This Week In Jeep

Jeep Debuts The Production Model Avenger (BEV) 

As you heard in the last episode, The Paris Auto Show just happened, and Jeep decided it was time to show off its fully battery electric… “Jeep.”   As I’ve reported in past episodes, this particular Jeep is destined solely for European markets until Jeep’s U.S. market makes the shift, in what… 2030? However, we finally get to see what the production model is going to look like in person. It uses the group’s second-generation 400V electric powertrain and is the first one to be launched by Emotors, a joint venture between Stellantis and Nidec Leroy-Somer Holding. That’s a name you may want to remember, as I think we may see some good stuff come out of this partnership. 

Leroy-Somer is the world leader in industrial alternators and one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electromechanical and electronic drive systems. So if you were working on a capable all-electric off-road machine, this is the team you want working on the drive systems. Jeep claims a power output of 115 kW (156 hp) and 191 lb.-ft. of maximum torque. Stellantis claims its new, in-house 54-kWh battery pack delivers 248 miles (399 km) of range in the WLTP cycle or 341 miles (549 miles) in the urban cycle.

The Avenger is supplied with a 100-kW Mode 4 cable which, when connected to fast public charge, yields an 18.6-mile (30-km) range after just three minutes. Considering that figure is the average commute for Europeans, the automaker estimates the vehicle can be driven for days before fully recharging. Could that work here in the states? Perhaps, but this next fact is what may leave most people familiar with the Jeep brand scratching their heads. Considering It’s a Jeep, it must have some sort of off-road credentials right? Riiiight? Riiiight….. Well… about that, the off-road capabilities will include it being the first front-wheel-drive-only Jeep vehicle equipped with standard Selec-Terrain! ….does that count? So with your front-wheel drive battery Jeep, you can select up to six different driving modes, and get a hill descent control too.

Just to make it look official, right Jeep? Well, at least you tried. 

Jeep Club Kicks Off Toys For Tots Campaign With Success

Now, this is newsworthy and it just so happens to be one of those feel-good Jeep stories too. Christmas is going to be a lot merrier for several area youngsters thanks to the Adrenaline Off Road Jeep Club. Club members gathered to start a ride and to help kick off the Toys for Tots campaign. This is the second year Jeep drivers from Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee have spent a day having fun and helping the cause. The Marine Corps Reserve, which is the official sponsor of Toys for Tots brought a trailer to where the Jeeps gathered to begin their 50-mile trek.  Rick Rose, leader of the group asked each person going on the ride to bring a new toy for the drive or make a monetary donation. The Toys for Tots campaign opened on Oct. 1 and will wrap up in mid-December when gifts are distributed.  The club got a big hand from the Plum Creek Quilters, who held a raffle and also prepared lunch for riders and others to purchase.

And you know them quilters make a MEAN lunch! NOT to eff’d with.  Rod Mayberry, from Mountaineer Marine Corp Reserve, said the toy drive will get up to full speed around the first of November, but this was a great way to start. Check this out, THIS is how Jeepers do it!…. When the day ended Mayberry’s trailer was three-quarters full and the cash bucket had $2,700 in it. Mayberry said the group will be accepting donations at several locations in the area in the coming weeks.

Adrenaline Off Road – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1228542594265829/

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com

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This Week In Jeep

Car and Driver Tested The Hurricane Inline Six Engine

Car and Driver have been around since 1955, and it didn’t take long for them to become one the leaders in automotive journalism. Barely a year after its start, the company created the “Testing Hub” where they push products, engines, and even vehicles to their limits. Then they take a deep dive into the numbers behind the tests.  Car and Driver got their hands on one of Jeep’s new twin-turbocharged “Hurricane” inline-six engines.

Apparently, the new motor is proving its worth, beating the old Hemi V-8 in both acceleration and fuel economy. Test results for the 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L with the new 510-horsepower version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six show that it’s both quicker and more efficient than the 2022 Grand Wagoneer with the 6.4-liter V-8—even though the six-cylinder SUV they tested was the bigger, heavier long-wheelbase L model. They managed to get the 6428-pound Grand Wagoneer L from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds. This beat the old, 102-pound-lighter, V-8 model by nearly 3/4 of a second (0.7 seconds)  That advantage shrunk to 0.4 seconds and 2 mph in the quarter mile, as the off-the-line advantage of the turbo’s 3500-rpm brake torque launch wears off when faced with the raw gas chugging power of a Hemi V8. But that’s still DAMN quick for a full-size, truck-based SUV, beating out the Ford Expedition Stealth Performance model’s 4.9-second run to 60 mph and coming closer than anyone would have expected to the supercharged, 682-horsepower Cadillac Escalade-V’s 4.3-second sprint. Although Car and Driver said they would categorize the Jeep’s boosted six as quite responsive, turbocharged engines’ power delivery is never as instantaneous as that of a naturally aspirated engine. So with that, the inline six did suffer in some of the rolling start tests. For instance, rolling at 30 mph and accelerating to 50 the Hurricane was no quicker than the V8 and was actually a tenth of a second slower in the 50-70 MPH test. In the 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, the smaller-displacement turbo-six won out, too. It achieved a result of 20 mpg to the V-8’s 19 mpg; not exactly a huge difference, but impressive considering the extra grunt the smaller engine also provides.

The addition of the inline-six has complicated the Waggoner’s powertrain lineup somewhat. The inline-six is standard on all long-wheelbase L versions, although the Wagoneer L has the 420-horsepower standard-output version and the Grand Wagoneer L has the 510-horsepower high-output version. Among short-wheelbase variants, the 3.0-liter six is optional, as the base Wagoneer continues with its standard 5.7-liter V-8 and the base Grand Wagoneer with its 6.4-liter V-8. But based on the new engine’s strong performance, it seems a worthy upgrade if you’re shopping for one of these behemoths. My question is there anyone at Jeep that is trying to shoehorn one of these bad boys into a Wrangler yet? If not, I might be available for some testing, …just saying.

