Xtreme 4x4 Season 4
Xtreme 4x4 is a half hour series airing on Spike TV that began in January 2005 as part of Spike's weekend Powerblock line up. The show uses a how-to format, where the hosts build or modify vehicles in order to turn them into off-road-oriented rigs. They also periodically show various forms of off-road racing from across the United States. These include such events as rock crawling, desert racing, sand drags, mud racing, and trail riding adventures. The hosts, Ian Johnson and Jessi Combs, were selected as part of a publicized, nationwide search for hosts where viewers were encouraged to send in their videos and resumes to Spike TV executives. Both hosts have appeared on other automotive shows including Discovery Channel's Monster Garage and TLC's Overhaulin'.
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Xtreme 4x4
1Xtreme 4x4 is a half hour series airing on Spike TV that began in January 2005 as part of Spike's weekend Powerblock line up. The show uses a how-to format, where the hosts build or modify vehicles in order to turn them into off-road-oriented rigs. They also periodically show various forms of off-road racing from across the United States. These include such events as rock crawling, desert racing, sand drags, mud racing, and trail riding adventures. The hosts, Ian Johnson and Jessi Combs, were selected as part of a publicized, nationwide search for hosts where viewers were encouraged to send in their videos and resumes to Spike TV executives. Both hosts have appeared on other automotive shows including Discovery Channel's Monster Garage and TLC's Overhaulin'.
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Xtreme 4x4 Season 4 Full Episode Guide
This episode recaps our memorable trail rides and the off road trucks built on Xtreme 4x4 in 2008. Unique 4x4's like our Green "veggie oil" Samurai, our Ultimate Hemi TJ, Toyota Mini come around again for hardcore payoffs. Plus back by popular demand, SubUrban Gorilla, FJ Cruiser, Bottom Drawer Buggy make a return...plus lots lots more!
This Jeep Scrambler is a bit longer, a bit different, but still a popular truck build for the Xtreme off-road crowd! This will be the start of a very inexpensive project truck that most enthusiasts can do in their own garage. And to prove it, we're putting away our fancy cold saws and tube benders, and will create our own two car garage inside our Xtreme shop with minimal tools but with all the drive and desire you guys have at home for your projects!
The final installment of our junkyard TJ will recap this popular Jeep build up. From when it rolled into our shop as an insurance write off and began its transformation into the ultimate street legal, trail ready off road truck. From the solid axles to the 5.7 Hemi conversion, we'll see this machine get emissions tested, hit the highway, then tackle the trails. And while on the trial, smart wheeling will be discussed, since this rig needs to get us home at the end of the day.
In this episode, host Ian Johnson takes his 18 years experience as a GM Technician, shop instructor, and custom truck builder, and shares his knowledge of fabrication. Everything from welding to cutting, tube bending to grinding will be discussed in detail. Drilling, working with metal - everything you wanted to know about fabrication we'll touch on in this episode. Plus tips and hints from viewers will be included as well!
One of our most over-the-top and most popular builds returns to the fabrication shop when our Xtreme team jumps back on our truck-buggy combo we're calling our Truggy. All the fabrication will be completed on the chassis including welding, radiator mounts and more. Plus our bulletproof Rockwell axles become "bomb-proof" with 45 spline 2 inch axle shafts, 8 lug conversion with disc brakes. Then it all gets torn down at the end of the show so the chassis can be powdercoated.
The term "go big or don't go" applies here when our Xtreme team shows off the monster motor for our 1st ever Mud Bogger! We took a 1987 three-quarter ton GMC pickup, gutted it, and made room for one awesome race motor built buy our buddies down in the HorsePower shop. Plus... many asked how to turn a 2 wheel drive truck into a 4 wheel drive truck? It starts with the transmission. Watch, learn do! Plus in our event of the week, we're off to the Nevada desert for an inside the pits look at desert racing close up as we profile the "Best in the Desert" racing series!
In part five, the rest of the drive line in our dual purpose 2003 junkyard TJ is tended to, including transfer case, U joints, brakelines, cooling, shifter and more. All custom aftermarket applications that you can tailor to your Jeep build up. And after this episode, this Jeep will be ready for the highway and for the trail.
In part four of our 2003 TJ build, our scrap yard Jeep gets treated to a 5.7 liter 50 state legal Hemi engine swap! All the questions about this popular build will be answered including wiring, exhaust, emissions, and exactly how to get this dual purpose Jeep tagged and licensed for the street, including California! Plus, we'll head to the Indianapolis 4 Wheel Jamboree and the Mickey Thompson Tuff Truck series and follow one bare bones competitor - Sonny Dohrmund - vying for the championship, without big money sponsorship.
In part two of this build, our Nissan Pathfinder is transformed into our TV Crew Viewfinder with new portal axles, leafs, and springs to bring it higher than stock. The goal? Create one awesome 4x4 that remains street legal! Great how to on suspension, and accoutrement installation that you can use on your 4x4. And in our event of the week, we're heading back to Vail, Colorado with the Colorado K5 Blazer club and their love of running the Rockies in full-size 4x4s!
The time has come for our Championship Off Road Race truck to be plumbed, button-downed and readied for the track! We'll recap the key components then prepare all the oil, trans and cooler lines and fire up the 434 monster Ford. Ever wonder how to build an indestructible coolant line out of inch and a half .090 inch wall tubing? You'll learn in this show. Plus... we head to the Pomona Fairplex for the Off Road Expo and we'll meet our big aftermarket winners Tim and Jesse and see their finished customized trucks.
