Episode 479 – What is the BEST Jeep of all time?
This Week In Jeep
Grand Adventures Return March 11th #WAGONEER
It’s been a good two decades since a new Jeep Grand Wagoneer floated down the highways and byways of America. Ok Technically, there was a one-year Grand Wagoneer offered in 1993, but it was merely a top-trim badge for the smaller Grand Cherokee ZJ. Clearly doesn’t count. As for those full-sized Grand Wagoneers of yesteryear, they said goodbye in 1991. And the years came and went with nary a whisper about their return. As we all know now, the Jeep Grand platform is set to return for the 2022 model year. And we now know when the covers will finally lift on the new production model. Jeep has played it real close to the vest with this one and has waited till nearly the last minute to announce the reveal date. You can see the long-awaited return of the grand wagoneer on March 11th, 2021 at high noon EST. Jeep will host a live stream event revealing the full-size SUV in both Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer trims on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube simultaneously. We will of course have the links to those streams in the show notes for this episode at Jeeptalkshow.com.
Jeep teased the release of the Wagoneer event in a 15-second video put out on YouTube and thru social media just this week. It Promises that (quote) “Grand Adventures Return” and in the mist and fog, low lighting, and odd camera angles, we see it. A foggy glimpse of the Grand Grille. And it is definitely Grand in every sense.
I can clearly see angles and lines reminiscent of the old Waggys. There may even be a little Keizer era seen in some of the proportions. LED headlights up high, brow lights above that right at the expansive, spreading hood line. We see double triple auxiliary light configuration down low at what may be below the bumper line. I don’t know. Jeep has done an excellent job of keeping virtually any and all details surrounding the Wagoneers since the official word came out that they were coming back. We can’t see much of anything other than this partial view of the front in this teaser video for now.
But the 11th is just around the corner from the time we’re recording this episode.
You can be sure that if you miss the unveiling a week from now, we will have more information on these two brand new full-sized Jeeps in the next episode.
You CAN’T Buy This Limited Edition Jeep… Here In The U.S.
It’s 2021, and that means Jeep is now 80 years old. Jeep is celebrating its 80th anniversary in style this year with a slew of special editions. I know, shocking.
If you don’t know, Jeep has a long… long history of special editions and limited release trim packages. And not all of them have been winners. This go-around, you can see new versions of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, Compass, Renegade, Cherokee, and Grand Cherokee. Each model features unique exterior and interior accents, 80th Anniversary badging, and special wheels among other enhancements. Sounds nice, right? Well, wait for the comparison at the end. Continuing the 80th birthday celebrations, Jeep has revealed yet another special-edition Wrangler dubbed the Wrangler 1941. Unfortunately for us Yanks, it won’t be going on sale in the US. The limited-edition Jeep Wrangler 1941 will be sold exclusively in the UK.
Starting with the four-door Wrangler Rubicon, Jeep then equips the already top-of-the-line Wrangler with an array of extra accessories designed specifically for the commemorative off-roader. As standard, the Wrangler 1941 will be fitted with a two-inch suspension lift kit, extended wheel arches, and an “enhanced rear underbody protection package” (insurance companies won’t let them call it “armor.”) Visually, the special-edition Wrangler is distinguished from any other Wrangler with a black-painted fuel filler cap, door sill guards, and front and rear splash guards, along with a unique 1941 hood decal honoring Jeep’s heritage.
Inside, the cabin features a hardtop headliner and durable all-weather floor mats as standard. Like the regular Wrangler Rubicon sold in the UK, the 1941 edition is powered by a 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel engine producing 197 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Available in Brilliant Black, Granite Crystal, Firecracker Red, or Billet Silver, the Jeep Wrangler 1941 will be limited to just 41 units. Orders are now open in the UK, with pricing starting at £58,050. That’s around $80,770, making it considerably more expensive than the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon here in America, which starts at $38,695.
In the US, the four-door Jeep Wrangler 80th Anniversary Edition starts at $39,490, but it doesn’t come with any rugged Jeep Performance Parts like the Wrangler 1941.
