This episode brought to you in part by, ExtremeTerrain! Be sure to check out the latest episode of ExtremeTerrain’s Throttle Out YouTube Series where host Merideth Evasew selects her top 5 Wrangler mods you should consider for your JK.  Since the JL and Gladiator are currently taking a lot of the spotlight, this video will appeal to owners of the longest-running Wrangler generation since the CJ.

This Week In Jeep: 

One More For The “That’s What You Get” Files…

I think a wise man once said…. Stupid is as stupid does. And I assume by now the video of this has gone viral as it shows a very good example of what NOT to do with a Jeep. Look, Jeeps are many things to many people. For most of us they are a means of transportation and a source of adventure and fun.  To some they are a weekend warrior, a rock crawling beast. Maybe a piece of history or even a long term money sucking project that will (eh-hem) “someday” be done. Regardless of what Jeeps are, one thing they are not is a good stage to perform a twerking demonstration in traffic while the vehicle does a burnout through an intersection.  And speaking of burnouts, I’m pretty sure there was some intoxication involved in this. It all happened Tuesday night, as Angelenos were out in the streets celebrating the Dodgers World Series victory. One woman got up on top of the roof of the Jeep Wrangler she was in to twerk and gyrate to people on the sidewalk. I’m guessing she thought she was somehow magically teleported back in time and space to Mardi-gras in New Orleans. That’s where the implied inebriation comes from.  Thankfully, the light turned green before someone generated a length of beads, nobody wanted to see that anyways. The Jeep brings the revs up, the back tires spin, and the Wrangler speeds up through the intersection. The woman loses her balance, which she may not have had in the first place, and in a blatant display of common sense physics, falls backwards off the Jeep. She of course hits her empty head on the pavement and is knocked unconscious. For some reason, a gofundme page was set up, which we will NOT be supporting. …since this was less of a tragic accident, and more of a …say it with me now boys and girls…  “thats what you get”  Authorities on Wednesday said 18 people were arrested in what were largely peaceful celebrations by hometown fans who poured into the streets of Los Angeles after the Dodgers clinched their World Series title late on Tuesday. Moral of the story? If you decide that acting like a stripper on top of a Jeep in traffic is somehow a good idea, maybe wait until AFTER the driver has finished peeling out before you make us want to dig our eyeballs out of their sockets using a rusty spoon with your so very unsightly performance. 

FCA Quarterly Sales Report, and… a new name for Jeep’s Parent Company.

Just yesterday, as we record this, Fiat Chrysler reported record third-quarter earnings as production returned to nearly pre-pandemic levels. The Italian-American automaker, which is finalizing its full merger with French rival PSA Peugeot, reported a net profit in the three months ending Sept. 30 of $1.4 billion. In a statement Wednesday, my man, Mike Manley, CEO of FCA said, (QUOTE) “Our record results were driven by our team’s tremendous performance in North America.” That’s great, but for those who don’t speak car talk, let me help you read between the lines. Basically Mike is stating that thanks only to Ram and Jeep, FCA is posting profits. Fiat Chrysler announced earlier Wednesday that its merger with PSA Peugeot is on track to be finalized by the end of the first quarter of 2021, as planned.  To meet regulatory concerns, the French carmaker is selling a small stake in a components maker to get below 40% ownership. Once the ink is dry on this merger, the new automaker will be called Stellantis, (which means “to brighten with stars”; from the Latin verb stello) Stelantis will then be the fourth biggest vehicle producer in the world.

Campfire Side Chat:

We had an extended campfire side chat, or round table discussion about various Jeep related subjects, with our Zoom people!

The post Episode 461 - Open Discussion, Tread Talk, News, More first appeared on Jeep Talk Show.

This episode brought to you in part by, ExtremeTerrain! Be sure to check out the latest episode of ExtremeTerrain’s Throttle Out YouTube Series where host Merideth Evasew selects her top 5 Wrangler mods you should consider for your JK.  Since the JL and Gladiator are currently taking a lot of the spotlight, this video will appeal to owners of the longest-running Wrangler generation since the CJ.

