Episode 450 – Buy a Postal Jeep For Only $6.00!
This episode brought to you in part by, ExtremeTerrain! ExtremeTerrain has released a new video aimed at helping Jeep Wrangler owners choose the best soft top just in time for their summer adventures. The video is an upgrade to XT’s comprehensive Jeep tops tech guide covering everything needed to help customers shop, swap, maintain and winterize their top with confidence.
This Week In Jeep:
Jeep Transforms Its Gladiator EcoDiesel Into an Overlanding Dream Concept
Since the Bronco’s reveal last month, Jeep has rolled out a V-8-powered Wrangler concept, started testing the production version on public roads, and added a diesel engine to its Gladiator. Now it’s revealed the Gladiator Farout Concept built for overlanding, and if the concept proves popular we wouldn’t be surprised if some of the features end up in the Mopar catalog. But Jeep wants to make one thing very clear: the new diesel-powered Gladiator pickup can go a long way. And to drive the point home it has created the aptly-named Gladiator Farout Concept, a custom truck designed for long-distance adventuring, otherwise known as overlanding. For those not in the know, Overlanding is the practice of traveling across very remote areas, often for weeks, or even months at a time, all while carrying everything you’ll need along the way. Built as a showcase for the annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari in Utah, (which was canceled this year due to the corona virus pandemic) the Farout Jeep Gladiator concept is equipped as an overlanding truck which features a purpose built canopy over the trucks bed equipped with a refrigerator and stove, table space and fold out chairs. Above that are two fold out awnings, one on each side of the canopy, and a four-person roof-mounted tent with a cargo space roof rack over the passenger area. The Farout Gladiator Concept has a two-inch suspension lift with Fox shocks, 37-inch mud-terrain tires and a steel front bumper with a 12,000-pound Warn winch. The truck is powered by the 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine currently offered in the Jeep Wrangler. Allegedly, that engine will be available in the Gladiator this fall. According to Jeep, it will have an EPA highway rating of 28 mpg, which is 20 percent better than the Gladiator’s available gasoline version. Combined with a 22-gallon tank, that means it can cover over 600 miles — at least until the pavement ends. Trail and forest fuel economy have not been released.
Get Yourself a Jeep from the U.S. Postal Service for less than SIX DOLLARS!
You might have heard that the U.S. Postal Service is in need of funding. The USPS is legally obligated to deliver and pick up mail to every address in the United States, all while receiving zero tax dollars for operating expenses. Instead, it makes its money via retail sales and the postage we all pay to mail this or that. With that in mind, and if you already have enough stamps, there is another way to help the USPS while expanding your fleet of Jeeps. The USPS’s retail site has a section devoted to toy cars of all things. And for just $5.99 you can get either a white or a blue 1971 USPS Jeep. Okay Granted it’s not a full sized, running and driving DJ-5, but it’s still pretty cool. So you can get a sweet (toy) Postal Service jeep, and the Post Office will get some much-needed funds to make sure everyone continues to receive the mail. How else is grandma going to get you that check for 2 dollars on your birthday!? If you want to grab one of each of these little Jeeps and help out the Postal Service all at the same time, we’ll have the link in the shown notes for this episode on our site. https://store.usps.com/store/results/gifts/_/N-nnxamr
Is it still considered offroading?
On or around 8:42 pm in Chatham Massachusetts two Jeeps somehow simultaneously landed on top of a police cruiser. The Chatham police officer had minor injuries from the literal pile up on Crowell Road the other night, but the two Jeepers however were more seriously hurt. There are no details released about this accident or the sustained injuries other than the pictures we see and a brief description. But in looking at the photos, I am utterly baffled how two lifted Jeeps, an XJ and a Wrangler BOTH ended on TOP of a police car. Ok, so it’s one of the ford explorer versions, and it’s only technically not a car, but still, that puts the roof line at least a foot over the top of what a crown vic sits at, and then there’s the fact the cop is on the wrong side of the road, WITH two jeeps on top of it… “Yes officer Goofy, would mind telling the city council just why your cruiser was on the side of the road, totalled with two different offroad vehicles on top of it.?” ….”AH-HYUCK” It’s almost like the two jeeps were just parked somewhere next to each other, minding their own business, sharing stories about flavored diff fluid, and tire sizes when all the sudden, this cop comes out of nowhere at like a hundred miles an hour and just wedges himself under the both of them and just kept going until one of them started to fall off. If you know anything about this very odd pile up, you must let us know. And if you want to see the pictures for yourself, we’ll have them posted in the show notes for this episode.
