The Dirty Secret About Off Road Suspension Design, Why I Don't Build Toyota Trucks, Green S10

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This weeks QandA is all about suspension design and what anti squat numbers to look for when building an off road car, plus the dirty little secret that nobody wants to talk about when building off road link suspension. Also what Toyota trucks I have built and like, and is the Crawlarado the ultimate off road machine.
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[@mattmaurin1408]

“Where it is now” makes me think of Extreme 4x4 and wonder: what is your favorite memory of building with Jessi?

[@randyjohnson3712]

Ya what he said!!!

[@Daniel-Johnson]

I was going to ask this very question! What is your Favorite build with Jess and do you 2 still see/talk to each other? I always thought you guys made a great team!

[@caution1100]

@@Daniel-Johnson In 2019 jess wreaked her landspeed car, she didn't make it.

[@Daniel-Johnson]

@@caution1100 omg seriously?! I'm so sorry I had no idea 😔 Yea i just researched it a bit that is so tragic and it happened in my state so close to home too I don't know how I missed that. God bless her soul she was an amazing human.

[@caution1100]

@@Daniel-Johnson they just released a documentary about her that they were working on at the time of her death, called : The Fastest Woman on Earth.

[@ZKTJ]

People can get so hung up on anti dive/squat before actually building their rig. I'm glad someone prominent has explained that you kind of have to deal with what you've got. Keep up the great content!

[@franksmith9954]

I am so glad to see you doing your own thing. I've been watching you on TV since the start many years ago. I have really enjoyed learning about many different things. I had a shop I built and started teaching family and friends that needed work done to their vehicles, how to do it themselves. Unfortunately, after my divorce, I was left with nothing. I am now almost homeless, but I have more support than I ever thought I would have. Somehow, I will get another work space to help others. Thanks to the drive you and many others I've watched on TV, and now KZbin have given me to just keep moving forward. Again, THANKS !!!!!

[@vavendano2000]

i love your interpretation of anti squat variables and how you explain it. Ive always had a similar thought process on the whole thing. I thank you for clarifying things up and commend you on your tactics. love the platform. please keep up the great work.

[@twisterad3]

100% Subscribed after this video. Loved your explanation of squat. Thank you so much Ian for all you do.

[@ajfarson]

Keep up the good work, Ian. I have always been curious what happened to the Ranger you built on Xtreme4x4. I recall it had a hand throttle on the shifter and it broke on the trail. I don't know what happened to it after that. Do you have any recommendations for a good starter "kit" for getting into welding? Thanks!

[@yeahright671]

Great videos as usual Ian. Keep up the great work and good vibes.

[@perrymahnke886]

Awesome Q & A and great Where is it Now question. I could listen to you talk all day long & love the comment about having as many trucks as pairs of pants. Back in the day, I had a motorcycle for every day of the week plus spares. lol As always thank you for sharing your knowledge & experiences.

[@MooreFabWorks]

Well said! Great input on the suspension!

[@TheAceex]

love the videos and content you put out. I have a question about something I struggle with, when your not filming for a tv show how do you determine what project to work on?

[@Livin2relaxat55]

Keep up this awesome content! You build all this awesome stuff and get to do so many awesome adventures! Do you wheel with your family? It not, what vacations do you take. Finally, what’s your favorite bourbon?

[@michaelsummers6162]

Great job Ian. The dirty little secrets are overlooked so much 18:09

[@bobmerlo9198]

Really enjoyed the vid, 👍

[@jimvega2244]

Excellent show,Thanks!

[@donniehunter309]

Love the Q and As Ian. Thanks! Since you posted your poll about the VW build, lets go back to an earlier era of rick crawling buggies with Tiny and the Rock Bug. As I look at my 57 Baja shell that is supposed to end up a Volksrod, the image of it as a rock buggy sometimes slides in to my head😁. What would your version look like?

[@steelmill]

Hey Ian your content has gotten really interesting over the last 6 months. Keep it up sir.What do you think about all of these people that always welds vertical down hill on thick material?