This Week In Jeep: 

Video of Black Bear Pass Jeep Tumble

So in the last episode of the Jeep Talk Show, Episode 459, I mentioned a story that’s been getting a lot of attention in the Jeep world. And since we Jeepers are such a tight knit community, I knew it would be just a matter of days before video or other pictures of this tragedy would have surfaced. Sure enough, this week, dash cam footage from a jeeper much further down the mountain shows the red wrangler come crashing down the hillside right in front of them. For those just catching up with this story, the passenger of that crashing wrangler, 23 year old Suzie Rhodes was ejected as the jeep left the trail side and went tumbling down black bear pass. She suffered severe spinal injuries and was life flighted out of the area. She is in stable condition now, but is going to have a long hard trail to navigate before she’s fully recovered. I’m sure I speak for all of us here on the show when I say we wish her all the best. The video – which we will have a link to in the show notes of this episode at Jeeptalkshow.com – shows the dashcam footage of what appears to be an ordinary trail ride from the perspective of the dashboard of another Wrangler that was traveling the same dangerous mountain pass that leads to Telluride on Oct. 10. What is critically important in this video is not the few seconds in the middle where it captures the doomed Jeep in mid-tumble as it careens across the trail in front of them. But before that, at around the 2 minute mark. Something incredible happens that many are calling the difference between life and death. As Tammy and others have stated the trails up in this region of Colorado are treacherously tight, narrow, and yes, up very high. But it’s the degree of tightness that is key here, because at the two-minute mark, the Jeep recording, has to stop, reverse slightly, and do a three point turn to navigate the switchback. It was THAT tight. And it was those few moments of time that it took for that Jeep to complete the maneuver which likely saved the life of anyone in that Jeep that day. You see, had the trail been wide enough to accommodate a natural turn instead of a three point switchback, the jeep coming down the hill would have likely landed RIGHT on top of this other Jeep. The speed, force, and energy behind the mass coming down that mountain would have obliterated anyone inside any other vehicle in it’s way, save for maybe an armored truck. But imagine if it was a soft top, or just the factory roll bar. “No survivors” is how that headline would have read. According to the YouTube post, the driver of the Jeep who recorded the video was alerted by a friend in another vehicle of the falling Jeep, but the driver was unsure of where it was coming down. In the video’s notes, the driver wrote. “What is not shown on the video is me slamming my Jeep into reverse and gunning it backwards, hoping to avoid a possible wider rock slide.” …which you see come down the mountain right behind the somersaulting Jeep. So was it luck? Or was it other Jeeper’s vigilance and good communications gear that saved this other Jeepers life?  What are your thoughts? Join the conversation on our Facebook page right now.

Jump to 3:15 in the video for the roll over.

They don’t know any better.. they’re just a “car” site.

And honestly, I had never heard of them until today. But here they are making global news on the Jeep talk show, maybe I shouldn’t give them the credit.  Oh well, I’ve got to pick on them so they at least deserve to be called out. You see this week, a little no-name site called hotcars released a top ten list titled, “Jeeps All Time Worst SUV’s” …thinking this outta be good for a laugh, I clicked on the link to read the full article.  At first, I was going along with them, top of their list in the number 10 position was the “just the cutest utest of all” the Renegade. Then came the new generation of Cherokee.  At this point I’m giving these guys a pat on the back, so I decide to skim ahead and check out the rest of their list. I was shocked, horrified, and left aghast from what I saw. One after another of my favorite Jeeps were listed, not a single punch was thrown and then I started reading about WHY they picked what I would consider some of Jeeps best work ever. Things like a recall of a window regulator, poor fuel economy, or too boxy of a design. SERIOUSLY? Or that a Jeep of the 40’s and 50’s era has too basic of construction, poor all-weather equipment, and its original engine struggles to keep pace with modern highway traffic. Uh, yea jackass, because it’s nearly 80 years old. Let’s see how fast you run when you’re 80! If you want to see the whole list, or would like to reach out the author, one GAIA ZOL… yea …. She’s Italian writer who loves pasta, coffee and blogging. CLEARLY the perfect person to write such an expertly crafted expose on what are so definitely tremendous scourges to the automotive world that they should never have come into existence in the first place. OH THE HUMANITY! So, did your Jeep end up on the list? I bet it did!

https://www.hotcars.com/here-are-jeeps-all-time-worst-suvs/

We’ll Just Put This In The “That’s What You Get” Files

A 16yr old kid in San Diego, steals a Jeep, has two other minors in the vehicle with him either at the time of the theft or right after. Two 16 year old girls. They’re seen speeding through the city, and are of course pulled over, or at least the police TRY to pull them over. They ran multiple red lights with reckless abandon, and the chase was called off. Just minutes later, the jeep crashes, the driver either tries to run or is ejected and THEN tries to run, either way, the Jeep ends up still in motion and he is run over, pinned to the ground and street light pole that he crashed into by the very Jeep he stole. THAT’S WHAT YOU GET!  Firefighters extracted the criminal, and was taken to a local hospital with a shattered hip, broken arm, and other non life threatening injuries.  At least during the many months that it will take him to learn how to walk again, he’ll have plenty of time to listen to the Jeep talk show.