Instead, you get 18-inch wheels painted in Granite Crystal, body-color-matched fenders, new exterior color options, an 8.1-inch touch screen, and 80th Anniversary badging applied to the exterior and floor mats. Sounds like a trip to the nail salon with a pig from the county fair in comparison now doesn’t it? My question is when or if there will be available and how compatible would the armor package be as a separate purchase here in the US for a JL? Is it even available? I’ll let you solve that mystery yourself.
CEO of Jeep’s Parent Company Says He’s Willing To Stop Using Cherokee Name
Carlos Tavares, the CEO of newly formed auto conglomerate Stellantis, expressed openness to the possibility of not using the Cherokee name for any of it’s vehicles.
The change comes after the nation’s largest Native American tribe urged Jeep to ditch the branding in a desperate move to be included in the wokeness wave taking over the nation. While he’s open to honoring the Cherokee Nation’s request, Tavares claimed the practice of naming cars after indigenous tribes was a way of showing respect. And for the last 47 some odd years, it has been so… with no complaints, lawsuits, or official demands of any kind. Until we allow the precedence to be set in this day and age of cancel-culture.
Newbie Nuggets with Wendy
Ice Ice Baby…
We did a jeep run with our 4×4 club last weekend. The great trail called Heartbreak Ridge. It’s a medium run with some difficult sections below Big Bear but not quite down to the desert. The trail meanders through desert-type terrain with yuccas and trees and obstacles like jagged rocks, deep ruts, and deep holes, and some difficult spots that you can’t see over the next hump. Just to clarify, there are sections of the trail that seems to end in the air – actually the steep drop-off on the other side is mostly invisible to the driver because you just can’t see over the hood. You have to trust your driving skills (and know the trail) to let the jeep do its thing. We had 13 jeeps and 23 people on this adventure. We were just happy to get out and enjoy some warm sunshine.
There is an offshoot to this trail which gives it the name “Ridge” that if you didn’t know where to turn, you would miss it. It’s a loop trail that takes you up to the top of this ridge and backs down to the main trail. There are views galore and a memorial to a fallen outdoor enthusiast with a plaque and box to leave notes etc., at the top as well. There was an active mine at one point so you have to be careful not to fall in the hole. Well, we ventured on this offshoot and the road seemed dry and great for wheeling. As we got closer to the top, there were some noticeable snow patches in the shadows of the trail. As we continued the terrain started changing as we started climbing a bit and the first patch of snow on the trail got our attention. Someone had been on this trail prior as I could see the tracks in the snow and for those of you aware of driving on snow, once vehicles start driving over snow- it becomes ICE. You could clearly see the tracks frozen in time, packed down and clearly marking the path. Bill got out and spotted me through it (yes I was driving, I LOVE this trail) by taking the higher side of snow (no ice) and I got through with a little effort and good driving skills. Bill continued to help the rest of the group behind me (yes we were leading). I continued forward and drove the same way through another patch – taking the snow path – not the ice path and making it to the next dry dirt patch. As I waited for the jeep behind me to come up, I decided I needed to continue to move forward so that all jeeps could get through and not stop on the snow/ice patches. By this time you could see up ahead that the trail was covered in more snow as this part of the trail is a bit more shaded. BUT that doesn’t stop us jeepers, I decided to drive through this next patch. It was about 30 feet long uphill. I could clearly see the ICE tracks and also the snow that hadn’t been disturbed. I chose to drive to the right and put my tires onto the snow parts and away I went. Just as I got to the end of the patch, the jeep slipped off the snow and onto that ICE patch…. I continued to push through (Bill in my head saying “don’t lift”) hoping for the tires to grab onto the dry dirt that was just a few feet away. NO LUCK. Now I need to admit I have NEVER driven on ice. I have NEVER drifted or had a lot of experience sliding in a vehicle. If you remember my very first jeep story I shared that I thought ALL vehicles should remain with all 4 tires on the pavement LOL (episode 425 if you are curious). Well, I know you can’t brake when it’s icy – BUT that didn’t stop me from trying. You all know once the tires lose traction you pretty much are a sitting passenger. But I thought if I tried the brakes I could somehow magically stop the jeep. NO LUCK!!! Then I remembered – Holy shit, I’m on an incline, and there is a steep 20-30 feet drop off to my right (bill says it was only 10 feet) I did manage to use my mirrors and tried to steer the jeep straight down the trail. Backward!! The jeep was sliding uncontrollably down the trail. I’m sure I was panicked – Bill says panic kills and I know better, but in that instance the fear was real. I was convinced in a split second that I was going over the side, I was destroying the jeep, and darn that was going to be expensive.
