Wes Kibble

Wes grew up in a four wheeling family and spent 15 years in the 4×4 industry across Canada. He has spent many more years volunteering with four wheel drive clubs and provincial associations as well as off road racing organizations. His love of vintage 4×4’s lead to the creation of numerous vintage off road groups on Facebook. His latest endeavor is the 4×4 Canada Podcast, where he interviews Canadian four wheelers, off road racers, Youtubers and businesses.

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2024 Wrangler Gets Power Seats

The Jeep Wrangler is unusual to design parts for because of its unique emphasis on off-road performance. It can wade through up to 34 inches of water or enough to submerge the base of the front seats. That means its seat adjustment mechanism had to work after a dunk, which other passenger vehicles haven’t ever really been designed for.

“We knew that we had to execute it properly,” a Jeep spokesperson told The Autopian. “Wrangler owners, they’re gonna take their Wranglers out, they’re gonna go ford through streams, ford through rivers, they’re inadvertently gonna leave ’em outside with the top off and it’s gonna get rained on. So, we had to make sure that all of the mechanisms, all of the equipment was fully waterproof and could handle that sort of environment.”

By mechanism, they mean everything from the motors and switches to connectors, sliders, and brackets. They’re a much more complicated system to waterproof than, say, heated seats, which amount to an insulated resistive element with controls elsewhere.

Of course, the Wrangler hasn’t offered the feature until recently. As The Autopian pointed out, cultural shifts toward trucks and off-roading have increased people’s willingness to spend big on what were formerly barebones, raw off-roaders.

But whether it’s a good idea to spec your Wrangler with additional electronics is up for debate. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid has had significant electrical problems, from an electric mode that doesn’t activate in the winter to unexpected power loss on the highway. Electrical issues aren’t exclusive to Wranglers, either: Grand Cherokee Ls were subject to a stop-sale last year due to key fob connectivity problems that could immobilize the vehicles. Jeep has also been sued over electronic sway bar disconnects that can allegedly fail in normal use, though the lawsuit has been partially dismissed according to Car Complaints.

Submersible or not, power seats are another part that can go wrong. We all know what Murphy’s Law has to say about that.

After 49 Years the Cherokee is dead?

The Cherokee started production in 1974 as a two-door SUV based on the Wagoneer, before switching to a unibody platform in 1984 as one of the last vehicles AMC would introduce. It was a smash hit; some 3 million were built, and the SUV remained in production in the U.S. until 2001. License-built versions were made in China up until 2014. It served as the template for the modern unibody SUV, helping popularize a body style that is now a bestseller around the world. It’s hard to overstate just how significant the original Cherokee was.

But all dynasties end, and after multiple generations that failed to capture the success of the original (including some sold as the Liberty), the Jeep Cherokee’s time has come to an end. Jeep pared back the 2023 Cherokee’s trim range after sales fell off a cliff with the SUV approaching a decade on the market. On March 1, Stellantis idled Belvidere Assembly in Illinois where the Cherokee is made, and that production freeze may become permanent as Stellantis draws nearer to negotiations with United Auto Workers later this year over the plant’s future. A spokesperson for Stellantis said the automaker is committed to the segment going forward, but it’s unclear whether its next midsize SUV will bear the Cherokee label, or when it might arrive.

The Cherokee’s larger progeny, the Grand Cherokee, was renewed for 2022 and carries on the name—if not the direct vehicle lineage. With its plug-in hybrid drivetrain, it also better fits with Jeep’s increasing emphasis on hybrids and EVs. It’s unclear whether the Grand Cherokee nameplate may too be on the chopping block in a few years, as the SUV’s namesake the Cherokee Nation asked Jeep to “retire” the name in 2021.

Must-Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!

Trails Offroad

When I was on Metal Masher in Moab, and trying to find my way down the mountain alone I would have loved to have had a map for the trail.  I recently interviewed Todd with TrailsOffroad and their product would have made my trip down the trail about back to waiting friends in Moab much easier!  No cell service is needed as you can download all the trails for the state beforehand!