Newbie Nuggets:

Trick or Treat?

I know 2020 has been a weird year so far but what is with the decorated jeeps for Halloween? Have you seen any of them? I’ve seen on FB so many that I thought it would be fun to mention and see what the listeners are doing this year for Halloween. And you can google jeeps and Halloween for some great images and ideas too.

Now in the past I have seen charity events that include a Trunk or Treat – lots of vehicles set up in a parking lot, or park. Your trunk, vehicle and perhaps yourself, are decorated with whatever theme you decide. Kids and families stroll by in their costumes and you pass out candy with lots of spookiness etc. Good fun for charity. Now I have also seen small town businesses come together to create a safe area for kids to trick or treat by entering each business. There have even been charity events where you dress up your dog and participate too.

Well with lots of events canceled this year for Halloween, I have noticed lots and lots of jeeps decorated for this Halloween. Now I don’t know if it’s just this year and we are tired of being cooped up but have you seen the number of postings where people are using skeletons and placing them all over their jeep. YES skeletons that you can get at your local craft store. They are on the front of jeeps wrapped around the winch, or behind hanging onto the spare tire. I saw one photo that had skeletons on the top of the jeep and on the side hanging on to the doors. There have been uses of chains (real and plastic) for more effect. I’m guessing Jerry’s Pirate off-road FB group loves these ideas. There are even jeeps decorated with torn up zombies for a great effect. Pretty clever people out there for sure and I’m not sure how road worthy these “creatures” are but it sure does say Halloween.

Perhaps one of the craziest things I have seen is the handprints all over in red blood? Seriously? Who thought this was a good idea. Is it to show you ran over the zombies, or that they tried to get you and you made it through? Or, is it that your kids got into paint and smeared it all over your jeep? I read that someone started it with theatrical blood (found at a party store) and used rubber gloves and then smeared these handprints all over. And how does this wash out? I’m thinking if you leave it on till after Halloween, there will be some image from the sun bleaching the handprints – glad it’s not on my jeep that’s for sure!  And it seems to me that a white jeep is best for this decoration, sorry Tony this is where your RED jeep doesn’t do so well LOL

And talk about lighting. Last week’s episode 459 we chatted around the campfire discussing night crawling and the many lighting options underneath the body. WELL this is a perfect time to change out the colors. I have seen so many jeeps that had glowing blue, orange or purple lighting underneath. It looks really cool and for a charity event or just driving around town with your skeletons it says Halloween for sure.  Now wheeling off road with any of these decorations could pose a challenge. The first tight spot I drive through is going to rip those skeletons off the sides and tops of the jeep. The ones in front and back might make it. Not too fond of skeletons, in the closet or on my jeep LOL. But for me, it would just be something else I would have to stop and pick up off the trail. I won’t be decorating my jeep this year – unless there is a charity event, I might decorate the trunk. Can’t wait to see what these creative people do to their jeep for Christmas – Santa and reindeer, or deer caught in the grill and splatter all over the hood? How about Christmas lights all over the jeep. Would you decorate your jeep for Halloween or Christmas and what about other holidays? Valentines, Easter, Fourth of July I can see it now a trend has started.

Tech Talk With Jeep Talk: 