[@jessebolton1655]

Hey Ian love the content that you putting out as of late. I'm looking to do an engine swap on my yj this year before I head to Moab for the first time. I have swapped to spring and shock with triangulated 4 link rear and three link front. The 4cyl is tired and with 5.38s and 40s the AX-5 is not long for this world. I don't really want to follow the rest of the world and "LS" it. I was thinking about other power plants like the 5cyl from a Colorado, or a 3.4 from a Tacoma. Just looking to be a little different. What do you think?

[@rodneyharouff5739]

i can dig this show for the info. thanks!

[@drew7767]

question, if you were just starting out what would you recommend having around for steel in your shop? example various angle iron sizes, square tube, round tube, maybe a better question is what do you use the most of for all builds

[@670trex]

love your work!

[@billlangdon9198]

Good content Ian.

[@chuckieswickedgoodfab]

Love the stickers, ordered some. Great questions, great answers. Thanks for putting out this content Ian!!!

[@BigTireGarage]

Glad you like them!

[@dogpotter]

Thanks for sharing great content

[@fannin6889]

Been watching you for years and love your content. I have a fifth Gen RAM 1500 that I'm slowly working in for over landing. I had a 1st gen explorer for rock crawling but never wheeled anything with all electric power steering. Have any experiences with all electric and what to look out for?

[@johngrant1337]

Great Info and stories. Will you build a water cooled 2 WD rail buggy ( with Subaru boxer engine) thanks

[@seabasssimpson4547]

I love how committed this guy is to that hair style.

[@BigTireGarage]

yes...yes I am

[@yostyexplorer94]

Mexican food reference was a good one

[@johndavis3421]

Great KZbin channel. My question is what happened to one of the most complicated vehicles I remember you building, the 4x4 swapped NV2500 Nissan Van complete with a Titan Diesel . Other companies have 4x4 swap vans, but not to the extent you did.

[@jeep10921092]

Love the channel. Check out Toyota World Runners channel. They have a 70’s Chinook on a 80 series chassis. Keep up the great work

[@riverrockfab]

I was thinking that too, he’d love it.

[@OutCastCrawling]

Love these q&a videos. What ever happened to the suburban gorilla?

[@yjsaabman]

OMG, I love the "offroad rigs are like Mexican food" analogy! It's so true! How do you feel about building unibody rigs like XJs, ZJs, and even how the Gomanche started life? Obviously they add different challenges with suspension mounting and chassis rigidity, and the full bodied rigs are harder to strip back. With addition of things like "frame" stiffeners and roll cages do you feel they can be up to the task?

[@benjaminjonholman]

I have always had a vague idea of the terminology with suspension geometry and how it worked together. That 10 minute explanation made it all so much clearer. Can easily tell that you were a teacher in a past life.

[@BigTireGarage]

Glad it helped...

[@justinbrand6585]

Toyota guys do have like 1700 tcases underneath with 1750 different shifters in the cab. That really made me LOL

[@DeathTollRacing]

Good job on the suspension talk. That’s a tough one to explain.

[@steelshooter2289]

just found your channel on here, was a huge fan of you on xtreme 4x4. new subscriber

[@BigTireGarage]

Thanks for the sub!

[@perryreasch1209]

ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO

[@grewe02]

Ian do you have videos for the Crawlerado? I saw one on motor trend with Hazel but it was only 15 mins. Need more!!

[@bransencortez7353]

Seeing as you consider the crawlorado to be the swiss army knife of trucks you own. Id like to hear what you learned about making 4x4s more of a swiss army knife and how what you learned will change the way you build them going forward

[@rodneyharouff5739]

been seein' yer rigs for a while in different places.

[@rodneyharouff5739]

yer explanations are quite thorough. i know enough ta understand what yer sayin'.

[@scottgarrett7794]

With a leaf spring front, do you need a trac bar? Love the videos.

[@scottadvevture2022]

great show thank you

[@donm.1068]

I'm a new subscriber to your channel. Do you have a shop tour video?

[@craighuffman5397]

I've wanted to build a Toyota Dolphin as well! 4x4 conversion on tons with a mild V8 conversion would be so cool!

[@amberandrandystuffle77]

Hey Ian just wandering where is the Poison Spider? Thanks for all you do.

