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Jeep Talk Show

A Show About Jeeps!

Episode 420 – The Jeep Tank Is Here!


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ExtremeTerrain, Wrangler off-road parts and accessories outfitter. This episode you’ll hear about Merideth Evasew’s latest Throttle Out… featuring a wicked Deegan 38 and Teraflex themed JLU Rubicon build that you’ll want to see for yourself.  

This Week In Jeep:

And the award goes to……

To many Jeep owners around the world, Toledo Ohio is probably the most recognized city of all the cities in the United States because Toledo is where they make Jeeps. And now one Jeep model is being called the best of its kind. The Toledo-made Jeep Gladiator was just officially named the 2020 North American Truck of the Year, giving the Glass City and the Jeep brand as a whole nother honor to be proud of. To win the award, trucks are judged on a number of criteria including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.  The Gladiator beat out the Ford Ranger and Ram Heavy Duty for features like the soft-top removable roof and doors that make it the one-of-a-kind truck we already know it is. Congrats to Jeep for winning an award in a category previously dominated by full size trucks with a first gen pickup right out of the gate. 

The Jeep Tank

If money was no object, I’m sure we’d all have a pretty sweet Jeep. And if you‘ve owned your jeep for a bit now and have spent any amount of money on it making it your own, then you’ve undoubtedly had those “what if money was no object” dreams. It seems an Irvine California business has taken this dream and made it a reality in their own vision.  And to some, what they’ve done leaves us wondering just how much Jeep is left over? Much like other performance companies (like Hennessey Performance for instance) who brought to us a 0 to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds 1000HP Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, Rezvani Motors takes an average 4 door Jeep Wrangler and turns it into an ungodly machine of raw power and absolute authority. And it can be yours for just over a quarter million dollars. “Designed For Defense, Built For The Road.” Rezvani Motors Presents to you the toughest and most powerful road going Extreme Utility Vehicle on Earth. The Jeep Tank Military Edition. I hope you’re sitting down because here’s what a six figure Jeep gets you. First off, no… it does not have a rotating turret that shoots 105mm rounds at people who go too slow in the fast lane. What it DOES share with something like an M1 Abrams is this: Bullet proof glass and body armor all around including Underside Explosive Protection for when the trucker bomb thrown from that semi in front of you turns out to be a cleverly disguised incendiary device. This includes a Self sealing fuel tank, Radiator protection, and a highly Reinforced suspension system. Let’s say you need to rescue the wife’s labradoodle from the middle of the blown up nail and spike factory, ….at night. Then the equipped military grade Runflat Tires and the Thermal Night Vision System, will get you in and out with no worries. And if for some reason you need to suddenly go all James Bond by crashing through a door and covering your ex-fil behind a “Spy Hunter” like smoke screen, then this Jeep has the bumpers and smoke screen deployment system to get the job done. Speaking of getting the job done, powered by a 1000 HP 6.2L Demon V8, you will traverse any terrain you want with ease. And in order to stop all that raw power and mass, the brakes have been overhauled with massive 16 inch rotors and eight piston calipers all around, ensuring this tank can stop on a dime. Not that you were (at all) day dreaming of completely screeching through that crosswalk wiping out at least three man-bun sporting hipsters. But if you need to let them know they need to watch where you’re going, It also has Siren and Horn Options not available to the rest of the auto market that you can use to  scare the starbucks right out of those screen addicts in the crosswalk paying more attention to their phone than to where they’re going. The outraged whorde of millennials can also try as they might to get in or even reach your new Jeep Tank, since it has a full suite of defence systems including disorienting strobe lights, high power wide spectrum blinding lights, and a full intercom system for inside and outside communication to keep them at bay. And if your warnings to stay away from your Jeep were not heeded, then you can rest safe knowing the electrified door handles and magnetic deadbolts will keep what’s inside the Jeep safe and sound from forced intrusion. Even when the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) from a nuclear detonation has wiped out all the electronics of your neighbors prius, your Jeep is fully protected behind it’s built in (EMP) Protection. And speaking of protection, you also get military grade first aid kits, gas masks, and hypothermia kits should you need to deal with the coming nuclear winter. Of course we’ll all be laughing later around the campfire at everything that was caught on the video feed from the 360 degree onboard Continuous video recording system this thing has. If a starting price of over $250K is “just a bit outside” of your budget, then Rezvani Motors has both the Tank, and Tank X models starting at $155k if you want to see the images of this thing yourself or to order one, we’ll have the link in the description – just insist that we get a commission when you cut that check. https://www.rezvanimotors.com/tank-military-edition

Rugged RH-5R deja vu?

