Episode 497 – More Sound And More Light For Less
This Week In Jeep
Bad Cop! – NO Doughnut!
On Dec. 28, 2020, a Denver Colorado Detective named Bohm reported to the Arvada Police Dept. that his police Jeep had been stolen early that morning. Bohm told Arvada investigators that his department-issued AR-15 was hidden under some blankets and backpacks in the rear of the Jeep. A written command letter determined Bohm violated two department policies. One for failing to secure “a department-issued utility rifle,” the other violation was for leaving the keys to his DPD vehicle in his garage allowing the Jeep and items of DPD property inside the vehicle to be stolen. The recommendation from Internal Affairs was an 18-day suspension for the stolen AR-15 and a three-day suspension for the careless handling of his car keys. However, the Chief Deputy Executive Director for the Department of Safety, Mary Dulacki, overturned the Police Chief’s recommendation to suspend the detective. Bohm said on Dec. 23, 2020, he backed his police Jeep into the right side of his garage, next to his wife’s car which was also backed into the garage. Bohm then said he parked his personal vehicle in the driveway in front of the police vehicle “nose to nose” outside the garage door.
Bohm remembered that he removed his keys from the Jeep and left them in his work jacket on a refrigerator next to the door inside the garage before entering his home.
On Dec. 28, 2020, just after 5 a.m., Bohm reported that he had heard two vehicles leaving at a fast rate of speed in front of his residence and when he went outside, he discovered his garage door was open and his police vehicle was missing. Upon further investigation, he found his wife’s vehicle had front-end damage because the thieves sideswiped it to drive out of the garage without hitting Bohm’s personal vehicle parked in the driveway. In addition to the AR-15, the stolen Jeep contained three loaded AR-15 magazines, a tactical vest, two plates, a tactical helmet with a flip-down visor light, and a high-tech radio. It turns out the thieves had found Bohm’s garage door opener in his personal vehicle in the driveway. How was it so easily discovered you ask? Apparently, Detective Bohm’s wife said she had left her husband’s vehicle unlocked after driving it the day before. Way to go wife. On Jan. 11, the AR-15 with only one fully loaded magazine was recovered in Douglas County during the arrest of an individual on drug and weapons charges. The police vehicle was recovered a few weeks later on Feb. 4, in Denver but investigators found no fingerprints and said it appeared the vehicle had been sprayed down with a solvent and then wiped down to cover the tracks of the thieves. At the chief’s hearing on May 26, Detective Bohm explained that on Dec. 25, 2020, he began his rotation as the on-call detective for the District 2 Narcotics Unit.
This on-call status requires him to have his vehicle packed with all his necessary equipment in it, should the need arise to respond to a call at a moment’s notice.
The internal affairs investigator determined that Bohm failed to secure his AR-15 to prevent it from being stolen and was careless with his car keys. But Dulacki wrote in her discipline order that because the vehicle assigned to Bohm did not have a lockable gun rack or a trunk for him to lock the AR-15 inside of, he could not be held accountable when he made a good faith effort to hide the rifle under blankets in the back of his Jeep.
In addition, Dulacki found that because his police vehicle and keys were inside a locked attached garage it would be unreasonable to fail to consider those steps as the functional equivalent of a locked storage device. As a result, Dulacki wrote the Chief of Police’s Written Command ordering disciplinary action against Detective Bohm is disapproved and findings of Exonerated shall be entered for each violation. WOW.
So let’s boil this down. The cop’s wife screws up and leaves the car that has the garage door opener in it completely unlocked, giving thieves the keys to the castle. Which they of course capitalized on, stealing the Jeep, gun, and tactical gear, causing vehicle damage in doing so. And the cop gets off with hardly any disciplinary action at all?
Do you think the same can be said for his wife? Something tells me she will never get to live this one down.
