Episode 481 – The Back Of The Engine Is Just GONE!
This Week In Jeep
The Back Of The Block Is Just GONE…
This story is utterly dominating the web right now, so I sort of feel obligated to talk about it. It’s a shining and clear example of what NOT to do with your Jeep. We’ve had stories of this nature here and there over the years here on the Jeep Talk Show, but this is one of those that rise to the top of the list. And what makes this even better is there is video documentation to go along with it. According to a TikTok video shared by shop foreman Toby Tuten, a white Wrangler Rubicon arrived at a North Florida dealership last week for service after being flat-towed behind the owner’s RV. It seemed odd to Tuten that a brand-new Jeep was in for service, especially since it had less than 10,000 miles on the odometer. When he looked underneath the vehicle, however, he decided to start filming just to show the world what happens when you improperly flat-tow a four-wheel-drive off-roader and forget to take it out of gear. Not just out of gear in general though, the owner apparently having just come off the trail, still had their Jeep in four-LOW.
It’s a rather expensive lesson indeed. I’m pretty sure every Jeep ever made with 4WD explicitly states in the manual not to exceed 25 MPH while in 4-lo. Doing so can cause damage to the vehicle or its components. In this case, as the Jeep was towed behind the motorhome for god only knows how long, the internal RPM’s of the engine would have been somewhere in the 50 thousand range. Especially since it was not only in 4-lo, but it was left in first gear too. Needless to say, this is above the factory-established redline of 6,600 RPM. Obviously, engine and gear speeds like this were never meant to happen, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened next. The oil pan wasn’t exactly delicately removed to show the internals for this particular video, or the pics you’ve likely seen online by now. It was literally peeled back like a can of sardines when the back of the engine quite literally exploded. The engine revved so high that the crankshaft literally sheared off, sending the crank, and the two rear-most pistons and rods through the block. Even the transmission was grenaded. The clutch and flywheel spun so fast that they more or less exploded, and went flying through the transmission’s bell housing and lopped off its input shaft like a hot knife through butter.
As you might expect, this job quickly turned into a rather expensive fix. The shop foreman said that the final bill of replacement parts is close to cresting $30,000, and that doesn’t include labor. And no, this is not anything that is covered under the factory warranty since it was due to gross negligence, and nothing else. It’s likely that insurance would also consider this mechanically totaled, but whether or not the insurance company will cover the mishap is unknown. Those lessons learned the hard way is oftentimes the most expensive. Hopefully, this Jeep owner won’t be paying that monthly payment for a Jeep he will never get to drive again. If you’re interested in seeing the video that takes you through all this carnage with a front seat view, we’ll have the link to it in the show notes for this episode at Jeeptalkshow.com.
Bad Doggie!
We often share stories here on the show that leave many shaking their head. Wondering just how all the circumstances fell together just right to create the story that you hear. It’s no wonder how a lot of this stuff happens, but the owner of a Jeep that was driven into the front of a Madison Wisconsin business thinks he knows how it happened. Thankfully no one was hurt when a dog decided to take a Jeep for a drive herself. The owner of the dog named Callie parked at a gas station in Sturgeon Bay and went into a bakery nearby. He thinks Callie bumped the shifter into drive and the Jeep ran into the building across the street. The business, Pearl of Door County of course had some damage inside. The Jeep’s owner says he’s sure he put the vehicle in park. No injuries were reported, and the dog is just fine, but will likely be on a short leash from now on.
If You Care About MPG’s… This Is NOT The Jeep For You
If you are sitting there, and are aware of the new V8 Wrangler 392 that’s coming out, and you think it’s going to get good gas mileage because the EPA says it has to, you are not only dumb, but you are also… wait for it… retarded.
I don’t care. And if you DO care that much go buy a hybrid.