Don’t do like me and get something AFTER you need it.  Check out trailsoffroad.com now and keep listening for the Interview with Todd, the founder of TrailsOffroad.

https://www.trailsoffroad.com/

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Double Wide Jeep, it’s not just for trailer homes any longer!

The eight-passenger two-door—yes, eight-passenger—is kept at the Morocco National 4×4 Auto Museum in Merzouga. It’s more than a showpiece, though, because it can actually drive. A YouTube video from 2013 shows it taking up a lane and a half as other drivers pass by, understandably puzzled.

The double-wide Jeep only has one steering wheel, and it’s mounted all the way on the left side. I thought it’d be even better if they combined a left-hand-drive model with one that was right-hand-drive, but then again, there’s already enough going on here. The passengers on the opposite side are probably better off being used as spotters.

There’s no readily available info about the powertrain and whether or not it uses two engines or one. Odds are it’s propelled by at least one V6, either a 3.6-liter or 3.8-liter depending on the actual model year. Photos of the interior at least confirm it’s automatic. I’ve reached out to the museum (and other parties) for more info but have yet to hear back. I’ll update this story if they respond.

For kicks, the museum also houses a bug-eyed Jeep that’s been narrowed for dramatic effect. It only fits one passenger, and it doesn’t even have a single grille slot. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Internal combustion – Staying Alive?

Stellantis Is Betting on Keeping Combustion Engines Alive With Massive E-Fuel Tests

On Thursday, the automaker announced that it had begun testing e-fuels in 28 different engine families across its brands. The goal is to help accelerate the potential reduction in carbon emissions through synthetic fuels, which are made by recapturing carbon emissions already present in the atmosphere and processing it into a fuel source with renewable energy.

The automaker says that by investing in e-fuels, it is potentially ensuring that customers with an existing ICE-powered vehicle will have an affordable, drop-in option to “decarbonize” their vehicles without having to upgrade the fuel system, worry about the EV charging infrastructure, or replace their existing vehicle with a new or used electric car.

Newbie Nuggets with Wendy

Inspecting your jeep AFTER a run

After a great day of wheeling, it’s always a good idea to take a few minutes to look around and under your Jeep.  You just put it through some rough roads, maybe some 4-wheel drive, maybe even some extreme rock crawling. Double-check things to make sure your jeep is in good working order before you hit the road back home. Here are some things to look for.

 1)   Once off the trail and while airing up, take a look at your tires. Are there chunks missing from the tread or sidewalls?

1.   It’s good to do a once-over visibly to make sure there are no issues.
2.   Once you are aired up, do a quick check of some basic things to make sure you didn’t bang it too hard while on the trial and that something isn’t broken or bent.

2)   Check the shocks – Check to see if they got bent while you were dancing through that rock garden. Are they leaking fluid? Do the bolts at both top and bottom seem to be tight?

3)   Check for any oil or fluid leaks. This is somewhat important. You need oil to keep things like engines and transmissions functioning.

1.   You may have kicked something up on the road. Maybe while crawling over a rock you may have peeled your diff cover off. Maybe a well-placed rock poked a hole in your gas tank and you have a slow leak.

4)   Check that your mirrors are back to normal. You may have adjusted them to back out of that obstacle you decided not to take, or you may have pulled them in to get through that tight squeeze.

Once at home, it’s a good idea to do a more thorough inspection. Depending on what type of terrain you put your Jeep through determines how much inspecting may be necessary.

1)   Bill uses a power washer and always does a complete inspection of our Jeep from top to bottom. Mostly bottom. Although it’s always nice to have a clean and shiny Jeep to drive around town or back and forth to work, it is a really good idea to “detail” the bottom side as well.