Jeep Life:
Top 5 Lessons Learned on the Rubicon Trail
Josh and Wendy. First a quick update on My Jeep and me. I am now on Plan G. I left Texas and made it to Colorado. We went back to California and rescued the CJ5 That was a long slow drive back. Now I am in back in Colorado with a Jeep that needs many repairs. I never made it to Utah. A torn boot on my Yeti steering system. A cracked windshield. Squeaky brakes. That check engine light is on again. Misfire cylinder six again. Even with new spark plugs it’s looking like I need to change out the ignition coil. Tony I will be taking your advice. I am going to do it myself. Well kind of. Oh, and there may be a leak somewhere in my exhaust. And I am watching that front axle. Of course, my Jeep is my priority as it’s all I have. And I am on quite a budget so do it yourself is my new motto. Now Lesson number 4 of my Top 5 lessons learned on the Rubicon Trail. This is similar to what Wendy shared several episodes ago on newbie nuggets. Something I previously had not experienced on the level I did when we wheeled the Rubicon Trail. Now this isn’t just for newbies either. It’s a good reminder for all levels of off Roaders. When you go off road, whether it’s your trail ride or you are going with others Know Your Group. There are so many aspects of Know Your Group. This is vitally important on the Rubicon Trail. Like we talked about previously this isn’t just a one or two day trail ride. This can be 4 to 5 day ride. Possibly even longer. A side note here. I highly suggest if you do wheel the Rubicon Trail keep the Jeep group to 5 or less. Especially if you go with inexperienced rock crawlers. It will be much more enjoyable for the whole group with a group of 5 or less. Okay Know Your Group. Just because you are wheeling the Rubicon Trail don’t assume all the folks in your group know what the Rubicon Trail is all about… like the level of difficulty the trail is or how long it can take. Make sure everyone in your group is clear on what they may expect like there will be body damage and most likely other trail damage while you are on the trail or even damage you may not notice for days after you are off the trail. Make sure you know what kind of previous wheeling they have done. Just because they have a badass looking Jeep don’t assume they have the skills to match. Some of those obstacles on the Rubicon are exceedingly difficult and there could be a lot of time spent spotting others through those obstacles. Your group should have an experienced spotter, someone experienced in recovery and trail fixes. The Rubicon Trail is no joke mainly because of the length of the trail 22 miles with no place on the trail to jump off the trail. There is an entrance and exit. Well 2 entrances there is the Loon Lake Trailhead and the Wentworth Springs Trail entrance. And unless you have a Ham Radio there is no cell service to call out for help. Make sure you discuss expectations before you even hit the trail like What to bring, how long it will take, what happens if someone breaks, food and water prep, Jeep prep, off roading skill levels. and Jeep capabilities. This is vitally important especially if folks are coming from all over. It is highly important to have these discussions so everyone knows what to expect so you can avoid issues and misunderstandings. For some people this is a once in a lifetime trip. And some folks come from a long ways to wheel this trail so expectations are so important to know to avoid any issues on the trail. You are out in the middle of nowhere and once you get on the trail it’s not an easy thing to turn around or hop off. You want everyone to enjoy the Rubicon Trail. Next week I will share Lesson number 3 of my Top 5 Lessons Learned on the Rubicon Trail. Note these aren’t in any order of priority. I feel everyone is a number one lesson learned.
