Episode 500 – A New Beginning
This Week In Jeep
Bronco, Wrangler, and Defender Go for Off-Road Test, One Doesn’t Return
So a Ford Bronco, a Jeep Wrangler, and a Land Rover Defender walk into a bar. And by the bar, I mean the woods. As in nature, the great wilderness, complete with trails, obstacles, and fun. As you would expect, there was a clear winner and one vehicle that didn’t even make it past the first obstacle. I think you know how this goes.
So the website, magazine, I really don’t know who these people are, but they have a lot of money and they got to play with these three rigs, in the rough and pitted them all against each other in a head to head off-road three-way battle royale. Autoevolution is what they’re called, and it was clear by the article I read that the three test drivers all pretty much knew how this was going to go down too. Starting off with an on-paper comparison we start to see where one of these kids is playing out of their league. The Land Rover Defender is the only unibody vehicle in the lineup. And having a unibody offroader myself, I don’t see this as too much of a hindrance. Then, there are the whole suspension and articulation set-ups between these three vehicles. The Wrangler is the only one with two solid axles, whereas the Bronco only has one at the rear. The Defender, on the other hand, has independent suspension in all four corners – great for driving on the road, not as ideal once the pavement ends. Now let’s talk about traction. As far as the tires go, well the Wrangler came to play of course, and needed no special trim or package to go off-road. The same goes for the Bronco… But Ford had to spring for the full Sasquatch package in order to get both the ground clearance, suspension travel as well as 35” off-road tires just to qualify. The Defender can only take 19″ wheels or larger. The test vehicle had the 20s. Now I’ll do the math for you here and let’s just say that leaves very little room for the actual tires, let alone anything to air down for added traction. Land Rover at least had the wherewithal to equip the Defender with the optional factory off-road tires, but the difference compared to its two competitors was obvious. So, as I said, I think you already know how this went. Right off the bat, the Land Rover’s big wheels and low profile all-terrains proved to be a losing combo. Even with the tires aired down a little, the Defender struggled to get over the first rock and ended up finding the pointy side of another rock and punctured its right front tire. Opened the sidewall right up, and even dented the wheel. The spare was mounted, but the rock still needed to be cleared, and despite having more PSI than its predecessor, the spare too was punctured, and the Land Rover was left to spend the night with the coyotes. The Jeep and the Bronco both didn’t have any problems with any of the obstacles, but the Ford did have a harder time sticking to a line. The Wrangler was equipped with the hybrid powertrain (being a 4Xe model) and started to climb up the mountain using only electric power. However, the claimed 30-odd mile EV range turned into just a little over three miles (3.1) of actual off-road driving, showing that Jeep and its parent company Stellantis, still have a long way to go before offroading can be electrified. However the added torque proved to set the Jeep apart, and I think we all know who the king, and reigning offroad champion… is and always will be… Jeep.
Chip Shortage To Drag On For (at least) Another Year
According to Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Stellantis, Jeep’s parent company, the global semiconductor chip shortage that has hit automakers around the world and constrained vehicle production will easily drag into 2022. “The semiconductor crisis, from everything I see and I’m not sure I can see everything, is going to drag into ’22 easily, because I don’t see enough signs that additional production from the Asian sourcing points is going to come to the West in the near future,” Tavares said. The global chip shortage comes as demand for cars has spiked during the global economy’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis, driving up prices of new and used vehicles. Some automakers have adapted to the chip shortage by dropping features from their models, while others have built vehicles without the necessary chips and then parked them until their assembly can be finished later. Stellantis is considering changing the diversity of the chips it intends to use moving forward. However, it takes roughly 18 months to re-engineer a vehicle to use a different chip-set because of the sophistication of the technology involved. Tavares said Stellantis will continue to prioritize its highest-profit models with the chips it is receiving, echoing an approach taken by rivals. What this will mean for the average consumer is less variety, possibly even a hold on custom builds, and at the very least less economy-based new vehicles, and higher-end trims to capitalize on the profit margin of what IS being sold. Of course, this coin has two sides, and the other side of this whole story is the used car market. Have you checked the worth of that Jeep in the driveway or on the side of the house lately? I can tell you that my own 22-year-old Jeep has actually risen in value considerably over the last year, and I bet yours has too.
But look at this more of a balloon that will soon pop and less of a sudden boom in used Jeep value. And those artificially inflated used car market prices will come tumbling down, and with a glut of new vehicles on the market all of the sudden in (i dunno) say 2023, the market value of what once was… will be no more, and we’ll likely see an automotive market crash, as sales figures vs inventory numbers will see a ratio like never before. Time will of course tell, and we will of course keep you up to date.
Newbie Nuggets with Wendy
Picking a Line – Revisit
Back in episode 428, I mentioned tips and suggestions on picking your line. I know we have new drivers who have joined the podcast since then and this is an important topic and helps you have a better Jeeping experience on the trail. Picking your line can be summed up as “how will you get through the obstacle and which line (or way) is best for you, your ability, and your Jeep set up?”
When we work with new drivers I get them out of their jeep and let them “see” the line by showing them options for that particular obstacle. I also have them look at it from the jeep’s perspective and also look back through the obstacle back at the jeep to see just where those tires are going to contact. Walking past the obstacle or taking a look back at the line from another angle really helps to see where the tire placement could or should go (both front & rear).
