Craig Mullauer

Craig has been interested in off-road activities for most of his life. Starting with dirt bikes in his early teens and graduated to 3-wheelers and full sized trucks in his late teens and early twenties. Finally acquiring his first Jeep in 1997 (a 1983 CJ7). He would have this Jeep for 21 years doing complete rebuilds twice. The final version featuring a Ford 302HO with a C4. His most recent Jeep is a 2018 JL Unlimited Rubicon on 37’s with beadlocks and a host of other modifications. Craig has been in the automotive aftermarket for 40 years spending the entire time working for Motor State distributing where he is the office manager and also brand manager for ShurTrax.

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The Concept Jeep That Almost Wasn’t

The Easter Jeep Safari just happened, and it was an epic one, to say the least. And not just because this was the first year that Jeep Talk Show in its decade-plus history has been able to make it to the mecca of North American Jeep events. No, it’s because there is a secret that many of you (even those who went to Moab Utah for the event) likely don’t know. One thing that IS known however is Jeep’s fascination for the easter egg. Little hidden gems that once found give you a sense of wonder and accomplishment all at once. Some people have taken to the internet to turn this into a whole following, and as Jerry Seinfeld would say, “That’s just fine… if you’re into that sort of thing.” 

A history deeper than that of this show is Jeep’s offerings of concept vehicles that they bring to each and every Easter Jeep Safari. And this year was no exception with the automaker bringing seven total vehicles, each as different as the next, and each telling its own story. The Magneto, now in its third iteration, has a three-chapter book going with more to come. The incredible 392 Scrambler concept, or the retro stylings of the 1987 Cherokee concept, ended up being one of the crowd favorites. But one concept Jeep showed up that didn’t really show much ingenuity and was more or less just a regular, off-the-showroom floor production model Jeep Wrangler 4xe. The only thing conceptual about it was the pinkish paint job. A hodge-podge mix-up of Furious Fuchsia and Plum Crazy, this one particular Jeep is not what was originally planned to show up. This Jeep had a different interior, for all of about 5 minutes. Just long enough to shoot some teaser pics to prove they did it, and then the concept was immediately abolished along with a name that for reasons of tact and decorum Stellantis would not allow repeated. If Dodge is the neck tattoo to Stellantis, the Jeep in this particular case was to be the nipple ring. The concept was to showcase some design team’s itch for an S&M-themed Wrangler, complete with a patterned black leather interior, and metal buckle inserts. A shiny latex shift boot, a pink kissy lips air freshener, and a lipstick-punk trunk in the cargo area all give this away as the same Jeep, minus all the fun parts. Jeep obviously ditched the name, swapped out the seats last minute and more or less swept this Jeep under the rug. But the one thing they couldn’t hide was the easter egg.

Hidden NOT in the punk-themed case in the rear that was sure to house all sorts of whips, chains, and other fetish-like accouterments…. But it was in the dash, that the easter egg was found. A modified version of the glove box, when opened revealed a faux-pink fur-lined compartment neatly holding a bottle of gin… “KINK” brand Gin to be exact. Which according to my limited research, isn’t a real brand.

Rumors have it that the original version of this Jeep DID have a name, and I may have already let the proverbial cat out of the bag. Something tells me that this Jeep probably wouldn’t have made it to the show at all if not for the other hidden easter egg…. Seven.

From the movie Seven, and in the most memorable, quoted, and meme’d scene, where Brad Pitt’s character is emotionally asking his partner “WHAT’S IN THE BOX?!?!?” …. This scene just so happens to appear in the form of a sticker on the box in the back of this Jeep. 

 

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Justin

Justin is the Sales Manager at Skinny Guy Campers. He has a background in engineering and design, when asked to join a team of entrepreneurs more than a year ago to facilitate sales and help in product development for a brand new truck camper in the overland space he jumped at the chance. Owning 4×4 Vehicles with a Jeep always on the roster, the love for the outdoors, off-roading and camping it makes perfect sense why Skinny Guy Campers is where he calls home.