There are many times, when working on any vehicle you need to have the key in the ignition and one or more doors open. Usually this means two things, one, that the dome light is going to be on, and two, that the door chime, door buzzer, whatever you want to call it is going to be wailing incessantly for hours on end. (insert mother in law joke here)  And unless you’ve worked in the automotive field for years and have a keen ability to ignore such racket, I suggest you get a tool that has helped many a technician over the years. They are called “Door Buzzer Shut Off Tools” and they are neat little devices designed to do just that. Shut off the door buzzer, so that you can work in peace and quiet, while you listen to the Jeep talk show. Ok, Of course that’s the best reason to get a set of these. But all kidding aside they’re inexpensive, store easily, and usually come in pairs so that you can work from both sides of the vehicle with the doors open. So let’s say you’re a cheap rat bastard, and you don’t want to spend the $20 or less that it would take to make your life easier. Well there are other ways to shut up the noise coming from the garage. First you could ask her to leave. I’m kidding! … actually on some Jeeps, the door chime is a little box tucked up in the dash above the driver’s side kick panel. If you are able to locate it, you can simply unplug it and you’ll be good to go. Just remember to plug it back in when you’re done, as this is a critical part of the security system for most Jeeps. The other thing you could do is find the fuse for that circuit in the fuse box or distribution panel and pull it. Be warned though, this may kill other circuits too, and if something like stereo work or lighting work is what you’re doing, you may make things hard on yourself. Another option is to try and duplicate the design of the door buzzer shut off tool itself. You might be so inclined to use a coat hanger, but that’s not going to work since coat hangers are made of soft steel not spring steel and wont work the same even if you bent it into the same shape. You could try to disconnect the door pin from the rest of the system, but if the Jeep is old, there is a good chance these pin switches are degraded, and could break if messed with. I’ve heard of some people using a block of wood wedged between the door frame and the door pin and a bungee cord to keep the tension. This may be the best solution yet, but comes with a risk, that you could break the pin switch or dent something on the body. Also, be advised that on some vehicles, the door switch that turns the dome light on and off, as well as that damn buzzer is located in the latch mechanism itself, and is not so easily unplugged. Sometimes though, you can bypass these switches by lying to them. Simply use a screwdriver to act like the stud on the door jamb, and manually move the latch over to the closed side. This may work, but don’t forget to operate the door handle to release it before you close the door, or you may be in for a rude surprise. So I’ll leave it up to you to decide what is the best way to keep your Jeep quiet when you wanna work on it with the doors open. For those who are interested I’ll post up a link for you to get one for yourself.  https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/OTC4448

Jeep Life:

Do Over – Top 5 Mods

Hey guys. I am trying to get caught up on the shows. I still find myself commenting on a recorded show. Ha… Just a quick clarification. Having a headlamp camping is a good idea. I was just sharing I very rarely use it and honestly, I don’t even use my phone light that often either. In the past year having a light walking around camp didn’t seem to be a needed item for me. So, I wondered why. Maybe I have the eyes of a mountain lion. Seriously though after listening to your comments I had to think why I am not using a light that often at night. I do not even use one when I walk our dog at night in the campground that has no night lights. Then I realized. The stars in these middle of nowhere places we camp really light up the sky. So maybe that is it. Josh I will have to agree with you on the pillow. You even reminded me one time and I still forgot it.  Tony that rock in Moab is on the trail Top of the World. Yes people pull to the very edge. This past spring when I was on the trail I said NO Effing Way. I set the record for the furthest back from the edge. Tony you are correct it could go at any moment. The guy who was my trail guide when I went to Moab the first time He has lived there his whole life and wheeled that trail many many times. He said he NEVER parks his Jeep on the edge because of exactly what you said. Who knows when it will break off and fall. Wendy… I have no shame is not tackling an obstacle I don’t feel comfortable with. I have always been that way. I have nothing to prove. I am out wheeling because I enjoy it. And don’t want the day to end poorly. I am okay with going around or taking a by-pass if it just doesn’t feel right for me at that moment. More Top 5 with Jeep Momma This Time My Top 5 Jeep Modifications I would do if I had do it over again. Now that I have some experience with my Jeep off road I can look back and share with you what I would do differently. First, I am glad I wheeled my Jeep in stock form because I was able to learn what my Jeep is capable of and how to pick a good line. Once I felt like I out grew that level of wheeling I was doing I upgraded my Jeep. I went to a 3.5 lift on 35” tires. If I had to do it over again, I would do a few things before that lift. The first modification I would have made was Jeep Cables from Jeep Cables.com a veteran owned company up in Josh’s neck of the woods. I recently installed them in my Jeep and wish I would have done it sooner. Adding the winch and off-road lights to my Jeep added a little extra pull on my current OEM cables. I just posted a couple of videos on YouTube that shows the install as well as what happens to your stock cables when you overload your OEM system by adding a winch and other electrical upgrades. You could already see the discoloration on my alternator and the cable coming from my alternator. The wires were already overloaded and getting super hot. The next modification would be the rock sliders. Not only do my Barricade Off Road Rock sliders protect my Jeep they double as a side step. Necessary when you lift your Jeep so you don’t look foolish getting into your lifted Jeep. My rock sliders from day one have protected my Jeep and the sound of them sliding over the rocks has become a sound I really like. Even before my lift and bigger tires I would upgrade my current tires with Nexen Roadian MTX 33” tires. When you are stock a good set of tires will do wonders when you are off road. I am in the process of working with Nexen to get another set of 35’s for my Jeep. As I have put on over 40K miles on them this year. Steering would be the next upgrade before my lift. I would go with the Yeti Steering from Steer Smarts. Their components are so beefy. I have dinged them so many times with rocks, they have held up awesome plus the benefit for JKU’s is the steering attenuator or now they call it the Griffin.  I reviewed the product on episode 176 of the Jeep Talk Show.  We also interviewed Ron North with Steer Smarts on Episode 301. The attenuator or Griffen helps with the Wranglers jittery steering and the bump steer. Then rounding out the Top 5 would be an upgrade to my OEM front driveshaft with a Tom Woods Custom Driveshaft. Adding a lift and bigger tires will eventually wear out that stock driveshaft. You will know when it is starting to go by getting under your Jeep and looking above the driveshaft. You will be able to see the grease splatter above the driveshaft.  If you want more Jeep Momma’s Top 5 go check out my YouTube Channel. I have 44 Top 5 videos and 52 How To videos.  Next week tune in as I share My Top 5 Accessories that didn’t work for me.