Tech Talk With Jeep Talk:
Newbie Nuggets:
I see and hear this all the time: I got a new jeep, what should I do to it first? Or I just bought a gently used jeep and what do you think I should do first? Well it all depends on what you plan to do with your jeep. First thing; is this your daily driver, is it just going to be a mall crawler or just to pick the kids up from school? Do you just want to modify it to look cool? Depending on your plans for your jeep, determines the type of upgrades you may want to look at. But what if you want to drive off-road, or rock crawl, or go mudding. First I would say, decide what type of wheeling you want to do. If it’s just fire roads, or light camping, or easy to barely-moderate trails, your stock jeep may be set up enough and work just fine. Now if you want to rock crawl and venture onto medium to difficult trails, you will need to make some adjustments to your jeep, UH – HUH… So for the purpose of this segment I am listing the top 5 things to consider for the jeeper that wants to upgrade, add mods, but isn’t sure where to start. This list is something that probably needs some pre-planning on how to pay for these items, like maybe a coin jar set aside with all your extra coins. Upgrades will set you back a bit, however, you can do these upgrades over time and as you decide how much crawling or off-roading you want to do. #1 suggestion: CB/Ham Radio. In previous episodes (415 for CB’s) and (432, 132, & 153 for ham radios) we discussed pros and cons of both. But if you are going to wheel, even on easy roads, it’s a really good idea to get some sort of communication and learn how to use it. You just never know. They range from inexpensive $40 to $300 radios and up. #2 suggestion: A lift – between 2½” and 4” lift depending on what size tire you think you may roll into. What I mean is don’t spend the money on a 2½” lift if you plan to go to 35’s or 37’s. It would be a waste of money to have to do another lift down the road. But, if the tire size you have fits and a 2 ½” lift works and you don’t plan to ever go bigger (UH- HUH) then go for it. Lift kits will set you back about 2-3,000 dollars. #3 suggestion: Wheels and/or Tires: Once you do a lift, you will most likely realize that your jeep looks funny sitting on those 31’s and you naturally want to get bigger tires (Uh-HUH). There are lots of tire brands to choose from, so make sure you do some research and figure out the type of wheeling or daily driving you will do. Select something that will last as you venture out on the trial. Of course I am going to recommend the Nexen Roadian MTX, but Nexen makes AT and other tires for everyday cars and daily drivers. Wheels are a whole other game. Do you go with Bead locks or not? Again what type of wheeling are you doing and what look are you going for? Bead locks are good for low tire pressure, around 10psi, which is good for rock crawling. The bead locks help keep your tire on the wheel. Wheel selection is typically a personal preference, so start looking at everyone else’s wheels and find a brand or wheel you like the look of. Then do your research because you want a good reliable wheel as you probably won’t be changing this again. Tires will run around $1,500 (for the Nexen MTX) and wheels can vary from $200 to $500 per wheel depending on what you choose. #4 suggestion: Bumpers and a winch: Bumpers are an important addition to your jeep because they help protect the jeep body when you are rock crawling and or recovering other vehicles, like the new Bronco. Deciding on just a bumper or a bumper/winch combo is something else you need to research. The type of wheeling could help you decide on what you need. Steel bumpers are a nice upgrade to the standard plastic bumpers on stock jeeps. And there are all kinds of options from big & beefy to stubby to all kinds of extras they throw on a bumper. Make sure there are attachment points on the bumper for D-rings (or soft shackles) that way your friends can pull you out. Bumpers come in all sizes, shapes and styles so you have lots to choose from. The winch is also a great addition; it might even be closer to the top of the list if you plan on wheeling black diamond trails anytime soon. Having a winch can give you peace of mind when wheeling, however, I do suggest going out with someone else and not alone on the harder trails. And if your buddy has a winch you may not have to invest in one as quickly. Winches have steel cables or synthetic. I prefer the synthetic rope for several reasons that I list in episode 434. Of course you will need additional equipment with your winch, like soft shackles, a tow strap, tree saver, etc. Bumpers can run $500 to $1500 and winches will set you back about $300 to $1500. You may be able to save some money by buying a bumper winch combo. And the final suggestion #5: Rock sliders and Skid plates. Once you start crawling over rocks, you will want to upgrade the rock sliders and add the skid plates. It’s body armor that really does make crawling a bit easier with less body damage to your jeep. Rock sliders attach just below the doors to the frame and protect the jeep when climbing over obstacles. They can help the jeep “slide” off the rock instead of getting hung up and damaging the body. There is a huge market for rock sliders including ones with retractable steps, to things that look like something out of a Mad Max movie. We have GenRight rock sliders and I like them because they fit close to the body (no overhang) and they continue down under the body and butt up to the frame underneath. So nothing gets caught in between and I can safely and confidently maneuver over large rocks. Now skid plates are another thing. This covers the underside of the jeep. As you rock crawl this is another benefit so that you aren’t taking out your transmission, transfer case, gas tank or your oil pan. You can do the skid plates in sections, starting with just one that covers the engine or transfer case and then add them on as your budget allows. We have the Rock Hard 3-piece skid plate system and that has worked out very well for us. Rock sliders could cost as much as $1500 and the skid plates can run as high as $1,000 depending on what you choose. No matter what you do, or don’t do, to upgrade your jeep, it’s still drivable and very capable just the way it is. You don’t have to upgrade anything on your jeep if you don’t want or need to. Usually we upgrade because we have upped our game and want to tackle something more difficult, OR we broke something and as the saying goes… You know… while you are in there. Josh, Tony and Tammy, What do you think of my suggestions for the top 5 modifications? Would you add anything else?
