Episode 784 – Jeeps and Sinkholes?
Jeeps in Sinkholes
In episode 782, we called out Denver Colorado specifically for the growing trend of Jeeps selling for as much as 30% over MSRP, with an average sales price of over $11k more for the exact same Jeep sold elsewhere. In this episode, we turn our attention back to Colorado, but this time to a little town called Montezuma.
- Joke about “Montezuma’s Revenge”
The Lewis-Arriola Volunteer Fire Department shared photos of the incident on social media on Thursday.
The social media post explained firefighters were called to an area along Road P near Lewis. Lewis is on the southwest side of Colorado.
Authorities urge drivers to (QUOTE) “Stay vigilant while driving across culverts/bridges,”
Officials with the county announced County Road P would be closed between Roads 21 and 22 for a period of time while the sinkhole is addressed.
Just Don’t Call Them Jeeps
Thankfully these don’t share the same Jeep-like traits that the Mahindra Roxor does to the CJ generation of Jeeps.
What am I talking about?
Jeep-Like Open -Air Electric Vehicles …for rent.
And they’re supposed to be popping up in cities all around the US.
They’re called “MOKE” and they were originally created as an engine-powered, combat-ready military vehicle for the British army in the late 1950s by the British Motor Company and Alec Issigonis, who was the father of the original Austin Mini.
So as you have already guessed, these are small vehicles. (but they do have 4 seats!)
While its military days didn’t last long, the Mini Moke, which later (post-war) sold to the public, quickly became a symbol of laid-back fun-in-the-sun island life and was a hit among celebrities and musicians like the Beach Boys. It’s described as a British classic Caribbean icon. But now, it is at least partially, being made here in the US.
If you want to buy one, they’re not cheap.
Starting price is $22k before cool features.
- (bimini top/wooden steering wheel/stereo/etc.)
6-month lead time to have one built
The top speed is 25 MPH (yeah, no thanks)
Can only operate on roads where the speed limit is 35 or less
Illegal to operate on highways
You can RENT them now in some US states.
The cost to rent is higher than standard car rentals – $125 per hour or $475 per day
Several resort cities in FL. Georgia, Tennessee, Hawaii, and New York
Anyone renting a Moke is going for style points, not pure utilitarian transportation.
New auto segment opening – “Minicars”
Minicars must fit into a legal designation known as low-speed vehicles (LSVs)
40 miles of range per charge = (all day driving for tourists)
Official ground transportation at Miami International Autodrome
This year’s Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
Last year the site had 20 MOKEs operating around the track facility for the race
Stolen Jeep Hits Police Cars and Loaded School Bus
Imagine if you will, you’re a 51-year-old woman, it’s around 4 pm, and you’re on your way home from work. There’s a fair amount of traffic on the surface streets of Rochester NY, typical for a weekday afternoon as people are making their way home during the afternoon commute. You notice you’re low on gas so you pull into a local gas station to fill up. You get out, do the necessary and as you turn to get back into your red Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, you’re greeted by two young black men, one with a knife in your face. Some of us would say things like “That ain’t a knife, this is a knife” channeling your inner Crocodile Dundee, and pull out a 21-inch Bowie knife… or you may start to wonder why anyone would bring a knife to a gunfight as you reach for your EDC. Of course, neither of these things happened, and the poor 51-year-old woman was relieved of her Jeep. Thankfully, without injury. The Jeep was then spotted not even an hour later by local police, and a traffic stop was initiated.
Surprisingly, they stopped.
As it so happens to be SOP, the officers knew the Jeep was stolen, and the occupants had no right to the Jeep, so they were called out to exit the vehicle over the PA.
This, however, is where the cooperation of the thieves ended, as the driver put the Jeep into reverse, and slammed into the patrol car behind it, immediately fleeing the scene.
Oddly enough, despite the frequent occurrence of Jeep’s taking out cop cars, this cruiser stayed operational and began pursuit. Other officers joined in as the driver was speeding down Roycroft Drive, going the wrong way. Multiple red lights and stop signs were run, and at one intersection the Jeep was running through illegally, a School bus full of children was coming down an adjoining street. The two vehicles met perpendicularly to each other in the middle of the intersection, the school bus T-boning the Jeep. The impact was so severe, the Jeep left the roadway, spinning several times before coming to rest on the opposite sidewalk against a fence.
The two occupants of the Jeep, 20-year-old Maliq McCullough and 23-year-old Adeosun Hughes, both exited the Jeep and took off. Thankfully both individuals were taken into custody without incident a short time later.
Police said 17 students and an adult driver were on the bus. No injuries were reported. The Rochester City School District was advised of the crash and made arrangements to have each student transported home.
The suspects’ involvement in the robbery is still under investigation.
Specific charges are yet to be determined.
https://13wham.com/news/local/video-shows-moment-stolen-jeep-crash-into-school-bus-in-rochester
What’s Up, with Chuck?
Scrambler tear down…
https://www.alcanspring.com/newpage
Must-Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!
Smittybilt (13047B) D-Ring Shackle
https://amzn.to/3yZPTQr $33 & FREE Returns
3/4 inch D-ring shackle
- 4.75-ton pull rating
- Powder Coated Gloss Black finish
- Long-lasting, rugged looks
- Anti-rust coating
- Lab-tested and certified
- Dependable, HD performance
- Industry Standard Recovery Item
You could buy ONE of these from WARN for $50
You could get FOUR of the ones you find on Amazon for the same price, and they’ll come in a whole rainbow of colors, come with a fancy box, and stickers, and even include isolators, washers, and more. Let me ask you a serious question though… Which one are you actually going to trust when the time comes for a serious recovery?
Wendy and I have spent years teaching the importance of RATED or CERTIFIED recovery gear. It doesn’t matter what color it is, or even what name is on the side of it, if it isn’t rated, it’s garbage, just bling at best. Back in September of 2021, on Episode 513, I featured what I consider to be one of the best manufacturers of recovery equipment ever, Smittybilt. I have several items of theirs, and it has all been put through their paces and used in multiple recoveries in all sorts of weather and terrain. And I’ve never been let down, disappointed, or had any issues whatsoever. Back when I first featured these the price for one Smittybilt D-ring shackle was right around 15 bucks for one.
Now, just a year and a half later, the price has more than doubled.
See?!?!? This is why you need to jump on the “Must Haves” when they come out, so you can get the best deal.
Tech Talk with Jeep Talk
TOPIC/QUESTION: Setting The Bit
Use the hammer to set the bit into the fastener
Seats bit deeper into recess
Shocks threads for easier removal
Provides better torque transfer
Reduces risk of stripping head/damaging tool
Works best with cheap tools
Perfect tip for old/rust/corroded screws