I Blame The Parents

It’s not often I cast blame. Oh sure, I may say it’s your fault, but I won’t blame you. That’s entirely different. The parents of these two teens, however, I fully blame for what you’re about to hear. Two teens were injured in an accident just before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Buchanan  County Missouri. The State Patrol reported a 2005 Jeep driven by a 15-year-old St. Joseph, Missouri, the girl was southbound on Highway 371 at SE Barnett Road. The driver of the Jeep was fixing her hair and allowing the passenger to control the vehicle.  The 15-year-old female passenger lost control of the Jeep. The driver attempted to regain control of the vehicle, overcorrected and the Jeep traveled off the east side of the road, struck an embankment, and rolled onto its top. Both the driver and passenger were ejected. Buchanan County ambulance transported both teens to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. I’ve said for years that a Jeep should very rarely be the first vehicle for anyone. 

There are rare and few exceptions, but the rule of thumb is a Jeep is just too much for a new driver. Despite these parents not heading my warnings, they also clearly did not instill the fear of blood gore, and dismemberment by forcing these young new drivers to watch timeless classics such as “Wheels of Tragedy” … “Red Asphalt” or “Death On The Highway” Had the parents done their job, maybe these two girls would have buckled up. They still likely would have lost control and flipped the Jeep, but they might have instead walked away.

I Thought Drug Dealers Preferred Cadillacs 

Four people were taken into custody after drugs and guns were located in a parked vehicle. Detectives were working in the area of Hillside Avenue late Monday night when they spotted a parked Jeep with four people inside and smoke pouring from the windows. Authorities say the Jeep smelled strongly of marijuana and detectives were able to clearly see multiple pistols out in the open inside the vehicle. All of this is a no-no in Tennessee, so out came the cuffs. Two of the occupants were found to be convicted felons and a third was previously convicted of domestic violence, prohibiting them from possessing guns. Oops. As the four suspects were taken into custody, police searched the Jeep, and seized more than 100 meth pills laced with fentanyl, along with various amounts of cocaine, Xanax, and marijuana. The front-seat passenger, 31-year-old Justin Dunnigan, was found to be a convicted robber. Police say most of the drugs, along with two scales and more than $6,000 in cash, were found in a backpack at his feet. Dunnigan is facing multiple drug and gun counts and is being held on a $245,000 bond. The driver of the Jeep, 35-year-old Marques Felder, is facing a charge of felony gun possession. He was previously convicted of domestic assault in Nashville and is now being held on a $16,000 bond. Rear-seat passenger Samari Rutland is facing two counts of felony drug possession and having a gun during the commission of a felony. His bond is set at $81,000. The final passenger, 35-year-old Lakesha Jenkins, was previously convicted of assault in Sumner County and is now facing a charge of felony gun possession. Her bond is set at $15,000. The Jeep was impounded and the criminals were locked up. The moral of the story? Don’t be a drug dealer.

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Adding Compressed Air Tank(s) To Your Jeep

Last weekend I headed out to the Millican Valley OHV Trail System. This amazing area of central Oregon provides year-round riding for Class I, II, and III users and includes 255 miles of designated routes, nine staging areas, and three play areas. With an average of 300 days a year of sunshine, the trails there are dusty beyond belief. The best thing to combat a dusty offroad trip is not hermetically sealing yourself up in your Jeep like some instrument out of a doctor’s office drawer. No No. I got two words for ya, …on-board compressed air. Being able to blow off the dash, your face, clothes, or anything or any place you want. And let me tell you just how nice and refreshing a 120 psi blast of cold compressed air feels under the belt line on a hot dusty day. Yes, siree bub. Here’s the kick in the shorts though, I’m not going to help you pick a compressor, or tell you how to wire it up, nor am I here to tell you how to plumb it either. We can save all that for another Tech Talk. For now, we need to focus on the one thing not mentioned that makes it possible to do things like trail-side air filter cleaning. Sure a compressor will pump up a tire, and the dual compressors out there can actually move some CFM, but you really don’t get any kind of pressure, or (and this is the most important part) you don’t get any supply either. About all the volume you’ll get is how much air can be stored in the hose. So let’s get you a tank! Air compressor tanks are designed to hold and store a volume of compressed air at high pressures. Tanks are usually made of steel or aluminum and come in three common shapes. 

Spherical Tanks, which are, well, spheres. These typically run in the 1 to maybe 3-gallon size but are reserved (typically) for smaller volumes. Pancake Tanks look like two big salad bowls welded together at their lip. These typically run in the 3-gallon capacity and are usually good for at least 125 psi. Depending on your setup and ability to fabricate mounts, I’ve seen a pancake tank sitting inside the wheel of the spare tire. Lastly, we have the most common tank shape, and that’s the Cylinder Tank. 

These can range in size from 1.5 gallons up to tank sizes that would dwarf your Jeep. But for most vehicle applications, people opt for the 3 to 5-gallon size because of size and fitment. Cylinder tanks are good for high-pressure systems and have no problem holding pressures up to 175 psi in some cases. But not all tanks are rated for high pressure, so be careful in what you choose. All tanks will be equipped with at least a couple of ports on their ends or top side, and a drain port on their underside. Most tanks come with feet, or in some cases mounting brackets opening up the possibility for creative mounting solutions. Jeeps aren’t known for having a lot of extra room so finding a location to mount your tank is going to be one of the first things to consider. 

Once you have an idea of where you want your tank to be, you need to figure out just how much of a tank you can fit in that area. Typically in a Jeep like a Wrangler, Jeepers opt for one of three common mounting places, the roll bar, oftentimes finding room on the underside of one of the diagonal bars. Or usually, you’ll see a tank, or sometimes two tucked up next to the frame rails on the underside of the Jeep.

Of course, you could always just bolt it to the cargo floor, but that takes up valuable room for coolers of food and beer. If you do decide to mount your tank under the Jeep, you’ll likely want to keep the size to the 3 or 4-gallon cylinders. And I would narrow your search to aluminum tanks for the sake of keeping the rust away. These tanks rarely run more than 6 inches in diameter and are perfect for mounting up under a Jeep. Their small diameter size means they won’t protrude below the frame interfering with skid plates or rocks. You can fork out the big bucks for big recognizable names, but at the end of the trail, that tank will rarely be seen and will be covered in so much road grime, mud, and trail dirt, that nobody is going to be able to identify the manufacturer anyways. All you care about is size, rating, and price. The rest is the fun part. Figuring out which compressor you’re going to run, or if you already have one, then it’s time to figure out the plumbing. There are things that will be needed obviously, like the airline, pressure switches, safety valves, and of course quick disconnect ports for hooking up that airline and blow-off gun. 

