This Week In Jeep
The Rumor Mill Says The Comanche Is Coming Back
What if it’s time for the Jeep Comanche to return? The Ford Bronco came back to rival the Jeep Wrangler, the Ford Maverick was a neat car that’s now a popular tiny truck, and the Chevy Blazer destroyed its heritage with the abomination we see on the roads today. Now rumors suggest the Jeep Comanche is next, and speculation in the automotive world is running wild. It’s possible that the Jeep Comanche could make its return soon. Across each vehicle brand, people want a single-cab truck, and companies are taking notice. Plus, the tiny truck world is exploding as the Ford Maverick breaks sales records. Also, there are solid rumors pointing towards Toyota and Chevy getting back in the small truck game. However, the Maverick is the top option to beat as of the end of 2022. It’s the perfect time for the Comanche or a single-cab Jeep truck to stun the competition. While the Jeep Gladiator is great for those with towing and hauling needs, it’s big for a mid-size truck. And as many of you may know, the longer wheelbase of the Gladiator isn’t the best for rock climbing and narrow trails without the truck are well-modified. But a smaller truck could be better equipped for climbing and adventuring as we’ve seen for decades with the Wrangler and its short wheelbase.
So how would Jeep make this little truck? What platform could it be based on if the automaker was to move forward with this? Well, the Jeep Comanche could be based on the Jeep Renegade, like the Ford Maverick is based on the Ford Escape. Now if we go back in the time machine to 2020, we can take a look at the J6 concept Jeep that was unveiled at the Easter Jeep Safari, which arguably gave Greg Henderson of Official Use Only the inspiration behind the 2022 Quadratec build for SEMA.
Also, if you remember, the original Jeep Comanche was based on the Cherokee XJ back in the day, so we can’t count a Cherokee-based option out just yet.
Now I know here on The Jeep Talk Show, we have long bashed the Renegade for its diminutive size and lack of any serious offroad chops. However, for many out there, it’s considered an incredibly capable little off-roader that can venture right off the showroom floor and into the wild. Hell, Jeep dragged one through the world-famous Rubicon trail, so it has to be able to do SOME wheeling. Anyways, the Jeep Comanche could have an edge on the incredibly well-selling Ford Maverick by using a traditional body-on-frame build. This would clearly make it far more durable for off-roading and would dramatically increase its suspension travel potential. But as we all know, this is far more likely to be a unibody design. Vehicles like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz have a unibody build, (much like the XJ did back in the day,) which helps them handle more like SUVs and less like trucks. Ok, so the possibility of the compact single-cab Jeep truck is real. We know what platforms it could be based on and who its direct competition would be. But what about the engine that would power this compact single-cab Jeep truck? Rumors suggest that the Jeep Comanche could borrow from the Jeep Renegade. But when has the Renegade gotten any fresh updates? It has had the same 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque for a while now, and I’m honestly surprised we haven’t seen an update yet, as we are way past the usual mid-cycle refresh that Jeep has had a track record of doing. There are ideas about a new PHEV setup with 240 hp available. But a hybrid truck or Comanche 4xe would probably arrive first. But, we are still waiting on the Jeep Renegade 4xe that is also rumored to arrive in the US soon so there may be some intended market testing embedded in there somewhere as well. And other countries would likely have a turbo diesel model of the Jeep Comanche should it come to fruition, so that would be interesting to see. To truly be competitive, however, the powertrain and chassis of the Jeep Comanche would have to be capable of towing up to 5,000 lbs to match the Hyundai Santa Cruz and outmuscle the Ford Maverick. Will any of this actually happen? It’s too early to tell, but the rumor mill is saying that we might hear more as early as the first quarter of 2023.
NJ Jeep Dealership Catches Fire
The Ocean Township of New Jersey was rocked around 9:15 pm the day after Christmas 2022 when a Jeep dealership broke out in flames. Both police and firefighters were dispatched to the Seaview Jeep dealer on Route 35 to investigate reports of smoke and an active alarm. Police arrived on the scene first and confirmed the smoke condition. Further investigation led to the confirmation of a working structure fire in the back end of the service area. A full first alarm was called at this point.
The first engine company stretched a hose line to the B side of the building where police were reporting the heaviest amount of smoke was coming from. An extra 2.5-inch hose line was also pulled off the engine. Crews made a quick knock on the fire inside, but a second alarm was called anyway. Asbury Park Fire Department Tower 89 arrived next and went to the roof to provide ventilation. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is currently under investigation by the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Newbie Nuggets with Wendy
What’s your favorite item you have on board when you wheel?
If you have been wheeling for any length of time, you know we all have lots of tools, gadgets, recovery gear and who knows what else on board if you wheel a lot. If you are new to wheeling, well buckle up because you WILL be adding items as you wheel more. Whether you hear a suggestion on the Jeep Talk show or you notice what your buddy has and want one – Yeah It’s a Jeep Thing!
You can visit Jeeptalkshow.com and look at episodes #426 and #533 for a list of items to carry on board. While you are there, check out past episodes on all sorts of info to help the newbie and the experienced Jeeper.