2)   Bill has found things that way and avoided several larger issues, or worse, trail break-downs. He cleans the suspension, hose, brake lines, springs, shocks, drive shafts, etc. He says it’s a great way to find fatigue, stress cracks, and loose or missing bolts.

Create a consistent habit in your inspections and who knows what you may find. Having a “checklist” to cover all these things may help. Some things to check for;

   1)   Check the undercarriage, especially if you don’t have body armor

1.   Check the upper and lower control arm rubber bushings. They tend to get destroyed when you flex the suspension a lot.
2.   Check the oil pan/gas tank

2)   Check for loose connections with wires. Or maybe they are wearing on the frame or springs. A fist full of zip ties goes a long way toward preventing failures on the road or trail.

3)   Check for loose connections with bolts. You don’t need to do a re-torque after every run but just do a visual. Sometimes it’s just enough to catch something that could become a real problem.

4)   Inside the jeep: replace any Band-Aids, water supply, or any tools you may have lent or broken on the trail

5)   Put everything away: ie recovery gear etc., so you are ready for the next run

 The old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” really hits home when you’re the one not breaking down on the trail.

https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update

An arrest Warrant was Issued!

If you’re new, or blocked it from your mind.  On Jan 13th (Friday) 2023, the 2021 Jeep Talk Show Gladiator was keyed.  From driver’s side flare to passenger’s side flare.  The collision center estimated about $2,800, then another 200+ due to the vinyl sticker replacement on the hood.  Over $3,000 in damages.

This isn’t a situation where I upset someone in a driving incident that resulted in road rage.  I parked in a spot at Sam’s Club behind a truck.  It appeared that the truck driver either backed into the space or just drove through.  It wasn’t straight in the spot and it extended slightly into my parking space.  I parked behind the truck and made sure to try to get the Gladiator’s ass out of the way of other drivers.

After I found the Gladiator was keyed I contacted the police, then Sam’s Club to check for security footage.

The security person at Sam’s looked at the footage and clearly saw the PERP damaging my vehicle.

The police investigator was certain when he reviewed the footage, but after looking up the license plate for the truck he was unable to find a positive match between the face in the security footage and the perps driver’s license photo.  He said it looked to be an old photo.

The case was at a standstill without this positive match.  About a month went by and I received a call from the investigator.  The perp updated his driver’s license and his picture!  Positive match!

The case was then forwarded to the District Attorney.  A couple of weeks have passed and I haven’t heard anything more, until a couple of days ago.

The restitution department from the DA’s office called me.  They wanted receipts, or estimates, to repair the damage.

I found out that when the investigator called the perp and told him about the charges, the perp willingly admitted to keying my Jeep, and here’s the best part.

He was upset that when he came out of Sam’s Club with his purchases, that I was parked so close to his truck, he couldn’t open the tailgate.

Instead of pulling in forward to a spot, or leaving room in the space that he parked in for another person to park their vehicle and still get to his tailgate, he parked the way he wanted and got mad when someone else would dare to park properly.  I guess he felt that he should have had two spots, the one he was in and the one behind him.

He also told the investigator that he thought I dented his bumper.  I have video footage, there was no bump.

As of the end of March, this case is all wrapped up with the exception of what’s going to happen to him and if I’m going to get paid for the damage.  I’ll be sure to keep you up to date on future episodes.

Oh, currently he has been instructed not to contact me directly or through a third party.  Or anyone in my household.  Once the case is resolved hopefully I will be able to contact him and get an interview for you to hear what and why from the person.

I have insurance.  I have a $250 deductible.  The reason I’m following through on this is he and people need to know that when you choose to act this way you may get caught.  It took 3 and a half months for that call to be made by the police.  Can you imagine what that must have felt like?

If I dented his bumper, he should have waited, spoken to me and we could have exchanged insurance information.  I had proof that I didn’t damage his vehicle.  That’s the way mature individuals handle these things.  He did not.  I suspect that on top of restitution, he will be required to attend an anger management class.  I don’t know about you but that would piss me off!