Say Goodbye To The TrackHawk
Introduced in 2018, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is among the most powerful mainstream production vehicles money can buy today. It’s also impressively quick off the line with a 0 to 60 miles per hour acceleration time of 3.5 seconds. Unfortunately, you probably have just a few more months if you want to buy a brand new Grand Cherokee Trackhawk as the track and strip friendly Jeep is likely going to be discontinued for the 2022 model year. Jeep is now gearing up for the production of the next-generation Grand Cherokee and leaks from within Stellantis and Jeep are claiming that a new-gen Trackhawk most likely won’t happen. Originally, the automaker had plans for a new supercharged V8 model but Stellantis, Jeep’s parent company, is pushing very hard for full line-up electrification. Combine that with the EPA’s ridiculous and ever-growing emissions regulations, and you can see how Jeep is being forced to rethink its strategy. All because tree-huggers and Eco-greenie nuts hate gas and diesel so much they want everyone on bicycles instead. Rumors are out of control on this, and right now the Trackhawk appears to be a dying breed. However there are some rumblings that say that there just might be a new Trackhawk later in the new generation of Grand Cherokee’s lifecycle but it won’t feature a supercharged V8 powertrain.
Instead, according to even other rumors, it may use a hybridized 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with up to 525 horsepower and instant torque delivery thanks to the electric motor. While this number is nowhere near the 707 hp of the current Trackhawk, the gap could be filled by the hybrid technology and its power delivery. Another, less powerful electrified engine is also in the works for the new Grand Cherokee, but what is there to get excited about there? Seen testing on public roads last month, the 4xe version will reportedly use the same electrified powertrain as the Wrangler 4xe.
But with significantly more weight to move around than a Wrangler, I doubt that’s going to be anything to write home about. So I guess this is bye-bye-birdie!
This Is What It Means To Be A Jeeper
South Placer Jeep & Wheelers spent a recent Saturday donating labor and equipment, clearing brush, and repairing fences on Loomis town property that was severely overgrown. Overgrowth like this in hot and dry weather can create a fire hazard for surrounding homes next to the property. So not only did the group cut in all-new fire breaks, but they also repaired the Fire Department’s access gate to the property. In addition to all that, they even took some time to make some improvements and updates to the nearby Heritage Park. The club’s mission is to promote off-roading as a safe, family experience while serving local communities and preserving the natural environment. Now THAT is what a Jeep Club should be all about. South Placer Jeep & Wheelers is all-inclusive, however, and their purpose is for Jeep and other off-road vehicle enthusiasts in Loomis, Penryn, Lincoln, Rocklin, Roseville, and nearby areas to have a fellowship of like-minded enthusiasts to share the off-roading sport and community service. The club promotes recreational activities fostering community service and vehicles using legal and sustaining methods while protecting and preserving natural resources and providing positive community relations. Now that’s a mission statement I can get behind. If you would like to connect with, or support this fine group of Jeepers, or just get more information about what they do, we will have the links to their Facebook page and website in the show notes for this episode at Jeeptalkshow.com.
https://www.facebook.com/southplacerjeepandwheelers/?ref=py_c
Newbie Nuggets with Wendy
Starting out
When you are new to jeeping, there is the question of “what do I need in my jeep”. Now I covered this topic when I was new to the Jeep Stalk Show last year, 71 episodes ago. Can you guys believe it! It’s been over a year since I joined the show. I realized that there are lots of newbies that join our show throughout the year so I took a look back and there are a few topics that I feel are relevant to share again and again.
So the first question you have to ask is “what type of jeeping will you be doing? Are you driving fire roads, rock crawling, or mudding or?
These basic items are a MUST for new jeepers;
Tow straps – this is invaluable in case you need to get pulled out or maybe your buddy is the newbie and they need a tug. You want an actual tow strap (not rope) with a 20,000 lb rating or higher to do the job.