Look, in a perfect world, you’d be able to purchase a V-8-powered Jeep Wrangler for a song and a dance, and also get praiseworthy fuel economy. But for those of us who have two brain cells to rub together and know that facts matter more than feelings, WE all know that’s not how things work, accept it and move on. As such, fuel economy ratings from the EPA put the 2021 Jeep Rubicon 392 nearly as far down the MPG spectrum as other high-powered SUVs such as the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT models. Again, if you are buying one you likely don’t care, and if you do care that much, you should probably be driving a Prius you pathetic petrol-hating eco-snob. For starters, the Rubicon 392 Launch Edition comes at a hefty price tag of $74,995, not including options. If you can afford that, you can afford a few more tanks of gas every year, without question. The EPA rates the 470-horsepower Rubicon 392 at 13 mpg in the city, 17 mpg on the highway, and 14 mpg combined. If my rock crawling XJ got those numbers I’d be happier than a camel on hump day. HUMP DAYYY!
Generally speaking, as long as the Wrangler has been around, it historically has had less than impressive gas mileage, so these numbers shouldn’t really come as any surprise to anyone. Unless you fall into the aforementioned category of pussified petrol-hating eco-snobs. The supercharged Durango SRT Hellcat is a bit more gas hungry than the 392 though, with a 13-mpg combined EPA rating (and 12 mpg city, 17 mpg highway); the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with the same engine delivers the same combined and highway figures, but a lowly 11 mpg in the city. That’s about what I get in my XJ. Either way, the 392 isn’t at the bottom, or top of this list if you will, so it isn’t all bad. In any case, again, if you can afford the nearly 75 grand it takes to buy one of these, you’re not hurting for gas money, and besides, it’s a Jeep so who cares?
Jeep Talk Show Buys a Gladiator
In an ongoing segment Tony takes you through the process of finding a dealership, looking for and selecting a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. We’re using Houston area Jeep dealership, SouthFork Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Red Sport S with max tow package. The max tow axles are Dana 44 that are 1.5 inches longer than the standard sport axles. I’ve read many times that these are the same Dana 44’s that come on the Rubicon Gladiator just minus the lockers.
Newbie Nuggets with Wendy
In Episode 480 I shared ideas about storing the “stuff” we need and what we collect while jeeping. It’s part of the process of wheeling and needing things for repairs, airing up and down, recovery, etc.
This week I give you some insight as to the next level storage options. First, you really need to decide what type of wheeling you are doing before spending any money and time researching this topic. YES, you will need to do some of your own research. Just google Jeep storage and see the hundreds if not thousands of products available for your jeep and storage systems. There are storage items for everything and also specifically designed items for crawling, wheeling, overlanding, camping, day tripping and you name it.
If money is no object and you have decided you have outgrown the “basic” systems I covered last week, well you are in for a surprise. Simply go to Extreme Terrain (sponsors of the JTS show) and check them out. You can select the year and model of your jeep to get a list of all the products designed for your jeep. They have all kinds of name brands of products from SmittyBilt, ARB, Barricade, Quadratec, Teraflex, and Rugged Ridge to name a few. It’s mind-boggling the number of storage ideas that are out there.
So let’s say you want to do rock crawling and basic wheeling and you want to add additional storage and have it secured. You can visit Extreme Terrain or ARB’s website and check out the drawers for the rear cargo – they are on rollers so they slide out easily and you can add a tabletop that slides out as well. These would be great to store all your gear and it’s easy to get to. They have models that lock and different dimensions to fit whatever space you are trying to organize. These drawer systems will set you back between $650 to $1400 depending on what you choose, but hey, money is no object at this point if you want the look and design of everything neatly in its place. Keep looking because they also have barrier and rack dividers for the interior. Keeping things secured that may be loose all in one place. And they even have sturdy fabric cargo organizers that will set you back about $100 for each one. Rear doors are another good place to organize. I’m excited to check out the options and replace the crappy ones we have now.
Let’s not forget all the tiny areas in the jeep that you can use for storage and may not know it. There are storage bags for the wheel wells, there’s hidden vaults that lock under the seats, cargo totes for the rear space, and even grab handle storage for items you may need at your fingertips. There are even roll bar storage solutions for quick access items. There are so many choices it would be impossible for me to narrow it down to just one or two. Let’s face it, if you want to store it, there’s a solution for you!
