Ian doesn't like spending money on new trucks, so he just builds what he wants; today, he starts working on a custom frame to sit under a classic Jeepster Commando and outfits the suspension, along with getting new one-ton axles underneath.
The Jeepster project is back, and Ian wants to focus on some of the drivetrain components; he pulls out a 3.5-liter Ecoboost engine and a 6-R-80 transmission from a Ford Expedition to help the old Jeep drive like a more modern one.
Ian finds a way to install a new suspension and massive tires under a Smart car to turn it into a desert pre-runner.
Ian loves the old International Scout body, but doesn't like the chassis underneath; he finds the right donor Scout body and fits it on a Jeep JK frame, with some modifications.
Ian finds a way to get 40-inch tires under a Toyota FJ by cutting out all of the stock suspension and installing a solid-axle conversion.
The new Bronco Raptor is expensive, so Ian is going to build his own; he takes an '80s box-style Bronco and adds a wider fiberglass body kit front and rear to give this classic Bronco a modern Raptor look.
The body of the Bronco/Raptor project has been mocked up, and today Ian builds a custom chassis to go underneath; this will not be a standard tube chassis; this will be a plate-style chassis with a twin I-beam setup.
Off-road vehicle enthusiast Ian Johnson works on everything from upgrading a daily driving Jeep, to building a custom tube chassis rock crawler; he also shows how to tackle automobile concerns from "bolt-ons" to full fabrication.
If it has wheels and goes off road, Ian Johnson will work on it. From upgrading daily drivers to building a custom tube-chassis rock crawler, he takes you along on a do-it-yourself ride that tackles any kind of job.
Ian turns a stack of tubes into a shorter trail chassis and adds new axles.
The mock-up on the trail chassis continues as Ian adds a motor and transmission to the build; it's time to get axles underneath with a new third member so he can go four-wheel drive all the time.
Ian shows how to buy a Jeep on a budget and outfit it to hit the rocks.
Ian creates a mashup of a 1960 Chevy Apache and a 2005 long-bed Chevy.
The Budget TJ gets some more parts; Ian updates the suspension with new coilovers; he adds new bumpers front and rear, and by the end of the day, this TJ is trail ready.
For the first time, Ian brings in the brand-new Bronco for some chop, cut and rebuild; he goes far to take a new platform truck and make it custom.
The Toyota Ian transformed last year is back for an engine swap.
Ian takes a tag-along trailer and adds what he needs to live off the grid.
Ian's latest off-road adventure takes him to the Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas.
Ian starts work on an all-aluminum Defender that has a Jeep JK chassis.
Ian installs more of the Defender's drivetrain, plus wheels and tires.
Ian creates his own short bed Jeep Gladiator by transforming a Jeep JK.
Ian modifies a 1998 Chevy T6500 for towing, overlanding and motorhoming.
Ian makes tons of custom parts to finish the All-Aluminum Defender project.
Ian gets a cheap Mercedes 300D ready for a local Gambler 500 rally.
Ian pays homage to the very cool box-style Bronco of the past.
Ian turns a factory two-door Toyota Tacoma into the perfect off-road truck.
Ian's Tacoma project begins to take on a vintage 4Runner look.
Ian brings back the Suzuki Samurai, this time for an old-fashioned engine swap; he's going to take out the mechanical four-cylinder diesel VW engine and upgrade it with a common rail VW diesel.
Ian's LJ Buggy has seen plenty of rocks and off-road tracks, and he already knows how to improve the vehicle. He rebuilds a dash, adds headlights, and redoes the steering and exhaust.
A look at what it takes to upgrade anything with wheels.
The JK stretch project is back from the body shop and is ready for an all-new suspension and axles; Ian will get some Dana 60s under the rig with 40-inch tires and see how it performs by hitting some rock hills.
Ian wants his Nissan Titan to tow his new Tracker side by side, so he needs to outfit it for towing; he bolts some off-road parts onto the side by side.
The RamCharger is ready for the trail with a new engine and drivetrain, but it needs to be outfitted for overlanding, so Ian builds out the interior for camping, adds a solar panel roof rack and builds a custom front bumper.
Ian needs a new FourWheeler shop truck, but he doesn't just buy new trucks, he builds them; he'll tear down a two-door Dodge Dakota and turn it into a custom tools-carrying monster.
Work continues on the Shop Truck Dakota; Ian works on the drive-train components, including a complete transmission teardown and rebuild; plus, he show what it takes to completely rebuild the axles.
Ian finds the perfect service platform for a truck and cuts it in half to fit; he finishes the design with a custom paint job.
Ian begins assembly of a custom LJ chassis and builds a full Jeep out of a pile of metal tubs before he adds front and rear axles with cut-to-length control arms, and finishes off the build with coil-over suspension.
The custom Jeep JL gets a drivetrain after Ian finds a junkyard LS engine to install, later he fabricates the exhaust.
The chassis on the Jeep JL are powder coated before Ian bolts everything in place and fabricates the body panels.
Larger tires on an off-road rig usually mean broken axles; a 1989 Dodge Ram Charger is in the shop; Ian shows how to swap out a semi-float axle for the more desirable full-float axle.
Ian doesn't want to fix a beat-up Polaris XP 900. He wants to turn it into a completely different rig. He decides to stretch the side by side and add longer suspension for more travel, but that's just the beginning.
The crew focuses on what the Polaris will need to stay safe on the trails; Ian customizes a roll cage, installs the driver's seat and adds some tunes.
An '80s Ramcharger is back in the shop for an engine swap; the owner wants a gas-powered Hemi, so Ian swaps the old, tired engine for one from a local junkyard.
Ian moves weight around on a Samurai to get more squat in the rear end, shifting the radiator and fuel cell and changing the rear end suspension geometry to help this rig better handle the rocks.
Ian goes on an adventure with some of his buddies, hitting a few off-road parks nearby, making some roadside repairs, and ending the trip with some Tennessee whiskey.