS. SO TO MOUNT OUR WINCH WE'RE GONNA ADD A PIECE OF TWO BY THREE 120 WALL TUBING TO STIFFEN IT UP. THEN WE'LL CUT THE SLOT IN THE BUMPER TO CLEAR THE RECEIVER HITCH.
NOW THE LAST STEP IS TO SIMPLY DROP THE WINCH INTO THE CRADLE AND WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE FRONT WHENEVER WE NEED IT.
(CHRIS)>> AND WHEN YOU DON'T YOU CAN JUST PUT IT IN THE BACK. THAT WAY WHEN YOU'RE WHEELING YOU DON'T CATCH IT ON EVERY OBSTACLE.
(IAN)>> NOW EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING TO THIS JEEP CHEROKEE YOU GUYS CAN DO AGAIN AT HOME. AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE GONNA KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE MONEY WE SPEND ON THIS PROJECT. RIGHT NOW WE'RE INTO THIS THING FOR $1,000 BUCKS, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE ARE READY TO GO WHEELING. BUT BEFORE WE GO, CHRIS HAS ONE IMPORTANT THING TO SAY TO YOU.
(CHRIS)>> FOR DETAILS ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS USED IN THIS EPISODE, JUST LOG ON TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM.
(IAN)>> DON'T LOOK AT ME, GO DO IT, DO IT RIGHT NOW, GO, LEARN ABOUT THAT WINCH!