Rock Bouncer Rolling

(ANNOUNCER)>> WITH OVER 700 HORSEPOWER, RAGING BULL IS A BEAST. TODAY ON XTREME OFF ROAD WE ADD HYDRAULIC STEERING AND MILITARY SPEC WHEELS TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL. PLUS ULTRA FOUR DRIVERS AND ROCK BOUNCERS BOTH THINK THEY'VE GOT THE BADDEST RIGS AROUND. TODAY THEY GO HEAD TO HEAD TO FIND OUT WHO'S RIGHT.

(IAN)>> I'M GETTING REAL CLOSE TO THROWING ON A WELDING HOOD AND SPENDING ABOUT 16 HOURS FINISH WELDING THIS ENTIRE CHASSIS. BUT BEFORE I DO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO DO. I WANT TO GET THE TIRES AND WHEELS IN PLACE JUST TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY CLEARANCE ISSUES. AND THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PULL OUR FRAME OFF THE FRAME JIG. THE LAST TIME WE WORKED ON THIS BUGGY, WE SPENT OUR TIME BUILDING ALL OF OUR BODY PANELS FOR THE RIG,

CUTTING UP SHEETS OF ALUMINUM TO FIT OUR CUSTOM DESIGN CHASSIS.

I WANT TO GET AS MANY OF THE MAJOR SYSTEMS MOUNTED ONTO THE CHASSIS BEFORE FINISH WELDING IT. THAT WAY IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, I'M JUST MOVING PARTS THAT ARE TACK WELDED IN PLACE. NOW WE'RE GONNA START TODAY WITH OUR HYDRAULIC STEERING.

AND ON A ROCK BOUNCER HYDRAULIC STEERING HAS A HUGE JOB TO DO. NOW PSC STEERING HAS BUILT A ROCK BOUNCER SPECIFIC KIT, AND IT HAS SOME KEY UPGRADES TO IT TO MAKE OUR SYSTEM WORK BETTER.

IT STARTS RIGHT HERE AT THE RESERVOIR WITH A LARGER OUTLET TO ALLOW MORE FLUID TO FLOW DOWN TO THE PUMP. NOW FROM THAT PUMP OVER TO THE ORBITAL IS ANOTHER OVERSIZED HOSE TO ALLOW MORE FLUID TO FLOW THROUGH THE SYSTEM. NOW THAT EXTRA AMOUNT OF FLUID HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING HUGE TIRES, USUALLY WHILE THEY'RE SPINNING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.

SO IT WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS TWO AND A HALF INCH OVERSIZED HEAVY DUTY DOUBLE ENDED RAM. IT'S LOCKED IN PLACE ON THE FRONT AXLE WITH FOUR MOUNTING CLAMPS FOR EXTRA STRENGTH. NOW THE KEY ITEM THAT WE'RE GONNA MOUNT ON OUR CHASSIS RIGHT AWAY IS THE ORBITAL VALVE, AND THE KIT COMES WITH THIS PLATE TO DO IT. BUT HOW WE MOUNT THE VALVE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. THE VALVE BRACKET INDEXES OFF THE LOWER DASH BAR TUBE, AND IT CAN BE MOUNTED TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. YOU NEED TO MOUNT THE BRACKET WITH THE FLAT FACE

TOWARDS THE VALVE SO THE HOSES CAN EXIT OUT THE TOP TO PREVENT AIR POCKETS FROM GETTING TRAPPED INSIDE THE ORBITAL. THEY'RE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO MOUNT THE STEERING RAM ONTO AN AXLE, BUT ON A ROCK BOUNCER IT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED BECAUSE OF HILLS LIKE THIS.

SO I AM GOING TO USE AN RTECH INDUSTRIES AXLE RAM

SKID MOUNT SYSTEM TO HELP KEEP OUR STEERING RAM SAFE. WITH THE ORBITAL VALVE IN PLACE, THE NEXT ITEM WE WANT TO BUILD INSIDE OUR CHASSIS ARE OUR SEAT MOUNTS. NOW WHEN YOU THINK OF THE INTERIOR OF A HIGH END ITALIAN SPORTS CAR, YOU USUALLY THINK OF EXOTIC MATERIALS LIKE CARBON FIBER, LEATHER, MAYBE EVEN SOME OSTRICH SKIN, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE HERE.

