Jeep Axle Armor Deep Dive: Trusses, Gussets & Welding Tips | Jeep Talk Show Roundtable

Join us for an action-packed episode of the Jeep Talk Show Roundtable! 🚙💥 Hosted by Tony, this weekly Zoom gathering brings together passionate Jeep enthusiasts to dive deep into all things off-road. Whether you’re a seasoned wheeler or just starting your Jeep journey, you’ll love the real-talk discussions on essential mods, community vibes, and a sneak peek at AI integration. In this episode: – **Intro & Community Shoutouts (0:00)**: Tony welcomes the crew, shares how to join future roundtables via jeeptalkshow.com/contact, and teases an upcoming “Talk to Grok” segment with unhinged AI fun (powered by xAI’s Grok app – voice mode exclusive to iOS/Android apps for SuperGrok subscribers). – **AI & Grok Excitement (5:00)**: The gang reacts to Tony’s wild interactions with Grok AI, debating its potential for Jeep troubleshooting (like gear shims) and comparing it to chatty Star Trek bots. Get ready – next week, YOU can chat with unhinged Grok live! – **Trusses, Gussets & Axle Armor Deep Dive (15:00)**: Continuing from the flagship show, experts like Larry share pro tips on Artec trusses for JL/JT axles, welding cast iron (pre-heat to 450-500°F, slow cool), gusseting C’s, and sleeving tubes. Brands like Artec, Ballistic Fab, and Barnes highlighted. Why truss? Cheap insurance against breaks on tough trails – but beware improper installs warping your axle! – **Diff Covers & Skid Plate Armor (30:00)**: Must-know advice on diff covers (ARB for the win – magnetic, dipstick-equipped, and RED!). Avoid cavitation issues with poorly designed covers; check Banks’ clear cover video for oil flow science. Plus, skids from Quadratec aluminum for engine/trans/transfer case protection. – **Women in Jeeping: Busting Stereotypes (45:00)**: Inspired by Chick Chat, we discuss ditching assumptions like “Is your Jeep pink?” or “Does your husband wheel it?” Celebrate badass women wheelers like Janet and Natalie – treat everyone equally on the trails! – **Fun Mods & Shifters (55:00)**: Silly yet cool ideas like Motor Bound door stickers for interior flair, tire-tread console covers, and CMM Off-Road’s quick-reverse shifter (hill-killer for autos – safety lock for highway use). – **Wrap-Up & Teaser (1:05:00)**: Thanks to all participants – join next Tuesday at 7:30 PM CT! Broadcasting since 2010, the Jeep Talk Show is your go-to for Jeep mods, wheeling tips, and community stories. Don’t miss out – subscribe for more episodes, flagship shows, Chick Chat, and XJ Talk! 👉 Visit https://jeeptalkshow.com for episodes, contact info, and merch. 👉 Follow us on X (Twitter): @jeeptalkshow 👉 Download the Grok app for AI chats (free limited access; SuperGrok for unlimited – details at https://x.ai/grok). If you’re into Jeep axle upgrades, off-road armor, or AI in automotive, hit LIKE, COMMENT your truss tips below, and SUBSCRIBE! What’s your must-have Jeep mod? #JeepTalkShow #JeepMods #OffRoadArmor #JeepTrusses #Gussets #ARBdiffCovers #WomenWheeling #GrokAI #JeepCommunity #WranglerJL #GladiatorJT #JeepLife Rev up your engines, Jeep lovers— the Jeep Talk Show is here to take you on a wild ride! For 15 years, we’ve been the ultimate pit stop for Jeep enthusiasts, delivering off-road thrills, insider tips, and a whole lotta Jeep passion. With a powerhouse crew of hosts and team members, we’re dropping five action-packed episodes every week to fuel your Jeep obsession! Buckle up for our fan-favorite Chic Chat, a women-centric, women hosted episode that’s all about empowering female Jeepers. It’s the perfect space for women to dive into the world of Jeeps and off-roading, hosted by fearless ladies who live for the trail. But that’s just the start—we’ve got over 1,200 episodes waiting to rev up your day, whether you’re tearing down the highway, mowing the lawn, or pumping iron at the gym. Watch us on video or listen audio-only—your call, your adventure! Join the Jeep Talk Show family and become part of the ultimate Jeep community! Jump into our Discord chat at jeeptalkshow.com/discord, support us on Patreon for ad-free episodes at www.patreon.com/jeeptalkshow, or catch our live Round Table every Tuesday at 7:30 PM CT via Zoom (https://jeeptalkshow.com/roundtable, password: jeep). Stay in the loop with our newsletter at https://jeeptalkshow.com/newsletter and follow the action on Instagram @jeeptalkshow (instagram.com/jeeptalkshow). Head to https://jeeptalkshow.com to explore our world of Jeep madness, subscribe, and let us make your day a little more rugged and a lot more fun. Ready to roll with us? Let’s hit the trails together!#JeepTalkShow #JeepLife #OffRoad

let’s get started with this. Hi, I’m Tony and this is the Jeep talk show roundtable. I just want to mention to you guys. We do this every week and you’re always invited. I was I got a message from Greg nickel the guys I’m doing

