Episode 622 – Sometimes Simpler Is Better
This Week In Jeep
So Jeep Gave Harvey Weinstein A Jeep in 2017….
There are not too many people out there who haven’t at least heard the name, Harvey Weinstein. The Former Hollywood movie producer is of course now in prison for some pretty heinous sex crimes. So why am I talking about Hollywood-level gossip on a Jeep podcast? Well, this sleazy creepoid is suing FCA (Jeep’s former parent company, now owned by Stellantis) over a crash that happened three years ago. Apparently, there is no statute of limitations for something like that. Weinstein is seeking $5 million in damages because he flipped his Jeep Wrangler while trying to avoid a deer. He “claims” that the accident which happened in Bedford, New York, about 40 miles north of Manhattan, left him “catastrophically injured and rendered paralyzed with significant and continuing conscious pain and suffering from severe spine and back injuries.” According to the complaint filed in a New York state court in Manhattan, Weinstein was wearing his seatbelt when the brakes on the 2017 Wrangler allegedly failed as he approached the deer, causing a rollover. It was the supposed brake fail that CAUSED the crash… couldn’t possibly have anything to do with your gross overreaction to jerk the wheel all the way to one direction or anything right? Oh and just in case you’re curious, why a creep like Harvey Weinstein has a Jeep Wrangler to begin with, well it’s because it was given to him. BY Jeep, so that they could get some product placement in one of his films. The (I’m sure sleeps just fine at night) Lawyer for Weinstein, is also trying hopelessly to dispute multiple press reports that (chuckle) point to Harvey boy being uninjured from the said crash. The lawyer claims Weinstein told authorities he was hurt at the time of the accident. ………..Uh-huh. Poor Weinstein is allegedly in constant debilitating pain because FCA prolonged negotiations after the crash to avoid a lawsuit.
Something tells me that Harvey Weinstein is just pissed off that he has to sleep on a prison bed now that stinks like tears, shame, and old baloney ass. The guy is now 70 years old and is serving a 23-year sentence for sexual assault and rape, and probably misses his memory foam. His trials arent over yet either, he is still facing more lawsuits, now in Los Angeles from other alleged sex crimes from 2004 to 2013. Oh but I’m sure he’s a trustworthy guy, definitely not the type that would have the motivation to pursue frivolous lawsuits to pay for a mountain of legal fees.
GOT ‘EM!
Back in Episode 581, we talked about a story that is now all but swept under the rug.
Apparently, several people in a “Gone in 60 Seconds” raid, stole high-dollar and high-performance vehicles from multiple Stellantis plants. Six-Figure Grand Wagoneers, 700+ HP Widebody Hellcat Chargers, $90K Trackhawk Jeep Grand Cherokees, and a Hellcat Challenger. This was no joke, and it was pulled off by one hell of a team with a Hollywood level of planning, intel, and sophistication. Did I mention this all happened in broad daylight? Yea, so fast forward to now, and the FBI has now charged four men in the connection with these crimes. FBI agents arrested Devin Rice, Hakim Benjamin, and Lavelle Jones last week, all of whom live in the Cleveland area. A fourth suspect, Jaylen Harris, has been charged as part of the same complaint but not arrested and is presumed on the run. The group faces federal charges including robbery, mail theft, transporting cars across state lines, and gun possession. The suspects will be tried for the crimes, which investigators allege involved several sophisticated schemes. The FBI claims that the suspects obtained several universal keys that are designed to open all of the blue mailboxes in a given geographical area. The suspects allegedly robbed postal workers at gunpoint in order to steal the keys and one of the suspects told investigators that he paid a postal service employee $1,000 for a key. With that, investigators say the men were able to steal mail from the mailboxes and use it to commit fraud. Several bank accounts were drained and cheques were forged in order to be cashed at banks.
