Episode 436 – West Coast Wheeling Better Than East?
This Week In Jeep:
Jeep Wrangler Tips Over In Crash Test
So if you’re a Jeeper, then undoubtedly Google’s search engine algorithms will inevitably route more Jeep and offroad related news and advertising your way. If that’s the case, then you will have likely noticed that this week it was petty hard to ignore the onslaught of reports about the latest IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Video. This video is one of those infamous white room crash test videos where this time, a 2019 Jeep Wrangler JLU is put through what is called a small overlap front driver-side crash test. The vehicle is hooked up to a device that pulls it along a specified trajectory to initiate a specific kind of crash against another object. In this test, the Wrangler is catapulted at an immovable object, basically a giant solid steel wall set in a way so that the Jeep would strike the wall on the drivers side, but not all of the drivers side, just about 1/4 of it. In 2012, the IIHS added this specific test to its criteria for testing a vehicle’s overall safety rating. The test you’ll see in the video is designed to replicate what happens when the front left corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object like a tree or utility pole. Unfortunately for the Wrangler, it’s pure beefyness, and overall resiliency is proven once more ….as it just plows right through the accident and keeps on going….. On its side. And it kept on going, despite being crashed and knocked down on its side, until it slid into a barrier and was stopped. I personally call that a prime example of tenacity and determination. But the IIHS calls it a safety hazard, and ((QUOTE)) “presents an additional injury risk beyond what the standard criteria are intended to measure in small overlap frontal crash tests. A vehicle tipping onto its side is not an acceptable outcome” Meh..What do they know? Unfortunately, it’s this “flop” is why the institute downgraded The 2019 Jeep Wrangler to a marginal rating in that particular test. It’s not completely all bad though. It is still one step above Poor, which is the worst rating, so it could be worse i suppose. AND what is worth mentioning, is that the passenger safety cage and driver injury measurements were all given a Good rating despite the Jeep flopping in the crash. “Good” is the IIHS’s highest rating it can give in its tests. There is no gooder, or goodest, despite what your 5 year old may have told you. What this means is that despite going for a ride on your side, you’ll be well protected, having likely not sustained life threatening injuries, AND be in a situation where you can extricate yourself from the vehicle. And you know what they say…. Any crash you can walk away from… In addition to the “we don’t want to but we kinda have to” rating in the one test, the overall full results for the 2018 through 2020 Jeep Wrangler… (drum roll please) … show it was rated Good on four of the five crash tests. In a response, FCA stated that it has produced more than 500,000 of these Wranglers, and that out of those half million Jeeps on the road, FCA is unaware of any incidents that correlate with the vehicle dynamic portion of the IIHS test result. In other words, FCA is basically saying, “that’s a cute little test ya got there – but we don’t think so.” Does that mean the IIHS skewed the test? Was the Jeep propelled faster than other vehicles? Was the barrier it struck angled in any way that might help deflect the Jeep differently than in other tests? FCA’s comments are of no surprise, but they do raise more questions than what we will likely ever have answers for. If you want to check out the video for yourself, we’ll have the link in the show notes for this episode at JeepTalkshow.com.
A Brand New Jeeper For Life
(Baby born in Jeep on Hartford highway ramp) A 911 call came in around 7:30 p.m. Monday, according to Connecticut state police. The woman was behind the wheel of a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, and her daughter was with her in the front passenger seat, …about to have a baby. The recording of the call has been made public, and in it, you hear her say “I’m driving down I-91. My daughter, her water just broke. I’m flying down the highway!” Lori Linares, the state police dispatcher who took the call, mentioned that the soon to be grandmother sounded absolutely frantic, but she was trained on how to handle these kinds of situations. The Jeep was headed south on the highway and the woman driving didn’t think her daughter was going to make it. Thinking there was no other option, she pulled over, with the 911 operator Linares still on the line, so she could wait for troopers and an ambulance to get there. Her daughter, now clearly in the throes of labor, was having none of that plan, and insisted they keep going to the hospital. “She pulls over, 91 south, Exit 33,” Linares said. “We had troopers on the way, but her daughter was yelling at her in the Jeep to keep going. So Grandma took off again.” It’s not long before the grandmother said, “Oh my God…He’s coming out.” Linares calmly gave her directions to pass along to her daughter, telling her to lay back in the front passenger seat. “We don’t want the baby on the floor,” the dispatcher said. Then Linares got another update: The Grandmother, clearly nervous, said “I’m pulling over because I can feel the head,” The grandmother pulled over again, this time on I-84 west at Exit 48, Asylum Street. She ran around to the passenger side of the Jeep to help her daughter. Loud screams of agony can be heard in the background, and then Grandma yelled, “He’s out! He’s out! I got him! I got my grandson! Somebody come help me!” Linares told her to make sure the umbilical cord is not wrapped around the baby’s neck and wrap the baby to keep him warm. The baby’s neck was clear; the only thing the grandmother had to wrap him in was a jacket, but it was better than nothing. There were more tense moments when the baby stopped crying, but it wasn’t long before the shrill sound of a newborn’s cries put everyone at ease, including the police who had just arrived. The baby boy – James — and his mother are OK and are at the Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. It was the first time in 25 years as an emergency dispatcher that Linares was able to see through a delivery from start to finish, she said.