[@ryanbaranowski5544]

Hey Ian! What are your thoughts on Twin Traction Beams? Have you ever considered using them for a conversion? Or would you ever consider making a king travel desert rig with TTB’s?

[@bigslim492]

Ian will you please stay in one place. It’s damn difficult keeping up with you since you left the Power Nation shop. I am glad to have found your show again though.

[@jrally]

I guy just documented a Chinook build, putting the '76 body on top of an 80 series Land Cruiser chassis. Toyota World Runners

[@nicholasglover155]

Hey Ian, I’m building my first jeep. Jku Dana 60 swap and sterling. I’ve been looking at building my own drive shafts for the swap to stay budget friendly, the fabrication is no problem. Have you had any experience balancing driveshafts at home?

[@joebaileygl1500]

How do you pick the right gears for 4 wheeling. I have a 87 samurai with a 1.3L 5 speed manual with 31" tires.

[@chrisalexander7024]

When is the Balljoint Delete video dropping? We’re ready for it! Good seeing you on No Left Turn At EJS last year!

[@bsanduner66]

What do you setup the front end alignment to on a Jeep JKU with 4.5” of lift and 37” tires do you do toe in or toe out and also caster angle

[@Bobby82568]

That was the best analogy I’ve ever heard, “ seasoned meat wrapped up in a tortilla” 😂

[@pitt42075]

Question: If I were to add a locker to an exsting ring and pinion, would it be possible to change the ring gear over from the existing carrier to the new locker without doing a gear setup? - Maybe just swap shims side to side. I have no problem buying a dial indicator, but I am wondering if it is possible to check backlash with a feeler gauge? Love the channel. Please advise.

[@reecewatson5311]

Ian, last time you came to Hot Springs AR. you brought the YJ and the tube buggy. Which do you like driving in Hot Spring and why¿

[@dukegnarley]

Hey Ian, What's the consensus on full hydraulic steering on the street?

[@joshuabaker5712]

When you talked about the Cummins R2.8 crate engine.... such a awesome package at a great price. If I had the money I would do that with a dodge full manual built 48re, and atlas 4sp transfercase on my JKU.

[@BigTireGarage]

Sounds like a great package

[@351RNGR]

What's the best fuel cell setup for a streetable crawler like the shop truck or gomanche?

[@corksauve4949]

An add on question to the do everything truck. If you can have any truck to modify to your hearts content for everything use. What would it be?

[@myworkpc1178]

Wondering what brand of Digital Angle Finder do you recommend/use?

[@chadblackburn6939]

I have a 2020 JL 2door, 6 speed manual, I’m lifting it and going to run 35’s and want to put air lockers in it. While I’m there I wouldn’t like to swap gears, what would you recommend for a 3.5 lift with 35’s that will help keep some fuel mileage as it will be my daily for a few years.

[@Verb1983]

Hey Ian! I have been in the offroad world about 12 years now. I am the kind of guy that does things on a budget and has the ability to do fab work myself. My question is this. When doing axle swaps in jeeps why is the aam 9.25 out of a dodge not looked at for swaps? There was a few years where it was high pinion non-disconnect. Is it strictly because of the 9.25 ring gear or are there other reasons? I would think it would hold up to 40's under a jeep? What are your thoughts? Keep up the great work!

[@rjsparling1696]

Ian, I've seen many videos addressing offroad anti-squat or anti-dive, but nobody is talking about anti-roll that much. Could you explore anti-roll with us for offroad suspension and driving?

[@joshchapman521]

why do you have a shipping container in the middle of your shop. thanks for the awesome videos

[@dubCanuck1]

Q: if wheeling wasn't your jam, what would be your next favourite motorsport to commit your time to and why?