I try to let people know when they can get a good deal on something, or good quality over savings.  I think most people are the same. I have some background in radio, so when people start talking about Rugged radios I always think about the really cheap handheld radio they sell.  RH-5R I believe is the Rugged model. Recently someone posted how you could get one of these for $68 instead of the normal $85 price. WHAT?!?!?! This is a rebranded Baofeng UV-5R that you can buy from Amazon for $29.95!  I did a little digging and thanks to Jon of our Radio Com Tech segment I was able to figure it out that the Rugged handheld radio was pre-programmed with commercial frequencies, that are shared by Rugged and several other services, including hospitals. Did you know that with a $9 cable, free CHIRP software and a computer you could download the names and frequencies from the Rugged RH-5R and program a $29.95 BaoFeng UV-5R with those same names and frequencies? Now there’s nothing wrong with a company adding value and charging for it, but $55?  Oh and yes you can get the blue BaoFeng radio from Amazon if you like. They also have it in red or yellow. I’ve only looked into the RH-5R from Rugged but the other radios they sell look very familiar, more rebranded radios?  I think so. Did you buy a Rugged radio?  Did you know there was a much cheaper alternative for the same radio?  Would you still buy the Rugged radio today? Let us know, we’d like to hear from you.

Jeep Life:

Wrenching Therapy

I have been in the garage all week. I am now realizing how wrenching is good therapy. We are working on the Extreme Jeep Mash UP. We have the TJ frame meshed with the LJ frame. We have the LS engine out and ready to put into the LJ. In between all that we helped a Jeep Girl with her XJ. Whoever did the work before us put on some cheesy fix for the crossmember. They didn’t use a proper drop kit. So we fixed that. It looks like she needs some more work like the tie rod and wheel bearings. The wrenching therapy has been helping me deal with my personal issues with the separation and missing my kids.

Tech Talk With Jeep Talk:

Wet Weather Trail Repair Kit

It never fails, you’ve done this trail a dozen times if you’ve done it once, but something is different this time, a rock has moved, that stump is way undercut now, and ahhh crap…before you know it you’re off your line, and BAM! Trail Carnage! If you go offroad enough, something will inevitably happen where it’s either… find someone to tow you to safety, or you fix something, SOME way, here and now and get back on your way under your own power. Sometimes trail repairs are as simple as replacing a fuse or wrapping a hose with enough tape, and everyone can get one their way before anyone has a chance to even water the flowers. And sometimes it’s a full axle shaft swap while the Jeep is in deep rocks and it’s dusk, and raining sideways. It’s no fun, but when it’s just you and another rig and you’re not getting that C-clip Jeep out of these rocks with a broken axle, you gotta do what you gotta do. Now we can spend an entire show on what to carry for any given trail repair scenario, and honestly, we’d likely have a list longer than what your Jeep has room to carry. And besides, everyone knows their own Jeep’s weak points best, has their own tips and tricks for dealing with the typical kinds of breaks out on the trail that they’ll incur, and usually carries parts and tools accordingly. So I’ll save the big lists for another show and focus on a couple key tips that will make dealing with a trail repair in inclement weather a bit easier. A lot of this will come down to preparation, as it does with a lot of things in the Jeep world. Obviously if the forecast is clear for 4 days either side of your trip in the middle of July, then likely you’re not going to need to plan to deal with the weather too much. But if you wheel in the spring, in wetter climates like mine, or where a rain storm can roll in with little to no warning, then you want to have some key items that will make a trail repair easier to deal with in that kind of weather. One of the things that can just utterly take the wind out of your sails during a trail repair is getting wet. High end rain suits would do the job of keeping you plenty dry, but they are generally thick, take up a fair amount of room, arent what I call fun to crawl around in, and if they get torn, are usually kind of expensive to replace. Cheap survival style rain suits are thin, easily replaced or stored in multiples, and can do a decent job of keeping the majority of the rain coming down, (and the water already ON the trail) from getting into your undies. And if you snag a pant leg or sleeve on a tree root or rock then no biggie. These things can oftentimes be had for under five bucks, and if you really want to cheap out and go with the poncho style, then you can get them for a dollar or less. So having a couple on hand isn’t out of the question. Let’s say you need to get under your jeep out on a muddy trail …in the rain. Having something to lay down on that isn’t sopping wet and muddy or that won’t soak up trail water like a piece of cardboard would, then it will make the process not as bad as it could be otherwise. Cheap small sized tarps from your local hardware store or discount tool store like Northern Tool or Harbor Freight work great for this. And when you’re all done and it’s time to fold up that greasy wet and muddy tarp, do you just want to throw it on the back seat? Of course not! Nor do you want all that grime and muck to find it’s way out of the folds in that tarp and into the interior of your Jeep. Those big clothing bags from department stores work great as a trail repair tarp chuck bag. If storing a couple Macy’s bags in a pouch somewhere in your Jeep clashes with your manliness, then head down to your local tire shop and talk them out of a few tire bags. They take up hardly any room and work great as a place to put that wet and muddy tarp after your done with your trail side repair, and doubles as a place to chuck rags, spent gloves and other debris without people questioning your manhood. When you get home you can deal with it then, or if the tarp inside is disposable to you, you can throw the whole thing out and replace it with fresh supplies. After all, you’re not doing a trail repair in the rain every time you go out. You’re likely not going to stay completely dry doing a trail repair in the rain no matter what, so it’s a good idea to keep a shammy style towel or two in the wet weather kit too. These can be had for about a buck a piece so don’t splurge here either. Even the little dinky ones from the tool stores work well for drying off your head, face, neck and arms after a good soaking. Wring it out, and you’re good to go again. They’re infinitely reusable, cheap, and don’t take up more room than a deck of cards. Between a few sets of gloves, a few ponchos or a rain suit, a small tarp and a couple tire bags and a shammy towel or two, …the whole wet weather trail repair kit can fit into a cleverly packed plastic container or ammo can. Oh, and by the way, I’d be surprised if you spent more than $20 putting one of these together. So it’s practical to have a couple on hand at all times. Let me know if you’ve got something like this in your own Jeep. Next week, we’re going to go over the same thing, but for snow! So make sure your subscribed so you don’t miss out.

