Episode 531 – Lizard Skin and Circuit Boards On YOUR Jeep
This Week In Jeep
Remember Those Sema Teaser Photos?
Jeep came to play at this year’s SEMA after covid forced us all to take a break for a year. The most interesting offering came from one of the more interesting teaser photos that showed the interior of a four-door jeep but with windows up in the corners of the roof. It was strange, I thought it might have looked like a 21 window microbus from Volkswagen. But I was glad to have been proven wrong.
Instead, it’s almost as if a big bad Wrangler JL had sex with a little 90’s Land Rover Discovery and this was their ill-conceived mutant love child. But I kinda like it. And so will virtually any and every overlander who has even a single gene of Jeeper coursing through their veins. They call it… The Jeep Wrangler Overlook. And you’ll immediately notice that it’s longer than your average Wrangler Unlimited. It’s actually a full foot longer. And it doesn’t just add cargo space, it adds passenger space.
There’s a third row of seats in the Overlook. Those seats also necessitated the safari-style custom rear roof. It’s 5 inches taller than a regular Wrangler roof to provide headroom for rear occupants. It also made room for the extra windows up at the roofline. Front passengers also get a fancy single-piece roof section with a pop-up glass section, and the interior features black leather and bronze accents.
Other body changes include a custom hood, a narrower front bumper for improved approach angle, and a widened rear bumper to protect the longer tail. It also gets custom front bumper lights, Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) A-pillar lights, and tubular side steps. The Overlook also rides on the Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) 2-inch lift kit with Fox shocks and 20-inch wheels with 37-inch tires. Whether or not a three-row Wrangler will see production is really anyone’s guess. But Jeep is already releasing three-row variants of the Grand Cherokee, that’s a first. And we’re seeing (internationally) Jeep releasing a three-row flavor of the Compass. That too is a first. We also now have the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer, both three-row SUVs, so how far out of the realm of expectation is it to assume that Jeep may be doing more than trying to wow crowds at SEMA? They may actually be testing the waters.
New Jeep Graphics Studio Affords Even More Customization
It seems every few weeks we hear about Jeep releasing something new for its newest most popular vehicles, the JL Wrangler and the JT Gladiator pickup. We’ve heard about a long-awaited half-door option for both rigs from Jeep Performance Parts or JPP) and even a new hybrid top that many seem to like, including several of you, our listeners.
Thanks to all of you for writing in and sharing your experience with the new Sunrider Flip Top. We had some very nicely detailed accounts of real-world experiences of the top’s performance in a variety of conditions, but I digress. This week, Jeep announced that they want to be the place you go-to for those appearance extras now, as it just announced a new online store for factory graphics. It’s called the Jeep Graphic Studio, and the customization options are nearly endless. No longer do you have to guess as to whether or not those stickers you got on Amazon are going to look and fit as good as the pictures you saw. Jeep says they’re all guaranteed to provide the same fit and finish as you’d get from the factory, so you should have some peace of mind when ordering. You can buy a wide assortment of JL Wrangler and JT Gladiator stickers, and they’re all backed with either a 5 or 7-year guarantee against UV damage and graphic peel.
I bet you can’t say the same for that “GRUMPICON” hood lettering you just had to have from cheapjeepdecals.com a few years back, huh? That said, these are definitely not going to be as cheap as the crap you buy off eBay or other sites. These custom graphics range in price from $40 to $165.
The most interesting option out of all these is the new texture graphics that feature an actual true texture to them for patterns like topographical maps. Instead of a standard “Rubicon” sticker on the hood, you could snag one made to look like lizard skin or tree bark, or even electronic circuitry that you can actually feel. As of now, it looks like the external graphics are limited to hood lettering, full-hood stickers, and fender inserts, but the fun doesn’t stop there. The customization extends to the interior as well with special 3D-printed shifter inserts, too. You could snag a shifter insert that depicts the profile of a
Wrangler, Gladiator, or Willys. Get one that says 392 or 4xe. Of course, they even have one that looks like a Jeep grille. Jeep has made the possibilities nearly endless, which feels just about right for one of the most customizable vehicles on the planet. Jeep claims that in the very near future you’ll even be able to personalize the graphics yourself by adding in the option for custom vehicle naming. Now before you start rubbing your hands together and getting that look in your eye, I’m almost positive that there will be some limitations as to what you can have printed. Whatever happens, somebody will soon have a Wrangler sporting a “YEE YEE” hood lettering graphic near you soon, I’m sure.
Newbie Nuggets with Wendy
Trail Etiquette
It’s been a while since I mentioned trail etiquette and clean-up. If you have listened since I first started with JTS (episode 425) then you know I am a huge proponent for preserving the trails, picking up trash as we see it, and mending fences, literally. I’m seeing lots of jeep clubs from all over the country organizing “trail clean-up days” Hats off and a huge THANK YOU to all of you helping to keep our trails open. Have you participated in a group clean-up day? It’s really a fun thing we can all do to keep trails open.
We are stewards of the trails throughout our areas and like it or not there are politicians/organizations that want to shut down off-road vehicles to all trails. How we manage, treat, and maintain trails is what is keeping a lot of the trails open for us to use now and in the future.
Things every one of us can do while on a trail;
1) Stay on the designated trail if you’re in the National Forest System. This is probably the #1 reason trails get closed. People go off-trail and want to venture on their own (sort of blaze their own trail). Especially with Overlanding these days. I’ve seen fences cut, trees cut down and boulders moved from people trying to get access to “other” areas and not stay on the trail. There are usually sensitive areas outside the trail system that the Forest Service wants to protect. I know up here in Big Bear on Gold Mountain (a black diamond trail) we have three plant species that only grow on the pebble plains and nowhere else in the world. However, each year there are idiots that break through the fences and drive over the pebble plains causing damage. The Forest Service begins to consider closing the trails. BLM is a little more lenient mostly due to the fact they are in charge of desert areas that are much more open. However, they too have “Open” and Closed trails where there may be some restoration going on. Stay on the designated trails – the more we adhere to this, the more chances we’ll have keeping the trails open.