 Adding an air tank to your Jeep is a lot easier and more affordable than you think.

All said and done, with every component, hose, fitting, and accessory (minus the compressor of course) you could easily get this done for under $300, and if you use some ingenuity, I bet you could do it for under $200. 4-gallon tank prices run on average about $130 give or take. 1-gallon tanks are as low as $40 making the possibility of a $100 system very real. But know this, the smaller the tank, the less volume of compressed air you will have, which means you may only be able to blow off your hat before having to wait for the tank to refill. 

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com

 

 

 

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This Week In Jeep

We Get First Look of Jeepster Interior

I’ve made a strong attempt over the years not to pull my punches. I tell it like it is, I piss people off, I’m brutally honest, and I don’t take any form of compensation to say one thing over another. My reviews have always been critically honest, and if I see B.S. I point it out. Since 2014 when we learned that Jeep’s parent company was forcing the brand to regurgitate an iconic name badge to put on an Italian designed sneaker shaped car and sell it as a Jeep Cherokee, I’ve been more than a little vocal over my disdain for these abortions of the auto industry receiving name plates of Yester year Jeeps with (in most cases) not a single design element paying homage to the vehicle that made that name what it is. The Cherokee, the Renegade, and the Wagoneer, just to name a few. Vehicles that in no way shape or form represent the heritage behind their names. It pisses me off to no end, and in the last few months, we’ve gotten word that Jeep is doing it again. This time with the Jeepster, and this time the blasphemy has gone too far. Look, when they first said Jeep was going to have electric offerings of its entire lineup by 2025 I didn’t say much. When Jeep said they were going to (most likely) be all-electric by 2030, I scoffed a bit. I’m not a huge fan of the hybrid Jeeps, and I think this latest move is a bridge too far. When Jeep said they were going to have an all-electric Jeep, and that it would be smaller than the renegade, I laughed. First off, why? And second, what are you going to call it? The renegade hasn’t been the success that Jeep hoped it would, even after countless celebrity endorsements. It’s the “tie a pork chop around its neck so the dog will play with it” scenario. Now we have the Jeepster. A micro-sub-compact Jeep that is anything but. First off, The Jeepster Commando was an automobile that was first produced by Kaiser Jeep in 1966 to compete with the International Scout, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Ford Bronco. What the hell is this iteration supposed to compete with, a Segway?  Four different models were available of the original Jeepster: a pickup truck, convertible, roadster, and wagon.

The Jeepster remained in production after American Motors Corporation (AMC) bought the Jeep line from Kaiser in 1970. After AMC’s acquisition, the Jeepster Commando C101 (101″ wheelbase) steadily grew in popularity. But in 1972, AMC shortened the vehicle’s name to Commando C104, extended the wheelbase to 104″, and changed the front-end design to accept the AMC I6 and 304ci V8, to be more like the Ford Bronco. Unfortunately, the new configuration, formerly an AMC best seller, quickly caused the line to drop in popularity, and because Jeep didn’t stick to its roots, the Jeepster Commando was taken out of production in 1973 and was replaced with the full-size Cherokee. That proved to be a good move, but Jeep is clearly repeating old mistakes. As the only configurations of this new Jeepster will be in engine offerings. Early rumors are there will be three. A fully electric version that we likely won’t see for a couple of years still, a hybrid, and the version that the spy photogs keep seeing, which has a traditional internal combustion engine. Another deviation from being a true Jeep is that this little wannabe is likely never going to have any form of four or even all-wheel drive, as the Peugeot chassis it’s built on doesn’t provide the room for that sort of drivetrain. These latest spy pics, courtesy of Autoblog, show the horrifically designed interior, which looks like it took design cues from the Tesla, miniaturized them, and took some creative license where they shouldn’t have. There is literally an open pocket that goes all the way from the right side of the steering column to the passenger door, and it’s big enough to fit a laptop bag into. There is an overly large linear array of vents just above that and then we have the actual horizontal plane of the dash pad itself, which is camouflaged by a series of mats and pillows to hide its true contours. The seats too have what appear to be seat covers made from Homer Simpsons underwear, and the center console is a plate of spaghetti with wires coming and going to all sorts of peripheral devices for data and telemetry recording. There is what appears to be a giant-sized Samsung galaxy in the middle of the dash as the main infotainment screen, and to the left of that is the instrument display which is unlit in these photos. The center console features a single horizontal row of small tab-like buttons for everything from defrosting and fan controls to a button that you use to access a menu for the fan…because controlling your fan with a button or knob is so 2017.

 

Adding complexity where none should be, thanks Jeep. Below all that there is again another large, gaping maw of a common pocket with USB and power ports. The steering wheel appears to be a smaller version of the kind you see in the arcade games, and it appears as if this so-not-a-Jeepster is controlled by a manual transmission. That’s a surefire way to get the hipsters to fall for this thing. Other than giving me something to make fun of and complain about, these new rounds of spy pics don’t do much for anyone I think. Literally, nobody familiar with the brand is looking forward to this regurgitated abortion, and it is likely only going to sell well in other countries where real Jeeps aren’t sold.

The Best Getaway Vehicle MIGHT BE a Jeep! 

A Warren Michigan police officer has a broken wrist and a concussion after a suspect allegedly rammed a patrol vehicle during a chase through multiple Metro Detroit communities over the weekend. Around 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20, Warren police officers were called to the 21400 block of Mac Arthur Boulevard for a report of someone possibly having a medical emergency in a blue Jeep Wrangler. Officers arrived on the scene and spoke with a man who (what is this?) ….appeared to be under the influence of narcotics! What the hell you say! The man refused to exit the Jeep and instead, started the Jeep and fled from the scene, quickly ditching the officers. Unlike the poor decision-making skills of the Jeep driving crackhead, the officers were quickly able to catch up to the fleeing druggy and initiated a traffic stop. Do ya think the guy pulled over once he saw the blue and red flashing lights? (yea, I wouldn’t have thought so either) ….and he didn’t disappoint. The drug-addled brain of the Jeep driver thought it would be a good idea to then speed recklessly through residential areas until he reached 8 Mile Road.