[@badwerds]

"hopefully I answered your question - I know I answered your question. hopefully you like the answer." Hahahahaha

[@DaveOfAllMasterOfNone]

QUESTION: What is the formula for building a streetable off-road rig? The idea is to make a reliable and streetable rig that can hold its own off road. My off-road goals are to wheel here in the mid-west (Ohio, Kentucky) but I also have a life goal of wheeling the Easter Jeep Safari. My on-road goals are to drive it in the summer, back and forth to work and around town and on the highway and not fear for my life and the rig needs to be reliable enough that I don't get stranded. What is the biggest tire I can go with and not have issues on-road? I already have a set of new 40" tires, is that a bad idea if I want to go 70 mph? I know you love a TH350 I really would prefer a trans with over drive. What do you recommend? I have been watching your shows pretty much since the beginning. My first episode was the bottom drawer buggy payoff with Jessi and I have watched everything you have put out since. Got to meet you at the off road expo in KY and you are just as nice in person as you are on the show. I have been buying vehicles and they have pretty much sat in my back yard but that is going to change.

[@thatrealba]

Dude, when is the collab with Puddin? 😃

[@hotolive6383]

What is the best tool that you have acquired in 2022? Thanks love the show!

[@madjeepernh6834]

Hey Ian, Just wondering if you have ever been wheeling at Field & Forest here in Hancock NH. It's an extreme granite boulder setting. If you haven't, you should look up some vids on The tube. East coast wheeling at its best!

[@BigTireGarage]

Yes been there years ago with Crawl Magazine...loved it

[@trevorgould4155]

Question, have you ever thought about building a go anywhere Nissan Navara ?

[@demokelly]

Just curious what engine you prefer to run?? Is it the LS platform for the power and ease for parts or the 4cyl diesel for the torque??

[@Noideawhatimdoing411]

Are you going to collaborate with Nate from dirt lifestyle? It would be cool to see you show up on the samurai build.

[@bluman760]

Have you done a walk around around of the beetle? If not, could you talk a little bit about it and give us a look at what you have done to it?

[@station08]

I chose a 96 Grand Cherokee ( 4 wheeler of the year) to build. Damn thing is a billy goat, a kangaroo and hawg. Actually was the most capable of many jeeps I've built. went from mud jams to Silver Lake for 2 weeks at a time with zero breakage, endless jumps, blazing 2 tracker, and sight seeing. Imagine wine and cheese in a Grand Gherokee. then dumping the sand from your flops.

[@sterlingwilkey2124]

I have a 1977 dodge w200 4x4 with Armstrong power steering. What the best way and most economical to convert it to power steering

[@budlight924]

In your time of wheeling over the years, which would you say are the top 3 most common vehicles seen on the trail/road, and which would be your top choice if you have to pick just one.

[@riverlee001]

I have 2 questions for ya 1 have you ever caught that hair of yours on fire welding? 2. What was it like to work with Jessi? Much respect for you please keep it up we have learned so much from you

[@reecewatson5311]

My son won't come in the shop with anything in his hair and he has a mohawk. My dad (RIP) told him his hair would go up as fast as Michael Jackson in the Pepsi burn if he got close to a fire...

[@slowhite03]

Hey ian, can you explain how a build on tv works? Does the owner have to pay anything or does the show pay for it all

[@TeamNiem]

I am bench racing my eventual next crawler/exploration build for west coast wheeling and am debating between a first gen s10, first gen Ranger, or first gen Dakota (all ext cab short bed/bobbed long bed cuz I’m 6’3” and need room). I’d like something low slung SAS, full bodied, on 37-38s, debatable on tons or just built D44/9” cuz I don’t want it crazy wide. Which platform gets your vote for best to SAS without doing a front half, and for decent reliability in drivetrain in stock form? P.S. I’d love to do a Comanche but they’re just getting hard to find for cheap, and I’d rather start with a frame (currently running an XJ). Also, Toyota’s are just too expensive these days.

[@thetake864]

Would love the chinook build!

[@Kcdaniel88]

Check out Toyota world runners channel. Built a chinook on a fj80 chassis

[@noelvelez9914]

In a long arm kit why don,t fit ok model with a Peugeot manual transmisión

[@jjansen987]

How often do you really go wheeling?

[@grumpbear5793]

Do you remember the suburban Gorilla? Do you know what happened to it and the trailer that went with it?

[@joshpeterson7216]

What lockers do you like? Air/Electric/Cable? What is the strongest in your opinion? Do the rear or the front first or both, and would you recommend a winch before lockers?

