Episode 566 – Confidence, LadyJeepers, and Speed

This Week In Jeep

Camp Jeep Returns – Bigger and Better Than Ever

The popular Camp Jeep indoor test track will return to the Chicago Auto Show for the 18th year. Since its inception in 2005, more than a half-million people have taken test rides in various Jeep vehicles, getting a glimpse at multiple off-road features that they may not commonly experience in everyday driving. The interactive test track has been a favorite place for auto show attendees and this year will be no exception. The track is bigger and steeper and features a mountain that is 28′ tall – 10 feet taller than in previous years – with 45-degree approach/departure angles. Experienced drivers will navigate attendees through the various courses, which highlight the off-road features of Jeep vehicles, in the 28,000-square-foot exhibit. If you’re planning on going to the show, be sure to stop by the Jeep display for a free ride in your choice of a number of brand spanking new Jeep vehicles: Wrangler Rubicon, Wrangler 4xe, Wrangler 392, Gladiator Rubicon, Gladiator Mojave, Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, Grand Cherokee Overland and Summit Reserve, Cherokee Trailhawk and Compass Trailhawk.

This Is Probably NOT The Best Way To Transport a Jeep…

So imagine this, It’s 7 pm on a Tuesday, the phone rings, you’re the receptionist working the night shift at a towing and recovery company. “Ring-ring-ring… hello? Jerk-wagon towing, what’s the location of your request?”  Uhhh… The Longhorn Steakhouse Restaurant. “Ok sir, and what’s the vehicle you need to be towed?” 

Uhhh… A 2012 Grand Cherokee, “and is it accessible?”  Well, jeez, you know it’s the strangest thing, I stopped in for some tater tots and a cherry lime-aide here at the Delta Sonic and well, it’s just,… the next thing you know it’s sliding down the hill, and it, 

“yes, go-on…” …it uh, sort of landed in the bed of a Ford F-350 backed in at the bottom. “Oh, my!”

Actually, it was an elderly gentleman who was driving the Grand Cherokee, and he was wearing some big snow boots, and his foot got stuck between the gas and brake pedals while he was trying to navigate the parking lot above. And that’s when physics, and gravity took over. The driver of the Grand Cherokee suffered minor injuries but will be just fine. The owner of the truck, however, well… You know at first I thought the truck already had a flatbed on it, so I thought it might not be that big of a deal for him…

But no, the bed was just flattened by the Jeep landing on it, so regardless if he ever wanted a flatbed on his Ford, he’s got one now.

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: INTRODUCTION TO JEEPSPEED

King of The Hammers was this last week as we record this, and in celebration of the world’s most challenging off-road race event, I’d like to do a segment on off-road racing.

There is nothing quite like the exhilaration of traveling fast over rough terrain, let alone the sheer adrenaline-filled rush of offroad racing. I’ve never raced competitively, (definitely missed my calling there) but that hasn’t stopped me from spending a lifetime going fast offroad. From dirt bikes to quads, and from sand rails to spec’d out race-ready UTV’s, I’ve ridden, driven, and jumped them all. And there is nothing short of skydiving that has given me the same kind of thrill as offroad racing. If you are new to the sport, wanting to maybe just get your feet wet in the world of competition racing, or just want to get a little more out of your Jeep, then you will need to make some modifications. So, with that in mind, in this segment, I’m going to briefly go through the most important mods you’ll need to add to your shortlist. Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list – there are going to be many, MANY, other things that you can and probably should do to improve your vehicle’s performance offroad, but this will be a great starting point. If you want to go fast offroad, then one of the best ways is by making sure that you have plenty of horsepower. There are rigs at KOH running 700 and even 900 horsepower engines, but don’t expect to be competing on that level right out the gate. The easiest way to get more horses under the hood is by adding either a supercharger or a turbo to the engine. Either one of these systems will add more power than just about any other modification could achieve on its own. Of course, the other option would be a complete engine swap with a race-inspired crate engine to get that grunt, but that’s likely going to be on the most expensive side of the available options for more horsepower. Ok, once you have added more power to your vehicle it is time to consider the supporting mods you’ll need to make to handle all that extra power. 