Must Have Stuff:

Jeep Hard Top and Door Removal Tool Kit For 2007-2020 Jeep Wrangler JK JL  $18.50 – UPGRADED KIT   https://amzn.to/2TmdAja All the necessary tools to easily remove your hardtop and doors on your 2007-2020 Jeep Wrangler. Tool Kit contains the following: 3/8 INCH Ratchet 10mm Socket 15mm Socket T30 Torx Bit(For Soft Top) T40 Torx Bit(For Hardtop) T50 Torx Bit(For Doors) Includes a convenient storage pouch to keep all the tools in a neat and orderly fashion.  Are these top of the line Snap-On or Mac grade tools? No of course not. But what these are, is a dedicated set of tools for a specific job, that can always be found in the same place. What’s even better is you don’t have to go digging around through your own tools, or take some of your own tools out of service to make a kit like this. And with its own storage pouch, it keeps things simple and safe to throw in the center console, glove box, or even tool box drawer for quick access. The link we’ll be posting up is for the upgraded kit which comes with higher quality tools, more bits, and a better case.

Campfire Side Chat:

On this episode the JTS Hosts and a few of our listeners, a.k.a. Zoom People, joined us around the virtual campfire where we asked the question… “What’s better? Soft Top or Hard Top?” Chip, Larry, Chris, Tammy, Bob, and Travis weigh in on they’re thoughts.  You can join us around the virtual campfire every Thursday night at 9:45pm when we record the latest episode.  Subscribe to our newsletter to get weekly reminders and how to join via Zoom, or follow us on Facebook (https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow) for notifications.

Links Mentioned in this Episode: 

Horrible Writing: “Jeeps All Time Worst SUV’s” article: https://www.hotcars.com/here-are-jeeps-all-time-worst-suvs/ 
Door Buzzer Shut Off Tool: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/OTC4448
ExtremeTerrain Wheel and Tire Selection Guide: https://www.extremeterrain.com/wrangler-jeep-wheels.html
Jeep Hard Top and Door Removal Tool Kit $18.50 – UPGRADED KIT   https://amzn.to/2TmdAja

The post Episode 460 - It’s The Hardest Thing To Stop first appeared on Jeep Talk Show.

This episode brought to you in part by, ExtremeTerrain! Be sure to check out the latest episode of ExtremeTerrain’s Throttle Out YouTube Series where host Merideth Evasew selects her top 5 Wrangler mods you should consider for your JK.  Since the JL and Gladiator are currently taking a lot of the spotlight, this video will appeal to owners of the longest-running Wrangler generation since the CJ.