The investigation supposedly got a break when police noticed a vehicle that was involved in the armed robbery of a mail carrier. They obtained a warrant and found a collection of mail keys and a number of bank deposit slips and checks. This led them to a location where some of the men supposedly lived. Another warrant was obtained, and they found more stolen mail and paper used to print checks. While there, investigators claim they also found stolen vehicles, which led them to link these mail crimes to a separate series of thefts involving the aforementioned Jeeps and Dodges. Police say the thieves used something called a “Pro Pad,” which allowed them to copy key fob information to effectively trick the vehicles into opening and starting for them. One of the most insane parts of this story, aside from the outwrite gall, and how they did it, was that despite some of the vehicles being worth upwards of six figures… Some were sold for less than $10K. One Challenger allegedly went for as little as $3500. Most of the stolen Jeeps and Dodges have been found. Some were involved in high-speed chases, car crashes, and traffic stops. Others, meanwhile, were simply stashed around the Cleveland area. Altogether, between the high-dollar vehicles, and the mail fraud, the thefts are estimated to tally upwards of $2.7 million.
Newbie Nuggets with Wendy
What to expect on your first organized trail run
So you finally decided to join a group on a trail run and you might be wondering what you should expect on this run. When you are deciding to join a run, the information about that run is important so you can determine whether the run fits your jeep set-up and your driving abilities.
I have some things that you may want to know before you go.
1) The description of the run will list the date, time, and location of the meeting. Now the meeting place could be the “meet-up” and then you drive to the trailhead, OR it could be the actual start of the run. Either way, I suggest getting there ahead of the time listed. Most runs will list a meet time of 8:00 am and a leave time of 8:30 am for example. Most runs will leave on time, so don’t be that one Jeeper who is late.
2) Once you arrive, if it’s a club event or corporate event you will need to sign a waiver. If it’s just a group of people that get together and you have invited you probably won’t sign anything.
3) Once you meet the trail leaders, they may ask about your set-up and/or ability in an effort to place you in the line for the greatest success. You also may be placed in the order you arrived too. Either way, it will all be good.
4
) You will need to air down. It’s best to know what to air down to ahead of arriving. Most jeepers have differing opinions on how much to air down. For good info on airing down, check out episodes 431 and 452 and you can watch our Trails 411 YouTube videos. It really depends on the trail and your brand of the tire as to what you actually air down to.
5) About 5 minutes before the run starts, the leader will call a driver’s meeting and review the trail difficulty and go over any rules of the run. Like no drinking, or making sure when there is a turn you wait for the driver behind you to make sure he/she sees you make the turn so they don’t get separated from the group, and any other general info. They will also announce the radio frequency for HAM or channel if using GMRS or CB, and a brief idea of the time frame for lunch.
If the run is intermediate or difficult, they will likely discuss some of the possible obstacles coming up and let everyone know that they can ask for a spotter. Again, this is not a bad thing, it’s a badge of honor, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Grown men CAN ask for help and directions!!! Once the drivers’ meeting is adjourned, it’s off and running – well actually it’s back to your jeep and away you go. Follow the Jeep in front of you close enough not to get lost, but not so close that you get pelted with rocks and gravel. Also, turn your air recycling on to keep from filling your interior with road dust from the Jeep in front of you. Of course, if you’re topless you’ll get what you get.
6) Turn on your headlights. The lead should always have most of their lights on and is more easily seen by those out of control side-by-side heading towards them from the other direction. Everyone else’s headlights are more easily seen in a rear view or side mirror with a quick glance to make sure the Jeep behind you is still there. Without the headlights, ALL Jeeps (even RED Jeeps) become the same color as the dusty trail making them harder to see in your mirrors.
Pay attention to the driver in front of you as they tackle obstacles, ruts, gullies, etc. Do you like their line? Would you make changes to their line for your jeep or comfort? This IS a great training ground for you to learn and feel comfortable with your jeep. If there is an obstacle, get out and watch, it’s the best way to gain knowledge.
7) At some point during the trip, the group will stop for a lunch break. This can be the best part of the trip, depending on the destination. Sometimes the stops we have had are on the top of a mountain with forever views, or maybe it’s a desert view that goes on for miles and miles. We’ve had lunch many times sitting by a stream. I love the places we stop. It’s also a great time to chat with other drivers and sit around and enjoy the company of fellow jeepers
8) Plan on packing chairs for each person in your jeep. Some places may offer rocks to sit on, but you may be better off with a chair. Folding or smaller chairs are generally best due to limited space in your jeep. You will need an ice chest- it doesn’t need to be the huge one like you use for a weeklong trip if this is just a day trip, you just need to keep the food and beverages cold that you brought for the day. Consider what you may need for the kids and the dog.