Upgrading the transmission to include stronger internals and improved shifting will make sure that you can make your way through the pack. Forget keeping those stock axles, no amount of upgrades are going to make them strong enough for what you’re about to put them through. With larger components, thicker-walled axle tubes, larger diameter axle shafts with a higher spline count, larger and stronger axles will resist being bent, or encountering component failure during the abuse seen when going fast off-road. Lockers are a must as well, no sense in having all that unsprung beef and not being able to put the power to the ground. Don’t forget about safety! Make sure that you have a roll cage installed, as well as a good set of offroad racing seats and four-point harnesses minimum. This will help to keep you and your navigator or co-pilot safe in the event of a crash. Speaking of the passenger, don’t forget about him or her! Consider adding some grab handles so that they have something to hold onto while you jump that next hill or go way too fast around that berm. Chances are you won’t have a chase vehicle or even a remote pit to pull into in the event something goes wrong. And you’re not likely going to find too many competitors that will stop their progress in the race to winch you out of a bad spot. So it might also be a good idea to carry all the recovery gear with you that you can. A winch, (of course) snatch straps, some shackles (soft or hard, you’ll need them no matter what) tow ropes, and a snatch block or two is enough to get you out of just about any situation. The most important modification needed for any vehicle when racing offroad is a good suspension system. Anything off the shelf is likely not going to handle the abuse. At least not for very long. You’ll be looking to design and build your own custom, 4-link suspension system with large rod ends, and coil-over shocks. This type of setup will give you the best performance in a competition. That doesn’t mean you can’t get it done with leaf springs, but there will be a marked difference in overall performance and capability. So consider shocks made by name brands such as Fox or King, who have proven to be reliable and durable in the harsh conditions of off-road racing. It is worth noting that a good suspension system, including axles, will likely cost more than just about any other modification, and possibly even the purchase price of the Jeep itself… but it’s money well spent! If done right, and with quality parts, this modification alone could make your Jeep unstoppable on the trails. A well-designed and performing suspension system also helps reduce body roll, which can cause your vehicle to tip over when in a high-speed cornering maneuver if you do not have enough weight on the outside wheels. Speaking of wheels, and of course tires, Beadlocks are a given, don’t even think of trying to race with OEM style wheels. When it comes to tires, go with something that is AT LEAST 35″ in diameter. Keep in mind there will be a lot of the field that will be on 37’s or even 40’s. Large sticky tires will keep your vehicle stable even when traveling at high speeds over rough terrain and the large diameter tires provide more grip in loose sand or mud than small ones do on asphalt roads. All of this is just a three-thousand-foot flyover of what it would take to be competitive in the world of offroad racing. Remember, even a world-class racing event like King Of the Hammers has an entry-level class called the everyman challenge, and they allow all sorts of near-stock vehicles to enter and participate in the race. Just note, there is still a great deal of minimum required modifications in order to qualify for entry, and you’ll find this no matter what form of competitive motorsport racing you’re getting into. Well Jeeper, or should I say racer? …I hope this shines some light on just some of the things you’ll need to consider if you’re thinking of getting into off-road racing. 

Jeep Talk Show Interview

Kristen DeLibero

https://ladyjeepers.com/

ONLINE, EDUCATIONAL, AND LEARNING  COMMUNITY

FOR ANY JEEP OWNING LADY!

“We ARE Confident, Independent, Strong, Self-Sufficient And Unstoppable Ladies.”

 

Coming up next week’s Jeep Talk Show Interview – Jim Oostdyk from OK4WD

Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

Top 5 tips for Wheeling on New Terrain 

I have driven my Jeep on many terrains, Rocks, mud, slick rock, snow, dirt roads, mountain shelf roads, and dried-up creek beds. The terrain I drove on this past weekend has got to be one of the scariest and most dangerous of all terrains.  A frozen lake! Now I wasn’t out there for a day of wheeling. We were just driving to and from a fish house to and from the fish house which if you live in the great frozen tundra of Minnesota is a way of life. But you shouldn’t take it for granted. You need to take many precautions and drive with care. If you are driving on the ice for the first time I highly suggest you find an experienced frozen lake driver to go with you.  Because you need to be prepared for the worst and I learned some tips from my sister and niece. Here are the top 5 tips I learned about driving your Jeep on a frozen lake. 

Number 5. Know the thickness of the ice. If you have a medium-sized truck you need to wait for the ice to be at least 12 to 15 inches thick before you take your vehicle out on the ice. You need to check the ice every so many foot to make sure the whole lake is frozen.

Number 4 Drive with your windows rolled down in case you go through the ice. You will need a quick escape. Now I have one of those tools that can break a window but by the time I reach for it in my glovebox, it could be too late.

Number 3 Don’t fasten your seatbelt… again this is for a quick escape. 

Number 2 Stay well-spaced apart from other vehicles and fish houses when you are driving and parking on the frozen lake. This is for weight on the ice reasons. You don’t want all the weight piling up in one spot. 

Number 1 Don’t drive fast. Fast driving sets up a pressure wave on the ice that can cause the ice to fracture. My niece shared this with me and said a good example of this is the show Ice Road on Netflix. 

Anytime you take your Jeep out no matter what the terrain you should always be prepared from extra gas to water and food, to wearing the proper shoes, having the proper gear the list goes on. I have a list on my blog JeepMomma.com to get you started. 

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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