2) Keep tire spin to a minimum– I know we all like to get out there and wheel, but if you are going over an obstacle (mud, sand, water crossing, dirt, etc.,) and you start to create major wheel spin, you are disturbing the trail and creating ruts. First, wheel spin does you no good, and second, you are creating erosion to the trial. Third, check your tire pressure – lower pressure reduces trail erosion and helps with traction (episode 452 answers why we air down). Wheelspin doesn’t always help you and the more you spin the more you can dig yourself deeper into a hole. Then you have to ask for help and get pulled out or get your Hi-jack out and lift yourself out. It’s much easier to think before you let wheel spin dictate your course AND you are preserving the trails
3) Respect other drivers – This is important as we share the trails. Today more than ever we have other types of “off-road” vehicles like side-by-sides, motorcycles, and other types of vehicles, not just jeeps sharing the road. How we present ourselves to others reflects on our jeep community as a whole. If you were on our round table discussion this past week (episode 530) then you know there are some bad apples out there. Are you kind and offer help if asked or assist when you can? You never know when that “other” driver may one day be a Jeeper and end up on your trail run one day. I’d like to think anyone I came across on a run and helped would remember that about me and be happy to join “our group”. You just never know how your interaction could impact someone. There have been plenty of times I have met someone later in life that I interacted with on a trail. Good thing I am always nice LOL.
4) Pack it in & Pack it out – LEAVE no trace. This is another major issue with trash and broken glass on trails. I have no idea the allure of drinking and then throwing the glass bottles to see how they break. I personally have picked up more broken glass on trails than I care to admit. It is littering and it is hazardous to the animals and besides, if there is trash on the trail – other people think it’s OK to throw their trash. So whatever trash you have, DO NOT leave it behind. And pick up trash if you see it along the trail. Have a bag you can put your trash in. There are bags that hang outside off the back tire to keep the trash out of your jeep and off the trail. Always secure your trash in some way. Sometimes bouncing down the trail you may not realize that your trash is bouncing out behind you. I see this all the time with side-by-side drivers. They don’t secure bottles and cans and as they drive around trash is littering all over. Secure your trash!
5) Leave what you find – Sometimes Jeeping takes you to areas that you can’t get to on foot or in regular cars. This could be rock formations, cliffs, waterways, petroglyphs, old buildings/cabins, etc. If you are observing this beautiful part of nature, leave it there. Don’t collect rocks or plants or animals. Leave it in its natural state. And BTW anything that is 50 years or older is considered an artifact and by law is supposed to stay put. For instance, an old can, or bottle top or whatever if it’s more than 50 years old you are not supposed to collect it. I know some of us may consider it to be trash and want to pick it up but archeologists consider it to be a treasure.
6) Bathroom breaks – We all know when you gotta go, you gotta go. There is an unwritten rule that when the group stops for a 10-100 (bathroom stop) the women go to the right of the trail and the men go to the left. Do YOU want to know why? Because Women are always RIGHT. Now ladies PLEASE – take a baggie with you and take all your Feminine stuff back out with you. Do not leave that stuff on the trails. And this goes for your kids’ diapers too. Just don’t do it! I hate picking that stuff up when we do trail maintenance on our adopted trials.
7) Do not feed the wildlife – this seems obvious to me but every year there is a report of some idiot trying to touch the bison in Yellowstone and video of them getting gored & tossed in the air. Don’t feed the wildlife, including birds and squirrels, no matter how cute they may look or what they say. And don’t leave food behind – pack it in – pack it out.
8) Control your pets – We love Jeeping with our dogs (and some cats) but you are still responsible for cleaning up after them and keeping them from destroying wildlife. Don’t let them chase animals (deer) or dig. These natural areas are essential to wildlife and we are just visitors.
Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update
The Gladiator thinks its MPG is 14.3.
10/5 I calculated 14.68 and on 10/28 it was 13.59
I can’t remember if I’ve spoken about the snorkel I purchased for the 2021 Jeep Talk Show Gladiator.
I had been eyeballing the Rugged Ridge AmFib snorkel but wasn’t planning on getting it anytime soon. Then Steve O posted a Quadratec video where the host had his Rugged Ridge AmFib snorkel color-matched to his gray Gladiator. I wasn’t a fan of the entire snorkel, cowl, tube, and collector all being the same color of the Jeep, but having the cowl color match hit me in the warm fuzzies, and well I ordered my snorkel.
After finding great discounts for my Motobilt bumpers from Northridge4x4 I went back to them for the snorkel. I found a $100 off coupon online (you gotta search for it) and applied for it. Orders over $70 have free shipping and as I’ve mentioned in the past, it’s fast shipping!
My youngest works for a dealership with an auto body shop and she was able to get them to agree to paint the cowl piece of the snorkel. A week later she brought it back home. It was the wrong color. Close, but obviously not the right color. They were doing us a big favor in the first place so I took it upon myself to find some color matching paint online.
I ordered the rattle can paint and a can of clear coat. It took a few more days. I did some sanding of the cowl with 400 grit sandpaper. Put several coats of Firecracker red, followed by several coats of clear coat.
I took it out to the Gladiator several times to compare the colors, I was nervous it wasn’t going to match. It wasn’t until I bolted it into place that I knew I had a match!
Relived the color matches I thought to myself. Should I have tried to get the 2021 Jeep Talk Show Gladiator entered into SEMA!!!!!
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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