THESE ARE PRP COMPETITION HIGH BACK BUCKETS, AND THEY'VE BEEN BUILT USING A COMBINATION OF TAN INTERIOR IN AND OSTRICH LOOK OUTER PANEL ON THE EDGE. NOW THE BEST THING IS THESE DON'T JUST LOOK GOOD, THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY BUILT FOR HARDCORE OFF ROADING WITH A NICE HIGH BOLSTER ON THE SIDE TO KEEP YOU FIRMLY PLANTED IN THE SEAT AND PROVISIONS FOR A FIVE POINT HARNESS SO YOU CAN BUCKLE YOURSELF IN NICE AND SAFE. NOW PRP TOOK IT ONE STEP FURTHER AND THEY CREATED

WHAT'S CALLED A BASEBALL STITCH ALL THE WAY AROUND. THAT JUST REMOVES THE PIPING FROM THE SEAT AND JUST GIVES IT A MORE HIGH END LOOK, WHICH WILL GO PERFECT WITH OUR LAMBORGHINI THEMED ROCK BOUNCER. NOW WHEN THEY SHIP THE SEATS, THEY SHIP THEM IN THIS PLASTIC BAG TO PROTECT THEM, AND I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND LEAVE THE BAG ON THIS SEAT SO WHEN I BUILD THE MOUNTS, I DON'T MAKE THE SEAT DIRTY.

FOR THE REAR SEAT MOUNT I WILL MODIFY AN EXISTING SEAT TAB.

FOR THE FRONT I WILL NEED TO MAKE MY OWN.

FIRST BY CREATING A TEMPLATE AND CUTTING IT OUT OF SOME THREESIXTEENTHS STEEL.

A TUBE NEEDS TO BE ADDED FOR THE REAR INSIDE MOUNT TO INDEX OFF THE CHASSIS. IT'S ALWAYS HARDEST ON A ROCK BOUNCER TO BUILD THE SEAT MOUNTS ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE TRANSFER CASE DROP. IN THIS BUGGY IT'S ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THE TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT AND DRIVESHAFT TO CLEAR THE

FRONT OF THE SEAT AND GO DOWN TO THE FRONT AXLE. THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T JUST RUN A TUBE ACROSS THE FRONT OF THIS BUGGY FOR THESE FRONT MOUNTS TO MOUNT ON. IT WOULD GET IN THE WAY. NOW EVEN THOUGH I MADE THIS NICE, TALL, SWEEPING BRACKET OUT OF SOME GOOD THICK THREESIXTEENTHS STEEL, IT'S STILL NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR A ROCK BOUNCER. THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO ADD THIS GUSSET OFF THE SIDE OF THE CHASSIS JUST FOR EXTRA INSURANCE. YOU PROBABLY ALSO NOTICED THAT I DID NOT BUILD A MOUNT FOR THE FRONT INSIDE CORNER OF THE SEAT, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT'LL ACTUALLY BE MOUNTED RIGHT OFF THE TRANSFER CASE ADAPTER WITH A SMALL BRACKET WHEN WE PUT THIS BUGGY TOGETHER FOR THE LAST TIME. THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER OUR DRIVETRAIN IS SOLID MOUNTED IN THIS RIG. SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY PART OF THE CHASSIS. ALL I HAVE TO DO NOW IS DUPLICATE THESE MOUNTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE CUSTOM BUCKET SEATS INSIDE A LAMBORGHINI.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, RAGING BULL STEPS OFF THE FRAME JIG ON 43 INCH SHOES. PLUS A HEAVY DUTY BACK TO BASICS SHOP TRUCK.

(IAN)>> OUR GOAL TODAY IS TO GET OUR LAMBORGHINI ROCK BOUNCER OFF OF OUR FRAME TABLE AND SITTING ON

SOME TIRES AND WHEELS.

NOW THE TIRE AND WHEEL COMBINATION THAT WE HAVE CHOSEN IS VERY SPECIFIC TO THE WORLD OF ROCK BOUNCING. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE A LOT OF THIS TIRE. IT'S AN INTERCO TIRE SUPER SWAMPER TSL SX. NOW THIS TIRE IS VERY POPULAR IN THE WORLD OF ROCK BOUNCING BECAUSE OF THE TREAD DESIGN. IT'S A LARGE OPEN BLOCK, ALMOST A PADDLE TIRE ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE WITH THESE ZIG ZAGS DOWN THE MIDDLE FOR LATERAL TRACTION. NOW THE SIZE IS RATHER UNIQUE TOO. IT'S 43 INCHES TALL, AND THE RIM SIZE IS ACTUALLY 16 AND

A HALF INCHES.