Must Have Stuff for your Jeep:

If you’ve even so much as ever SAT in a wrangler you already know that they’re not exactly built with a whole lot of storage in mind.  So any time we see a new wrangler storage solutions product come around that is at a reasonable price and serves a practical function, we like to bring it to the attention of the Jeep world. This week’s must have item for your Jeep is for those who are lucky enough to own one of the new generation of JL wranglers, or the JT Gladiator pickup truck. This is the The Quadratec Grab Bar Tray. and as it’s name clearly suggests, it’s a small storage tray that just slides into that space between the grab handle slot and your dash. At that point the installation is finished. No tape or any tools required! It works great for holding loose change, snacks or a passenger’s cell phone. Made of rigid ABS plastic, this thing is built to withstand the rigors of off road snacking demands. Just be aware that anything you stick in there will become a projectile in the event of a crash or rollover, so prob not the best place for your letter opener or spare framing nails.

Quadratec Grab Bar Tray for 18-20 Jeep Wrangler JL / Gladiator JT $24.99 https://www.quadratec.com/p/quadratec/grab-bar-tray-jeep-wrangler-jl-gladiator-jt

Jeep Weather: 

Mitch

Hey Jeeper, Mitch here, today is the seventeenth of January 2020, and it’s time for your weekend Going Topless-Jeep Weather Report. Winter is still going strong and we still must wheel. Extreme Terrain recommends a few places to go, so I’ll give you the weather there. Known for powdery snow, winter sports, abundant wildlife, and epic scenery. Go Topless in the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming. Conveniently there is a city with the same name just East of the ranges. In Bighorn, Wyoming it will be cloudy on Friday at 28, Saturday and Sunday will be sunny at 28 and 39 degrees. Now if you’re looking for a true test of your off-roading and survival skills, wheel at Mount Washington, White Mountain Range in New Hampshire. This weekend in Sargent’s Purchase, New Hampshire it will be snowing all weekend at 3 for Friday, 18 Saturday, and 27 on Sunday. Make sure you prepack and inspect your Jeep before testing your metal out there. If you want to be “close” to a city but still away from it all, if you love winter sports, and dog sled races then the next location is a must for going Topless. In Wasilla, Alaska it will be sunny all weekend with 7 on Friday, 5 Saturday, and 14 on Sunday. Lots of festivities start out here at Thanksgiving and continue through to the Iditarod in March. Lastly, go topless in St. George, Utah. Known for having huge winter off-roading events in January bringing wheelers from all over the western states with plenty of trails for the novice to the ballsy. Here it will be partly cloudy all weekend: Friday at 51, Saturday 52, and Sunday 57 degrees. If you’re curious on the Extreme Terrain’s recommendation, the link will be available in the show notes. Don’t forget to use the #JeepTalkShow on social media for us to see those pictures. If you have any suggestions or want to know YOUR local weather in an upcoming episode. Go to JeepTalkShow.com/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.

https://www.extremeterrain.com/5-winter-off-road-destinations.html

Wheeling Where

King of the Hammers
January 31st – February 9th
Johnson Valley, California
More Info: https://ultra4racing.com/

Midwest Overlanding and Offroad Expo
February 15-16
Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Missouri
More Info: #SMORR2MOORE Adventure Route MOORE EXPO 2.5 hour ride, no pavement, all offroad, from SMORR offroad park to the MOORE Expo. 3 guided caravans! 

Links Mentioned in Episode 420:
Rezvani Motors – Jeep Tank – https://www.rezvanimotors.com/tank-military-edition
Extreme Terrain Throttle Out W/ Merideth Evasew – JLU Rubicon Build – https://www.extremeterrain.com/throttleout-january-2020.html