Tow hooks/attachment points – This is also called D-rings, or shackles. If you get stuck, or you are helping your buddy, you need a place to latch onto to get them out. You see D-rings on most Jeeps, front and rear, that hang on the bumper, and dangle and make noise when you are off-road LOL. I personally like the soft shackle as opposed to metal D-rings, they are easier for me to operate and I don’t risk having something break and a flying D-ring hit the jeep or worse, someone.
Basic tool kit- You will need a good set of tools. Now, this also depends on your level of experience with said tools. It’s great to have a “great” set, but if you don’t know the difference between a screwdriver and a wrench, then perhaps getting with a buddy to learn will give you more confidence. Basic tools would include screwdrivers, wrenches, adjustable wrench, pliers, channel locks, and vise grips. Add in some gloves and shop towels (or paper towels), Yep, working on a jeep in the dirt could get messy. Adding in some unusual items like duct tape, zip ties, self-sealing silicone tape, and a ratchet tie down will come in handy one day – you’ll be glad you had these items on board. Sometimes the goal is getting off the trail and these tools may do just enough to get you off the trail. Having a pad or old blanket to lie on is something every Jeeper doing hard trails should have. At some point, you will be glad you had something to lay on when you are underneath your jeep in mud, dirt, sand, or snow.
Basic first aid kit – Yep things can go sideways quickly on the trail. A simple fall on slippery sand/rocks can easily need a Band-Aid. Basic kits can be found in most pharmacies, but get one that has lots of items, not just a few Band-Aids. I have talked on other episodes about serious injuries that could happen on the trail that would require a Trauma kit. But like all things, know how to use it – need it in a situation is NOT the time to be reading how to use the items.
Fire Extinguisher – This should be on all Jeeps. I realize the tiny one we have probably won’t do much but at least we have one on board. Most jeep events require a fire extinguisher as part of the gear you need to have to participate in that run. The extinguisher needs to be stored securely and easily accessible.
CB, Ham, or GMR radio – communication is key to wheeling. At least one person in the group should have access to communication that works. Ideally, all jeeps in the group should have a way to communicate with each other. In some areas we wheel, there is no cell service, so having a ham has been beneficial to getting help when needed. You will need a license for the Ham and GMR. CB does not have the range that the other two have, but at least it’s something. Depending on where you wheel and how far you plan to go away from “civilization” a satellite phone may be something to look into.
Hi-Lift Jack- you see these on most jeeps, however, I would guess very few people actually know how to operate one safely. This jack can get you out of some sticky situations BUT you need to know how to operate it. It can inflict some real body damage to your jeep and seriously hurt anyone close by. It’s not something you need to add to your jeep the first time out, but it should be on your list of “things I need to add”.
Trash Bags – If you listen to the JTS, then you know all of us are very big on Pack it in/Pack it out. Trash is a huge problem in the off-road community and is the reason a lot of trails get closed. While most jeepers are very attentive to this rule, there are those that think throwing glass bottles and not collecting their personal waste is someone else’s problem. If your wheel, take your trash with you. You can listen to previous episodes and learn all kinds of ways to properly stash your trash while jeeping – and that goes for women too! There are all kinds of “bags” that hang outside the jeep off the spare tire to choose from. Be good stewards of the land and pick up your trash – and any other trash you may find along the way.
All the items I listed should be dedicated to the jeep and always on board. That includes checking things occasionally like the first aid kit to make sure it hasn’t been raided. Bill always says, Better to be looking at them, than looking for them.
Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update
When I was building the 2021 Jeep Talk Show Gladiator I looked at all of the options. Some of those options were very expensive. One option that was much more expensive than I thought it should be, the LED lighting package.
The LED package is $1,095. When I saw this price I knew I could get 3rd party LEDs that were a fraction of the price from FCA.
My knowledge of LEDs was partly correct. I found that the JT (as well as the JL) no longer used 7” round headlights. They are 9”. The aftermarket hasn’t caught up with this change and that means the 9” LED headlights are anywhere from $250 to $750! That $1,095 from FCA is making more sense now, isn’t it?