Please leash your dog. I am the biggest dog lover, but I hate when loose, out-of-control dogs get all in my business when I’m trying to enjoy lunch. If you jeep with your dog please bring baggies to clean up after your dog. Just be prepared, dogs will almost always do their business in the middle of the group setting while everyone is eating lunch.
9) Bring some extras for the kids that might include games & toys to keep the little ones busy. Another suggestion is to have a bag with items like paper towels, hand wipes, sunscreen, bug spray, hats, light jackets, and any other extras you may want/need for the day. Extra water and snacks are always a good addition too. It’s really about making your trip comfortable for you.
10) After lunch the group will continue on their way to the end of the run. This is where you will air up your tires. Hopefully, you have an air compressor or other equipment like a Powertank to air up, if not, there is generally a fellow Jeeper who is willing to help you air back up. Airing up tools should be on your list of “things to add to the Jeep” as you start to venture out on trails. This is also a good time to do a quick check under your rig, just to make sure you didn’t leave any parts on the trail or dangling underneath the jeep. Once you are aired up, typically everyone heads out in their own way.
I hope this helps you with your first organized run and what to expect when you show up.
Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update
I want to thank Chuck and his wife Marilee, Wayne, and Angela from RM Cattle. As promised we had (from RM Cattle) t-bone steaks, breakfast with bacon, eggs, biscuits, and gravy. Then a great meal of brisket with all the fixings. Thanks to John Lee for cooking the brisket. Chuck, Marilee, Wayne, and Angela were busy handily and providing ALL the food while Josh and I worked for the crowd. Oh, and it was a crowd. We had 27 jeeps to the event on Saturday. Two groups of 13.5 Jeeps.
YJ Guy, aka Roll over Guy, did not disappoint. His Jeep was down from Friday to Saturday evening. He was able to make it out on the evening night run.
Must-Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!
GraBars BootBars for 07-18 Jeep Wrangler JK $60 $45!!
https://www.quadratec.com/products/14018_155X_PG.htm
I gave the company that makes this product my seal of approval back on episode 428 when I showcased their “Original GraBars” …They were just $86 then, and they’re still the same price today despite all the economic turmoil.
“But that’s not why I’m calling”
In this episode, I’m highlighting their foot pegs, or as GraBar the company who makes them calls them, “Boot Bars.” These easy-to-install foot pegs provide a comfortable place to rest your foot outside of your Wrangler… and if you have never felt the wind between your toes at highway speeds, you’re missing out. Designed for style and comfort, these black foot rests install directly into your lower hinge for full, open-air comfort. These Wrangler BootBars feature rugged, durable construction and are coated in a thick impervious black powder coat to prevent corrosion and wear. They’re designed to swivel in when not in use and are available for CJ’s on up.
They’re equipped with dual-layer rubber grips that come in one of seven different colors (including purple, Tammy!)
Rubberized in specific places to ensure the paint on your hinges stays protected. They come with an easy-to-use storage bag with a handle for quick storage and access when you’re ready to roll. Installation takes 5 minutes on average and requires no drilling or modifications of any kind.
I will say this though, and this is just coming from me, my opinion here…
The included hardware comes with nylock nuts, which are great, but that means it’s intended to be put on for a period of time, and not taken off and put back on repeatedly.
I may opt to make a slight modification (which would more than likely void the warranty) but with a drill press, make a small hole through the lower protruding threads that could accommodate a cotter pin. Bam, quick disconnect boot bars! Somebody get on that and I want 10%!!!
I like these because they are simple, very well built, and the best part? They come with a lifetime warranty!
MSRP is $66.
Grabar has them on their site starting at $60.
Extreme Terrain, Morris 4×4, 4 Wheel Parts, all the big retailers all sell them for $60 (well, $59.95 if you wanna quibble about a nickel)
But I did the work for ya and found the best deal, a whole 15 bucks cheaper at Quadratec of all places.
I know, I know… I don’t have anything against Quadratec at all, but they often have a higher price on things than other places. The link we have is specifically for the 07-18 JK’s, but they make them for virtually every Jeep.
So, if you want a set of foot pegs for when you go doorless, that look cool, are only $45, and are built to last a lifetime?
Links Mentioned in this Episode
NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/
Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver
The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/
Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact
Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow
Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard
Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol
Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon
You are invited to our Discord Server! https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm
Show notes powered by sevenslats.com