8-year-old NC Boy With Autism Gets Surprise Jeep Parade For His Birthday
The Jeep community in Troutman, North Carolina and beyond came together last Thursday to surprise and help celebrate the birthday of an 8-year-old boy with special needs. Caleb is one of seven siblings and is on the autism spectrum. For his birthday, his family wanted to do something extra special for him. So they put out a plea, asking if anyone who owns a Jeep and is sick of staying home would mind taking a little drive to Troutman to help make their 8-year-old son’s day. In the post, Caleb’s mother said “Even if only one Jeep showed up to drive by, this mom would appreciate it more than you could know!” Well, not only did one Jeep show up for Caleb’s birthday – more than 100 Jeeps came to his home. Local Troutman police officers were happy to help assist with traffic as Jeep after Jeep after Jeep drove by the little boy’s home. No one was allowed to exit their vehicles, in order to practice social distancing. All drivers were also told to not honk their horns or make any sudden or loud noises near Caleb’s residence in respect to the neighbors, as well as Caleb’s special needs. The support from the Jeep community on Thursday was a tremendous sight to see, and little Caleb loved every moment.
Jeep Life:
Where to Wheel
Last episode 435 I shared those “Not Trails” those trails that some don’t consider trails. They can be just as fun as those difficult trails and they are free. SO where else can you take your Jeep off road. Well it depends on where you live. The US East Coast is a lot different to the West Coast. The East is made up mostly of off road parks. Those parks are fun and challenging, but can be expensive. I have been to Rausch Creek Off Road Park and Anthracite Area Outdoor Adventure Both are privately owned and have fees. There can be fees for passengers as well. There are also other places like the Uwharrie OHV Trail system and trails in Virginia where you will need a permit. The fees change on all of these from year to year so I suggest you check out their websites. There are a lot of wheeling places all along the east coast and midwest. The list of the off road parks are just too many to mention here. Your best bet is to search “off road” in your area or ask your local Jeepers. There used to be public lands on the East Coast years ago but unfortunately those have been taken away from us. As far as the West coast goes… They miles of trails are endless and they are free. I mentioned last week there are some guide books and websites out there to help find the trails. There is also the Jeep Badge of Honor App. It’s an app you can download if you are a Jeep owner. There are several trails across the country you can wheel and earn badges from Jeep. If you want to spend many days in any of these locations your best bet is to camp. With google now a days it’s so easy to find campgrounds. But be aware during busy seasons most campgrounds want you to stay at least 2 nights. As for camping in state parks or national parks or on BLM lands I suggest besides google is the app i-Overlander. For more information on camping options check out my Jeep Life segment on Episode 431. A bit of warning before you head out on the trails especially on the West Coast. You will need to take weather into consideration. The Rubicon Trail in the winter is not a good idea. Most of the trails in Colorado are closed in the winter for safety reasons. Also sometimes trails are closed because of too much water. It’s a good idea to get to know the area and how they work each set of trail systems in that area. Also some trails have been closed permanently and not longer are available for off roading. There are groups out there that are fighting these BLM closures. And now during this time in our country it’s a good idea to double check the area you are going. A lot of off road parks are closed and some states the areas are only open to locals. I am hoping and praying this changes soon. I know how a Jeeper can get if they haven’t hit those rocky dirt filled trails for a while.
