The BEST episodes of Junkyard Wars
Every episode of Junkyard Wars ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Junkyard Wars!
This engineering challenge started off some years ago in the UK and has now made it over to TLC. In 2001 they filmed two seasons' worth of programs with a whole series of extreme Junkyard machines being built by teams of bikers, high-tech engineers, school teachers, and even hillbillies!
#1 - Deep Sea Dive
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/17/2001
Challenge to build to open locked treasure boxes 20 feet underwater. They have to send down an aquanaut in a diver suit and pump air to his helmet. Contestants Team Green: Art Attacks Team captain Ken June Wayne Expert Greg Brian Team Blue: The Young Guns Team captain Stan Brighton Jeus Beltran Brian Michem Expert Bob Kirby
Watch Now:Amazon#3 - Ballistic Missiles
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/3/2001
Challenge to build a machine chunk a pumpkin the most accurately to hit a target. They must use human power only. Contestants Team Blue: The Young Guns Team captain Stan Brighton Jeus Beltran Brian Michem Expert Ron Toms Team Orange: Three Rusty Juveniles Team captain Jay Ray Tom Expert Waddy Thompson
Watch Now:Amazon#4 - Boats
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/10/2001
Challenge to build a machine that can race to an island to save all their team mates one at a time. Contestants Team Blue: Art Attacks Team captain Ken June Wayne Expert Justin Manley Team Purple: The Metal Medics Team captain Dr. Bill Alex Bob Expert Larry DeCamm
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - Off Road Vehicles
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/10/2001
Challenge to build a machine to carry each member on one lap around a off road course that has bumps, jumps, and water. Contestants Team Orange: Damage Team captain Ristow John Kalbot Expert James Aduskevich Team Green: The Long Brothers Team captain Brian Long Terry Long Gary Long Expert Mike Ferguson
Watch Now:Amazon#6 - Power Paddlers
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/4/2002
In this episode, each family team has to build a powerful boat which has to be able to hit another boat and withstand it. Then, the vehicles will be tested in a competition that consists in pushing the enemy boat out of a "battle circle". Contestants "Kentucky Fried Family" vs. "Morterheads"
Watch Now:Amazon#7 - Garbage Guzzler
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/12/2002
In this episode, each team has to build a machine that's able to pick up the garbage from the streets. Then, the machines will be tested in a competition which consists of picking up the garbage off the street. The team that collects more garbage (by weight) wins. Contestants 'Sewer Rats' vs. 'Trash Can Heroes'
Watch Now:Amazon#10 - Submarine Racers
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/2/2002
Each team has to build a submarine that has to be controlled by a man inside of it. Then, the submarines will be tested in 3 races. The team that wins 2 races advances to the next round. Contestants 'Custom Cruisers' vs. 'Model Ts'
Watch Now:Amazon#11 - Railroad Racers
Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/9/2002
In this episode, each team has to build a "Railroad Racer", a vehicle which is able to race through the train rails. Then, the vehicles will be tested in a competition which consists in dropping a load in a section of tracks before reaching a barrier. Contestants: "Kentucky Fried Family" vs. "Brooklyn Benders"
Watch Now:Amazon#12 - Ice Warriors
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/16/2002
In this episode, each team has to build a one-man "hockey car". Then, the vehicles will be tested in a huge hockey match where the cars have to hit the giant puck into a huge hockey net. Contestants: "Kentucky Fried Family" vs. "Custom Cruisers"
Watch Now:Amazon#13 - Dune Buggies
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/19/2003
In this episode, each team has to build a "Dune Buggie" which has to be able to withstand the hard conditions of the desert. Then, the vehicles will be taken to the desert to test them in a competition. Contestants 'Junkyard Hogs' vs. 'Superchargers'
Watch Now:Amazon#14 - Car Dozer
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/26/2003
The ultimate way to deal with traffic jams would be to push the offending cars out of the way and go through. Well, for the High Flyers and Big Shots, that dream is about to come true. The will be building a machine that will power it's way through a gauntlet of cars. A bunch of cars have been strewn down a track. The team that has the fastest total time after 3 runs (and a different driver each time) through the cars will advance. However, if they go outside of the yellow boundaries on the sides of the track, they incur a ten second penalty. So it isn't just speed...it's precision as well. For the High Flyers, it's all about the traction. Using a monsterous truck for a base, they will add a second axle to the rear and wrap the two tires with tank treads. Combine a big engine and those massive footprints and put a big plow on the front and you have a bulldozer...in essence. However, adding a second axel isn't exactly a walk in the park. Neither will finding a big, reliable engine? This machine will have to be just plain tough! The Big Shots are going for power. A big truck chassis and a big engine will give them lots of power and strength to withstand any major collisions. However, their plow is going to resemble a cow catcher (like you used to see on old time locomotives). The trick is that they will put their blade at the rear and drive in reverse. This will protect the engine and give them some low-range power. Again, finding a good engine might be the problem.
