Jeep Crashes into Dennys

Right here near studio A in Rosenberg Texas a Jeep crashed into Dennys.

23 people were injured, at least one seriously.  Several chairs and tables weren’t so lucky.

No this wasn’t a 2:15 a.m. crash, it was at 11:32 am!

Police said the Jeep crashed into the south wall of the building, injuring 23 people inside. Police initially said the victims ranged in age from 12 to 60 years old.

The injuries range from cuts to broken bones!

The driver, a 30-year-old man, did not appear to be driving under the influence but lost control on a wet road and driving too fast.

Police are investigating the accident.

Aftermarket Diff Covers

The Jeep Talk Show has recently spoken about aftermarket diff covers for Jeeps to help keep the fluid in the differential while going off-road.

You can listen to our discussion by listening to last week’s flagship episode and a very good discussion on our recent Round Table.

I asked the question about fluid flow in the diff cover.  I recently watched several videos from Gale Banks and Bankspower.com.  Banks did a lot of research into this, specifically for trucks, of the larger variety.

They found what I think you’d expect.  Fluid dynamics, and air dynamics all played a part in how well the diff cover performed in heat and fuel economy.  Yes, fuel economy!

Banks don’t offer a diff cover for a Jeep but the information they have gathered, should help us Jeepers make a better decision on which aftermarket diff cover we want to buy.

What’s Up, with Larry?

What is your favorite type of Joint?

Now we are not talking about going to Burning Man, we are talking about suspension upgrades, One of the common upgrades is new control arms.  And how do you pick what control arm joint you pick?

There are several brands of them and styles, you have Heim joints, Johnny joint style, and urethane style joints.

There are several names on these joints and how they’re assembled is all a little different. And the performance and life of them will change also. So when you were looking at a joint, are you looking for durability, comfort, or ease of installation, Most of these can be bought as a system, or as a builder kit.

So what are some of the differences, and why would you want them?

Rubber bushings; These are what you get in your factory control arm. They offer a good combination of flex and comfort, they are typically not rebuildable.  They do offer a moderate amount of flex and dampening for the trail and Road for the cost. They are typically the least expensive arm or joint if you damage an arm and are usually bought in fixed lengths.

Duroflex style joint; These are enhancements to the rubber style bushing, but offer more flexibility and the ability to replace the rubber bushings easily for serviceability. they offer a good dampener to trail and Road vibrations and don’t transfer sound very well. you can typically get these in different stiffness for your application.

There is a little more cost involved. There are several manufacturers of that style one of them being Metalcloake by namesake.

The Heim Joint; is a steel joint with a swivel in the mount that translates any movement or articulation.  They will typically give you the most articulation and offer a lot of strength, but no dampening for on-road or trail comfort and noise. Most of these are serviceable. And offers a good choice for very rough and high horsepower conditions. They will be moderately priced, But you will feel every bump and hear a lot of squeaking if you don’t maintain them.

The Johnny joint style joint;

These are very similar to the traditional Heim joint but offer improved comfort, and dampening from the road and trail. There are molded rubber pieces that hold the center section, and allow it to rotate in a rubber or urethane-style mount. It gives a lot of flexibility just like a heim joint.

These will be on the upper end of the expensive but offer a good all-around joint.

All of these joints can be bought as part of a system, or as a builder kit, where you can weld in a bushing or a housing and install the joint you want. Just identify what you want to do with the new joints and the requirements for maintenance.

Now I bent a factory lower and made a new set with the Duro flex joints.  So far so good. If nothing else buy one joint and see how you like it before you get a complete system.

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

Rough Country Front M210 Diff Skid Plate for 18-22 Jeep Wrangler JL – 10627 Black $99.95

2020-2022 4WD Jeep Gladiator

The reviewer said it’s half the price but not half the quality.  Great product for the money.

Rubicon only, but this may apply to the Gladiator with the Max Tow package. Research before ordering so you’re sure it will fit on your Jeep.

Jeep Gladiator is Dead! 

At least In Europe!  But it’s leaving with a Final Edition

The Gladiator will no longer be available in the European market starting later this year, with the brand focusing its efforts on launching a trio of new electric vehicles by 2025. To say goodbye to the rugged pickup, Jeep is launching the Gladiator FarOut Final Edition.

Jeep builds the new Gladiator on top of the Overland trim, which will only be available with the diesel engine. The truck first went on sale in Europe in 2021.

The FarOut Final Edition will stand apart from other Gladiators with its 18-inch granite crystal gloss-black aluminum wheels. It features Mopar’s three-piece, body-color hardtop, hardtop liner, and black tubular side steps. It also has deep tint glass, black freedom fender decals above the wheel arches, and a special metallic FarOut Edition tailgate plaque. A spray-in liner protects the bed.

Jeep spruces up the cabin with McKinley heated leather seats and a heated steering wheel. It has a nine-speaker Alpine audio system with a subwoofer. Standard safety features include blind-spot detection, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

The final edition is only available with the 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine. It makes 260 horsepower (194 kilowatts) and 442 pound-feet (600 Newton-meters) of torque. Jeep pairs the engine with the eight-speed TorqueFlite 8HP75 automatic transmission. The truck has a 3.73 axle ratio and the Selec-Trac two-speed transfer case.

The Gladiator FarOut Final Edition will be available in Severn colors: Bright White, Black, High Velocity, Silver Zynith, Sting Grey, Sarge Green, and Hydro Blue. Customers will be able to select two option packages. The Cargo Group adds a lockable rear under-seat storage bin, a 400-watt inverter, and a 230-volt AC adapter. The Duel Top Group comes with both hard and soft top roofs. Stand-alone options include tonneau covers and an off-road camera.

The death of the Gladiator in Europe is making room for a slew of fresh products. The brand plans to launch three new electric vehicles by 2025 – the Avenger, Recon, and Wagoneer-S. Stellantis, the brand’s parent company, has grand plans to transform Jeep into a pure electric brand in Europe by the end of 2030.

While Jeep will continue to offer the Gladiator in the US, the diesel engine option is gone. Last month, the automaker announced that the 2023 Gladiator FarOut Edition would be the last diesel-powered pickup in America. Jeep is only producing 1,000 examples of the trucks.

Jeep Is In Trouble

Of the top 33 car brands selling cars in the United States, Jeep’s sales growth is at the absolute bottom, meaning that there are 32 brands ahead of them.

4XE vehicles have been a surprising sales success.

Ford and its Bronco line of vehicles is giving the Wrangler its first real test in decades.

Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update

Diff cover protection.

Leaking fluid on the trail

Internal damage from lack of fluid

Diff cover rubbing on the ring gear

Heavy duty diff cover, or diff skid system, or both?

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

NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000A UltraSafe Car Battery Jump Starter, 12V Jump Starter Battery Pack $99.95

Reverse polarity protection!  Great for those in your family who may not have the confidence to jump-start their vehicle.