Now if you want to camp and/or overland you will need a fridge or freezer for food storage to add to your other storage solutions. Guess what? They have those too. ARB has fridge options that fit on sliding racks and work with complete organizing systems. Prices will run you upwards of $1,400 depending on what you choose. Type S offers the Blizzard Box for about $700. Don Alexander has one of these and it seems pretty nice. If you are out for several days overlanding, you will need to have some food supply. Adding a fridge will take up space but you can easily configure the space however you want.
And then there are options with a roof rack and/or rear cargo racks. Extreme Terrain has so many options for both of these but keep in mind with the roof rack; if you put too much on top it can make the jeep a bit top-heavy and raise your center of gravity when crawling. If you are just overlanding and not planning to do too much rock crawling, the roof rack is a good base to put the tent and other things you need. The rear cargo is another option and is installed above or around the spare tire, This cargo space is good for water, gas cans, and other things like a jack or shovel, etc.
So if these types of storage solutions are on your radar, keep in mind a lot of these use the entire rear cargo of your 4 door and/or the back seat of other models. So you may need to also consider who you take with you when you wheel. Adding the storage may not allow room for the kids, the wife, or the dog. This could be a good solution depending on your situation (LOL). Heck maybe you get a storage system for the front seat too and you don’t have to take anyone with you.
Alright, maybe you just want to keep it simple and go with “whatever” you happen to have on hand to store your items, OR perhaps you want to explore the web and find all kinds of containers and storage systems. Either way, it’s your choice. And depending on the type of wheeling you do I’m sure there is the perfect option for you. I would suggest with upcoming outdoor trade shows to get out and explore all the options. See it, touch it, ask questions and find a really good deal. Because I suspect once you go down this rabbit hole, there will be no stopping you. Once you have and use any of these systems, like the sliding drawers all neatly contained in a perfectly presented box, you won’t stop. And as we know, once your friends see what you have done, they are going to want to do the same.
Top 10 Jeep Podcasts (According to blog.feedspot.com/jeep_podcasts/)
Top 10 Jeep Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021
9 That Jeep Show
8 Gone-Gpn Show
7 Between Two Jeeps
6 The ModernJeeper Show
5 Light Bars & Lockers
4 On The Trail With Kevin and Scott
3 Northwest JeepShow
2 Jeep Life Podcast
1 Jeep Talk Show
Yes, there are only 9. 😀
Interview With:
This week we interview Deadpool, no not that Deadpool. Deadpool Gambino, salesman at SOUTHFORK Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram (https://www.houstonchryslerdodgejeepram.com/) Deadpool shows Tony around the Jeep Gladiators and then they go on a test drive. What color is Tony getting, and what MAJOR update did he pick as a result of seeing the Gladiator in person?
Must Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!
High-power, rare earth magnets hold tools and parts securely in place
- Flexible design is easy to lift and move to your work location
- Made with premium, faux carbon-fiber PVC outer material that resists punctures and common shop fluids
- Inner foam membrane improves durability and provides structure
- Great for working under the hood or near a lift
- Place your tools and parts anywhere there is a ferrous surface
Lifetime Warranty, Non-Repairable, Warrantied for Materials and Workmanship/for as long as the purchaser owns it.
Campfire Side Chat:
This week on our campfire side chat with the Zoom People we ask, “What Is The IDEAL Jeep Lift Height and Tire Size Combo?” The following Zoom People joined us for this weeks show! You can join our Zoom meeting by subscribing to our newsletter. https://jeeptalkshow.com/newsletter
Links mentioned in this episode:
SOUTHFORK Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram https://www.facebook.com/SouthforkCDJR https://www.houstonchryslerdodgejeepram.com/
NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/
Jeep 4-1-1 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
The Most Expensive Old School Wagoneers (but beautiful) https://wagonmaster.com/
Bestop https://www.bestop.com/
Rat Bastards https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard
“Must Have” Snap-On 8” x 11” MagMat $59.99 https://shop.snapon.com/product/Magnetic-Trays-and-Dishes/High-Power-Magnetic-Mat/MAGMAT
See It In Action!