Episode 415 – The Smallest Jeep Ever Built
This Week In Jeep:
FCA’s Plant Expansion Demolishes Old Power Plant
DTE Energy (a name I had not heard of until this week) plans to blast down the remains of its Conners Creek power plant Friday morning.
Ordinarily, I’d reserve talk about blowing up a building for another platform, but in this case it’s actually Jeep related. The Conners Creek power plant first came on line in 1915 and in its heyday employed more than 350 people and generated enough energy to power nearly 400,000 homes. The plant initially burned coal for fuel but later switched to natural gas. DTE ceased using the plant to generate power in 1988. And there it has sat, shut down and abandoned. Enter Jeep’s ever growing manufacturing needs to accomplish its goal of global domination. Now don’t paint Jeep as a bully here.
Earlier this year, DTE agreed to swap about 40 acres of the plant site for FCA to use as a storage area for new Jeeps produced from the plant that is now under construction several blocks to the north. In return for giving up part of its Conners Creek site, DTE agreed to take surplus city-owned parcels elsewhere for use as power substations and the like. So, see? It’s not the hostile take over of land that one might think. DTE will actually retain at least 10 acres of the plant site bordering the Detroit River for its own future use, although no plans have been announced for that parcel.
The explosive demolition of the defunct power plant will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, which perfectly coincides with when this episode is being released. Coincidence? Who knows. The 75-acre plant site is fenced and secure so no street closures or nearby evacuations are planned. To ensure public safety, air quality will be monitored after the demolition.
This week in Jeep FCA is taking over! They’re getting some new property from an old familiar site. And Jeep is announcing a new ultra compact SUV, we’ll have the details.
An Even Smaller Jeep?
Over the last few years, Jeep has hustled to update and expand its lineup, riding the wave of crossover popularity. But Jeep’s not done yet. We’ve heard the rumors (that were later confirmed) that Jeep is bringing back the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer name plates in an all new full size three-row platform. Among those rumors, you may remember, has been sprinkled murmurs of an all new subcompact SUV.
This week, Jeep European Head of Brand Marketing Marco Pigozzi has officially confirmed that Jeep is planning to launch a ((QUOTE/UNQUOTE)) “ultra-compact” crossover in 2022. What some are dubbing as the “Mini-Jeep” will be even smaller than the Jeep Renegade and sit below it in the brand’s lineup. Unfortunately this news coming from the EURO Head of Branding and not the U.S. Head of Branding likely means we may not ever see it here in the states. It’s direct competition will be vehicles like the Suzuki Jimny… a vehicle that is also not sold here in the U.S. but thats been around for nearly 50 years, making it stiff competition for this all new super small itty bitty Jeep. The new Mini-Jeep – whatever it’s going to be called, actually has a longer wheelbase than the Jimny, however, it’s shorter than the new Nissan Juke that Europeans continue to enjoy. Regardless, Pigozzi said the new model would still meet the brand’s high standards for off-road capability, so it’s likely going to do well for those wanting both a taste of adventure and extreme economy. With the recent moves to join forces with other automakers, FCA’s potential for hybrid fleets has gone up exponentially, so it’s very likely we’ll be seeing an electrified version of this too.
Jeep plans to offer a hybrid version of every vehicle in its lineup by 2022. Recently, Jeep’s Global President Christian Meunièr said the electrification plans FCA has on the table should make the automaker ((QUOTE)) “the greenest SUV brand in the world” in the coming years, claiming the hybrid models will be “the best Jeeps ever.”
Wrangler Talk:
What is Caster Angle? How do I know if I have proper Caster in my Jeep?