I thought it would be fun to pose the question to you the listener and our JTS team: If you had to pick only ONE item, what is your favorite item/tool, etc., that you have to have on board when you wheel and why? Call into the show or email us and let us know – I’m always open to hearing about other things that I might need to add to our jeep.
It’s hard to narrow it down to just one item but my favorite is the soft shackle. I have done plenty of recoveries and training and I have to say the soft shackle is my favorite item. It’s easy to use, especially for me (a woman). I don’t have to get a “tool” to loosen a D-ring (clevis). The metal shackles are good for some things, but for most recoveries, I use soft shackles. Plus they are safer to use over the metal D-rings in case something breaks. Make sure you get an American-made product along with the highest rating you can find (i.e. 45,000lbs) and you will need 3 on board. Trust me on this. I like the Gear America product but we have used Rugged Ridge and Factor 55.
It’s the New Year and that means it’s time to review the gear you have on board and make sure everything is still in good shape. Did you use some of it and there are tears or frays in winch lines, straps, etc? What about tools, did they all make it back in the jeep? I know we had to add wire, nuts/bolts, and ratchet straps after our last breakdown on the trail. We try to put things back in their place after every jeep trip but sometimes life gets in the way.
Reach out and let us know what your favorite item is and maybe I’ll mention it in one of my Newbie Nugget segments. I love when listeners give me suggestions on topics.
I appreciate you listening and thanks for another great year on the JTS team. I’m looking forward to 2023 and getting out there and wheeling with and meeting more listeners.
https://factor55.com/product-category/soft-shackles/
https://ruggedridge.com/search/?q=soft%20shackels
Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update
Engine Oil in very cold weather
In very cold weather, it is important to use engine oil that is suitable for low temperatures. Thicker oils, such as multi-grade oils with a higher viscosity rating (e.g., 10W-30 or 5W-30), are generally better at maintaining their flow properties in cold temperatures and can help protect the engine against wear.
It is also a good idea to check the vehicle’s owner’s manual for the recommended oil viscosity range for cold weather operations. Some vehicles may have specific recommendations for very cold weather (e.g., below -20°F/-29°C).
In addition to using the correct oil viscosity, it is also important to ensure that the oil level is correct. Cold weather can cause the oil level to drop, so it is a good idea to check the oil level regularly and add oil as needed.
Finally, it is a good idea to allow the engine to warm up for a few minutes before driving in very cold weather. This will help the oil circulate and reach all parts of the engine, which can help protect against wear and improve the vehicle’s performance.
Jeep engine warm during very cold temperatures:
Use a block heater: A block heater is an electrical heating element that is installed in the engine block. It helps to warm the engine oil and other internal engine components before starting the engine, which can make it easier to start in cold weather and can help reduce wear.
Use a remote starter: If your Jeep is equipped with a remote starter, you can use it to start the engine and let it run for a few minutes before driving. This will allow the engine to warm up and the oil to circulate, which can help improve the vehicle’s performance in cold weather.
Park in a garage: If possible, try to park your Jeep in a garage or other enclosed area to protect it from the cold. This will help to keep the engine and other components warm, which can make it easier to start and can help improve the vehicle’s performance in cold weather.
Use a battery blanket: A battery blanket is a device that wraps around the battery and helps to keep it warm. In very cold temperatures, a battery can lose its charge more quickly, so keeping it warm can help to extend its life and improve the vehicle’s starting performance.
Use an oil pan heater: An oil pan heater is a device that is installed in the oil pan and helps to warm the engine oil before starting the engine. This can help to improve the vehicle’s starting performance and can reduce wear on the engine in cold weather.
By following these steps, you can help keep your Jeep engine warm during very cold temperatures and improve its performance in cold weather.
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/
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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
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Karen all come crashing to a stop at the bottom thanks to a parked car. The dog looks over as if to say, what? Is it over already? Freya, a border collie, is the Jeeping K9 in the driver’s seat. And in the video, the owner of the Jeep and dog, whose name is NOT Karen by the way, claims that Freya knocked the gear stick loose, putting it into drive and causing it to roll. Once the Jeep had a little momentum and crested the hill in the parking lot, it was all over. Despite driving without a license, the dog is fine and is still a “good dog.” However, she has been permanently banned from sitting up front in her owner’s Jeep. The owner of the car that was hit, says he thinks the entire incident is hilarious. Obviously, this whole thing could have gone sideways any number of ways, and this story would have a much different feel to it. Maybe there wasn’t a car at the bottom of the hill, maybe it was a daycare or something. Maybe the woman tried to get into the Jeep and ended up getting run over by it instead? The owner of the car that was hit could have been a complete douche nozzle and started a brawl. Thankfully there were no injuries, and everyone involved had a good sense of humor about it all too. 