The thought of paying over $4.00 for diesel fuel has Ian and Jessi seeking a "green" alternative! The solution? We brew our own Biodiesel right in the Xtreme shop, showing viewers how they can save money, and do their part to help the environment at the same time. We'll take you through the entire process step by step. And in our event of the week, we go to one of the most xtreme events ever in Johnson Valley, California and their 50 mile rock / desert race known as "King of the Hammers".
In conjunction with WD-40 Company, Xtreme 4x4 takes an '08 GMC 1 ton dually, and transforms it into the ultimate work truck, which you can bid on! Bumpers, lift kit, power enhancers, bigger fuel cell are just the beginning of this installation which is capped off with 22 inch big rig wheels. After this truck goes on the road promoting WD-40's "Last Straw Tour", it will be auctioned off for charity with the proceeds going to Rebuilding Together and their Housing Program. Ian and Jessi pitch in - not only by building this big rig, but by volunteering at a "rebuild" event at a local veteran's home.
Our '87 3/4 ton Chevy pick up gets torn down from the motor to the body panels, axles and transmission. This truck is entirely stripped as our build team begins the transformation from a weekend hauler into a hardcore mud bog truck! How-to will include a trans rebuild, Ford 9" axle set up, body panel hanging, plus the motor will be wheeled down to our HorsePower TV brothers who will tear it down and stroke the small block. Plus in our event of the week, our crew does a little high altitude crawling in the Rocky Mountains - where at 9000 feet, an off road trail ride like this is the ultimate 4 wheel high?
Our 1991 Toyota mini truck makes a return to the shop to beef up the gearing, improve the drive angles, upgrade the shafts making this a true hardcore trail rig. And at the end of this show, we'll hit the trail for two segments with a "mild to wild". Plus it's also a chance for our builders to eat a little crow on their winching techniques. This time showing us how it's done right, with the environment in mind! Plus some recovery tech, trail tips and more!
In Part III of our ultimate on road/off road TJ our build team continues their transformation of this wrecking yard Jeep by installing axles, suspension and mounting the wheels and tires, plus adding a bunch of goodies like tube doors, soft top and more cool stuff from Quadratec. And in our event of the week, we go behind the scenes at World Extreme Rock Crawling where the father son team of Jim and Cody Waggoner mix it up on the course in more ways than one! Having your dad be your spotter can make for some interesting moments!
The Jeep TJ is out of production, but that doesn't mean its out of the minds of 4 wheel enthusiasts! In part two of our dual purpose TJ project, the transformation of Ian and Jessi's 2003 junk yard find continues with a whole host of aftermarket Jeep upgrades including Dana 44 axles, coil over shocks, and a host of goodies from Quadratec. Plus, Jessi provides a useful tech tip to make transmission service a lot easier.
When Jeep discontinued their popular TJ, it didn't discourage off roaders from gobbling up this multi use vehicle from used car lots and junk yards. Today, Jessi and Ian find their own for the ultimate transformation. Body stretch kit, 4 speed transfer case, rolling on 38's, are just a few of the mods. Plus in our event of the week, CORR racing from Primm, Nevada and a look into the 30 year career of Skyjacker race team driver, Scott Taylor.
In their first Nissan build ever, Ian and Jessi take a burned out Pathfinder, and turn it into a daily driver trail truck for their TV crew. Seems the guys are tired of walking past the trail head, and are due for a minivan replacement! Engine diagnostics, long block rebuild are detailed. And in our event of the week, we travel to the 4 Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Indianapolis to meet two monster truck competitors who love crushing things!
Ultimate this?... Ultimate that! No baloney here! When Xtreme's Ian and Jessi say they are building an off road hybrid truck/buggy combo they mean it! Part 2 of their S10 Truggy project is all underneath: transmission, transfer case, wheels brakes, exhaust - everything leading up to the four link suspension on front and rear Rockwell axles.
The heart of an off road 4x4 might be the engine but it's the transfer case that gets power to the axles! And with all the transfer cases out there, how do you know which is the right one for you? Jessi and Ian review the benefits of the most commonly used t-cases, their most popular upgrades, including some "doublers" and aftermarket cases too. Plus who will be crowned king of Mayhem Hill? Ian heads to Viola, Tennessee to find out in this one off rock race!
With the world going "green" the Xtreme Team is doing their part in the off road community by giving the Suzuki Samurai a veggie oil fuel conversion. That's right, waste vegetable oil will fuel this killer off road mini-monster with a VW turbo diesel powerplant. Final touches are made including details on converting a diesel burner to run on French fry grease!
The CORR Pro II Race Truck is back in the Xtreme Shop to get fitted for the body panels, plumbing, wiring, and all key ingredients to get this off road truck running. Plus... we travel to Houston for the W.E.ROCK Grand Nationals and a battle between the veteran crawlers and the up and coming new breed of professional drivers.
Ian and Jessi tear into their latest creation - a 1994 Chevy S10 turned hardcore 'truggy'. This $750 dollar junker will be the ultimate off road play toy! Custom tube frame, extended fenders, and a monster 502 horse powerplant. Plus a set of 46" shoes will help transform this machine into a crossbreed of a truck and a buggy.