Hello JTS listener, on this wrangler talk we are going to continue talking about the steering system although we are going to start involving the suspension of the Jeeps too. So as we start adding a suspension lift kit to our wranglers we are changing some of the factory angles that are set by Jeep that help our jeeps drive straight down the road and provide the most comfortable ride when driving. There are two main angles that need to be looked at when we start lifting or Jeep and there are the caster angle and the pinion angles. First we are going to talk about caster angle because this angle has the most to do with the handling of our wranglers. The Caster angle is defined as the angular displacement of the steering axis from the vertical axis of the steered wheel. Meaning the caster is measured from our steering axis to the vertical axis. Our steering axis is an imaginary line drawn through the center of our ball joints on either side of our axle. Caster affect our steering the most because it is the factor that helps our Jeeps drive in a straight line down the road and helps the tires return to center after making a turn. There are two types of caster, positive caster and negative caster. Positive caster means that the imaginary line drawing through our ball joints is forward or towards the front of the vehicle in relation to the vertical axis and it is opposite for negative caster. When it comes to our Jeeps they come from the factor and are designed to have negative caster, this ensures that our tires will properly return to center and want to continue in a straight line. From the factor our wrangler’s suspension is designed to have between 4 to 8 degrees of caster. This is an ideal number to have the jeep drive properly down the road. Although you might ask what happens if I have too much negative caster. Well if you have to much negative caster your Jeep will feel like driving a boat down the road. The steering will feel very loose and feel like you are kind of floating. However, when lifting a jeep we tend not to have this problem. When lifting a jeep the caster will move more in the positive direction and when we have to much positive caster the Jeep’s steering will being to feel very tight. Also, with too much positive caster the steering might need more force to turn the wheels and tires. This can lead to premature wear and tear on our steering system also on the suspension of our Jeep. Well I am guessing the next question is, Bill how do I correct my caster angle? Well now this is why I said this talk will be about our suspension too because the correct way to fix our caster angle after lifting our Jeep is to have new control arms installed on our rigs. The control arm is the link or bars that run from our frame down to our axles and they are set at specific lengths from the factor to ensure that our angles are correct for that perfect jeep ride. Now out on the market there are many different control arms and I am not specifically recommending any control arms although a set of adjustable control arms are really nice but when I say really nice I also mean they can be really expensive. So, the way to correct our caster is to adjust our control lengths and that will create the proper roll in our axle to adjust our caster angles. There are a lot of lift kits out on the market that will include the proper length control arms for your specific lift size. Although if your lift kit does not include these longer and short control arms for your specific lift kit there are other options. There are specific brackets that are called geometry correction brackets which provide new mounting locations for our factor control arms that provide the correct roll of our axle to provide the correct caster. Then there is the other option is a set of adjustable control arms which provides an adjustable threaded sleeve that has a lock nut to lock the control arm in the specific length when installing it on our suspension and providing the correct geometry for our wranglers. Now in direct correlation with the caster angle the pinion angle will change with the increase of lift. Now for pinion angle it is depended on what type of driveshaft you have installed on your Jeep and there may be a possibility that you will need to change to a different type of driveshaft to ensure proper function of all driveline components. Each type of driveshaft calls for a specific pinion angle for proper function of the U-joints in the driveshaft and not cause any driveline vibrations. However when it comes to pinion angle, the pinion angle coming out of the back of the axle is not as adjustable like the caster angle, because the pinion is fixed inside the axle housing. So when setting your pinion angle my recommendation is to do the research on your specific driveshaft and try to find the happy medium between pinion angle and caster angle to eliminate all driveline vibrations and proper handling of your jeep. Also always remember our friends at Tom Wood driveshafts which know everything there is to know about driveshafts and what driveshaft is right for your application and this concludes this week’s wrangler talk and if you have any comments or questions or just want to say Hi head over to our website at jeeptalkshow.com/contact and send us an email or leave us a voice message and thank you for listening and talk to your next week on the wrangler talk.
Bill teaches us how to find out if your Jeep has the correct castor angle after your lift.
Radio Comm Tech:
CB Radios – Jon Blackwell
Last time on RCT, I mentioned the available communication options.. today I am going to talk specifically about CB radio.
CB radios operate around 27 MHz and is still the most common form of communication among off roaders. CB does not require a license though technically it is referred to as license by rule which means as long as you follow the rules you are considered to be licensed.