This Week In Jeep: 

Close Call For This Jeeper’s Passenger in Colorado

I think Tammy has been where this Jeep once was, and if I remember correctly, I scoffed at her response to the trails up there.  Now I take it all back. And here’s why… They say things happen in threes. Jeeps apparently are no exception.  First it was that jeep on a bike trail in California that damn near had to be rescued by helicopter.  Then it was the snowflake spotted Jeep on a hiking trail, and now we have this. This week, pictures have been coming out showing – what is left of – a red Jeep Wrangler who had a passenger and two dogs in it while it was parked on one of those steep and rather narrow Black Bear Pass Trails as it winds up through Bridal Veil Falls. The driver was outside of the Jeep helping another vehicle, when all the sudden, the edge of the trail gave way and the Jeep started sliding.  It only took a second before the Jeep was in full tumble. The passenger, 23 year old Suzie Rhodes was ejected from the vehicle, as were both dogs. The Jeep rolled too many times to count, and crossed over several switchbacks, falling hundreds of feet in elevation down the mountainside. The Jeep is literally unrecognizable. Suzie Rhodes had to be airlifted from the mountain and sustained a laundry list of severe injuries. She was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, where she underwent an intense surgery on her spinal cord. Thankfully to the skilled team of surgeons there, she is in stable condition. One of the dogs was missing for a couple days, but has since been recovered. Neither animal suffered any serious injuries. Black Bear Pass outside Telluride Colorado is no joke. I made fun of Tammy as she recounted her experience up there, chocking it up to her fear of heights more than anything. This is not the kind of terrain that you take lightly, as clearly it doesn’t take any action from you or other motorists whatsoever for things to go completely sideways on you in a heartbeat. Accidents happen offroad all the time, and when they do, in places like this, they aren’t exactly fender-benders. So please, this winter. Take it easy out there and above all else, be aware of your surroundings no matter where you wheel. Look for how the runoff has eroded the trail, look for fractures in the hill side, and keep an eye out for possible rock slides, or leaning trees that are at odds with gravity more than they should be.  It doesn’t take but a second for you to miss something out on the trails that could very well change your life forever. So be safe, have fun, and stay vigilant.  

New Towing Accessory For Jeep Gladiator

If you’re like me, then there’s a good chance you have your eye on the Gladiator.  Jeep’s mid-size pickup that is just utterly blowing the competition away. I love the possibilities a Gladiator affords. That is if you can afford one to begin with. From a capable trail rig, to an amazing overlanding platform, the Gladiator seems to have it all. And when it comes to towing, Jeeps pickup truck can get the job done. And one of the jobs the Gladiator was marketed as doing well was the job of towing. In fact one of the first in-print pics of the Gladiator was showing it towing a flatbed trailer with an old school full size Wagoneer on it. That immediately had most of us daydreaming of towing our Jeeps with another Jeep. Super cool right? But the questions immediately surfaced… is it really that capable, and is it safe considering its still just a midsize truck. Well, if towing is your concern, Mopar has you covered with a new factory accessory trailer brake controller. While a midsize pickup might not be the ideal towing rig for every application, a factory-backed brake controller provides peace of mind to those who use their trucks… as trucks with any sort of regularity. And for just $299, it’s relatively inexpensive peace of mind. The new trailer brake controller is easily integrated into the Jeep Gladiator’s instrument panel. Installed in a blank panel in the dash, in front of the transmission shift lever, the round controller knob provides a consistent look and feel with the vehicle’s interior. In other words, it looks more like it belongs and less like it was an afterthought. And in the event you are lucky enough to own a Gladiator already, YES…this new controller CAN also be retrofitted into Jeep Gladiators that are already on the road. To get yours contact your local dealer today.

Newbie Nuggets:

Obstacle got you thinking?