NOW WHY 16 AND A HALF INCHES? WELL THAT'S BECAUSE ROCK BOUNCERS RUN A VERY SPECIFIC WHEEL. 16 AND A HALF INCHES IS THE FACTORY SIZE OF A HUMMER HONE STEEL WHEEL. NOW THAT WHEEL BY ITSELF IS INCREDIBLY STRONG BECAUSE IT'S BUILT TO MILITARY SPECIFICATIONS. BUT ONCE THOSE WHEELS ARE SURPLUSED OUT OF THE MILITARY, A COMPANY BY THE NAME OF TRAIL WORTHY FAB CREATES THESE EXTREMELY HEAVY DUTY ALL STEEL ROCK BOUNCER SPECIFIC WHEELS BECAUSE ROCK BOUNCER WHEELS SEE A LOT OF ABUSE. THE HONE WHEEL IS A TWO PIECE WHEEL, AND TRAIL WORTHY FAB BEGINS STRENGTHENING IT BY ADDING THIS ROCK RING TO THE OUTER SHELL. THAT STIFFENS UP THE OUTER BEAD AS WELL AS PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR THE VALVE STEM, PREVENTS IT FROM BEING RIPPED OFF BY A ROCK WHEN YOU'RE BLASTING UP A TRAIL. NOW THE INNER SHELL IS WHERE YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE THE WHEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE. THEY PUT A NEW PRESSED CENTER INSIDE THE SHELL AND THEY CAN ADJUST THE DEPTH OF THE CENTER, GIVING YOU MANY DIFFERENT BACK SPACING OPTIONS DEPENDING ON YOUR RIG. BUT THE BIGGEST NEWS ABOUT THIS HONE WHEEL IS WHAT'S CALLED A TRUE DOUBLE BEAD LOCK WHEEL. TRAIL WORTHY FAB CREATES THESE PVC INSERTS THAT GO INSIDE THE WHEEL BEFORE THE TWO HALVES OF THE RIM CLAMP AROUND IT. THIS PVC INSERT CLAMPS AGAINST BOTH

BEADS OF THE TIRE. SO NO MATTER HOME AIR PRESSURE YOU'RE RUNNING IN THE WHEEL, THE WHEEL WILL STAY CLAMPED WHEN YOU'RE LAUNCHING UP THOSE HILLS.

TRAIL WORTHY FAB OFFERS A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT POWDER COATING OPTIONS FOR THEIR WHEELS. WE CHOSE OURS IN RAW STEEL SO WHEN WE HAVE THE CHASSIS COATED, WE CAN HAVE THE WHEELS DONE TO MATCH. SO FOR NOW I'M JUST GONNA MOCK THEM TOGETHER FOR A TEST FIT ONTO OUR BUGGY.

OUR CUSTOM 14 BOLT AXLES NEED A BEARING SPINDLE ADDED TO THE REAR. THIS CUSTOM PIECE FROM PENN AXLE IS DESIGNED TO ACCEPT STANDARD REAR FULL FLOATER BEARING SUPPORTS BUT HAS ENOUGH CLEARANCE FOR 40 SPLINE AXLE SHAFTS.

AND WITH OUR TIRES IN PLACE, WE CAN CHECK FOR CLEARANCE AGAINST THE CHASSIS.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, ULTRA FOUR RACERS CHALLENGE ROCK BOUNCERS IN THE FIRST EVER HILL CLIMB SHOOTOUT!

(IAN)>> THERE'S BEEN A RIVALRY SLOWLY GROWING IN

THE OFF ROAD WORLD BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF WHEELING RIGS, ULTRA FOUR CARS AND ROCK BOUNCERS LIKE

THESE FROM THE SOUTHERN ROCK RACING SERIES. ULTRA FOUR CARS ARE MARVELS OF MODERN OFF ROAD TECHNOLOGY, BUILT TO WITHSTAND THE RIGORS OF

SERIOUS ENDURANCE RACING IN THE DESERT AND THE ROCKS. ROCK BOUNCERS ON THE OTHER HAND ARE BASICALLY OFF ROAD DRAG CARS. HIGH HORSEPOWER MONSTERS WITH HUGE TIRES THAT LAUNCH UP STEEP HILLS AND HIGH LEDGES. EACH TYPE OF RIG IS BUILT FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP THE ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHICH IS TOUGHER, COOLER, FASTER, MORE STRONGER. AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE THE GAUNTLET WAS DROPPED AT SUPER LIFT OFF ROAD PARK IN HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS, FOR THE FIRST EVER ULTRA FOUR VERSUS SRRS SHOOTOUT. BUT ARE THESE CARS REALLY THAT DIFFERENT? WE SAT DOWN WITH TWO OF THE WHO'S WHO OF BOTH TYPES OF RACING, SHANNON CAMPBELL AND RICHIE KEITH, TO ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR CARS. BOTH HAVE HIGH HORSEPOWER ENGINES.