Well, I managed (probably sheer luck and gravity) to keep the jeep on the trail and it came to a stop on the dry dirt. Did I mention I LOVE dry dirt? Now what happened next completely took me by surprise. The most incredible Adrenaline dump I have ever experienced. For those of you who want free tactical training, drive a jeep uphill through an ice patch, and when you lose traction and HANG ON! My hands started shaking first – and I don’t mean a tiny shake, I’m talking shaking like I had tremors or needed some food kind of shaking. Then the legs started. I couldn’t remove my leg from the brake…. It was shaking so much. I had no idea that I was that scared at that moment. Bill finally came up to the jeep as the group had decided that the jeep behind us couldn’t make it up the first patch and that no one was making it up this loop. He “rescued me” so to speak and I was able to get out of the jeep and regain my composure.
We couldn’t go any further. There were no additional tracks in the snow patches further up. At this point, I let Bill back the jeep down through the second patch of ice and turn the jeep around. All of the 13 jeeps had to turn around on a single narrow dirt road. But as good jeepers do, we all managed to work it out. I will tell you that Bill did drive the jeep downhill through the first obstacle on the ice. I knew that the ice patch was going to be treacherous and I wanted no part of it. Instead, I filmed him coming down the trail – what a wild ride – for HIM! He has so much more experience driving than I do. He has driven race cars, done drifting, dune buggies, and lots of other stuff. He was having a blast for the 50 feet or so of complete loss of control and sliding with tires locked up. The smile on his face was priceless.
Now I had a choice at this point to continue to drive the rest of the trail or sit on the passenger side and ponder my “almost” demise. I chose to drive! I’m a big proponent of “if you fall off (horse reference) get back in the saddle”. We had an awesome day with lots of good obstacles, trails that had no more ice, and great views.
I share this story because as newbies you may not comprehend how something as simple as driving on ice could turn sideways (pun intended). I share my experience to also show that you can have an experience like this and come out OK on the other side and learn from it. Hopefully, this story doesn’t keep you from trying things; that’s how we learn. For me, I will leave the ice capades to Bill and others with more experience. Glad I did it, I can now check that off the list. LOL
Do you have a topic or suggestion for Newbie nuggets – I’d love to hear from you. For more info check out my YouTube channel “Jeep 4-1-1” with more tips, tricks & techniques.
Jeep Life with Tammy – “Jeep Momma”
Tony, Josh, and Wendy I sure do hate missing a show. However, starting a new business can be a little overwhelming. Things are going well, but we are constantly working long hours. There is so much to do on the To-Do list. Not only just our garage but trying to find other businesses to move in since the building is so big. We started on the machine shop walls this past weekend. We were lucky to find another lathe, this time one a little newer. We also have a Jeep Girl who creates decals and is working on decals and tee shirts for us. We are in the planning stages of setting up Jeep Meet and Greets, trail rides here in the San Luis Valley, and recovery and off-road classes. In case you aren’t familiar with this area…the San Luis Valley is in South Central Colorado near New Mexico. The Rio Grande River runs through the valley. The Continental Divide and the San Juan Mountains are on the West and the Sangre De Cristo Mountains on the East. We are up at about 7900 feet above sea level and the space between the mountains is a flat dry desert of about 8000 square miles. We are surrounded by the mountains. It’s actually very beautiful. Plus the best part… there are hundreds of miles of trails from mild to wild within an hour’s drive and some even closer. There are so many to explore it is a little overwhelming. Plus just south of us are some pretty spectacular views in Northern New Mexico near Taos. It does get pretty cold here in the winter and lots of snow. This year has been pretty mild with snow. We have learned some tough lessons with dealing with the cold and camping in our camper. This brings me to Jeep Life. Cold weather camper life tips from lessons learned.