Have you ever approached an obstacle and found yourself trying to make the decision to go around or OVER? (if around was even an option). If you are new to Jeeping, I’m sure you’ve asked yourself these questions? Is my Jeep set up enough? Will there be body damage and how much? Do I need skid plates? Will I tip over?! Along with these questions, there may be others like: If they did it, can I do it? Or  Do I have the skills yet? All good questions and as a newer driver, wise questions. But honestly what is the deciding factor of when to tackle an obstacle? When you are new to driving and you are out wheeling (hopefully with others) and you come across an obstacle that looks like a challenge? What do YOU do? I think the best answer is to get out and take a look at the obstacle. Look at where you want your tires to go. Look where you DON’T want your tires to go. Then look at your line and see what and how you need to get over it. I would also look at the line from the jeeps perspective and also from farther down the trail looking back at the jeep’s line. This gives you two perspectives. Maybe watch someone else go over it and hopefully they have a similar jeep in body style, length and set-up. Watch what they did or didn’t do right and determine how you would approach it and why. As long as you have some modifications to protect your jeep, there really isn’t much that can go wrong – well sort of. If you keep your skinny pedal lightly covered and your left foot on the brake, and you watch your spotter then mostly it will be a piece of cake. Remember, sometimes a little bit of tire spin is ok and sometimes necessary. But, a lot of wheel spin is a good way to break axles or drive shafts when that spinning tire finally hooks up. SNAP! Keep in mind that even stock jeeps are set up to go boldly through the trails, however, it’s our skinny pedal, ego and pocketbooks that may not be set up. I always say that no matter the obstacle if you don’t feel confident yet to tackle it, DON’T. There is no shame in a bypass or turning around. The accomplishment of getting over an obstacle can be very rewarding and increase your confidence on tackling other more difficult trails. We are fortunate here in So. Cal has so many types of trails that we can start out on very easy trails and move up to medium and eventually black diamond all relatively close to each other.  Here’s a quick list of things to consider before tackling that obstacle: What type of Jeep do you have and how is it set up? How long or short is it?Have others with the same size Jeep been over it? Do you have lockers – do you need them? Do you know how to use them? Do you have body armor (underneath and rock sliders)? Is this the first time you have driven OVER an obstacle? What type of obstacle is it? Water, vs rocks, vs ruts, vs mud? Have you aired down enough to get your sidewalls flexing? Do you know how far your Jeep can lean to the side before it tips over? Can you operate the gas and the brake at the same time? When the day comes to try something bigger, or different, don’t be afraid. You just never know the possibilities and things you can do unless you take that first step (I mean obstacle).

Tech Talk With Jeep Talk: 

Anytime you add some wiring to a vehicle, it’s a good idea to protect said wiring from, well, pretty much everything. The protection helps keep the new wiring clean and safe, but ultimately, it makes things just look cleaner, and helps make that new wire run look more like a factory loom, then a hack job. Wire loom, or corrugated split loom comes in fractional sizes in ¼” increments. Starting at ¼” diameter, perfect for a single 10 gauge wire run or a bundle of about 6 primary or 16 gauge wires. From there we go up and I’ve seen split loom as large as 3.5” in diameter …but that stuff looks weird in a vehicle, and chance are, you’re not doing a wiring job that big on any vehicle, and even if you were… it would be better to break up that loom into smaller ones to help better identify circuits. There are all kinds of wire loom out there. Some look like the end of a spiral notebook, and then there’s the stuff that resembles an old phone cord. There’s even a mesh in tube form that they sell as wire loom. ALL of those are hard to work with, and don’t offer the protection, aesthetics or ease of use that corrugated split loom does. Split loom is very easy to work with, even when it’s cold, and it’s cheap too! Usually costing less than 50 cents a foot, whole rolls can be purchased on amazon for next to nothing, so it’s affordable and easy to keep a couple sizes around for various projects. Add a little heat shrink to the ends for a real OEM/factory look, and you’ll be dressing things up in no time. So remember, the next time you add in something like an amp, an alarm, some auxiliary lighting or anything where you are running an exposed wire, consider wrapping it up with some split loom for a more professional finished look.

Jeep Life:

Hey everyone! So Answering Wendy’s question from last week… Sadly, I have not been ducked. However, years ago probably 10 years ago, we had a duck addiction at my house. There was “good behavior” program at my son’s elementary school. Good students would get ducks. My kids were so obsessed with them, they wanted to collect them. They found out you could buy these ducks on Oriental Trading. We probably had over 200 ducks. I don’t think we have that many anymore. They just saved their special ones. I ended up selling them on Ebay.  Josh You were so correct about learning so much from Junkyard lifts. This past year that’s what I have been doing… learning so much about Junkyard builds and lifts. Tony mentioned bastard packs. I can tell you I know what those are and have seen them in action. We did that to our YJ. We took the top 2 leaf springs from an S-10 Blazer cut the eyes off and installed them in the YJ. They added 1 and a half inches of lift and stiffened the springs to work with the SOA Spring Over Axle. Junkyard builds have helped me understand more of how the Jeeps work. I am really enjoying it. We are working on another YJ now.  Now a big shout out to Chris one of the Zoomers in the Zoom Room. He shared with me how he liked my Top 5.  That has rejuvenated my YouTube Video Ideas. You would be surprised how many people like those videos as well as my How To’s. There are a lot of folks out there thanking me for my How To use those Ten Thousand dollar buttons in my Rubicon – you know the ones – the sway lock and axle lock. A lot of folks had no idea how to use them.  It’s a good reminder that a lot of people buying Jeeps are like I once was. I knew absolutely nothing about Jeeps, or off roading, or anything mechanical in a vehicle when I first bought my Jeep. Go check out my YouTube video for more Top 5’s and How To’s. You can also download previous episodes of the Jeep Talk Show for them as well. On You Tube just search Jeep Momma. Okay Back to this week’s Top 5. My Top 5 Recovery Items I have actually used the most on the trail. These will be in order. The use of these items is not just getting my vehicle out of a situation but me helping other vehicles or even to loan out the items to others getting their vehicles out of sticky situations. It’s what you do out on the trails. It’s like everything in your Jeep or off-road vehicle is considered community property. For the most part I have found Jeepers and off roaders are very generous people.  Let’s start with Number 5. My Tree Saver  The first time I used it, I was so excited because I was able to loan it out to other Jeepers in need of the tree saver. We used it several times on the Rubicon Trail. Another time it was used by our Jeep group on a Virginia trail. We came across a lone Jeeper stuck in a big mud puddle… I mean HUGE mud pit. We had to use the tree saver, winch and snatch block. Number 4 Rachet straps These have come in so handy when parts start coming off your Jeep while your wheeling hard in the rocks. Number 3 My Winch Yes Tony a winch is necessary. I have used my winch several times to help others out of sticky situations or through and obstacle. I have used my winch once to get myself up an obstacle. Number 2 Recovery Strap Before my winch I used my recovery strap so many times for myself and other Jeeps. And the Number 1 item is my soft shackle. I love my soft shackle. Instead of trying to loosen up those super tight d-rings because you have tightened them so much because you don’t want to lose them from rattling off. I have loaned mine out to other Jeepers several times and every time I do a recovery, I have used mine.  So here are a couple of Recovery Items that I carry I haven’t used… YET…. My gloves and a shovel Next week on Jeep Life The Top 5 Mods I would do before I lifted my Jeep.

Interview with:

Brian Goldwitz with EZTrunk

Brian at EZTRUNK® loved the lifestyle and freedom of his Jeep®, but is there freedom? When he went to Home Depot, the grocery store, a hike, kayaking, or stopping for a quick bite to eat, he found that he was tied to his backpack filled with documents, computers, cash, and credit cards. Where could he put his stuff when he wanted freedom from his property? That’s when he had his aha moment. Build a trunk, not a box that takes up all the space in your rear cargo area – a folding trunk. For almost two years after that aha moment, he worked on building and perfecting a folding Jeep trunk. 2020 proved to be the beginning of a new adventure. With the EZTRUNK developed and a newly approved patent in hand, they are ready to unveil a product that truly gives you freedom, convenience, and security – EZTRUNK. January 2019 Wrangler Sales Set a Third Straight Monthly Record Another month, another record for Jeep Wrangler Sales! The 13,024 Wranglers sold last month represents the most Wranglers ever sold in the month of January, and it also marks the third straight month in which a monthly Wrangler sales record was set. FCA US Reports 2019 January Sales WITH 2019 RECORD JEEP SALES what better time to bring this patented folding trunk to a market that needs a product that is a convenient and secure way to protect belongings while enjoying the Jeep experience of going topless. EZTRUNK is a safe, secure place to lock up valuables with your top up or down.

Campfire Side Chat:

Wheeling in unfamiliar terrain offers unique challenges that can’t be found elsewhere. With that said, “Do you have any interest in night wheeling? – if no -WHY?”  People around the virtual campfire, Larry H., Neil, Tammy, Travis E., Bob, Chris, Shawn S.  You can watch us on Facebook LIVE every Thursday at 10pm CT.  You can join in our virtual campfire side chat by joining our Zoom meeting.  Subscribe to our newsletter to get notifications and links to join the show.  Follow us on Facebook (Jeep Talk Show) so you’ll receive notifications when we go LIVE.

Links Mentioned in this Episode: 

https://eztrunk.net/
https://www.facebook.com/keepyourjunkinthetrunk/
http://www.newcomerracing.com/

The post Episode 459 - Trail Braking, Wire Loom and Free Stuff! first appeared on Jeep Talk Show.