(SHANNON)>> IT'S GOT AN LS SEVEN STROKED.

(RICHIE)>> IT'S A 454 SMALL BLOCK, IT DYNOED AT 755 HORSE.

(SHANNON)>> THE TRANNY IS A TURBO 400.

(RICHIE)>> BEHIND IT'S A POWERGLIDE TWO SPEED TRANSMISSION.

(IAN)>> BOTH HAVE TUNED COIL OVER SUSPENSION.

(SHANNON)>> I'VE GOT A PRO AM FRONT SUSPENSION WITH FOX SHOCKS ALL THE WAY AROUND DAMPENING IT. IT'S GOT AN IDIOT FOR A DRIVER.

(IAN)>> LOOKS LIKE THE ONLY BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT ROCK BOUNCERS NAME THEIR BUGGIES.

( )>> THE NAME OF MY BUGGY IS CALLED "FLY BOY".

(BJ)>> THIS IS "WFO" AND IT'S WIDE FREAKIN' OPEN. ( )>> THEY CALL IT "OVERSIZED", AND IT'S PRETTY BIG AND BULKY.

(IAN)>> AND ULTRA FOUR RACERS.

(SHANNON)>> I DON'T KNOW, IT DON'T HAVE A NAME.

(IAN)>> THE CREW AT SUPER LIFT DECIDED TO USE DONNY'S

HILL FOR THE SHOOTOUT BECAUSE IT'S GOT SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.

FOR THE ULTRA FOUR GUYS A BUMPY WOODED STRAIGHT AWAY AT THE HEAD OF THE TRAIL. AND FOR THE BOUNCERS A ROCKY OFF CAMBER SECTION LEADING UP TO THE FINISH LINE.

ON THE ULTRA FOUR SIDE THE FAVORITE MIGHT BE LOREN HEALY, WHO JUST A FEW OURS AGO PLACE FIRST IN TODAY'S ULTRA FOUR RACE.

(LOREN)>> SO WE JUST GOT DONE ULTRA FOUR RACING. NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TRY THE ROCK BOUNCING COURSE, WHICH IS REALLY REALLY STEEP COURSE, REALLY REALLY LOOSE, AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE FULL MOMENTUM, EVERY OUNCE OF HORSEPOWER YOU CAN PICK UP AND GET TO THE TOP OF THE HILL.

(IAN)>> AS FOR THE ROCK BOUNCERS, BJ ALLEN LOOKS PROMISING. HE'S ONE OF SEVERAL DRIVERS WHO'S RACED IN BOTH SERIES.

(BJ)>> I ACTUALLY LOVE BOTH OF THEM. IF SOMEBODY ASKED ME WHERE MY HEART WAS I WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO TELL YOU.

(IAN)>> THE RULES FOR THE SHOOTOUT ARE SIMPLE. EACH DRIVER TAKES TWO INDIVIDUAL RUNS AND THE TIMES ARE ADDED TOGETHER. LOWEST TIME IS YOUR WINNER. FIRST PLACE WILL TAKE HOME $5,000.

FIRST PLACE FINISHER FROM THE OTHER CLASS, $2,500 BUCKS. LIKE ANY GOOD HILL CLIMB, THERE WAS PLENTY OF BIG AIR, FULL THROTTLE ACTION, AND GENERAL CARNAGE. AT THE END OF THE DAY SHANNON CAMPBELL WOULD WIN IT ALL. ERIK MILLER, THE 2012 KING OF THE HAMMERS WINNER CAME IN SECOND.

ALTHOUGH ULTRA FOUR RIGS TOOK THE TOP TWO SPOTS, JOE LAWSON AND HIS ROCK BOUNCER FINISHED THIRD.

IN FACT, OF THE TOP 10 FINISHERS, THERE WERE FIVE ROCK BOUNCERS AND FIVE ULTRA FOUR RIGS.