3rd party 7” round LED headlights have been around for a long time, with lots of companies making them causing prices to go down. Thankfully companies are making brackets that adapt a 7” headlight to a 9” JL/JT! My concern then was what do I do with that 1” gap between the bracket and the Jeep? Well, there isn’t a gap or none that I can see. I went with the same 7” CREE LED headlights that we use on all 3 Jeep TJs here at the house. One set is over 5 years old, working perfectly.
I replaced the headlights with Xprite 7” 75w CREE LED, and a 9” to 7” adapter bracket.
Fog, or driving lights, with 4” Round Sport LED
LED replacement bulbs for DRL (daytime running lights) and turn signals.
For the taillights, I used LED bulb replacements for brake and backup.
The result is a complete LED external light replacement. I spent $243.93 with the majority going to the headlights and adapter brackets.
What you DON’T get by doing the conversion is the DRL/Turn signal LED housings that look snazzer than the non LED housings that come with the JT Sport S.
You also get a fancier-looking set of tail lights.
To me, saving $851.07 is well worth it.
Long term I plan on replacing the 7” LED headlights with 9” LED when those prices come WAY down. I will replace the taillights as well with LED. I love the look of the Oracle flush mount tail lights, but at $399, ah no.
You may hear people say “You get what you pay for.” I don’t believe this is true. Do your research and buy what fits your needs and wants without wasting your money on something so expensive it makes you believe it’s your best option. This information on LED lights on your Jeep JL or JT should be a good lesson.
Oh and one other bonus. I paid cash for this upgrade which means I pay for it once. Not once a month until the loan is paid off.
Josh Gives Shout Out To Some Good People
Carl Whalen Co-Founding President of Back the Heroes Rumble
The Back the Heroes Rumble is a recognized 501c3 charity organization located in Cincinnati Ohio. They serve the entire states of Ohio/Indiana/Kentucky law enforcement, fire-ems, & military communities. Their mission is to honor fallen heroes from police/fire/military through their annual car show.
August 7th, 2021 – Batavia Township Park in Batavia Ohio
https://backtheheroesrumble.com/
Bob – TwoCheapJeepGuys – The goal of National Trail Clean-Up Day (July 17-18) is to have groups across the country organize and participate in trail clean-ups in their area, then share their work with photos or videos on the National Trail Clean-Up Day Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/NationalTrailCleanUpDay
Tech Talk with Jeep Talk
My Jeep’s Stereo Sucks! HELP!
Earlier model Jeeps weren’t known for their sound systems. Sure modern day Jeep systems have come a long way since the CJ days, but even the factory TJ system left a lot to be desired. It wasn’t until the JK line of Wranglers did Jeep really start to get serious about the stereo systems. Nowadays it’s all multimedia infotainment right at your fingertips, immersing you in an eight or nine speaker surround sound experience… …In a Jeep. Yeah. Who’da-thunk it? Well that’s all fine and dandy for the new Jeep owners, but what about the older Jeeps? The CJ’s and the YJ’s… They barely had any sound systems at all. So what’s a Jeeper to do. Well I’ve always said that if you want to add big sound to a little old Jeep there’s only one correct path, and I’m about to walk you down it. The first step is going to be the stereo. The heart of the system. This is where you don’t necessarily want to cheap out. A good deck will run you between 120 and 220 dollars brand new. This will get you plenty of features like bluetooth, sub output and a higher powered onboard amp with better circuitry. Things like HD radio or Satellite radio, or a screen that folds out, are all features found in more expensive head units. If you are on a tight budget, I would consider turning to Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to find something used, just make sure they can demonstrate that everything works, or are willing to meet you at a stereo shop to have it bench tested. That will usually run 20-25 bucks, but will be additional peace of mind when it comes time to install it. Just make sure you’re not shooting yourself in the foot by trying to cheap out and be only 20 or 30 bucks away from a brand new unit. Now if you are trying to maintain the original look of the old two knob radio in the CJ, there are still modern versions of these that have the old classic look, but modern components inside. These typically aren’t cheap and will be in the 200 dollar and up price range. Next up it’s going to be