CB radios come in 4 types, handheld, all in the mic mobile, compact mobile, and large trucker mobile. They are all AM (amplitude modulation) and all put out no more than 4 watts, however some of the larger Cbs also have SSB (Single Side Band) and can put out up to 12 watts but SSB isn’t typically used for trail/convoy comms. The radio you choose likely depends on how much room you have and the available mounting options. Some of the most common mounting options for the compact or large Cbs is between the visors, on the passenger side of the console or under the dash. The all in the mic radios are generally easier to mount due to their smaller foot print making them quite popular. Handheld Cbs are not generally recommended for mobile use unless you are using an external antenna.
The optimal CB antenna is a 108” tall but is often too tall for most people that daily drive their rig. You can get CB antennas in various lengths down to about 2′ but the shorter they are the more of a compromise they are. Mounting location can also cause compromised performance. The best option is on the roof but with Wranglers this isn’t an option so you must compromise again and decide where you want to mount the antenna. The most common mounting location is on the tailgate or spare tire carrier though this is typically the worst of the options due to the lack of ground plane. The front fender or tail light mount it generally more preferred.
Coax: If you have a properly mounted ground plane style antenna then the length of coax you need is whatever it takes to get from the radio to the antenna. A coax length requirement only comes into play with No Ground Plane (NGP) antennas and phased dual antennas. Due to the short run of coax needed in a mobile install RG58 or RG8x coax is fine, but you will want to look for coax with a 95% or better shield. 
Pros and Cons
Pros: Still popular, relatively inexpensive, and no license.
Cons: they are AM, susceptible to environmental RFI (Radio Frequency Interference), long antennas, short antennas are a compromise, have to tune the antenna check/set SWR (standing wave ratio)
Just because CB is the most popular doesn’t necessarily make it the best option. Stay tuned to future radio comm tech segments for more info on the other communication options.
As a bonus… Radioddity has graciously offered up a very compact CB radio, mobile speaker, and CB antenna for us to giveaway. To enter listen to this episode of the Jeep Talk Show for details. Check out radioddity at radioddity.com
Jeep Life:
Lets Begin the Jeep Life
So my new segment. Jeep Life. Defining what I will share will be hard to do. We will talk about all the things related to being a Jeeper, Celebrating the Jeep Life and I hope you will share your Jeep life with me. As I will be sharing mine with you. As you know and some may not know. I got started in 2013. This next decade will be a whole new adventure.
Tech Talk With Jeep Talk:
NO MORE LEAVES!
I know we’re more or less past fall and nearly into full blown winter, so this tip’s main purpose may be a bit late in that regard. But I’m about to teach you how to keep leaves from piling up in one specific area of your Jeep. Just about anywhere in the US that isn’t desert, you’ll find trees that turn pretty colors in the fall, and dump their foliage all over the place. And for Wrangler owners, that sometimes means right in that area between the radiator and grill. One of the easiest materials to work with, is cheap, looks great, doesn’t fade, and did I mention its super cheap and affordable? …is readily available at any Home Depot, Lowes, or Ace Hardware for WELL under 10 bucks. What I’m talking about is the black, mesh like gutter guards that come in a 20 foot roll. Sometimes they go on sale for under $5, and that’s enough to do two or three Jeeps grills!
I know it sounds a little ghetto. And I know this seriously borderlines on redneck engineering, but to be honest, the plastic gutter guards are a great choice for this project because they are already black meaning you won’t have to paint them and they pretty much match whatever theme you have going on. They’re flexible and easy to work with, and the thought is, that if they WERE to get hit by a small rock or two they’re not going to get all dinged up.Even if they do, so what, it couldn’t be cheaper to replace. This will also work on virtually any wrangler so feel free to adapt this to your specific rig.
Obviously the first step is going to be procuring the supplies. You’ll need the roll of flexible mesh like gutter guard, a bag of zip tie clips, and of course some small zip ties.
Next you’ll remove your grill, which if you haven’t ever done is pretty easy. Generally there’s just a few clips that get popped up with a flat head screwdriver, or panel removal tool. Sometimes there is a central plastic pin that needs to be removed before the clip can be pulled out. After the grill is removed, you’ll want to clean things up real well. Wipe down the backside of the grill with a clean rag. Hot soapy water works good at first, but then switch to a little bit of degreaser and make sure things are super dry when you’re done. Compressed air works well for this, or just time and patience. You want the backside of your grill to be squeaky clean, this is to make sure the zip tie clips will stick to the surfaces on either side of the grill openings.