Interview with:
David Bell TabooCustoms.com
Dave is the owner of Taboo Customs He has been building and wheeling jeeps for the last 25 years He is a degree’d engineer who has worked in the OEM and aftermarket auto industry for 20 years Dave also spent 8 years in the Army Reserves as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic and competed in RRock and WeRock for 4 years. You can learn more about Dave and Taboo Customs by visiting taboocustoms.com, following Taboo Customs on Facebook or watching the Taboo Customs YouTube videos.
Must Have Stuff:
TEKTON 5547 4-Ton Dual Gear Power Puller $50.00 (and free shipping) https://amzn.to/30VkmkG
Having a winch is great, it makes those stressful situations when you get stuck seem… not all that bad. But what do you do when you can’t afford a winch, or the bumper to put it on for that matter? For most that’s a thousand dollars or more, and that’s providing you have the means and skills to install it all yourself and don’t have to pay for labor. Now more than ever, those of us who enjoy the offroad need less expensive alternatives to the go-to options most Jeepers have always turned to. So if a winch is out of your budget, then it’s time to really focus on building a good recovery kit, and the most useful and powerful tool for self recovery is a come-along. Look, if you ALWAYS wheel with another vehicle, and you each have straps, d-rings, and recovery points, then this is a bit of a moot point. But you and I both know that you don’t always go out with another vehicle, so there’s those times, that despite saying you weren’t going to do any serious wheeling that day, you find yourself in a single vehicle self-recovery situation. Having all the tow straps in the world isn’t going to save you at that point. So you better have something that can pull you out. Sometimes referred to as a power puller, these are devices that operate like a winch, but manually, using a large lever, gears, springs and pawls. The mechanism is centrally located while a static line with a hook is at one end, and the cable and pulleys are at the other. If you’ve never seen one before, they’re about as big as a chainsaw and take up about as much room in the Jeep. The one I’ve picked for you is one I’ve actually used myself, but don’t own. It has a maximum rated capacity of 8,000 pounds and a safe working load of 4,000 pounds, the TEKTON 5547 is a 4 Ton Dual Gear Power Puller which uses a ratcheting gear pulley system to move your stuck Jeep with a single hand. With the three-hook design, it can be used as either a single line or double line system. Safety latch hooks are self-closing for secure connections and are installed on both ends. Strong 1/4 in. aircraft-grade braided steel cable has a maximum pull length of 12 ft. 7 in. (7 ft. 3 in. used as a double line) which should be plenty to get your Jeep moving again. Dual gears and locking pawls distribute the pulling force evenly so there’s no binding or twisting internally. This has an all-steel construction with a corrosion-resistant galvanized finish which makes it built to last. The high-leverage, 21” steel ratchet handle with cushioned non slip grip is comfortable to operate even in wet weather. With secondary pawls released, pumping the handle offers safe and controlled, notch-at-a-time letdown of the load. Look, you can go down to Harbor Freight and get something kind of similar for about half the prince and a fraction of the reliability. I could also direct you to the completely made in the USA all hardened steel and fully OSHA compliant option that also just so happens to cost “lit-trally” over 5 times as much for the exact same specs and capabilities. With Tekton being voted as one of the top three best power puller manufacturers in the world by The Drive, JP magazine, and several others, I thought this might be an affordable and reliable option for those who need something like this to finish their recovery kit. And if you don’t yet have a recovery kit, then consider getting this come-a-long to start things off with. You’d be off to a very good start. I’ll do you all a favor though, and post up the link to the expensive one as well, so you can choose for yourself. ($270.23 option) Maasdam Pow’R Pull 8000SB 4-Ton Cable Puller https://amzn.to/30SpHZW
Campfire Side Chat:
CB Antennas – They come in all sorts of sizes and lengths, do you run a metal or a fiberglass Antenna? Why? And how big is it? …Are you a “Stick” or a “Whip” kind of Jeeper?
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Contact Us! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact
Buy Postal Jeeps for $6 https://store.usps.com/store/results/gifts/_/N-nnxamr
Taboo Customs https://taboocustoms.com/ https://www.facebook.com/taboocustomsinc/
Jeep 4-1-1 https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver
Must Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep! TEKTON 5547 4-Ton Dual Gear Power Puller $50.00 (and free shipping) https://amzn.to/30VkmkG
($270.23 option) Maasdam Pow’R Pull 8000SB 4-Ton Cable Puller https://amzn.to/30SpHZW