The Jeep Talk Show is now available on Patreon!

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Just go to jeeptalkshow.com and look for the banner ad with the flashing SUBSCRIBE! You can subscribe for as little as $5 a month!

Must Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!

Powertank

10 LB. PACKAGE B POWER TANK

PT10-5250

$739.95

https://powertank.com/collections/power-tank-packages/products/pt10-5250-builder

Steve’s booth was right next to the TYRI Lights booth that I was in and they had some spectacular savings on their powertanks at Easter Jeep Safari!  But that’s over, so you should have gone!

Steve has a great product, and it’s worth every penny.  If you’re trying to sell the idea to your spouse you might want to try the CHEAPER card and get a very good alternative, Offroad Air Buddy system.  I have seen this product first hand.  A 10lb Tank System is $445.  https://offroadairbuddy.com

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Simon Martin

Simon is the National Sales Manager for Counteract. Counteract is the largest manufacturer of internal tire balancing compounds and the producer of Counteract Balancing Beads. Counteract has been an industry leader for over 25 years servicing the commercial trucking, off-road, powersports, trailer and classic car markets with their revolutionary tire balancing technology and wheel maintenance products.

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If We Didn’t Have The Pics To Prove It… 

(woman survives an unknown period of time in submerged Jeep)

Less than 30 miles west of the Texas-Louisiana border rests a little body of water quaintly called “Lake o’ The Pines”. Last Friday some fishermen were doing what guys typically do when they fish, they ….try to catch some fish. Here and there they puttered around the lake in their little skiff of a fishing boat. As the two came up to a familiar spot in the lake, they saw something now so familiar. 

Now if you’re on the Jeep Talk Show Discord server, then you will know what comes next, as this story is utterly everywhere on the internet. Credit where credit is due, I got this story from a listener on said Discord server, but I would have had to have been drunk and blind to have missed this one. As the men approached an odd-shaped object protruding from the surface of the water, they recognized it not as the Loch Ness Monster, but as the back half of a Jeep Wrangler hard top.

And yup, sure enough, there was a Jeep still connected to it. 

As anyone would, the men called the misplaced Jeep into the local authorities, who coordinated a tow company to come out and recover the Jeep turned submarine from the waters of Lake o’ The Pines. 

Thankfully the Wrangler was only about 40 feet from a nearby boat ramp.

(likely the access point to the water) 

So recovery was relatively easy.

As the Jeep was pulled back ashore, however, the first responders noticed something moving inside. Had a large fish gotten in there? Was some sort of curious animal trapped inside? No. It was the owner of the Jeep, a Texas woman who had been reported missing by the Longview Police Department several days prior. 

The tow truck driver and fisherman who called authorities were able to rescue the woman from the submerged vehicle, who, yes, was still alive!

Emergency responders arrived on the scene, treated the woman for hypothermia, and took her to a hospital. 

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says they don’t know how or when the Jeep ended up there, but the victim confirmed it was at least a few hours.

Jeep’s Hybrid Battery Explodes During House Fire

This happened in Erie Colorado, but there is nothing eerie about this story.

The facts are that Hybrid battery vehicles are dangerous, and becoming more so every year as we hear about an ever-increasing number of these types of incidents happening. This latest, happened in the Morgan Hill neighborhood around 8 am, where Mountain View Fire Rescue had responded to smoke from a residence.

Firefighters once on the scene did not see smoke from outside the home, but they eventually found it coming from a secondary garage.

A Jeep Wrangler 4xe hybrid was smoking and when crews started putting water on the vehicle, that’s when it happened.

As it is becoming all too common, a hybrid vehicle catches itself on fire, and in the process of putting out the fire, the vehicle explodes.

The explosion from this Jeep was so intense, it blew the entire garage door clear off its tracks.

The giant portion of the house’s face was now leaving the residence at a very high rate of speed, and just missed a Mountain View Fire Rescue captain, as it flew about 30 feet into the front yard in a blink of an eye.

