Episode 889 – Texas Jeep Friendly?
Texas becomes Jeep Friendly!
Texas drivers will no longer need annual car inspections beginning in 2025, but there’s a catch….
Texas was one of 13 states that still mandated annual inspections for cars.
Cars in some of the state’s larger counties will still need to pass an emissions check.
Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3297 into law on Tuesday, which will eliminate the annual car inspection requirement for most vehicles in the state.
The law will go into place beginning in 2025 and will be replaced by an annual fee of $7.50. It’s the same as the current inspection fee but without the need to take your vehicle to a shop.
If your vehicle was not previously registered, you’ll pay $16.75 instead. Some of that money will go into several state funds, including the Texas Mobility Fund, which aims at accelerating transportation projects.
Cars in some of the state’s larger counties, like Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Montgomery, and Galveston, will still need to pass an emissions check.
Mini Jeep 1000-mile trip to Moab
A 6-part series on YouTube, “1000 miles off-road”
Ed March, also known as WC90adventures.
WC90adventures plan is to drive 1000 miles of Utah trails from Northern Utah to Moab in a mini Jeep!
C90adventures buys a miniature jeep, replacing the 8hp engine with a 25hp engine. Also switching from standard transmission to automatic.
As you can imagine there are many instances of issues with this mini Jeep, not actually a Jeep, calm down FCA.
At one point Ed makes this mini Jeep amphibious!
Newbie Nuggets with Wendy
Nexen Roadian ATX (All Terrain)
I mentioned in a previous episode that we were testing a new tire that Nexen introduced.
The new Roadian ATX is a 3-peak and super strong, yet flexible 3-ply sidewall and is great for all types of off-roading. Now normally you wouldn’t say an ATX was good for crawling but we put the tires through their paces and they did very well on two black diamond trails along with some mud and sand. They are very quiet on the highway so anyone looking for an all-terrain but you want to do some trails, this tire could be a consideration for you. There is a warranty and roadside service with the tires too. 35” is the biggest right now
Best news: Nexen ATX is going to be the OEM tire for the 2024 Wranglers and Gladiators and the new Recon and they are the OEM for the new Dodge Charger ( 5500 lbs w/1000hp)
https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver
AIL Storm mk II
Starting in 2006, Automotive Industries Ltd. (AIL), an Israeli automaker and major supplier of the Israeli Security Forces, began delivery of their 2nd generation of “Storm” military jeeps, manufactured under license from Chrysler to the Israel Defense Forces. The M-242 Storm Mark II, known in the field as the “Storm Commander” was now based on the Jeep Wrangler (TJ).
Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update
Getting ready for EJS 2024
The 2021 Jeep Talk Show Gladiator did a wonderful job getting me to and from Moab and navigated several trails.
Next year I will have the Trails offroad map on my phone that will work with or without cell service!
Even though there are a few things I want to do to the gladiator first.
As previously mentioned getting the full skid system installed and now I’m looking at aftermarket diff covers and diff skids.
Do I really need these, well probably not but it will make me feel better scraping over rocks.
Larger tires and a larger lift would help but I think the lift will stay and the tires get bigger, but that will be down the road when I go to 4.56 or 4.88 gears and lockers.
Must-Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!
Midland – WR120B – NOAA Emergency Weather Alert Radio – S.A.M.E. Localized Programming, Trilingual Display, 60+ Emergency Alerts, & Alarm Clock (WR120B – Box Packaging) $34.88
Does your significant other sleep through thunderstorms, and are you too scared to turn the ceiling fan off to wake them up for that moral support? Well, get this weather alarm!