 

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Ken from TYRI Lights, Greg from Unofficial Use Only, Matt from Treadlighty, Julieanne from Wranglher all of who Tony met at EJS 2023, and many more, joined the Round Table this week to talk about Easter Jeep Safari 2023.

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Large Wrangler Recall

57,000 Jeep Wranglers recalled over ‘unnecessary’ part that could cause a fuel leak, fire

The recall affects 57,885 vehicles, 

58% are expected to have the “unnecessary and unused frame stud.”

2020-2023 Wranglers Manufactured BEFORE May 2022

The extra stud could pierce the fuel tank during a crash, causing a fuel leak.

Notifications go out May 12th – Dealers will remove stud free of charge

All-Electric Jeep Recon and Wagoneer S EV leaked

Stellantis dealer preview event 

Nobody outside of Stellantis has seen these in person.

Both vehicles share the same platform (STLA BEV)

Wagoneer S – supposedly smaller than Wagonner or Grand

Larger than Grand Cherokee

Low floor design / Street performance oriented (low profile tires w/ larger rims) 

No Chrome brushed aluminum, or color-matched trim

All new grille design w/ incorporated light bar

The Recon, – has a styling mix of Wrangler and early 1990s Grand Cherokee. 

It has the squarishness, taillights, and removable doors of the Wrangler, 

But the integrated fenders, front bumper, two-tone body, and grille design all scream  early “Big Cherokee.” It also has a much taller floor height than the Wagoneer S.

Has what looks like extendable step rails, and more off-road-ready BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A K02 tires.

Jeep CJ outlines in blue on the center caps of the wheels, blue “Trail Rated” and “4XE” badges, blue front and rear tow hooks, a fully illuminated and segmented grille, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and a blue “Moab” graphic on the hood. The hood also has an interesting louver design near the cowl area and only on the driver’s side. (snorkel?)

Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update

Wiring My Gladiator

In the past few months, I have been running a lot of wires on my Gladiator.  I think I’m done, or nearly so, with the 8 gauge wire running to the bed of the gladiator.  It is connected to a 12-volt “lighter style” plug and to a switch that controls the power to a Viair 450c 100% duty cycle air compressor.

There are a few tricks to wiring.  You must know what the max current of the device (or devices) you are powering.

You need to look up what size wire to use, gauge, for the length of wire you will be using.

Fusing the line is a must and the fuse should be close to the battery.  You can use a breaker made for automotive or marine use.  It works just like a breaker on your house.  If you trip the breaker you can reset it.

Running your wire you need to stay away from very hot sources, like catalytic converters, and mufflers.

Make sure you keep wiring out of harm’s way, remember it’s a Jeep and Jeeps can scrap rocks and things when you’re off-road!

Make sure all connections are solid and black tape can be used, but consider shrink tubing.  It looks professional and it is a better long-term barrier to mud, water, etc…

That driveshaft may look tempting but don’t use it to run your wiring!

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Metal Work Clean Up 

If you do any metal fabrication or modification at all, you know there is a lot of metal debris that can pile up in a short amount of time for even the simplest of projects. 

If you find yourself with a metal mess after making some brackets or doing a welding job where you pulled out the grinder… save yourself from having to pull a metal sliver out of your flesh by using this trick to clean up. 

Simply put a strong magnet in a plastic bowl or container, a gallon milk jug with a flat bottom would work great for this. With the magnet sitting in the bottom of the container, skim it along the floor to pick up the shavings. Once you’ve picked up all you can, move it over the trash can and pull up on the magnet, letting the shavings drop into the trash.