Once on a more arterial road, speeds increased further, and the Jeep began traveling westbound, sometimes using the eastbound lanes to do so. Oddly enough officers did not call off the pursuit, and in the area of Sherwood Avenue and 8 Mile, the suspect allegedly intentionally rammed a police vehicle, causing injuries to the officer inside.

Despite the speeds involved and the severity of the crash, the Jeep remained running and driveable. We’ve now heard no less than three stories of a criminal using a Jeep as a battering ram and utterly destroying cop cars in the process, all while remaining functional. If that’s not an attesting to the strength and resilience of a Jeep I don’t know what is. The suspect, in this chase, continued to flee until his driving skills were eclipsed by his stupidity and the euphoria that only a fresh blast of crack cocaine can provide, and he crashed the Jeep in a residential area of Detroit. Obviously, the suspect was taken into police custody. Incredibly, despite the multiple crashes, he was not injured. 

Officers discovered meth, heroin, and fentanyl in the suspect’s vehicle, which was of course stolen. Here is where things go south for me and pisses me off to no end. Despite wreckless or at least negligent driving, excessive speeds, fleeing from officers, resisting arrest, impeding an investigation, drug possession, vehicular assault on an officer of the law, possession of a stolen vehicle, and god knows what else, any sane, normal, law-abiding person would think that this dude is going to be behind bars for a long, long time. Well, in this day and age where DAs are hand-picked and paid off to NOT prosecute crimes, we have crackhead, meth-addicted, fentanyl selling, Jeep stealing deadbeats like this back out on the streets in no time. He was arraigned and released, despite having previous convictions for property crimes, theft, and domestic violence. Pillar of the community huh? The next court date is scheduled for Sept. 6th… now what do you think the chances are he’ll show up?… I’m thinking somewhere between slim and none. 

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Wiring Tips and Tricks – Connections

Just like any other major system on a vehicle, wiring can make or break your build. If you do it right, the entire electrical system is something that virtually disappears in a vehicle, never to be seen or thought about again. On the other hand, if you cut corners, rush it, or tackle something beyond your skill set, it’s likely that you will have done it wrong and you’ll be chasing gremlins, nonfunctioning gear, popped fuses, and yes, possibly even fires. Some of the things wiring does are not easily understood to many people… which may be why there are so many Jeepers out there who would rather get stabbed in the crotch with a rusty railroad spike than mess with wiring. But the truth is that automotive wiring really isn’t all that scary once you get an understanding of a few basic principles. Now I’m not going to begin a lesson on polarity, electron flow, or circuit layout, or start outlining the equations behind OHM’s Law. That’s going to be beyond boring for 98 percent of you out there, so let’s stick to some rules of thumb, and some helpful tips that may just be enough to get you over that fear of wiring something up on your own Jeep. Even if you don’t take the time to learn the more technical stuff, like electron flow, relay configuration, or how to calculate the load on a circuit, you can still be a competent wiring person by following a few basic rules. Now, I am a professionally trained electrician… of sorts. I’m not licensed to wire your house, but I hold what is basically one step below a master’s degree in mobile electronics. After doing this stuff for more than half my life I can honestly say that if you spend some time with some crimpers and a test light under the hood, you’ll learn something new just about every time you do something electrical-related. Whether it’s tackling a small lighting project, or if you’re ready to do a full bumper-to-bumper rewire job, chances are, you’ll pick up something new along the way. Despite being professionally trained, and has multiple certifications, a lot of what I’ve learned has come from trial and error along with good old-fashioned experience. And of course, as with most things in life, nothing beats experience. So what I’m going to try and do here, is really more about making your wiring projects easier, cleaner, and more reliable. Some of this stuff may be basic or even familiar to you, but I’m willing to bet you’ll be able to pick up a trick or two to help make your own wiring projects go a little smoother. Most wiring problems are the result of a poor connection, whether it’s within a plug, a connector, or a splice that was made who knows where or when. And don’t forget to check your grounds! That’s like the Jeep Electrical Credo right there unto itself! If you’re lucky, a bad connection will just break the flow of electricity and whatever it’s feeding will stop working. Worse are the bad connections that restrict electrical flow but don’t stop it. Restrictions mean resistance, and resistance equals heat. Enough heat equals fire, even on a circuit that’s protected by a fuse. If you understand nothing else about electricity, understand that good connections are critically important to a safe and reliable circuit or a safe and reliably running component. Ok, so to that end, let’s get into how we make these connections when doing something like installing a stereo or hooking up a new set of lights. There are two schools of thought when it comes to electrical connections. Solder or Crimp? Soldered connections offer excellent conductivity, so there’s no resistance to electrical flow.

There is a chemical connection that happens in a soldered wire joint. However, soldered connections can be work-hardened (meaning they become brittle due to the heat used to solder them) and break when subjected to extended periods of vibration. Something that is in abundance on a Jeep, especially one that sees any trail time. 

But the biggest thing that gets in people’s way is that soldered connections are more labor-intensive. Soldering 10 connections will take you at least three or four times as long or more than basic crimping. This is why some wiring guys stay away from soldering altogether. Crimp connections involve mechanically locking wires together inside a metal barrel. A properly crimped connection is more or less impervious to vibration but can offer less conductivity in some cases. Therefore, a crimped connection introduces more opportunities for resistance and voltage drop in sensitive circuits. So why not have the best of both connection types?

This is going way over the top, and obviously is going to be the most labor-intensive (or time-consuming) electrical connection type. Starting with an uninsulated terminal or butt connector, which is available online or at most hardware stores, but not as often at auto part stores… Strip and crimp the wires like you normally would, and then apply solder to both ends of the barrel. Slide some adhesive-lined shrink tubing over the connection, and apply heat to shrink it. This method supplies the strength of a crimped connection with the superior conductivity of a soldered connection, and with the right shrink wrap, can be made 100% weatherproof too. Like I said this is extremely labor intensive and is overkill for anything outside of let’s say wiring a trailer.