time to pick out some speakers. And in the CJ or YJ there really isn’t any place to put them. Oh sure you can try to finagle a 3×5 into those spaces in the dash, but 1.) that’s a pain in the butt, and 2.) Let’s face it, you’re not going to get much out of those tiny, itty bitty speakers, even if you go with the adapter plate and cram a 3.5” round speaker in there. That’s going to be an even bigger pain in the butt. So skip that location all together. For the front speakers, I really like the “Centra-Pod” speaker enclosure. This is a ruggedized molded plastic speaker enclosure that is specifically shaped to fit under the dash and in front of the shifters on the transmission hump to hold two 5.25” speakers that point right at your face. These will run you about $70 unloaded, or you can get them with a set of Kicker speakers preloaded for about $150. Not only will this be much easier to install, it looks good, and is out of the way. But that’s not going to quite cut it. You’ll need more and that will come from the completely unused and useless space between the rear wheel well and the roll bar. This is the perfect space however for a set of 6×9 speaker pods. The ones I have installed in countless Jeeps are made of a hard molded plastic and are extremely durable. They secure into place with zero rattling or movement of any kind making them both resilient and secure. These not only are out of the way entirely, but they offer the ability to add huge sound to the Jeep. These on average are only about $80 to $100 for a pair of them. I haven’t seen too many options for pre-loaded, as you will definitely want to choose something good here. 6×9’s can be a pricey speaker, so don’t get sticker shock here. But don’t buy the cheapest pair you can find either, you will regret it, and will definitely be replacing them soon. These pods also are better than the carpeted wood enclosures that sit on top of the wheel well. Those will eventually break down from exposure, and take up valuable storage room. A pair of 6×9’s will run you a good $100 easily, and a good set can cost as much as $300 or more. Here is where I would definitely consider going with used gear, in order to save money, but be sure to make sure they work at high volume before you buy them. With a modern stereo, a pair of 5.25 speakers up front and a set of kickin’ 6×9’s in the back, you will be in no short supply of sound. A system like this will have full, rich sound, with clean crisp highs, and a punchy mid-bass you can actually feel. You should be able to put together a system like this for 4-500 dollars and if you go with higher-end gear it could go up to $750 or more. It all depends on how much you want to spend and how much you like music.
Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma
Jeep Momma’s Top 5 Must Do’s when Camping
Tony, Josh, and Wendy… Well, looks like last week I lost track of my days again. I flew back to Maryland to visit my kids and totally blanked out Thursday’s show. It is sure nice to see them again though. I am still here in my old house which really isn’t my house, but I feel it still feels like my house. It is a little surreal being back. I have been back a few times before but this time it’s different. I had an epiphany. I came to realize I don’t miss the life of a suburbia soccer mom. The traffic and people, the humidity, yuk. Something came over me and all those sad, negative emotions just washed away and I am finally able to let it all go accept it. Ironic because in the past 2 weeks a few folks have reached out to me, one a JTS listener. They have seen how I have made huge changes in my life and were looking to talk to me about this as they are feeling bogged down or trapped in their life. That prompted me to make a video that I just uploaded on my YouTube channel. Top 5 ways to live your best life. It’s all about getting rid of the clutter in your life from things to people to emotions. For me doing this opened up doors and space to live the life I enjoy. One of those enjoyments is being out with nature. Like camping. There are so many different aspects of camping. I live in a campground, by choice. I shared a couple of episodes back about campground etiquette as some campgrounds are people’s homes. We also like to camp when we wheel. Sometimes we camp in a tent or bring a camper and stay at a campground. Sometimes an RV campground, sometimes a tent campground. There are also primitive group sites like in Moab and primitive sites in the National forests or on BLM land where it is just you and nature. That is my favorite type of camping, those out-of-the-way primitive sites. Primitive camping is also called dispersed