(Explosion)

He goes, I’m so sorry. I’m not going to be able to make it tonight. I said man, don’t worry about it. I said we do this every week. So he was just wanting me to send him an email and a reminder yesterday with the link because he wanted to join us and he said it was so much fun. But then something came up. I’m sure the wife had him had something for him to do is what is probably what happened. He didn’t say that but I want to bet that’s what it was.(…) All right, but you can be part of our weekly zoom meeting, which is the roundtable. Just go to Jeep talk show.com slash contact to find out how to join. So let’s let’s get to it. Let’s get to the most important part of this this roundtable meeting. Hello, zoom people.(…) Hello.

(…)

Hello.(…) Yellow yellow. We got a good a good list of people here tonight.

(…)

So, you know, is Roger doing okay? Because I don’t think Roger came last week.

(…)

You Mr. Thursday. Yeah, I think so. Our cranberries and season.

(…)

Her her moths flying.(…) Sir a bevy of moths flying around. I think Steve was gone last week too. I think Steve was out on another vacation.

(…)

Yeah, I was out in the New York, Manhattan Jersey area.

(…)

Steve was asking me because we’re working. Steve and I are working on getting him set up so that he can do the the roundtables. So are you guys looking forward to Steve being in charge of the roundtable?

(…)

There goes the crowd goes. The crowd goes mild.

(…)

We can’t wait.

(…)

Insert AI applause here. Yeah, yeah. And I was telling the guys before we got started. I think everybody and probably some of you are like Larry or a few other people here aren’t a real happy with AI the whole idea of AI and probably less so of interactive AI where you can talk and it talks back.

(…)

So I’ve actually got grok for super grok. I think it’s what they call it and I have it the grok app on my phone, which is the only way you can talk to grok right now is through your through an app on your phone. So I do have it set up and I was letting everybody know about the the episode the roundtable. I think was last week’s roundtable that I did and there was a 24 minute segment at the end of the that episode of me arguing with grok and it was unhinged grok and she’s a little she’s a well, she’s the next wife. I mean, I’ll just say it Jesus.(…) If you’ve ever had a conversation with your ex-wife and she drops a lot of expletives then you know what unhinged rock is like at least for me. So anyway, I had a lot of fun interacting with grok. That was the first time I’d ever done unhinged rock and had a conversation. But so I have some parts coming in. It’s not what you think so that we can talk to grok here on the roundtable. So hopefully starting next week on the roundtable next week. We will do a segment. She won’t be on the whole show but we’ll do a segment where you get to talk to grok and it will be unhinged rock. We may change it around but I definitely want you guys to talk to unhinged rock because it is hilarious and it’s a lot of fun. So if you want to come and talk to grok, I mean, maybe you’re already talking to grok, but if you haven’t interfaced with grok or super grok, grok 4, this will be your opportunity to get in here and have some fun. And I suspect that we’ll probably have to end it after a couple of minutes because I think you’re going to have a lot of fun with it.

(…)

When I can send grok a picture of the pattern on my, when I’m doing my gear change and it tells me exactly what shims to put where.(…) See now, now we’re talking. You’re talking. Yeah, you’re talking. You’re thinking it through and with the right robot, you can sit there with a beer and say, hey, did you talk that, talk that nut?

(…)

Well, you say that about your shims, perplexity.(…) I swear at least ask it or propose that question and see what it gives you as feedback.

(…)

Liz, I think you will be highly impressed.

(…)

There’s one thing, the downside and this really kind of goes back to Star Wars where Luke was telling the bots, you know, he was kind of giving him a hand motion to like stop talking. Rock will not shut the hell up. I mean, it goes on and on. It answers very thoroughly. So if you remember Star Trek, the next generation and data, we get on those those rants and the C3PO we get on those, those, those going on and on. It amazes me just how accurate 1976 was about robots. It’s called an off button.