Next you will cut the guards with scissors. No special shears are needed, just regular old scissors. Cut the guards about 1″ bigger than the grill openings all the way around.
This will leave you enough material to bend the edges to fit over the shape of the grill slats. Now you will Place the zip tie clips. You’ll want at least two between each slat. Here’s a tip: If you can’t find the zip tie clips that have the good sticky tape on the back, a small dot of epoxy will also work. Just keep in mind the set up and curing times. And no, before you go and raid the crafts basket, hot glue wont work. There’s just too much moisture, and temperature changes going on for it to last. Now, using the zip ties you tie two guards to each clip (except for the outer clips on each end of the grill.)
Tighten them slowly, in stages, and in a cross pattern, much as you would tighten the lugs on your wheel. This will help keep the guards centered and matching in orientation as you cinch it all down. You will want to trim off the excess zip tie.. I don’t know about you, but this is a particular pet peeve of mine. After that, you’re all done!. Re-install the grill with your new improvements and bask in your sense of accomplishment. This whole project should take you less than an hour, depending on how many beers and how much “help” you get from your buddies. All in all, it should cost you less than $20, and in the end, you’ll have a nice custom touch to the front of your Jeep that is also quite functional this time of year. Oh, and dont worry, this doesn’t affect any grill inserts you may be using and can work in conjunction with aftermarket grills too depending on design. If you try this out, be sure to let us know how it turned out for ya by giving us a call, shooting us an email, or by posting a pic on our social media.
Must Have Stuff for your Jeep:
CheroCar – JL Gear – Console Side Pockets – $39.99 – FREE Shipping!
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Jeep Weather:
SETTING SAIL WITH THE FIRST NORSE EXPLORER IN NORTH AMERICA.
Hey Jeeper, Mitch here, today is the thirteenth of December 2019, and it’s time for your weekend Going Topless-Jeep Weather Report. One of my favorite shows, Vikings, is back for another season. In that honor, we will visit locations in North America that the Norse explorer Leif Erikson visited and Go Topless there. He first landed in a place he called Helluland, meaning Flat-Rock Land, which historians think is modern day Iqaluit (pronounced: ee-KAL-oo-it), Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. Now like the Vikings, you will have to be brave to go Topless here. Its cloudy all weekend with highs of 6 for Friday, 5 for Saturday and 4 for Sunday. He later landed in location he called Markland, meaning Forest Land, which is thought to be modern day Labrador Region of Newfoundland. In St. John’s, the largest settlement now, it will be cloudy all weekend. 23 Friday, 34 Saturday, and a chance of rain Sunday at 52 degrees. If you go topless in either of these two locations, at least wear some fur to honor the Viking explorer Leif Erikson. The first commemoration of Leif Erikson’s voyage was a statue of Leif by Anne Whitney, erected in Boston, Massachusetts in 1887. So, Boston, home of my favorite brewery Samuel Adams, will be the last place we go Topless this weekend. Lots more rain here with 44 Friday, 59 Saturday, and 47 on Sunday.
At least you learned something with this segment because if you take my suggestions, you’ll probably freeze your chesticles off while cruising Topless. Disclaimer: Jeep Talk Show is not responsible for loss of body parts or sanity due to your personal topless experiences. Experiences may vary. Go Topless at your own risk. If you have any suggestions or want to know YOUR local weather in an upcoming episode. Go to JeepTalkShow.com slash contact in order to find all the ways to get a message to me. I’m Mitch and its always great weekend to Go Topless if you’re brave enough! Just Go Topless responsibly.
Wheeling Where:
Blue Mountain Jeep Alliance – Trail Ride at Rausch Creek
January 1st
Rausch Creek Off Road Park – Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
More Info: http://bmja.org/events/
http://rc4x4.org/
Desert Roads and Trails Society – Winter 4×4 Jamboree
January 16th – 18th
Hurricane, Utah
More Info: https://winter4x4jamboree.com/