You’d be surprised to see how much metal your broom or vacuum will miss. And the last thing you want to be doing is scooting along under the Jeep and picking up a metal sliver or three. Look, if you’ve never had a sliver made of steel embed itself into your flesh, you haven’t really lived.  They’re nearly impossible to see until they rust and turn darker in color unless you are in the perfect angle of light, and by then the tweezers are in the way, and DAMMIT where’d it go?! It’s loads of fun if you heal fast and you get a layer of skin to form OVER the sliver before it can be extracted, and continuously push it further into your body. Good times. So where do you get a nice big strong magnet? Pry one off the back of a blown speaker. Don’t have one laying around? Make a trip to the thrift store and buy a crappy old speaker to sacrifice. Or try going down to a couple of local stereo shops and asking the techs if they have any blown speakers laying around they pulled out of a vehicle recently. Don’t talk to the sales guys, they’ll just try and sell you one, but the techs will be more likely to dig one up or have one already laying around. 

Another option would be to go to the junkyard and pull a junk speaker out of a car. Speaker magnets are strong and large and have the kind of magnetic force that will pull multiple layers of shavings from off the ground. Don’t try to use refrigerator magnets, they’re not strong enough, no matter how many you cram into that gallon jug. And if you want to repurpose that magnet, they work great, stuck on the side of your toolbox to hold various screws, bolts, or other hardware.  

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What’s Your Take On Jeep’s Seven EJS Concept Vehicles For 2023?

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Departure Concept

front-hinged tubular grille guard

Dark Harbor Blue / Orange seats

Flat Fenders w/ removable covers for the daytime running lights. 

Jeeps says these flat fenders are the first to be legal in all 50 U.S. states.

JPP 2.0-inch suspension lift, 37″ BFG KM3’s, bronze 17-inch wheels.

Reversible rear-mounted tire carrier – Improves departure angle / Doesn’t compromise the rear backup camera either.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Concept

Tuscadero Pink Paint job (high demand) 

Basic 4xe – New grill from 20th Anniversary Edition

37″ BFG KM3 M/T tires on 17″ AEV wheels

Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Sideburn Concept

Solar Flash Yellow

37″ BFG KM3 and 17-inch HRE FT1 wheels w/ full-size spare mounted on the modified tire carrier in the bed.

Tubular grille guard that’s hinged at the front to fold down and become a bench.

The roof-mounted lights are removable too, and the custom bracket supporting them can be quickly disconnected.

New sports bar concept – now available through JPP – made of carbon fiber/steel, incorporates steps on both sides and portable storage cases on top.

The bed incorporates recessed Rotopax pockets and molle panels for added storage.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer Overland Concept

35-inch tires, extensive auxiliary exterior lights, 

New high-output Hurricane engine, a 510-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six.

Massive rooftop tent/custom carbon-fiber structure (Skyloft from RedTail Overland) 

Assembled in mere seconds by hand, climate-controlled and can sleep two people.

Jeep says it also turned the Waggoneer’s rearmost sunroof into a porthole to access the roof-mounted tent.

Jeep Scrambler 392 Concept

Started life as a four-door Wrangler Rubicon 392, but it’s been reinterpreted with the Scrambler ethos. 

The original CJ-8 Scrambler was Jeep’s first convertible pickup truck.

Rides on huge 40-inch tires mounted on 20-inch wheels. 

Newly available air suspension (called AccuAir) – can be raised between 1.5 and 5.5 inches at any time via either a control switch inside or using a compatible smartphone device.

1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept

Two electric motors with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. 

A couple of clues to its hybrid nature are the blue front and rear tow hooks.

Jeep Wrangler Magneto 3.0 Concept

Operates through a manual transmission.

Peak output up to 625 horses and 850 pound-feet of torque.

Newbie Nuggets with Wendy

Trail Manners

Since we talked about an organized trail run in episode 786 Trial manners are next on the list of things to consider when wheeling.

Having good trail manners makes your wheeling that much better and will probably get you an invite back to the group for more wheeling.