(…)

But you might miss something good. Yeah, got it.(…) Anyway, I really appreciate you guys showing up tonight. Looks like we’ve got 14 people on, Glendis joined probably heading here as yet and a couple of names that were relatively new last week that have rejoined us this week. So thank you. Thank you for joining us and don’t and I’ll mention to everybody out there including the listeners, the viewers that invite your friends get them to come on in here and enjoy us because it’s a lot of fun.

(…)

All right. So Greg Nichols and I on the flagship episode on Tuesday, we talked about trusses, gussets and armor and I figured we could continue that conversation with you guys kind of like we did last week when we were talking about other axle options

(…)

that Greg and I talked about. So does others throw it out there and if anybody would like to talk about, do you have a truss? Are you thinking about getting a truss? Where’s Kevin? Kevin has all this shit all over his Jeep. So yeah, so we’re not going to be hearing from him right now. Anyway, so how about you Larry? Any trusses, gussets or armor?

(…)

Yes, so we have the Artec Gus trusses on the front and rear of the my jail and I think on a jail. I think it’s really key for that especially with the that cast section where they do the that axle disconnect. I know there’s been a lot of issues with it breaking there help stiffen that area up with that truss. I think that’s key.

(…)

Have you done away with that that disconnect? Have you replaced the axle with a solid axle and just put a plate there to block that thing off? No, I still run that. I’ve not had an issue to block it off. I haven’t broke the axle yet. Obviously not trying hard enough, but you know, the key thing there was keeping it from breaking in an area. The front rears both trussed and you know, I run the aluminum or belly armor under it. How difficult was it to trust it? I’m assuming you did that yourself that all the welding and stuff. So yeah, you removed everything out of the axle. I would assume heated up the cast iron portion of it.

(…)

Yeah, the big thing is heating it up. It’s all about the post heat and the and the heating afterwards, right? So once you heat it up, get it to a good stable temp, weld it and then wrap it up in a blanket and then let it cool slow so that it doesn’t those welds don’t rip out or crack.

(…)

Are you able to tell by looking at it that it was it? I mean, I know you do quite a bit of welding, but if somebody was doing this, they’ve done some welding but they’re concerned about getting it on there correctly. Is there something you can look at and tell that you’ve done it right or do you have to run it and find out later if it’s going to crack?

(…)

Well, for the most part, I mean if you can look at the well, do you see that it you know at the edges of the welds welds called a toe of the weld you look to make sure that’s not humped over or dug in too bad and the big thing with the cast iron is you definitely need plenty of metal in that when you’re welding,(…) right? You need you need a fair amount of deposit of the weld wire otherwise, it will end up cracking on you when it cools. Is there a special type of weld wire you use for that? No, I use this a standard ER 70, you know, rod just a standard

(…)

just a standard welding rod, right? I personally have a problem when I’ve tried to take weld over that cast because I can’t get enough wire into it. But if you’re MIG welding with the standard wire, just keep it hot, right and then let it cool slow and you’ll be fine.

(…)

That was Jesus.

(…)

Did you use a stick welder on that or?

(…)

Well, you definitely can stick welded. I used I just used a MIG.

(…)

I mean, there’s definitely a lot of good a lot of good stick rods, but I used a MIG that way. I wasn’t cleaning off that slag and you know, if it was the old stuff, you’re running the old style cast where you want something with a heavy nickel, then you know, that would be for your old cast iron, but the newer cast deals.

(…)

You can run the MIG wire with no problem.

(…)

So like for TJ, is that the older con you’re talking about? I would think it’d still be okay to just heat it up good and just you know, just make sure that you’re really putting some wire into it. You know, don’t be don’t try to run real fast so that you can get a good deposition rate on that wire. How hot did you get it?

(…)

I think I got the housing up around 450 500. Wow.

(…)

Right and then you just go up to Harbor Freight and get you a little little handheld parameters and you know, get it nice and hot and you know, it’s going to suck. It’s going to be hot when you’re doing it, but you know, that’s that’s what you’re looking for. Yeah. Well, you want it done, right? So you have to put up with some discomfort to do it, right? What what truss system did you use? I think you said it, but I missed it. I used the art tech system, but you know, there’s plenty of good ones out there.

(…)

Art tech’s hard to beat. I used our tech on my super 60 and 10 and a half swap on my TJ. I did the art tech trusses and then I did ballistic fab made shave kits for it. And both are really nice. But yeah, I’ve used our tech few times. They’re amazing.