camping. Nothing but the land. No showers or toilets, maybe a ring of rocks for a fire. It’s like off-grid camping. Just you and nature and of course a few luxuries you bring. I have learned over timeless is better if you are smart about it. You would be surprised how you can survive a night or two of primitive camping without a whole lot of stuff. It takes practice to figure out what works and what doesn’t for you. We are all different in our needs and wants. Like Neil and I for example. I don’t drink coffee but he won’t survive without coffee in the morning. He found a French press at Walmart a while back. A must-have for him but me not so much. Like with everything there are checklists all over the internet about what to bring. Just because it’s on the checklist doesn’t mean you need it. It’s a good start but the best way is to go out and figure it out for yourself. Must-haves for me are a pillow, good sleeping bag, tent, camp chair, cast iron pan, and grate to cook on over the fire. Of course, food and water but that is a given. Everything else would be gravy. What I have come to find out there can be too much stuff. You don’t want to make your trips or adventures a chore. The less to set up or clean or pack up means more time relaxing and enjoying the moments. There are 5 moments I love to enjoy when I camp. Jeep Momma’s Top 5 Must-Do Moments when camping. Number 1: Take in the sunset…just get your camp chair and chill watching the sunset. Number 2: Make a campfire… Camping is not the same without a campfire. Sit in your camp chair and watch the fire dance. Number 3: Once the sun sets and the fire dies down, look up at the sky and take in all those stars. It will blow your mind out in the middle of nowhere in the dark all those stars in the sky. Number 4: when you get up in the morning breakfast cooked over the fire is a must. Bacon and eggs first thing in the morning out in the middle of nowhere is amazing. Number 5: In the morning before your amazing breakfast just lay there in your sleeping bag looking out your tent at the amazing beauty around you. Take it all in… deep breaths. Camping and nature are so good for your soul. It takes away the stress if you do it right and helps you think more clearly. The best way to figure out what works for you is to go out and do it. You will make mistakes and forget things. That’s how you learn what works for you. You would be surprised how you really can survive a night in the wilderness without a whole lot of stuff. Until the next episode, happy Jeeping!
Must-Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!
SpiderWebShade SHADECAGE for The 07-18 JKU 4-Door Wrangler
https://www.spiderwebshade.com/products/jk-4d-unlimited-shadecage-1?_pos=5&_sid=e0861d678&_ss=r
The sun is out and you need shade, but you want, no… NEED to go topless this summer! So what do you do if you don’t want to get sunburnt sitting in traffic or out on the trail? The answer is Spiderweb Shade. Spiderweb Shade has been around since 2005, and all of their stuff is real-world tested for at least a year before it ever goes to market. Not only that, their shades come with a 10-year warranty and are made entirely here in the USA from start to finish. They also block 90% of harmful UV rays and keep the Jeep up to 27% cooler than one without a Spiderweb Shade. This week I’m highlighting their brand new Jeep Wrangler JKU SHADE CAGE. The Shade Cage is a four-piece system consisting of their patented top shade as well as their new CargoShade Unlimited… covering the left, right, and the rear cargo area of your Jeep JKU. You could spend more to get a thinner material system from some other company that does not reduce wind noise at all, or you can go with the industry leader. And it will only cost you $297 for the entire four-piece kit.
Camp Fireside Chat
How Extensively (if at all) Do You Detail Your Jeep After a Run?
-any tips to share?
You can join us around the virtual campfire every Thursday night at 9:45 pm when we record the latest episode. Subscribe to our newsletter to get weekly reminders and how to join via Zoom, or follow us on Facebook (https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow) for notifications.
Links Mentioned in this Episode
NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/
Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver
The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/
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Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard
Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol
South Placer Jeep & Wheelers:
https://www.facebook.com/southplacerjeepandwheelers/?ref=py_c
Detail Rags “E-Cloth”