There is a saying I learned while my kids were in Boy Scouts. It’s “always be prepared”. Being prepared means planning and have a plan for every contingency you can think of even if the possibility is low. I know folks in Texas sure learned this. Not only have a plan and a backup plan but a backup plan to the backup plan. There are 4 major musts Good shelter, Water, Food, and heat. These are essential to basic survival in the cold weather. Good Shelter protects you from the elements. Most RV’rs or Van Lifers put a second layer of protection on their homes in the cold winter months. This would be a tarp over the top and for RV’rs some sort of “skirting” around the bottom of the RV or Camper. This helps keep the inside warm. We have used a Tarp around the bottom of our camper, but here in the valley it gets very windy so this is not a good idea. The foam board is definitely the way to go. Just make sure it’s secured well. All the tarp does is blow off and make scary noises at night while blowing. Sometimes I would wake up wondering if those mountain lions were trying to get into the camper. Investing in rugs and slippers is a good idea too. And plenty of blankets. Water… Most campgrounds have water hookups. In the winter these hookups need to be insulated. And not just the hookups. It’s a good idea to have a backup house that you could plug in to keep it warm. Just a regular old hose will freeze up if the temps get low enough. You still need a backup plan for that backup hose. Not all campgrounds water hookups are insulated well. Ours froze in the ground. So no water for us. That meant lots of gallons of water. I am sure learning the art of perseverance living the camper life in the mountains of Colorado.
Food… The good thing in the winter if you lose power your cold food won’t go to waste as you can just store it outside. Just make sure it’s in an animal-proof container. One day last year before we upgraded our camper with a bigger fridge I needed extra space for cold food. So I put it in a vinyl-type cooler. Well one day when I got home my roast, pack of chicken, and pork chops were gone. The creature did leave the trash in the cooler though. The animal chewed right through the vinyl cooler. There are several containers on the market that are bear-proof. Cooking the food is important too. Having several alternatives is a good idea from a propane stove to a charcoal grill to a campfire which means you need some sort of cooking grill for over the fire. There are several varieties out there. We go with simple and easy and grill that doesn’t take up a lot of space as we take ours tent camping. You may even want to consider having your Propane stove upgraded to be able to use a bigger propane tank.
Heat. So important in the winter. We have many sources. Propane, electric portable heaters, the electric blanket that can plug into a battery, and lots and lots of blankets and layers of sleeping clothes. Not only the propane heater in the camper but a portable propane heater like the buddy heater. These are the kind that uses the smaller green propane bottles. If you use these camping the little bottles, if using on high, only last about 4 hours. Another good idea is to have the capability to use a bigger propane bottle. That way at 3 in the morning you are not getting up in a cold tent or camper to change the bottle.
Deciding to leave your home and live a simpler life in a camper is not for everyone. If you like the creature comforts of a home you may want to rethink. But if you don’t mind not having to spend a whole day cleaning your house or even ever vacuuming again and instead of relaxing by a campfire or taking a leisurely walk through the mountainside you might want to consider Camper life. It has taught me so many lessons, taught me perseverance, and removed a lot of burdens from my shoulders.
Lone Star Jeep Invasion
Did you know we’re just a week away from the Lone Star Jeep Invasion? Are you going? Tony is! Lone Star Jeep Invasion is being held in the Houston Area, Conroe Texas. The RED XJ will be in the show in shine so please stop by and say hello!
Get more information by going to lonestarjeepinvasion.com
The Jeep Talk Show hopes to see you there!
Camp Fireside Chat
What is the BEST Jeep of all time? (hint… there is a “J” in the vehicle designation) You can join us around the virtual campfire every Thursday night at 9:45 PM (Central Standard Time) when we record the latest episode. Subscribe to our newsletter to get weekly reminders and how to join via Zoom.
Links Mentioned in this Episode
www.facebook.com/Wagoneer
www.instagram.com/Wagoneer
www.twitter.com/Wagoneer
www.youtube.com/Jeep