(…)

Yeah, it’s all about the prep, right? You want to go through and make sure you give it a good grind on the tubes in the housing, get that outer scale off of it and see get good penetration and just take your time.

(…)

So you guys especially you guys that have had the experience. I don’t see any reason why you would not want to trust something trust an axle. It’s just it’s good relatively cheap insurance. I would think and the you don’t want to get out there and have especially that front axle split on you. If it’s a JL or a JT and like I said, it’s just good cheap insurance to make sure it you don’t have any problem. I mean, I guess the only reason why you wouldn’t want to trust is if you didn’t take it off-road.

(…)

Yeah, I mean, I think probably the biggest downside would be the weight but even then that unsprung weights probably actually good for you. So lower center of gravity. Yeah, exactly. Lowers the center of gravity and yeah, I did mine because it was much easier. I had a when I for linked the rear end and I would triangulated the upper links and the truss gave me a nice flat spot to do that. So yeah, it kind of all there was really no reason not to same with the front. Give me a nice good flat spot for that upper third link.

(…)

So it’s unlikely that the other people at the mall will have a trust system. Oh, you can put lights on them too. Can’t you? You could put little LEDs on the trust. Oh, that’s a good idea.

(…)

Have you already started looking for a trust system for your your TJ Rick?(…) I mean, it’s one of the things that I’m you know, this possibility just depends on which axles I pick if I go with junkyard or if I go with aftermarket, I probably won’t but if I go with junkyard, I probably will. I didn’t think you were going to change from those 44 is those Rubicon 44. So I thought you were pretty well said that’s that’s this version of the of the micro Jeep eventually it’ll have tons and double triangulated and rear and three link in the front and all that but that’s that’s after I do the the 15 inch stretch.(…) So yours is going to wind up looking like Nicole’s YJ.(…) It’s taller than she is.

(…)

I’m still doing a little center of gravity build. So well, that was my other question with the trust is do you run into any clearance issues when you know, as far as up travel?

(…)

Really I didn’t.(…) No, I’ll say on mine. I didn’t either. I mean, if it’s all made pretty much place like our tech and all of them.(…) They’re all set up so that those stuff in there fairly well, right unless you’re going to totally custom it then you might have some issues, but they’ve all done the engineering work for you.

(…)

The other thing too is it glues your tubes in a little better because I know for a while there were some issues with the tubes coming out of the pumpkin, right? That plug well would come out of the some of I’ve seen that on some of the jails and you run a bead around a tube in the housing and then when you put the truss over it, it helps keep everything glued together. So you also eliminate that that issue of the tube coming out of the housing.

(…)

Yeah, that was a huge problem on the old AMC 20s. If I remember right, my dad actually has got a CJ 7 that had the AMC 20 and he spun the pumpkin both tubes almost perfectly like at the same time. They weren’t trusted or anything but he brought the pumpkin. Yeah, he messed it up. Good.(…) Yeah,(…) I’d heard something about the C’s like twisting or something some type of you know, but yeah, if you especially like for JL and know them. I know they make them for the other ones as well.

(…)

You know that gusset is part of that you weld it onto your C’s as well, right? So you got the center section you got it out by the C’s even if you don’t put the truss on just well a beat around the C’s and around the axles and a pumpkin will definitely do you a big favor.

(…)

Oh and we were also talked on the last episode flagship episode. We also talked about sliding in the additional tube, is it sleeving the axle. So and I asked Greg which one do you do? He goes do both.

(…)

So I mean you’re really talking about something that’s nice and strong at that point.

(…)

So when I put my 488 into the back of my TJ, I had to trust it.

(…)

I use the Artec trust. There was another kid out there, but I’d always heard about the Artec. So I was like, let me go with that and had a friend of mine stick welded on there and he was like, you want to weld the tube? I’m like, yeah, sure. Well, the tubes too while you’re at it. It was a really good friend because he only charged me a six pack of Lipton iced tea to do it. Wow. There you go. That’s a good deal.

(…)

Oh, yeah.(…) You sweat that much out.

(…)

Yeah, I didn’t end up sleeving mine.

(…)

Yeah. Well, I think the way Greg said he goes you got to take if you’re doing it, right. You take everything out of the axle anyway, because you really don’t heat up the seals and everything else. So if you got all that stuff out, put the sleeves in, you know, drill the holes, put the sleeves in plug weld and I like that idea. I guess the only downside to that is it’s kind of like the term polishing a turd like if you’re going to build up a day in a 30 at some point you can do so much that 44 or even a 30. I’m sorry, polishing a 35 day in a 35 is called polishing a turd, but there’s so much you can do to it. At some point you go. Well, I should have just gone with a larger axle and but the neat thing is is that somebody’s going to get some really nice axles whenever you go sell them.