If you’re wiring something with multiple connections in the same area, such as a pigtail for a relay or a headlight, or in the event you are trying to repair a harness that had a cut or break in several of the wires in one place…. whenever possible stagger the connections. 

If you put all of the connectors in the same place you end up with an unsightly bulge in the harness and a greater likelihood of shorts. Staggering the connections makes it easier to wrap the harness and just looks better. It’s a pretty safe bet that a 4×4 is going to see mud and water, and an open rig like a topless Jeep can count on seeing mud and water everywhere. Water is bad for wiring for many reasons, so it’s a really good idea to use weatherproof connectors whenever possible. 

Deutsch or Weather Pack connectors are a great choice when making your own harness or want to wire in a circuit to something that may get removed at some point in the future. Think of a light bar attached to a hard top, or making your own door harnesses. These DIY weatherproof wiring kits come in all sorts of circuit sizes from single wire to 8 or more. If that’s a little too extensive for you then look for shrink tubing that comes with an adhesive inside that flows out to the wire insulation when heated, sealing the connection from the elements. They even make crimp connectors that offer something similar. Note that anything weatherproof like this is going to come with a premium price tag compared to its regular alternative. When in doubt, it’s hard to go wrong with anything marine grade. Marine Grade and weatherproof stuff is going to be a bit more expensive, but it’s always worth it in the long run. Ok, so now you’re a master of connections, now what about wire management? That my Jeeper friend will be the topic of the next installment of Tech Talk. 

This Thursday’s Interview – Ep 669 Barak Zitron https://www.modloutdoors.com/ “The Lego of the water bottle world”

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com

Share this to your Social Media!

This Week In Jeep

Toledo Jeep  Fest Is Near!

It’s a sure sign of summer in the Glass City of Toledo Ohio. The Toledo Jeep Fest is about to begin. The annual event draws tens of thousands to the region, and there’s always something new to see and do. Jeeps have been rolling off the assembly lines in Toledo for more than 80 years, and the city Jeep was born in will celebrate all things Jeep the second week of August. The streets of downtown Toledo will be completely taken over by Jeeps and Jeepers alike. Every block will provide a beautiful backdrop for the 2022 edition of Toledo Jeep Fest. And this year the theme is red, white, and blue. Doesn’t get any more American than that. About 70,000 people are expected to roll into town this year, hailing from more than 30 states and even a few foreign countries. And all that Jeeper traffic will drive millions of dollars into local business. Over 6.5 million last year alone! The weekend-long event is the perfect way to honor the men and women at the Toledo Assembly Complex and the world-famous vehicle they continue to build.

Toledo Jeep Fest opens up on August 12th and runs through the 14th. If you can make it there, it will be worth the trip. 

Hello Bridge… Meet a Brand New Jeep Wagoneer.

Jeep Wagoneers at this point I think are being made to order. With a price tag that can reach nearly 100K (and well over that for the Grand Wagoneer)… there aren’t dozens of these sitting on dealer lots right now. Especially since there is still a chip shortage and supply chain issues. Waiting for your brand new Jeep to be delivered can be a painful experience, especially when you learn that the Jeep you have already waited weeks for, was completely destroyed while in transit. Although rare, these things can and do happen. A case in point is this week’s viral Jeep story where this unlucky Jeep Wagoneer encountered a bridge in Detroit. Truck drivers are supposed to know exactly how high their rigs are. This information must be carefully matched with the clearance data marked on every bridge they might come across. When the bridge is higher, everything goes smoothly, but when it’s the opposite, the results can be disastrous. But the truck’s height isn’t always a given and, depending on what it carries and how much gas it has, the load height can change. This is a harsh lesson for a truck driver transporting brand new Jeeps to their customers. While passing under a bridge on the I-375 in Detroit, one unlucky Jeep Wagoneer on the upper platform was sitting a little too proud and clipped a bridge as the truck drove under. The maximum allowed height marked on the bridge is 14.33 feet, and as you can see in the pictures that are going viral right now, (we’ll of course have some to see in the show notes for this episode at Jeeptalkshow.com)….  that the total height of the truck plus the Wagoneer, was just a wee bit too high to travel safely under this bridge. The impact was so powerful (since the truck was traveling AT SPEED) that the Jeep was ripped from the carrier and was wedged, VERTICALLY, under the bridge. The Jeep Wagoneer looks as if a bomb exploded inside, with all the glass broken and hardly a square inch of sheet metal on its body. Its roof was also ripped off, and I mean ripped clean off.

Not that it matters, considering this Jeep is a total wreck, and likely a total loss too. It’s already troublesome with all the wait times for a new vehicle, but having your brand new Jeep completely destroyed right before you could drive it home is just beyond words. Just imagine a new waiting counter starting to tick from the moment this happens, which adds more delays to the already excruciatingly long delivery time. And it’s not like these unexpected problems are easy to deal with. The question arises who’s insurance is going to pick up the tab for this one? AND… will there be a ban on Wagoneers on the top decks of auto carriers now? 

Potential Recall For Jeep Compass and Patriot SUVs

Just after last week’s announcement of the NHTSA probe into the Jeep Cherokee for its potential issues surrounding the E-brake and a faulty module, we get word that the NHTSA is opening a second probe into Jeep. This probe covers some 289,000 Jeep Compass and Patriot SUVs from 2016 due to 127 complaints about engine stalling due to crankshaft or camshaft sensor problems. The agency says FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – Jeep’s parent company at the time) did a recall in 2016 for a similar problem. It’s looking to see if the problem is happening with vehicles not included in the recall. So far this has not yet been moved into recall status yet and is at the “preliminary evaluation” stage right now. That of course can change in a day, so if you or someone you know has a 2016 Compass or Patriot, direct them to this episode, they can also check the NHTSA recalls website for updates – https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Lubricants, Lock Tite, and Anti-Seize… OH MY!