SO INSTEAD OF ENDING THIS RIVALRY, TODAY'S RACE WILL START AN ERA OF FRIENDLY COMPETITION BETWEEN TWO OF THE TOUGHEST OFF ROAD RIGS AROUND.

(DEREK)>> TO ME WE'VE ALL GOT SIMILAR INTERESTS AND WE'RE OUT HERE TO DO THE SAME THING. IT'S JUST RACE DAY.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, OUR DIESEL POWERED DODGE IS THE PERFECT FOUNDATION FOR THE ULTIMATE SHOP TRUCK.

(IAN)>> NOT TOO LONG AGO I HAD TO MAKE A PARTS RUN HERE IN THE XTREME OFF ROAD SHOP. WHEN I LOOKED AROUND AT THE VEHICLES I COULD TAKE, MY CHOICES WERE SOMEWHAT LIMITED. THE CRAWLER HAULER, WELL IT'S JUST TOO BIG. AND THE FORD FOCUS RALLY CAR, IT'S TOO SMALL. AND PROJECT DIRT CHEAP FUN, AS COOL AS IT WOULD BE TO TAKE A CUSTOM ROCK CRAWLER ON A PARTS RUN, IT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE. WHAT WE NEED IS A SHOP TRUCK. NOW I LOOKED AROUND AT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS, AND I THINK I'VE FOUND THE PERFECT CANDIDATE.

THIS IS A 2013 RAM 2500 TRADESMAN EDITION PICK UP TRUCK. NOW IN A WORLD WHERE PICK UPS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE HIGH END SUV'S WITH AIR CONDITIONED SEATS, AND OSTRICH INTERIORS, AND HEATED STEERING WHEELS, THIS TRUCK IS STILL BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO GET DIRTY FOR A LIVING. LIKE ANY GOOD WORK TRUCK, IT'S GOT A DIESEL ENGINE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, SIX POINT SEVEN LITER CUMMINS WITH 350 HORSEPOWER AND 660 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE. BEHIND THAT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. YEP, A SIX SPEED STICK WITH A BULL LOW FIRST GEAR. AND NO, YOU'RE NOT SEEING THINGS, THAT IS AN ACTUAL SHIFTER FOR THE TRANSFER CASE ON THE FLOOR. NO MAGIC BUTTONS TO SELECT YOUR GEARS IN THIS TRUCK. RUBBER FLOORS AND CLOTH SEATS, WITH A HUGE CENTER CONSOLE FOR STORAGE AND ALSO HAS PROVISIONS FOR AN MP THREE PLAYER TO INTERFACE WITH THE RADIO. CREATURE COMFORTS, WELL IT'S GOT A COUPLE. IT'S GOT AIR CONDITIONING AND POWER WINDOWS, ALL THAT YOU NEED IN A WORK TRUCK. A DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST BRAKE AND A TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER MOUNTED IN THE DASH. OUR CREW CAB SHORT BED VERSION OF THE TRADESMAN HAS VERY GOOD EXTERIOR STYLING, AGGRESSIVE RAISED CENTER HOOD, LARGE FRONT GRILL REALLY SET THIS TRUCK

APART FROM THE CROWD.

DRIVING THE STICK SHIFT CUMMINS IS VERY EASY WITH THE MAJORITY OF OUR TORQUE AVAILABLE JUST OFF IDLE MAKES SHIFTING VERY SMOOTH. THE TRUCK DOES RIDE LIKE A TRUCK, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. LIKE MOST HEAVY DUTY PICK UPS, THE REAR SPRINGS ARE DESIGNED TO SOFTEN UP WHEN A LOAD IS PLACED IN THE BED OR A TRAILER IS HOOKED ONTO THE BACK. YES THIS TRADESMAN IS PRETTY AWESOME BUT IT STILL FALLS SHORT IN STYLE TO BE OUR SHOP TRUCK FOR THE XTREME OFF ROAD SHOP. SO WHAT ARE WE GOOD DO? WELL WE'RE GONNA FIX IT BY MAKING WHAT IS ALREADY A VERY MACHO TRUCK EVEN MORE MACHO. AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST MACHO TRUCKS ON THE ROAD? WELL THOSE ARE SEMI TRUCKS. THIS TRUCK IS A WORK TRUCK, SEMI TRUCKS WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO WE'RE GONNA DEAR THIS RAM APART, COMPLETELY RESTYLE IT, AND DO A HEAVY DUTY THREE QUARTER TON PICK UP WITH SEMI TRUCK LOOKS. THIS IS PROJECT BIG RIG RAM!