Watch Now:Amazon#15 - Jet Trikes
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/2/2003
It will be a hot time in the junkyard this episode as the Auto Amigos take on the Dirty Drivers in a fast and furious challenge to build a trike powered by a jet-engine. The race will consist of three trips down a one-eighth mile track...one at a time. The team that records the fastest time in any of their three trips will advance to the semi-finals. The Dirty Drivers are building a true jet engine on a lightweight frame. A propane tank will provide the gas and a spark plug will act as the ignition source. The key ingredient will be a turbo-charger from a truck. The turbo charger has two fans that turn in opposite directions. One fan will suck the propane into a combustion tank while the other will suck the heated air out and through a nozzle. If there's time, they also want to build an afterburner which should increase their speed. An afterburner ignites any remaining gasses in the chamber for added thrust. Time is NOT on their side. The Auto Amigos, on the other hand, are going for a thermo-jet engine. A car engine will be attached to a large fan. The fan will suck air into a large tube which will be funneled out the back. Around the back side of the fan are a series of nozzles which will spray a mist of gasoline into the tube. A spark plug will ignite the propane causing a jet of hot air (and flames) to shoot out the back. This is going to be heavy so a big, beefy, sturdy frame will be necessary. The weight might slow them down and cost valuable seconds.
Watch Now:Amazon#16 - Power Pullers
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/9/2003
In this episode, each team has to build a sled-puller tractor which has to be under 2000 lbs. Then, the tractors will be tested in a competition which consists in pulling a medium-sized sled through a simple course. The team that pulls the sled further wins. Contestants "Jet Doctors" vs. "Missile Masters"
Watch Now:Amazon#17 - Laundry Launchers
Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/16/2003
In this episode, each team has to build a machine which has to be able to launch heavy objects. It doesn't matter if they build a catapult, a giant robot, etc... Then, the machines will be tested in a competition which consists in launching a 150 lb washing machine as far as possible without destroying it until it crashes into the floor. Contestants "High Flyers" vs. "Superchargers"
Watch Now:Amazon#18 - Beach Rescue Racers
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/23/2003
In this episode, each team has to build an amphibious vehicle which has to resist sea water. Then, the buggies will be tested in a competition which consists in "saving" a mannequin from an island - passing through the beach and the sea - in the less time possible. Contestants "Jet Doctors" vs. "Auto Amigos"
Watch Now:Amazon#19 - Off-Road Golf
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/30/2003
In this episode, each team has to build a car which has to be able to hit a ball with precision. Then, the cars will be tested in a very strange competition which consists in getting the lowest score in a giant-sized 3-hole short golf match. Contestants "Jet Doctors" vs. "High Flyers"
Watch Now:Amazon#20 - Combat Cars
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/26/2002
In this episode, each team has to build a powerful and fast remote controlled car. Then, the vehicles will be tested in a competition which consists in a giant battle bot fight. The teams can win by knocking out the enemy or earning points. Contestants "Pit Crew" vs. "Turbines".
Watch Now:Amazon#21 - Fire Fighting Flotilla
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/19/2002
In this episode, each team has to build a boat which has to be able to extinguish small fires. Then, the vehicles will be tested in a competition which consists in extinguishing a fire from a house across a lake. Contestants: "Pit Crew" vs. "Geeks".
Watch Now:Amazon#23 - Sand Yacht
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/12/2002
Challenge : build a land-racing yacht. Contestants Team Green : The Quantum Mechanics Team captain Leila Hasan, Danielle Smith, Kimberly Hamad-Schifferli, Expert Nord Embroden Team Red : The Geeks Team captain Thomas Massie, Rhett Creighton, Rony 'Koobs' Kubat, Expert Dennis Bassano
Watch Now:Amazon#24 - Climbing Car
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/5/2002
Challenge : build a hill-climbing car capable of carrying a team member as far as possible up a 400 ft., 40 degree gradient hill. Each team gets 3 attempts at conquering the steep gradient. Contestants Team Yellow : The Pit Crew Team captain Frank, Scott, Tim, Expert Chris Adamson Team Blue : The Jet Jocks Team captain Ron, Dave, Gifford, Expert Randy Ellis
Watch Now:Amazon#25 - Mechanical Mole
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/5/2002
In this episode, each team has to build a drilling machine. Then, the vehicles will be tested in a competition which consists in digging a hole big enough through 3 concrete walls to get all the team and the machine in it. Contestants: "Turbines" vs. "Bold Three"
Watch Now:Amazon