Episode 646 – Picking A Line

This Week In Jeep

Jeep in China? … No More!

It was one of the very first international auto brands to enter China, widely recognized by consumers and understood by its owners to have huge potential. And yet, Jeep is shutting down its only plant in the world’s largest market. Sounds suicidal on the surface, but let’s dig into it a bit. This week, Stellantis, Jeep’s parent company, announced its plans to terminate its local joint venture with the state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group. The government set out 40 years ago or so to develop the nation’s auto industry by pairing local companies with experienced international players, among the earliest in this venture was former Jeep owner American Motors. Those yesteryear foundations of business between the two automakers are not only no longer needed, but out of step with President Xi Jinping’s desire for China to become more self-reliant. He wants to see fewer international brands and more Chinese-owned brands. This move by Stellantis and Jeep pretty much signifies the beginning of the end of any future for international automakers (and possibly many other businesses) in China. It’s still the biggest market and nobody wants to get out, but Jeep likely isn’t the only large company now asking the question why are they still there? So what happened to cause all this? Well… You’ve got the aforementioned goals of the Chinese President, combined with the fact that Stellantis clearly wasn’t happy with its 50-50 ownership stake in this venture in China. We know this because in January they announced the desired increase to 75%. This caught the communistic Chinese-owned auto group off guard, and they apparently did nothing about it, because it would go against the isolationist direction the country is moving in. This week though, Stellantis stated that because of a lack of progress after six months towards the ownership shift, Jeep is now pulling out of China. CEO Carlos Tavares isn’t ready to completely abandon China altogether… There are rumors that the automaker may plan to ship a selective number of electrified Jeeps into the Chi-Com auto-market, and do it at a profit, but no other automaker is pursuing such a strategy at high volume. That’s the new normal… right now … because of this stupid chip shortage and supply chain issues. (which is about to get (factors) worse because of this stunt that California just pulled with the trucking industry, but I digress.) But noticed I mentioned “right now” … as this chip shortage can’t go on forever, and its end means higher volumes of production for most, and the spoils go to the automaker who already has the most inroads to the most markets. Stellantis may be playing the long game here with China, and nobody’s able to see the trail but Jeep.

Stellantis Dropping Big Bucks In Michigan

The automotive industry is headed in the direction of electric power, but gasoline isn’t dead yet at Stellantis. To hammer that point home, the conglomerate announced a sizable $24.7 million investment into the large Trenton, Michigan assembly plant that builds the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engines. That particular V6 is widely used in a range of vehicles from Ram, Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. Generally serving as the entry-level engine in models like the Chrysler 300 or Dodge Charger, it’s also offered on nearly every model from the Detroit-based Stellantis brands. The 3.6 liters DOHC naturally aspirated V6 engine can make upwards of the low 300s in horsepower and the high 200s in pound-feet of torque. Because of its wide and continued use, this investment suggests it will stick around for at least a few more years.

The Trenton, Michigan engine complex consists of two facilities. The south facility is the focus of the upgrades, and when complete, it will be the only on-site location for engine production. Multiple versions of the Pentastar engine have been in production since its launch in 2011, with an upgraded engine design having launched in 2016. The retooling of the south plant will allow the production of both engine designs in one location.

As such, the original Pentastar design is still in production and will continue through 2023 at Trenton. The south plant will begin production of the upgraded version by the spring of 2023. Meanwhile, the north facility will be converted to storage and non-production activity. The heavy investment in gasoline engine production comes amid a paradigm shift among automakers moving towards electric power. 

Several companies have pledged to have partial or fully electric lineups by 2030 or 2035. Earlier this year, Stellantis announced its Dare Forward plan, calling for 100 percent EV sales in Europe and 50 percent EV sales in the United States by 2030.

This may or may not be the right move though. Top execs at multiple automakers have started vocalizing their skepticism of being forced into electrification, and what that means for the industry moving forward. Just last month CEO Carlos Tevares said, “While Stellantis will comply with the decision, policymakers appear to “not care” whether automakers have enough raw materials to underpin the shift.”

Chief Manufacturing Officer for Stellantis, Arnaud Deboeuf has now come out warning the US and EU governments that phasing out new internal combustion engine cars by 2035 without a massive shift downward in the price of electric vehicles will doom the auto industry as a whole. I mean they’re both on to something here though. Right? I mean if we look at this from a sheer basic economic business model, well, it would be really bad if electric cars do not become cheaper and, because of that, the market would shrink.

Which we’re already seeing signs of, as over 3/4 of new car buyers say they do not want an electric car, despite record high gas prices. For now, it looks like the investment in the gas engine factory in the Michigan engine complex is a good move. I wish they’d start cranking out that new inline-six though, I really want to see that in action.  