There’s a time and place to use certain lubricants and such on your Jeep. And no, a single can of WD-40 isn’t going to cut it for every application. Or most applications actually. In this segment, I’m going to go over some of the types of lubricants and other things you should be using when you work on your Jeep. Now obviously we’re going to steer the conversation away from things like diff fluids, engine oils, shock oil, etc. as those don’t really apply to things like nuts and bolts. There are all types of greases and oils that all work similarly, but differently. Some are designed to work better in very cold environments, while others are meant to withstand great pressures, high temps, or very dirty environments. Clearly just in the grease department, there can be the wrong type of lubricant to use at a certain time or place. For things like door hinges on your Jeep, or seat rails Jeepers may be tempted to use that aforementioned WD-40, but there’s something better and more appropriate to use here. White lithium grease in either spray or squeeze form is the best option here. It stays put even under high heat or extreme cold, and can even be used preventatively to protect against rust and corrosion. It withstands vibration and because of how thick it is, it performs better as a lubricant in many applications than plain ole WD-40. WD-40 has its purposes, and would also work in many cases, but it will run, it will drip, and it will eventually break down over time faster and provide less protection and lubrication than white lithium. Now with that said, there are places where you shouldn’t use white lithium too. It’s not the poster child for Jeep lubes here. You wouldn’t pack a wheel bearing with white lithium nor would you use it for lubricating polyurethane bushings in your steering or suspension either.

And seriously… don’t be THAT Jeeper, whose every single bushing sounds like the overused bed springs of a seedy pay-by-the-hour hotel. For the critical joints of our Jeeps that use polyurethane bushings, there is only one specific type of grease you should use to insure long bushing life, and squeak-free performance, and it’s not WD-40. For anything poly, you’ll want to use silicone-based, synthetic, waterproof grease. The same goes for the soft top zippers. Petroleum-based lubricants tend to speed up rubber and plastic components’ decay, so you don’t want to use them on or near anything plastic based. When we’re talking plain old metal to metal here, like a tie-rod end, or heim, or any non-poly component that has a grease zerk. This requires a grease gun, and what you put in it matters. That ol farm grease may work. The red-and-tacky is a good go-to as well. You can splurge on something like Royal Purple or stick with the value of the store brand. In the end, you want to make sure you’re using the right kind of lubrication for the right application, so make sure you’re lubricating the joints on your Jeep with the right stuff. For instance, Currie Enterprises recommends using moly-based grease to lubricate their johnny joints. Probably not the best choice for your Rough Country joints. For instance, anti-seize isn’t the best thing to use to lube your soft top zipper or hood hinge with, but it is good for spark plug threads, and any fastener that frequently gets removed, like the nut on the spare tire or Hi-Lift mount. It’s also great to prevent galling. Galling happens when two different metals come in contact with each other under load or in high friction. Because of the two different metallurgic properties, the metals will seize up, and can actually cold weld themselves together in extreme conditions. This is common on Jeeps when the threads of one metal come in contact with the threads of another metal. Think stainless steel bolt in aluminum threads or other combinations. A little anti-seize on the threads, and galling is of no concern. 

Now let’s say you don’t want something to EVER come apart once you bolt it together.

I’m thinking of things like bumper bolts here. High vibration, serious loads, the last thing you want is for fasteners to start backing their way out or off. Think of how much it would suck to have your skid plates wobbling around. But you can’t very well permanently mount them to the Jeep. You may need to remove them for a transmission or transfer case service or some other reason. As with lubrication, there are different types of thread lockers out there that work in different ways. The LOCTITE brand of thread lockers is the go-to brand, and although there are other brands, they all stick to an industry standard of color codes. For example, let’s say once mounted, that bumper on your Jeep is never coming off. In that case, you’ll want to use a RED thread locker.

You’ll break those nuts and bolts before they ever come off again. But let’s say you want certain things like suspension fasteners, control arm bolts, or skid plate bolts to stay put, but still, be removable down the road in case you need to replace or upgrade something.

In that case, the BLUE thread locker is what you’d reach for. This will keep the fasteners together at torque, but will also take more than that torque to break them loose. It won’t be easy, but they will break loose. So make sure the grade of your fastener matches the grade of your thread locker. Ok, I debated on whether or not to include this next part, but I thought what the hell? What’s the worst that can happen with a little red-neck engineering? Let’s say your miles and miles away from the nearest auto parts or hardware store, or maybe you’re just way over the legal limit, in any case, you’re in a position where you need a thread locker or penetrating lubricant and you don’t have it.

Well, I’m here to tell you the hacks that can help you make your own. Ok so you want to make your own anti-seize, well, that’s probably not going to happen. Straight out of the tube or bottle, anti-seize is made up of a high-quality grease base and lubricating solids like copper, lead, graphite, aluminum, calcium oxide, etc.), which are suspended in the grease. You’re not going to be able to duplicate this with any reliable results, so may the maker beware. However, for a low-cost, do-it-yourself competitor with WD-40 lubricating spray: use a mix of Vegetable oil and acetone. A mixture of vegetable oil with 10 percent acetone works just as well as WD-40 to free rusted bolts. And it costs about one-tenth of the price. Add more acetone, up to 30 percent, and the mixture works even better than WD-40 and still costs about one-quarter the price. 

Acetone, by the way, is the active ingredient in nail polish remover and some paint thinners, and DIY mixtures with transmission fluid can be used as a penetrating oil too! Mix that same acetone at a 30% level with new or used transmission fluid (so long as it’s not completely brown and burnt) and you’ve got a homemade penetrating oil that works damn near as good as the commercial stuff. Ok so what about the reverse of this? Can you make homemade Loctite? You sure can, however, it’s not going to be quite as good as the commercial stuff, but it will hold a fastener under load. Two different products will work as an alternative to Loctite and other brands of thread lockers., and that’s super glue or nail polish. These two very common household products are often used as effective replacements for dedicated thread lockers. Using these two products can indeed lock a fastener in place in the short term, but they don’t hold up to extreme conditions, intense vibration, or high torque applications like the brand name stuff. In the end, however, it may get you home, or down the trail.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com

Share this to your Social Media!