[@veto8792]

Whatever happened to the Suburban Gorilla build? Not sure if you answered that one already, I haven’t went thru all of your vids yet. This was one of my favorite builds of the show.

[@benjaminjonholman]

There's a channel on here called @ToyotaWorldRunners that just built a solid axle swapped Chinook. It's pretty sweet.

[@BigTireGarage]

I have been following their adventures

[@russellellis6679]

Whatever became of the FJ that you built the exoskeleton for many many years ago?

[@randumadventures]

When we going to see you go do some snow wheelin with Nate??

[@comndo95231]

One of my favorite builds was the Suburban Gorilla… where is it now?

[@krisolof7998]

Speaking oh Chinooks, check out Toyota World Runners channel. They put a chinook on an 80 series chassis and just started a pan American hwy trip

[@BigTireGarage]

I have been watching!!

[@frankfilippone9679]

Have you seen your fellow Canadians Chinook build, Toyota World Runners? Came out amazing and they're driving it from Vancouver Island south on Pan America Highway, if you haven't, you gotta check it out

[@BigTireGarage]

I have and its awesome!!!

[@frankfilippone9679]

@Big Tire Garage Good kids, they really did a great job fuzeing the Chinook with the FJ80 and the interior of the camper, they were part of the reason I decided to build my First Gen Tacoma S.A.Swap, Daily Driver/Off-Roader/Bike Hauler, a few Canadians were responsible for her, now I have the only Solid Axle Tacoma on Long Island, me and a SAS 4 Runner, millions of people, but only 2 that I know of? Great Q & A keep up the good work brother 👏

[@freeidaho-videos]

Question: Portal axles seem like the perfect solution to several off-road problems. Why are they not very popular. Outside of Nate's current build I don't see too many. I understand they are expensive, but even in builds with amazing budgets they are excluded. Your thoughts please.

[@robertmason2076]

They are absolutely everywhere if they suit the comp, for example go to a Werock comp and you’ll find more portal rigs than straight axle. Whereas speed events like Ultra4 the number one goal is just to finish, the old saying ‘to finish first, first you need to finish’ and the portals just introduce too many possible breakages that don’t necessarily have benefits to outweigh the decision, as in portals aernt going to help at 150mph + in the whoops.

[@freeidaho-videos]

@@robertmason2076 While you state the obvious, you also miss the obvious. There are more Jeep builds than anything else, and nearly no portals. Toyotas and Zuks are probably the next most popular, and again, nearly no portals. There are probably less than 200 moon buggies in the whole country.

[@krisbarnard1684]

Theyre expensive, rare and hard to get parts for, no aftermarket for steering arms etc, make shit stupid tall and take away alot of uptravel with how much separation is needed on the links to deal with the extra leverage the portals add to everything. They really dont solve many issues

[@freeidaho-videos]

@@krisbarnard1684 And yet, they are nearly required on a moon buggy to do well in competitions.

[@krisbarnard1684]

@freeidaho yes they work well in one very specific high dollar application and scenario. In the overall world of offroad they arnt practical

[@jimpawlak7806]

gee... new sub here... what is with the hair?... is it spiked or always stand up?...great vids greetings from canada...

[@BigTireGarage]

Welcome!!

[@greasemonkey4god]

I’d love to do a sas’d chinook…

[@eformance]

I think you are saying that while it's possible to solve the geometry equations, it's not worth solving them. I can see where it could be valuable in trying to figure out why one truck flips over backwards when it tries to climb an obstacle, and another truck does not. If you are trying to design that truck that doesn't flip over, doing the rotations and CG calcs would be worth it.

[@katreniaclark]

Ian, why do you talk about Sand Hollow state park so much?

[@paulfoster7459]

You talked about sentimental value in some of your builds, do you have anything left from when you and Jesse were teamed up on tv?

[@lukeromeril2052]

Where’s the corn burning corn binder SCOUT!

[@cmwhitt18]

You need to get ahold of Rueben from DMW is Australia he makes the most badass fold of all in 1 kitchen for rigs

[@BigTireGarage]

Will for sure

[@cmwhitt18]

I also sent you an email with a KZbin link that shows an old school LandCruiser that has the prototype kitchen in it