Two Dead and More Injured In Stolen Jeep Chase

It all started with a man trying to wash his Jeep in peace. It ended with two men dead, 3 others in the hospital, and one man on the run. Around 10 pm Wednesday night in Harris Last night, at approx 10 pm, a citizen was washing his Jeep Wrangler when he was approached by six young males. At least one brandished a weapon and demanded the vehicle from the citizen. Faced with six against one the Jeeper had no choice and reluctantly handed over the keys. Investigators said a Sheriff’s deputy tracked down the stolen Jeep near Imperial Valley Drive and Greens Road. When he tried to stop the Jeep, the suspects took off and a chase ensued. It didn’t last long, however, as six men in a Wrangler do not have a getaway vehicle make. Combine that with poor driving skills and this chase ended almost as soon as it began. 13 minutes after the stop was initiated the stolen Jeep crashed into a tree and then home. The impact was so severe, that four men were ejected from the Jeep, two of them pronounced dead at the scene. One of the thieves was trapped in the Jeep and had to be cut out before being taken to the hospital in critical condition. Two of the others were taken to a nearby hospital in serious condition. And believe it or not, one young man got away and is still on the run. The survivors of this crash could face murder charges because they were in the course of committing another felony and causing the death of another person.

The initial vehicle the thieves were in has yet to be found, but they did recover a stolen weapon that is believed to have been used in the jeep jacking. 

Newbie Nuggets with Wendy

Picking a Line – part 3 of Using a spotter

In my last two Newbie Nugget episodes, I began a 3-part series of using a spotter. Today we finish that series by picking your line. 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. When you first approach an obstacle a few things will stick out on the rocks. Like is there any shiny material left behind from other Jeepers? This means someone didn’t pick a good line and got stuck, or scraped their tie rod, control arm, or differential. If you see oil remnants or other fluid, chances are they backed off the rock and peeled their factory differential cover just enough to create a slow leak of gear oil. Sometimes you see actual body parts from vehicles (usually Toyotas). If you do, you may be facing a really tough obstacle LOL. You almost always want to plan to place your tires on the shiny parts of the rocks where others have scraped because it will give you greater ground clearance so that you’re not the one leaving part of your Jeep behind.

I say it all the time, but it’s crucial you get out of your jeep and inspect the obstacle. Look at it from both the driver’s perspective and also look at the obstacle from the opposite view – looking back at your parked jeep. This should give you a clear visual of just where those tires are going to contact the rocks.  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). The art of picking a line is to get your jeep over and through the obstacle with little to no damage. Jeepers who have been wheeling for a while love this challenge on the most difficult lines out there.

Now there few things to keep in mind when picking your line;

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 left or right than they need to, to insure your rear tires track where you want them to. This is one of the biggest mistakes we see from new drivers and spotters. They focus solely on the front and forget about the rear tires. And to be honest, I have seen “experienced” drivers wheel and not realize this as well.

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 an obstacle.

3)    What is the width of your axles and tires? Are you a stock 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. 

You can test your width awareness with cones set up in a parking lot, or find a narrow trail with bushes on both sides. You are essentially threading a needle, so to speak, and learning just how wide your jeep is. Can you get through without touching either side? BTW 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. 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 with the steering the rear tires will track a full ½ width of the Jeep to the inside. A JT will track farther inside still.

So 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” and turn the front wheels, 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 to straight 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 direction of the fronts really affects the rears. I have learned so much by just watching others pick lines.

The first thing to do when you approach an obstacle (besides getting out and looking) sees where you want your front tires to go and be aware of where your rear tires are – for example if you turned sharply to get to that obstacle you may need, or want, to back up once or twice to try to “line up” your rear tires so that you are in a straighter 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 also how you learn.

Sometimes obstacles may have an easy way or a more difficult way to get through. You can decide what you feel comfortable trying. By watching others, you may determine that taking the easier route this time is your choice. Just because others took a harder line, doesn’t mean you have to. 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.

Little or small increments in your steering movements are key to helping you stay on track. Using a spotter to help you through is another great way to learn and figure out what your jeep does. A good spotter can be your eyes and help you through by keeping your tires up on the rocks instead of slipping off.  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! EXPERIENCE is the best teacher.

Using a spotter will help lead you on to picking your own line and eventually you can wheel with the best of them and just enjoy wheeling. We all started as newbies at some point in our lives so get out there and have some fun.

Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update

We were having a discussion in the Jeep Talk Show discord server today.

Nathan_from_Pittsburgh asked…

“Now that it’s been a while, what are your biggest pros/cons with the Jeep Talk Show Gladiator? I’ve had mine a year now, and it’s easily become my favorite vehicle I’ve owned.”

I couldn’t think of a specific pro, there are so many, and the only con I could think of was the length.

It’s too long but fortunately.  Short Jeeps are more maneuverable.

At 218 inches long the gladiator is 50 inches longer than the XJ (that’s 4 feet!)

63 inches longer than a TJ

This puts the Gladiator in the same range as the 2022 Ford F-150 between 209.1 to 250.3″

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

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

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