This Week In Jeep

In Case You Just Want To Be Different

One of the things that makes Jeeps so awesome is their ability to be customized to the Nth degree. A multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry sees to that. And we all want our Jeeps to be our own. Who can blame us? Well if being the one kid on the block that has the most different Jeep is the most important to you, then maybe you might want to consider grabbing a Right Hand Drive 2022 Wrangler. Yup, that’s right, you can buy a right-hand-drive Wrangler in the modern era. While this new Jeep SUV is made for the United States Postal Service and other delivery truck needs, it is possible to buy one. So, why is that? Jeep understands that some drivers require a 4×4 SUV that features the steering wheel on the opposite side that you would expect, but this Wrangler model does have its limits. First off, it is available “only” with the turbodiesel engine and only features the eight-speed automatic transmission. That’s it, no options. No V6, No 4xe. 

The only option you DO have, (and I haven’t been able to ascertain whether or not they just give this to you or it comes standard on the RHD variant,) is something called the cold-weather package. This package adds things like heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a remote start. This means even when the temperature outside drops, you can still stay warm. Outside of that, this version of the Wrangler is fairly basic. It will still feature four doors and can come with a variety of paint options, but do not expect to get an RHD Wrangler with the latest tech features. Like NO U-Connect. Hell, I think my 99 XJ had a better stereo in it than what this thing comes with. If you were wondering why you would want to buy a Jeep Wrangler with a right-hand drive configuration, the answer is quite simple. You are probably someone who needs to deliver mail or various packages in a very rural area. This feature allows drivers to easily reach mailboxes without having to exit the vehicle or enter into traffic. Which is a callback to the iconic Jeep DJ mail truck. The United States Postal Service does not currently employ a fleet of Jeep mail trucks. While it did in the past, those Jeep DJ models were replaced by the Grumman LLV delivery vehicle. But for some rural mail carriers, the capability of a Jeep is still required. Hence why FCA still offers a right-hand-drive version of the Wrangler. Now, if you are looking to buy a new Jeep Wrangler and do not need to deliver packages, you probably should not buy this version of the Wrangler. The United States has an infrastructure that is based on driver’s steering from the left side. That said, it is still fun that Jeep builds an RHD Wrangler, and that average citizens can get one if they want.

Just  What The Hell Is Going On In Minnesota?

Searching around for news-worthy Jeep-related headlines I usually stumble across some stories that leave me shaking my head. Some I deem worthy enough to share with you, and others are honestly just pretty stupid. But when I see two, crazy unique stories coming out of the same area, I have to dig a little deeper. Which I did, and I still have no idea just what the hell is going on in Minnesota. A Springfield woman was injured when her Jeep struck a safe that fell from a vehicle in Cottonwood County. The state patrol says it happened on Highway 60 near County Road 44 in Bingham Lake at 7:44 a.m. Monday. A pickup driven by 36-year-old Cynthia Knutson of Bingham Lake turned from 44 onto Highway 60, and a safe fell out of the back of the truck and onto the highway. 20-year-old Mya Mickelson of Springfield was driving her Jeep westbound on 60 and hit the safe at speed. Mickelson was taken to the Windom Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Less than 50 miles straight north from there, a Redwood Falls man was shaken up after his Jeep hit some cows about 4 miles southeast of Redwood Falls. The sheriff’s department says 34-year-old Matthew Gehrke was traveling on County Road 1 near 300th Street at 11:31 last night when he hit 3 cows standing in the roadway. Gehrke was slightly injured and was checked out at the scene by ambulance staff. The Sheriff’s Office was unable to locate the owners of the cows.

It’s Even Uglier Than We Expected

I will be the first to admit that I’ve talked a lot of crap on this show over the decade-plus we’ve been doing it. I don’t pull punches. I give honest reviews, tell it like it is, and I haven’t ever given a rat bastard’s ass if your feelings get hurt in the process. Getting you the right information is more important to me than how it makes you feel. That said, it’s well known what my opinions are of Jeep going electric. Just last week in Episode 623, we learned just how NOT Jeep this Jeep is really going to be. This week, a new batch of spy shots has captured a compact crossover that will wear the Jeep badge when it debuts. The spy pics show the crossover wearing a full-body camouflage wrap, with the grille, headlights, and even the rear side windows covered. The crossover looks to have an odd stance with what appear to be larger wheels and tires in the rear, which are accentuated by the short overhangs. In other words, it just doesn’t work visually. The rear is just as covered like the front, with the taillights also hidden from view. This smaller-than-a-Renegade, bite-sized Jeep wannabe, will slot below the Renegade in Jeep’s lineup in both features and cost, which will likely limit its availability, and interest from people familiar with the brand. As we stated last week, this “jeep” will actually be based on a Peugeot-Citroen chassis, and feature absolutely no four or all-wheel drive availability of any kind in its current design. This week we also find there is an insult to injury. Jeep isn’t even building the damn things… Instead, they will make them in France, and these new micro-jeeps will roll off the assembly line in Poland alongside the upcoming Alfa Romeo Brennero and the Fiat 500X. The polish is making Jeeps now, what could possibly go wrong?!?! The only saving grace is that we may not see this poor excuse for a Jeep vehicle here in the US right away. With Jeep’s electrification plans ramping up in the UK, here in the US we’re not even close to being ready. So the production focus may be on the market in which they’re made, and won’t be imported here for a couple more years still. Or so we can hope.

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Torquing To Spec – And Why It’s Important

At one point in time, your Jeep was brand new, and when it rolled off the factory assembly line, every single nut and bolt of the steering, drivetrain, suspension, and, well, pretty much everywhere else, were torqued to a specific manufacturer’s specification. WHY this is important is because if the bolts were not tight enough they could fall out. If the bolts were over-tightened they could stretch, get stuck in the hole, snap, or pull the threads out. During routine maintenance and after doing any kind of modification to your steering, suspension, or drivetrain, all bolts and nuts should be checked to ensure that they have been tightened to specification. In fact, virtually every lift kit’s instructions tell you to recheck torque after driving 500 miles. A good example of WHEN you should make sure that you have all your Jeep’s fasteners torqued to spec, is after installing something like a lift kit. When a lift kit is installed, many components may need to be replaced or temporarily removed, upon reinstallation these parts must be properly torqued down. With the vibrations and impacts that Jeeps experience both on and off-road, improperly torqued bolts could easily be shaken loose and then run the risk of causing the component to fall off. Trust me, you don’t want something like your track bar bracket suddenly falling off the frame. Another great example of this (that is a bit more common) would be your wheels. The wheels on any Jeep need to be torqued to spec, and every Jeep is different.

