Hoonigan Build & Battle

Is Build & Battle the build show we deserve?

Christopher Tracy

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While I want to consume as much automotive TV as possible, I can’t watch most of it. The Discovery Channel model of drama, shorten timelines, drama, builds that kind of run, and more drama is not a recipe for enjoyable viewing. No matter how interesting, exotic or badass the build is, if you’re yelling; I’m out.

Internet TV will save us

Other shows have been complex and time-consuming. Project Binky is an amazing build and one of the best shows on the Interwebs, but it also started in 2013 and isn’t near completion. That is not a criticism of the Bad Obsession Motorsport team, but a dig at our collective lack of patience these days. The BOM team must pay their bills first with customer work and then provides the free gift to the world that is Project Binky. Those guys are literally amazing.

But we need more automotive shows. Hoonigan has decided to fill a space in Internet automotive TV with their new show, Build & Battle. The geniuses at Hoonigan HQ have set up parameters for a Build between two teams and then they are going to Battle it out. $10,000 all in (including vehicle purchase price), 15 days from build start to battle finish, and they are using basic tools. It sounds like someone has applied logical thinking to what automotive enthusiasts will want to watch.

Off-Road War

Their first episode is a Jeep XJ vs Ford Explorer. The teams are captained by a couple of well-known faces from previous Hoonigan videos, Blake Wilkey & Mickael Cox. Here is Blake purchasing his XJ and Michael buying his Exploder.

Each team brings its own fabricator with them. In the 1st episode, the teams begin tearing down their vehicles and start building them into off-road warriors. Both teams take time to explain their reasoning why they are proceeding the way they are. They even discuss why and how they like to use different tools on the project.

Those moments will eventually fill the comment section with keyboard jockeys trolling how they’re doing it all wrong. To me, those moments are a breath of fresh air to hear a builder describing why they’ve decided to reinforce an axle or move a suspension point. We’ll have to wait and see how the rest of the series plays out. For now, I’m cautiously optimistic.

We do know that this is probably a reason why Scotto’s cars don’t run. The dude is literally always working on getting new content out into the world. So, what do you think? Will you tune in for more Build & Battle?

 

About

Christopher Tracy

Christopher Tracy

Chris works in marketing by day and writes offroad automotive pieces by night. Chris is the producer/cohost of the Off The Road Again Podcast. A dad trying to get his kids outside more. IG: @overlandingdad.

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7 responses to “Is Build & Battle the build show we deserve?”

  1. smokyburnout Avatar
    smokyburnout

    I will probably watch every single episode of this, but it’s funny how only there’s only 3 minutes between them talking about how they want to do realistic, down-to-earth budget builts with no Hollywood tricks and “so uhhh we totally found this Explorer with used trophy truck suspension on it at a junkyard for $2500”

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      Yeah, I’m rooting for the XJ build on this one, if nothing else because it starts with a stock truck. It’s a much more realistic real-world find. If the intention is to depict budget builds, they should have passed on that Explorer and started with something less modified.
      That said, I like the parity otherwise. Two early 90s American SUVs, both two-doors, both six cylinders (and both 4L displacement). I like the limitations in budget, tools, and team size. I’ll likely watch this series.

      Reply
      1. Tank Avatar
        Tank

        I didn’t have much faith in the XJ until i just watched the purchase episode.

        Reply
        1. Zentropy Avatar
          Zentropy

          I grew up in a rural area where brand loyalty (especially in trucks) still runs strong, and so by definition I suppose I’m a third- or fourth- generation Ford guy. However, I’ve probably owned more AMCs and Jeeps than Fords, and most of my Fords were actually Mercurys. So, while I’m partial to FoMoCo products, I’m staunchly loyal to AMC and their family of inline sixes. The AMC 4.0L remains my all-time favorite engine for an off-roader. The Ford 4.0 is ok (I’ve owned one) but unremarkable, and I think the vee configuration is really best with eight cylinders.

          Reply
          1. Zentropy Avatar
            Zentropy

            I did a mental count, and I think I’ve owned 13 Ramblers/AMCs/Jeeps and 5 (soon to be 6) Fords/Mercurys. That puts me firmly on Team XJ.
            Further counting puts me at 11 inline sixes, 9 V8s, 5 V6s, and two I-4s. More support for Team XJ.

    2. Tank Avatar
      Tank

      I mean, it has the suspension.. but it doesn’t look like it was put together well. I think dude may just have better connections

      Reply
  2. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Sounds better than many build shows where the build goes on in the background of all the wheeling & dealing that is in no way staged at all. Will check it out.

    Reply