NOTE: If you wheel with people that are rude, and do some of these things then stop wheeling with them. You aren’t obligated to wheel with anyone

1)   If you have a solid foundation for being kind & courteous, you are already ahead of the game with trail manners. Most people you meet along the trails are very courteous and polite

2)   Some things to consider:

A) When wheeling you will come across another group that you pass as 

they are traveling in the opposite direction

a.  Say hello to your fellow off-roaders. I can’t tell you how many

      times we run across people who are mad, angry or 

      maybe they are just stressed out.

b.  If your group is smaller- pull over and let the larger group pass.

      This may include backing up to a safe location to let them pass.

c.  If you are the bigger group, then the other group should pull over.

      It’s easier for the smaller group to pull over

 B) When passing other jeepers/off-roaders – let them know  how many are 

 behind you in your group

a.  Use hand signals to signify 1, 2, 3, etc. # behind you. It doesn’t

 always work as I have realized that some Jeepers have no clue why

 we are holding up our fingers.

b.  So we started letting the first driver of the opposing group know 

how many are in our group. If you are in a group, the leader will more than likely handle this, but if you are leading, think about that communication. It’s just good manners.

C) When you decide to take a break, or stop for lunch, park off the trail – 

Get off the road completely. 

D) If it’s a lunch stop – make sure you don’t crowd or invade someone

 else’s serene spot

E) Yielding to horses:  check to see what the yield laws are in your state. In California, the equestrian (horse and rider) has the right of way on all roads and trails. PERIOD. Even hikers have to yield to horses.  If you wheel where riders are present, slow down. Maybe even stop and shut off your louder engines. Approaching a horse/rider at any speed can

 be dangerous for them but also could cause major damage to your jeep. 

Always stop and wait for the rider to direct you to stop, or move 

you through. Most often riders out on the trails have pretty solid and trail-worthy horses, but every once in a while a younger horse may spook and

that’s a disaster you don’t need or want to be involved in.

a.  Horses are allowed on the Pacific Crest Trail here on the west

coast. This trail starts on the Mexican border and ends at the

Canadian border. Many of our jeep trails cross the PCT so we are 

always aware there may be equestrians on the trails.    

F)   Trash pick-up: Make sure that everyone in 

the group is picking up their trash before you leave a lunch spot or break area.

a.  All off-roaders should be stewards to take care of the trails and help keep them open. If you are wheeling with litterbugs, pick up their trash and then promise me you will never wheel with them again LOL

Most of what I covered is common sense, be kind to others and they will be kind to you. Most everyone we have encountered has been wonderful and very nice. It’s what we love about Jeeping. If there’s a group (or person)  that doesn’t think this way, that’s OK for them, but you need to set a higher standard for yourself and those you run with. 

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

Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update

Criminal Mischief

Back on January 13th, 2023, the 2021 Jeep Talk Show Gladiator was “keyed” in the Sam’s Club parking lot.

There was no prior altercation one on one or vehicle-on-vehicle.

The damage was from the front fender to the front fender.
I noticed the damage after getting back home.

I contacted the police, then I contacted Sam’s Club for video evidence.

All evidence collected was given to the police department.

The investigator said he could not sit on the stand and swear that the “close up” of the person in the security footage was the same person on the driver’s license of the person that owned the truck that keyed my Jeep.

Now you’re up to date, until this week when I received a call from the investigator.

The suspect updated his driver’s license and his PHOTO!  Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

The case is being forwarded to the District Attorney!

I am pressing charges because NO ONE should feel they can do this to someone’s property!  Put a note on a window, wait for the person to come out, and tell them the problem you have.  This 68-year-old man let his emotions get away from him and now TWO and a half months later he is going to have a very bad day.  Followed by worry and a trial.

But we have to see what the DA is going to do with the case.  This is all new ground for me.

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

XKGLOW LED High Wing Tail Light for Jeep Wrangler JK – $230

https://amzn.to/3kRkFcw

Low profile design.

Dark smoked polycarbonate lens.

Bright, attention-grabbing LEDs.

Running, brake, and turn signal functions.

Easy plug-and-play installation.

Fits Jeep Wrangler JK / JKU.

Will only work with hard tops.

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