Episode 525 – Ketchup Is a Smoothie
This Week In Jeep
Stellantis and LG Energy are going to open a joint ‘Giga factory in North America
Stellantis, Jeep’s parent company, announced this week that it will form a joint venture with South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solutions, to produce battery cells and modules for North America. The two companies, which signed a memorandum of understanding, will together establish a new battery manufacturing factory. The location of that factory is not yet determined, but the groundbreaking for the facility is expected to happen in the second quarter of 2022. They intend to launch the factory by the first quarter of 2024, and their goal is for the factory to have an annual production capacity of 40-gigawatt hours. This venture has been in the works since 2014 when LG Energy Solution (then LG Chem) was selected by Stellantis (then Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) to supply the lithium-ion battery pack system and controls for the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, the only plug-in hybrid minivan in the US. The batteries produced at the new facility will be supplied to Stellantis assembly plants throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico for installation in next-generation EVs, namely the Wrangler 4xE.
Jeep Gladiator Leads Cops In High-Speed Pursuit
About 10 minutes before 1 a.m. on Saturday, the Nebraska State Patrol says it learned of a Jeep Gladiator that had been reported stolen in Lincoln and was heading east toward Omaha. A trooper then spotted the Jeep on Interstate 80 in Omaha and tried to get the driver to pull over. According to the report, the vehicle “briefly” came to a stop near the 42nd Street interchange, but the driver sped off when the trooper tried to talk with him. The trooper began to chase the driver, who officials later learned was an 11-year-old boy. As the trooper followed the Jeep, speeds reached 110 mph. And during the chase, a handgun was thrown from one of the Jeep’s windows. A different trooper picked up that gun, which had also been reported stolen. Finally, after a three-minute pursuit, the driver voluntarily came to a stop near the 20th Street overpass. Another stolen gun and two passengers, both 14 years old, were found in the vehicle. The young driver was ticketed in connection to the unlawful taking of an item worth over $5,000, possession of a stolen firearm, flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, obstruction, and a whole slew of traffic violations. He was then released to his mom, as Nebraska State Statute says ((QUOTE)) “a child twelve years of age or younger shall not be placed in detention under any circumstance.” The other teen passengers were taken to the Douglas County Youth Center on charges of possession of a stolen firearm.
Newbie Nuggets with Wendy
Some days just go that way
Ever have one of those days on the trail, where everything goes perfect and then at the very end BAM, something breaks? Well, that was our day. We were working with a student on black diamond trails. She is set up in a 2014 JK 2 door. She has owned her jeep since August this year and is doing everything right. Getting some training and learning about wheeling.
We made our way to Gold Mountain after some really good training, and on the first obstacle, she hit a rock with her left front tire and SNAP! I saw her drag link drop to the ground. Bill looked at it and quickly determined that the sector shaft out of the bottom of the steering box had snapped clean off. Nothing she did was wrong by any means, it was really the equipment and something that couldn’t have been prevented. The sector shaft, or output shaft, sheared off at the bottom of the box. It looked to Don and I like it had a crack for some time and had corrosion. So glad it happened on our watch and not when she had been by herself or with people that couldn’t help fix it.
Speaking of fixing it: As luck would have it Bill had upgraded our steering box to a PSC ram-assist heavy-duty 1-ton system about a year ago. He has had the old box advertised and tried & tried to sell the box but no takers. He says to Lorena “good news and bad news – the bad news is you broke your sector shaft, good news I happen to have one sitting on my bench at home!” No kidding, what are the odds? So off the mountain, he went while we waited. It was such a beautiful view and a perfect day with great weather too. Once Bill got back, he and her passenger, Charlie, got under the Jeep and pulled the steering box. Both were covered in fluid and dirt. Mind you, the Jeep was still sitting on the first rock of the steep obstacle. Bill said it actually worked out great because the driver wheel had drooped into a hole and he didn’t need to take the tire off to get access to all the bolts. They were able to replace the part, reconnect the steering wheel and fluid lines and the steering wheel didn’t get out of alignment. Bill then added fluid and bled the system. We had Steering fluid on board – Don, and Bill plan for all kinds of things and this time their planning worked out really well. We had drop cloths and towels to soak up all the steering fluid so we didn’t leave it all over the dirt to soak in. Luckily between all of us, we had plenty of towels, gloves, and mats to lie on. It truly was a group effort with all of us doing something to help.
This is why we stress NEVER to wheel alone. With the break she had, it was bound to happen at some point. The crack has been there for a while, but you would never have known it. The crack was hidden.
We finished and Bill drove her jeep down to make sure the steering wheel was straight. At the bottom of Gold Mountain, he had to adjust the drag link to get the steering wheel straight and she was on her way.
So nice to have jeepers who can take things in stride. You just never know when something may break and who can help you. Bill says these types of trail mishaps make for some of the best memories on the trail. Never panic, consider all the options and work the plan. Fun, fun, fun! We have made new friends and they have a great story to tell their friends and family. And that’s what Jeeping is all about – the stories!!
Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update
If you don’t already know, and even if you do, the sway bar keeps your Jeep from twisting during a turn. It ties one side of your front axle to the other limiting how high the body can move from the axle. This is great when you’re on the road and going fast, but it limits how far the axle can drop during the slow and off-road.
If you were able to remove the sway bar links, your axle would go high, and very low relative to the Jeep’s body. This means the sway bar disconnects and you get more suspension travel and more traction on the trail.
So you don’t have sway bar disconnect, not a problem you can add them.
I recently purchased and installed a set of JKS Manufacturing sway bar disconnects. Here are some of the others that are available.
TeraFlex 1764000 JL | JT: Front Sway Bar Quick Disconnect Kit (0-4.5” Lift) $173.99 from Amazon. Amazon shoppers give this product a 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Synergy MFG JL/JT Front Sway Bar Links With Quick Disconnects 18+ $200.00 from Amazon. It has a 3.8 out of 5 stars.
ROCK KRAWLER GEN II FRONT DISCONNECTS from our friends at Northridge4x4 are $189.05 and are currently out of stock.
I’ve even read about installing an electric sway bar disconnect that was removed from a Rubicon model, however, be careful before you go this route since the Rubi disconnect has had a long history of issues both disconnecting and reconnecting after the fun is done. Always do your research before taking on any task.
Must-Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!
Universal Magnetic Charging Cable Kit – $17.99
How many times have you gotten up only to forget your phone is still plugged in? ~YANK!
You know that’s no good for the cable or the charging port of the phone.
So whether it’s a sudden off-camber moment on the trail or a forgetful moment at the desk, don’t damage your phone’s charging port.
Instead, protect it and make your life easier with a magnetic conversion. If you don’t have the ability for wireless charging, then this is the next best thing.
WHAT YOU GET: 4 × magnetic charging cords, 4 × magnetic micro tips, 4 × magnetic Type-C tips, 4 × magnetic i-product tips. Each tip can rotate 360° and has a built-in LED light to help you charge your phone easily even in the darkness. You can easily switch the magnetic tips to charge your different devices. Once inserted, the magnetic charging adapter acts as a dust shield keeping your phone’s internals more protected.
NOTE: Only supplies power and does not support data transfer.
Campfire Side Chat
Do you plan to “Halloween” your Jeep?
Or… Have you ever seen a Jeep that has been “Halloweened”
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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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