Newbie Nuggets:
We have a question from one of our listeners, Jerry, who has joined us during our fireside chats. His question is: I’m interested in going on a trail ride. What can I expect? Excellent question Jerry and thank you for your submission. A typical run looks like this: Meet up at a designated location. This is usually centrally located to the group, OR it’s located at the beginning of a trail head. There is normally a time given on when to arrive and a time that the group will leave. Good idea to arrive early, rather than late. Most groups will not wait for latecomers (unless there is an issue or notice). Being new it’s always good to show up early – you get to learn more that way. Once you arrive, if this is a club event or specialty event you may be asked to sign a waiver. This is also a time to meet-n-greet other jeepers and their rigs. If you’ve met at the trailhead, you will also need to air down your tires – depending on the trail (easy vs hard) Remember, sometimes we air-down just to make the ride more comfortable on you and your Jeep, not necessarily for the traction. You can check out episode 431 to get some additional info on tools needed to air down if you are not sure. About 5 minutes before departure time, the trail leader will call a driver’s meeting. The leader will 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 made the turn, and any other general info. They will also announce the radio frequency for HAM or channel if using CB and a brief idea of the time frame for lunch. Couple of things to keep in mind: If you are new, they will ask and probably place you in the line up behind a more experienced driver. This is a good thing; don’t be shy about your experience or lack of. This is how you will learn. When on the trial, if you, or a passenger need to stop (like for the bathroom), you just need to state you need to stop. Most leaders will stop along the way for jeepers to take a break throughout the run, so if you can hold it till the next stop – I would suggest that option. Drivers meeting will most likely discuss possible obstacles coming up and letting 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, in the order you were placed, or however it was decided. During the trail run, you may want to pay attention to the driver in front of you as he/she tackles 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. I’ve said it many times; it’s the best way to gain knowledge. Keep in mind while you’re watching that some people will take a more difficult line just for the added challenge. You may be thinking to yourself “why on earth did they go that way?” YOU always have the option of picking your own line. 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. We’ve had lunch under a big canopy of trees, by a stream or river, on a mountain top with forever views, just to name a few. It’s also a great time to meet other drivers and sit around and enjoy the company of fellow jeepers and listen to their stories, lies and exaggerations. There are some things to consider packing for your trip in addition to the basic tools we reviewed in episode 426. Chairs – what type and how many. Some places will offer a rock 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 week long trip if this is just a day trip, you just need to keep the food and beverages cold. What about traveling with your dog? You will need water and a bowl for your dog and a leash. Not all people enjoy our dogs in their business. Lots of people jeep with their dog and please bring baggies to clean up after your dog. Inevitably, the dog will do its business in the middle of the group sitting. What do you need to bring for your kids? Snacks, games & toys? Consider that adults sitting around conversing during lunch may not be their idea of fun. Another suggestion is to have a bag with extras like paper towels and hand wipes (if you can find them right now), sun screen, bug spray, hats and light jackets and any other extras you may want/need for the day. Extra water and snacks are a good addition too. It’s really about making your trip comfortable for you. 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 on board 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 on their own way, unless someone organizes a get together for dinner, or BBQ or ?? I hope this helps those new to organized runs with what to expect when you show up. And thank you again to Jerry for this suggestion. I really enjoyed sharing this information. If you have a topic or suggestion for Newbie Nuggets that you’d like us to talk about, please and let me know. OK team, what other things would you add to the day trip process to help any new drivers.
Must Have Stuff for your Jeep:
JEEP WINCH MOUNTING PLATE FOR FACTORY BUMPER
(07-18 JK WRANGLER) $179.95 If you own a 2007-2018 Jeep JK or JKU Wrangler, and it’s still mostly stock, but you want to add a winch because you’ve found yourself getting a little more brave offroad and you want an option to self recover if it comes down to it. But like most Jeepers, you cringe when you see the prices for a winch bumper. And don’t get me started on the prices for tire carrier bumpers. So what do you do? Don’t fear, because despite what you may have heard or been told, you CAN add a winch to a factory Jeep bumper and do it safely and with reliability. Here’s the bonus, you can do it with basic hand tools, and it costs a fraction of what a full winch bumper will run you. I present the Rough Country 1162 Winch Mounting Plate. It is specifically designed to work with your factory JK bumper and can accommodate all standard-sized winches! Compare this to similar systems that only allow you to run a specific model or two AND will cost nearly twice as much. So for the ease, flexibility, and price, this is the must have item for adding a winch to a stock bumper of a JK. https://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-jk-winch-mounting-plate-1162c.html
Jeep Weather:
Hey Jeeper, I’m Mitch and I am a multipotentialite. Today is the 8th of May 2020 and it’s time for your weekend Going Topless-Jeep Weather Report. While most states are getting extended lockdowns and others, like here in California people are straight up going out to beaches, I was thinking of places to go topless that I havent heard about. First up is Boise, Idaho. No clue what’s happening there at all, but weather looks to be good this weekend. Today is 76 and sunny, tomorrow 81 and sunny, and Sunday 86 and partly cloudy. Next, who has heard of what is happening in Eugene, Oregon? Unfortunately, no sports but weather looks like its going to be pretty good. Today sunny and 86, tomorrow is partly cloudy and 83, and Sunday should be about 80 and cloudy. Hopefully no more earthquakes in Utah, but Utah City which has a very imaginative name, has some nice spring weather to take that top off and cruise. Today is sunny and 72, tomorrow is 75 and sunny, and Sunday looks to be partly cloudy and 80. 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.
Links Mentioned in Episode 436:
https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver
https://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-jk-winch-mounting-plate-1162c.html