Authorities say there were no reported injuries from the fire or the explosion. 

And aside from the blown-off garage door, the home sustained “very minor” damage from the incident.

Investigators are working to learn what happened including a thorough investigation of the Jeep, and its charging station.

We don’t know the year of the Jeep 4xe involved, but according to the NHTSA, there is currently a recall on 2022 through 2023 model year Wrangler 4xe due to a faulty fastener securing the 200 amp main fuse. This faulty fastener can cause high resistance in the fused interface generating excessive heat which can cause the fuse to fail and potentially lead to a fire.  

Wrangler Beats Bronco In Q1 Sales

What do you think are the two most popular off-road vehicles on the market right now? 

If you guessed the Wrangler and the Bronco you’d be right.

It’s a well-known battle that’s been going on for a little while now, and despite the continued epic failures of Ford’s Bronco, they somehow keep selling.

But the reputation of the Bronco has gotten out, and sales have sputtered. 

With a recent audit of the two brands’ first-quarter sales, we see that only one brand has bragging rights moving forward in 2023.

Ford reported that the Bronco family is attracting more female buyers, accounting for 31% of retail sales, giving Ford an increase of just over 37 percent year over year.

Not bad, but in contrast, Jeep comes out as the clear winner.  

Although sales of the base model Wrangler slipped 17 percent year over year, the 72 percent increase in sales of the 4xe put the king of the offroad in the number one spot.

With a combined 37,971 units sold, the Wrangler has beaten the Bronco by nearly 10k units….And that’s just in the first quarter.

Last year the Jeep Wrangler 4xe was the best-selling hybrid vehicle in all of America, beating out the Prius and forever changing the face of electrified vehicles. 

What the numbers hold for Jeep for the rest of the year is unknown, but if the Bronco’s reputation off-road continues, I’d say the writing is on the wall…. And one that even the sasquatch bronco can’t climb over. 

Newbie Nuggets with Wendy

Ladies Off-Road Challenge – UPDATE #1

Quick update – we have to complete a challenge or more by the end of this month (April)

10 challenges/5-6 mos.

Each challenge has a main part and a scavenger hunt as well

Challenge #6: Vehicle Checklist

1)   Pre-departure (basic day run) (20 items to check)

2)   Pre-trip (longer trip/overnight?? (20 items to check)

3) Post-trip (20 items to check)

PLUS: 20 different items we have to take pictures of items on the jeep- oil & transmission dipsticks, coolant reservoir/air filter/lug nuts/tire tread, etc.

Challenge #7: Recovery Bag

1)   Weight of vehicle BEFORE  (stock weight)

2)   Weight AFTER all the added-on items (like recovery gear/tires/bumpers etc.

PLUS: 17 recovery items (soft shackle, tree saver, winch line, hi-lift jack, traction boards, etc.) 

I plan to get these both done and submitted before the end of the month.

It’s a process with lots of parts to each challenge – So I am trying to get things done sooner rather than waiting till later.  

I’ll update you next month on my progress.

If you are hearing this for the first time you can join the Challenge

www.ladiesoffroadnetwork and search for the #ladiesoffroadchallenge

Sorry boys, this challenge is for girls!

Must-Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!

Yakima RibCage $600   https://yakima.com/products/ribcage-jk-4dr

Go Off-Road With a Heavy Load

Near and dear to my heart is a company based out of my neck of the woods, the pacific northwest, called Yakima. They’ve made a good name for themselves in the roof rack industry for decades, and now are expanding their line of Jeep and offroading accessories.  If you own a JK or even a newer JL model Jeep Wrangler, and you would like to be able to haul more cargo on your roof rack, Yakima now has the end-all-be-all solution and it’s taking the overlanding Jeep world by storm. They call it the RibCage, and Yakima says that with this system properly installed, these heavy-duty, externally mounted track systems can help you negotiate dicey off-road trails carrying up to 330 pounds of gear in dynamic loads, and up to 825 pounds of static loads. So that’s like throwing fat Freddy and a full keg of beer up on the roof rack and carrying him all the way through the Rubicon without a single worry.