For instance, from the Renix days of the Cherokees to the 97-01 XJ’s to the new Cherokee KL, they all have different torque specs for the wheels…. Which also happens to be something else you don’t want falling off the Jeep. So WHAT do you use to ensure that you’re torquing to spec and not just setting everything at the universal German-based form of measurement …”gutentight”…? You use something called a torque wrench, and it will be the most expensive socket wrench you’ve ever purchased. 

A torque wrench is a precision tool that is used to apply the correct amount of torque to the nut or bolt that is being tightened. There are several types of torque wrenches including a beam type, click type, digital, and dial type. HOW they work depends on the style that you have. They all have their own way of letting the user know how much torque is being applied to the fastener as it is being tightened down.

With the beam and dial gauge styles, there is a sweeping arrow or needle that points to a number. The harder you tighten something down, the more the needle moves to the higher numbers. For the click or digital versions, the user sets the tool to a specific number, usually measured in inch or foot-pounds, and when that amount of torque is applied, a click is both heard and felt, or in the case of the digital torque wrench, it beeps at you. Torque wrenches are pretty easy to use, are an invaluable tool in the garage, and a must-have necessity when working on the suspension or steering of any Jeep. They also all come with different price tags and learning curves. 

That being said, here’s the most important rule of thumb…

Any torque wrench is better than no torque wrench. 

So look in your local pawn shops, Facebook marketplace, garage sales, and even craigslist to find a good deal on a previously owned quality torque wrench. If all else fails, turn to the interwebs, or your local harbor freight. And in order to find the right  torque specifications for your Jeep you can look either in the factory service manual for your Jeep (you DO have an FSM for your Jeep don’t you?) Typically even Chilton and Haynes manuals will have a page or two dedicated to torque specs as well. But if not, there are multiple websites out there that have this information as well, just make sure you look at at least two different sources to verify that you have the right information. At the end of the day, torquing to spec may require a specialty tool like a torque wrench and of course more time to set and dial everything in. But it’s worth it in the long run. A less squeaky Jeep, bolts or studs that don’t break and that can be relied on, wheels that don’t fall off, and maintenance that goes more smoothly each and every time. 

Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

Trail Rated 4×4 Badge

https://www.jeep.com/trail-rated.html

The Jeep brand is like no other out there. Jeep’s core values are freedom, adventure, authenticity, and passion. As Jeep owners throughout history, we have learned that Go Anywhere, Do Anything is more than just a slogan – for Jeepers it’s our way of life. I have embraced that way of life and it has changed me. I have experienced amazing adventures, met some of the greatest people who are now my lifelong friends, and found my passion in all things Jeep. Those core values are a reflection of myself and so many Jeepers around the world. Some are lucky enough to discover Jeep early in their life. It’s a connection like no other. The Jeep Brand has embodied those four core values into the DNA of Every Jeep they make. Not just the Wranglers and their predecessors but the Compass, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, the Renegade and so many more. The one thing that ties all those Jeeps together is the Trail Rated Badge and we need to appreciate ALL of those Jeeps because they all are so capable and unique in their own ways. Sometimes people joke about the badge, and you need to realize it’s not just a badge they stick on the Jeep. It is earned. Every Jeep vehicle with that Trail Rated 4×4 badge has succeeded against a series of grueling tests in five categories: Traction,

Water Fording, Maneuverability, Articulation, and Ground Clearance. Jeep says Trail-Rated is a methodology a guarantee and a recognized standard for a proven off-road capability that Jeep 4×4 vehicles must meet. Trail Rated is an industry-leading methodology initially established by the Nevada Automotive Test Center (NATC) and Jeep Engineering to objectively measure off-road performance for all Jeep vehicles. First, the testing begins at Jeeps US Headquarters where the Jeeps endure the bitter angry cold weather in Northern Michigan. then it’s out to some of the most challenging terrains on earth. The Rubicon Trail is located high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Rubicon Trail is 22 miles of incredible rocky, grueling beautiful landscape. It’s a natural off-road adventure park populated by massive rocks and unforgiving boulders. Weather and constant use mean the trail is always changing to provide new challenges for vehicles hoping to be Trail Rated®.

Jeep says, pushing our vehicles as far as they can go is part of the Jeep Brand DNA.” They strive for groundbreaking capability so we as Jeep owners can pursue our exhilarating adventures. Jeep says their vehicles will continue to be tested to battle everything you may encounter.

There are consistent and reliable measurements of off-road performance that include a combination of natural and controlled field tests on demanding terrain, as well as computer-simulated evaluation tests.

If a Jeep vehicle is affixed with the trail-rated badge you know it has passed the test in five performance categories. Traction that tells you, that vehicle is capable of conquering some of the toughest terrains in mud, sand, and rocks. Water Fording features additional electrical and body sealing along with a high air intake to help you navigate streams and flooded underpasses. Maneuverability means that Jeep is capable to navigate narrow gaps, dodge emergency situations and avoid cosmetic damage thanks to precision steering and optimized wheelbases, which allow for expert navigation. Articulation means those trail-rated suspensions enhance off-road performance maximizing flexibility, axle articulation, and wheel travel. And Ground Clearance is more than just the area under your Jeep when you drive over obstacles; it also includes the approach, break-over, and departure angles to ensure the vehicle can clear logs, rocks, and uneven ground.

So remember the next time you see that trail-rated 4×4 badge on your Jeep or other Jeeps know it’s not just a badge it’s a lot more! Jeep says they don’t make Jeep. We do. Revel in all things Jeep… that unstoppable spirit that makes our Jeep community and our Jeep experience what it means to live the Jeep life. You can head over to the Jeep website for all kinds of cool Jeep information on the Trail-Rated 4×4 badge and more on all the 4×4 Jeep things!
https://www.jeep.com/trail-rated.html

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com

 

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