Tech Talk with Jeep Talk
us, you’ll pull up to the pump and see the three grades of unleaded fuel that are generally allowed to be pumped to the public in the US. These include 85-87 octane regular, 89 octane mid-grade, and 91-93 octane supreme fuels which also typically have a higher level of special proprietary additives which range from lubricants to detergents. Without diving too deep into fuel chemistry and covering every additive and formula out there, the basics are this: A higher octane rating of gas basically means that the fuel is more stable. The number on the button you press for regular or premium is the octane rating of that grade of gas. Octane is the measure of how much compression a fuel can withstand before self-igniting. Ok, so you’re probably wondering
Low Octane fuel in a high-compression engine can cause detonation, which can damage the engine. Detonation is simply short for pre-detonation, meaning that the fuel ignites before the ignition fires. Now, most of our Jeeps motors wouldn’t be considered high-compression performance-based engines. Especially if they’ve been around the block a few times if you know what I mean. But a higher-octane fuel is less likely to pre-detonate during the compression stroke in any engine regardless of tune or compression. If an engine is experiencing detonation, it can usually be heard by the human ear without special equipment, so if you were wondering if you’re experiencing it now, that’s how you can tell. You’ll have to keep an ear out, though, as it will generally only happen when the engine is under load, like when climbing a steep hill or accelerating to get on the freeway. This noise is sometimes referred to as knocking or pinging. Extreme cases of detonation sound like a glass jar of marbles being shaken by a cracked-out squirrel on too much caffeine. Ultimately, the best way to avoid detonation and to ensure your engine lives a long happy life is to use the fuel grade recommended by the manufacturer. Most mass-production engines, including the 4.0L inline 6 we all know and love, to the Pentastar V-6 engines typically found in most JK Wranglers, were engineered to run best off of regular ‘ol 87 octane pump gas. Anything greater than the recommended 87 octane rating is likely going to be a waste of money for 99% of the driving you do. Interestingly enough, some modern computer-controlled engines that do require higher octane fuel are advanced enough that they can run just fine on 87-octane fuel as well. In these engines, when or if the engine knock sensors indicate there is detonation, the computer will retard the timing, which will reduce power slightly, but eliminate the detonation. Remember, knocking, pinging, detonation, or whatever you’re calling it, typically only happens under load, and not while idle, or during average street driving.
Tech Talk with Jeep Talk
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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 
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?
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.
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.
America’s Most Wanted!…. JEEP!
not judging) aren’t too concerned about fuel efficiency because the fact of the matter is, fuel efficiency, due to a variety of factors, is just not a focal point for people who own Jeeps. That said, there are some tips and tricks Jeepers can apply to add a few more miles in between fill-ups. I’m going, to be honest, here, there’s no magic pill here, there isn’t just one thing that improves the mileage of a Jeep significantly, I mean a cow is more aerodynamic than a Wrangler after all. Now, for higher mileage Jeeps, upgrading the fuel injectors can help to yield better fuel economy. This goes double for any Jeep with an inline six. 
tune by modifying or changing the engine timing, automatic shift points, the air/fuel ratio, and other parameters that could increase efficiency. The only way to do this however is by using an aftermarket tuner. With these, you can modify the horsepower, torque, and other things to improve fuel economy. This is especially true if you’ve bolted on a couple of go-fast engine mods to your Jeep. Modifying the CPU tuning will allow the mods to unleash the full potential of your Jeep. Depending on what mods you’ve done, the unlocked MPGs could surprise you. 
ECU. The ECU will then send the signal to the throttle body. Those two steps are responsible for the perceivable delay in throttle inputs since electrons can only travel so fast down a wire. To compensate for this delay, (and to keep you from overcompensating by pressing on the gas more than you should) you need to install a throttle response controller. Modules like the Pedal Commander will eliminate the pedal delay, improve acceleration, and consequently can yield better fuel economy numbers. 
dampening. Paper filters use surface filtration and definitely clog up faster than depth-based cotton filters will.
wheels and tires, the savings have the potential to pay for themselves in the first year, but certainly within the life of the highway tires. Now the last tip I’m going to give you is going to require the least amount of tools, and in fact, doesn’t have anything to do with your Jeep. This modification is a bit introspective and will require a shift in driving habits actually. And trust me, this is not a fun or easy shift. Realistically speaking, this is the most effective method to return the best possible fuel mileage. Again, just due to the size, shape, and intended off-road purpose of most Jeeps, fuel economy is really a bit of an oxymoron. If your Jeep is equipped with a manual tranny, try to shift as early as possible to get better fuel mileage. For anyJeep, and every driver, careful throttle application is the biggest factor in achieving the best possible mileage. In other words, take all the fun out of it. If you drive like a grandma with a wedding cake in the back, you’ll be off to a…slow, but a good start. If all these things are put into use, and every modification made, you can add as much as 10 to 12 MPGs to your fuel economy. Is it worth it? I’ll let you decide. 
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. 
Just What The Hell Is Going On In Minnesota?
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
Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma
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,
Juniper Dunes Rec. area BURNS
Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma
Grease any joints and bearings that need greasing, including u-joints and driveshafts (if greasable.) If you’re not sure what takes grease, look for a small grease zerk fitting, it indicates a part that needs greasing regularly.