Another fun tip is to look at the rocks and see where there is shiny material left behind from other Jeepers. This means someone else didn’t pick a good line and got stuck, or scraped their tie rod, control arm or differential. And if they have a factory differential cover and back off that rock it’s possible to peel it back just enough to create a slow leak of gear oil. Sometimes you see actual body parts from Jeeps (usually Toyotas). If you do, you may be facing a really tough obstacle. LOL. You almost always want to place your tires on the shiny parts of the rocks where others have scraped because it gives you greater ground clearance so that you’re not the one leaving part of your Jeep behind.
Now a few things to keep in mind;
1) Rear tires do not track the same as the fronts when making turns. This is something to consider when you are lining yourself up to an obstacle. It’s important to “line up” to the obstacle as straight as possible. You may need to roll your front tires a little farther than they need to, to ensure your rear tires track where you want them to. This is one of the biggest mistakes we see from inexperienced drivers and spotters. They focus solely on the front and forget about the rear tires.
2) What is your jeep wheelbase? – are you two-door, four-door, or in a JT which adds some extra length. This makes a difference in how your jeep will track over the obstacle.
3) What is the width of your axles and tires? Are you a stock width or did you put wheel spacers in to keep your tires from rubbing the frame when you make sharp turns? Did you put Dana 60s underneath? Know the outside parameters of your tires and Jeep. Most are standard but there will be exceptions. Understanding the width is very helpful when it comes to tire placement. It’s also good to know when you drive through a narrow road with bushes on both sides and you’re trying to thread that needle. Can you get through without touching either side? We typically see more scratches on the passenger side because the driver was focused only on the driver’s side. Knowing your spatial boundaries will help keep the pin striping off your doors and also help navigate obstacles.
Knowing how your jeep tires track is very important – We have a great video on Trails 411 showing exactly what we are talking about if you want to see it visually. When you turn your front tires the rear will track differently- they will not go in the same line as the fronts. They will track inside the path of the front wheels. It’s simple geometry. The length of your jeep will make a difference in how the rears track. With a short wheelbase, the rear tires will track closer to the front. With longer wheelbases, the rear tires will track farther inside the path of the front. On a four-door JK or JL, if you turn full lock on the steering the rear tire will track a full ½ width of the Jeep to the inside. A JT will track farther inside still.
Now how does this matter in picking a line? If you place your front tires on a rock, as an example, and think “I’m clear, I can turn the front wheels now”, you will more than likely slip off the rock with the rear tires. Even the slightest adjustment can change the tracking of the rear tires. You need to continue forward until the rear tires are over the rock or obstacle, or as close as possible. The same applies to setting up for the line you pick. Getting through an obstacle takes patience and understanding. It’s all a process of learning.
Getting out of your jeep and watching others go through an obstacle can be a great learning tool. Watch how the rear tires track on the line they picked – it’s amazing how a small change in the fronts really affects the rears. I have learned so much by just watching others pick lines.
The first thing I do when I approach an obstacle is seen where I want my front tires to go and be aware of where my rear tires are – for example, if I turned sharply to get to that obstacle I may need, or want, to back up once or twice to “line up” my rear tires so that I am in a better position to track correctly. If you are not lined up straight to that obstacle, you may have a difficult time tracking through the obstacle. You will get through; it just may not go as smoothly as you had anticipated. But, that’s how you learn.
Sometimes obstacles may have an easy way or a more difficult way to get through. For example, the left side might be an easier way while the right side might be “oh hell no”! Most of us with experience want the challenge for the harder route, but being new, or unsure of your ability, you may want to take the easier route. There is no shame in picking the route you want – good or bad, you are learning about your jeep and how it tracks and what it’s capable of, so try it.
Another thing to keep in mind is to make little or small increments in your movements. Don’t get up on a rock and then decide to turn full-lock and wonder why you slipped off. Little or small increments in the steering will help stay on track.
Using a spotter to help you through is another great way to learn and figure out what your jeep does. In episode 433 I discuss how to use a spotter. If you commit to a spotter you MUST stay with them through it all. Don’t use them and once the front tires are clear, decide “I’ve got this” and then your rear tires slip off. The spotter’s job is to be your eyes and help you through. We have had “that guy” needing help lining up and once I got his front tires up, he would stick his head out the window, look down at his front tire as he drove and slipped off with his rears every time. He never considered what his rear tires were doing. He stopped watching the spotter and got himself stuck and banged up his underside every time. If you choose to use a spotter – USE them.
Picking a line is part of the challenge of Jeeping. You want to see if the line you picked allowed you to get over the obstacle, or hindered you, or maybe you just wanted to see if you could do the harder line. The only way to figure this out is to try it! The best teacher is EXPERIENCE.
Must-Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!
Factor 55 FlatLink E (Expert) Shackle Mount Assembly in Red $150
When off-roading, it is inevitable that you will eventually need to recover a vehicle, and it is essential to have the safest, most effective equipment available to aid in the rescue. You never know when you might be rescuing your own rig. Factor 55 FlatLink E allows for Closed System Winching, which is simply winching using closed-link hardware, where you aren’t relying on open hooks or spring-loaded safety clasps that can fail. Factor-55’s unique design allows for interfacing with different cables and ropes to recover virtually any stuck or stranded vehicle. If you would like to learn more about Factor-55, what they do, who they are, and just how important it is to consider switching over to closed-loop recovery gear, be sure to check out our interview with Factor-55 in Episode 384 of the Jeep Talk Show.
Camp Fireside Chat
Everybody has a “first” …so what was the first thing you had to fix on your Jeep since you owned it?
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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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