I mean aside from all the foam and vomit, but I digress. 

They claim these numbers are backed up not only by rigorous in-house testing but also through extensive real-world testing as well. This all-new roof rack support system is, however, less of an add-on, as they’re meant to be integrated with the vehicle. 

Both RibCage models are permanent hardtop installations and are identical except for the specific components that mount to the Wrangler’s internal supports. 

The company says that occupants need not worry about cracking the Wrangler’s roof during installation — which obviously would not be a good thing — since the tracks are attached to the vehicles’ internal roll cages.

What’s better is that the parts of the RibCage do not interfere with any of the passenger or cargo space, so literally, nothing is sacrificed, yet a great deal of capacity is gained.

Freedom panels are removable while the system is in use and the whole hardtop is still easily removable for all your sun junkies.

All it takes is a process of unbolting the rack’s internal supports, according to the products’ specs. 

Yakima says there are also optional accessories planned which will allow for the expansion of the system as well. For either the JK or the JL, the Yakima RibCage will run you about $600, but for what it gives you in carrying capacity, I say this is a must-have.

One word of caution though…. If you currently use your angled roll cage bars right now for things like fire extinguisher mounts, gear bags, or a compressed air tank, please do your homework and ensure that the mounting points for this system won’t interfere with any existing mounts for other things you may already have in place.

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Cheap Jeep Hacks (modifications/fixes/upgrades)

From time to time I like to showcase a few ingenious ideas that make owning a Jeep easier or more fun. Sometimes it’s something that will be just the thing to make the Jeep that much more your own Jeep. So this week I’ve put together three little things that just may have you saying, “Now why didn’t I think of that!?” 

First up is one that many of us will find useful. It involves using Foam Pipe Insulation, cut to length to fill the gap between the seat and the center console.

No more lost french fries, or having to pull the Jeep over because a cell phone found its way into that no-mans land. Of course, if you’ve got a vivid color scheme going on in the interior, you could always opt for the more colorful version of pipe insulation…called pool noodles. Although more modification to the foam may be necessary to make this stuff work. 

If all you’re doing is a beer run, then keep those half racks, six packs, and full cases from sliding around the back cargo area of the Jeep by putting down some non-slip rug mats. Perfect if your Jeep has a tan interior. Although if your interior is black or gray, you may want to try and find the same stuff marketed as toolbox drawer liners, or non-slip cupboard liners.

It is basically lacy foam rubber, and for a few bucks, a few square feet of this in your cargo area will keep things put and stop everything from that six-pack to your toolbox from sliding around.

Rearview Mirror Flip. It’s been a while since we talked about this one, but for lifting vehicles that do not have a smart mirror for the rearview, simply rotate it 180 degrees. 

It puts the centerline of the mirror higher so that you can see better behind you. 

For you Wrangler owners who always find small rocks between your fenders and body, here’s a simple hack to eliminate that void. Use some cheap rubber vacuum line from your local parts store. It runs on average about 50 cents a foot or less, so it’s super cheap but highly effective. You’ll want to look for the 1/4″ diameter stuff. Using something like a shoelace, figure out how many linear feet you’ll need. The shoelace will mimic the vacuum line, and you can use a tape measure to figure out how long your shoelace is.  Once you have the tubing, simply pinch it and tuck it into the seam between the fender plastic and the metal of the body. No more trapped rocks messing up your paint.  Since it’s rubber it will form easily and seals that area up nicely. It even will look like a factory option. Just be careful going through the drive-through car washes with these, they may get caught by a bristle and be ripped out.  No worries though, it’s cheap enough to replace real easy.

But let’s be honest, who among us Jeepers actually goes through a CAR-wash?

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