(…)

I’m thinking I probably sleeve the 44 is when I do the regear(…) because I’m I’ll be going up to 38 inch tires here pretty soon. So those are those are heavy mugs for the 44.

(…)

You’re probably looking at gusseting the the the seas as well, right?

(…)

I’m trying to remember if I already get I’ve got the gussets

(…)

and I don’t remember.

(…)

No, I had not put the gussets on yet, but I do already. I’ve already got the get where the barns. I’ve got the barns gussets.

(…)

Has anybody done the gusseting? I’m thinking that that none of that is cast cast iron, right? It’s it’s all well, maybe it is cast.

(…)

I think it’s cast steel a lot of them. Yeah.

(…)

So you have to wind up doing the same thing heating up the the sea so that you can burn in the the gusset. I would assume.

(…)

I’m I mean, I’m not like a expert welder or anything by any means I I can make stuff stick together. That’s about it. The way I understood it. It’s not not as important as like cast iron.

(…)

But I think I’d probably heat it up. Anyway, it’s a safe thing to do regardless. That’s somebody may know better than me.

(…)

Larry, did you gusset your your season on your your axle? Yeah, so when it was all hot, it’s going to be muzzles get all the misery done at one time, right? That’s what I’m thinking.

(…)

Well, did it season and and the center section all the same time that we ain’t got to that way. I ain’t got to take it all back apart either. Right. It’s kind of like doing doing a differential gear upgrade. If you don’t already have lockers, that’s the time to do both those things the change gears and put a locker in so. Yeah, but here’s the thing with I can’t speak for the other models, but I know for the JL’s when you do that, you’re going to also going to have to replace your ball joints.

(…)

Because when you heat up that ball joint those nice plastic spacers that are in that ball joint are going to go away. All right, so a good time to get rid of that crap anyway. So press out the ball joint, heat it up, do all your stuff and then push in a new set of ball joints at the same time.

(…)

Does the does the the gusset on the sea go front and rear or is it just one side?

(…)

Hop and bottom.

(…)

I thought it went on the outside off to look at it. I haven’t seen it a long time. If you’re looking at the sea being vertical, you know.

(…)

It’s vertical, right? Just how you would see it in the vehicle. There’s a there’s a gusset you weld on the top side. There’s one you will on the bottom side of the tube.(…) I want to look at that because I remember it being like around the edge of the the the sea portion of it. So I’m obviously remembering wrong. It might be the kid I used from our tech. That’s how it was. No, it’s not to say the other ones aren’t like what you’re describing. Right. Well, the whole idea and if the people here that don’t know what the gusset is for the whole idea is to keep the the sea from bending

(…)

either bending in or out because of the additional size of the tire wheel that is pushing it, especially when you’re off-road. That’s usually when it happens. So that just shores up that that thing from from moving on you and changing shapes.

(…)

Or when your Jeep gets nice and heavy, you know, some of us own a 6,000 pound jail. Wow. Whose fault is that? That’s a good that’s a good idea. Yeah. Hey, don’t be shaming. Don’t be shaming.

(…)

He’s jelly as my wife would say.(…) Well, the Duke of complex the teenage daughter.

(…)

They’re they’re they’re hating until they’re the beneficiary of you. Having that. You know, I always believe Larry Wong just so I have a trail welder with me. Trail welder and snacks. That’s two key things.

(…)

All right, so let’s let’s see. Any more questions about trusses or gussets? I think we’ve covered that. What about armor? Are you said you got armor on yours, Larry? It’s I believe he’s also said it was our tech. What are you protecting? Is it the entire bottom of the Jeep? Pretty much or is it specific?

(…)

So the bottom I run the quadra tech the aluminum. I run the engine the the engine transmission section the transfer case.

(…)

I need to put the gas tank skid on it.

(…)

Well, there’s a try to try to save a little weight where I can.

(…)

I stopped sending Henderson messages about the roundtable because he just ignores. Yeah. Yeah, you stop sending them like months ago. So I forget all the time.

(…)

Stucks get old.

(…)

He’s busy. He’s so busy all the time.

(…)

So Greg, who do we use if we want to trust an axle? Who do you recommend?

(…)

I mean, there’s a few out there, but our check is kind of cornered that marker for quite some time.

(…)

It looks like it’s pretty inexpensive. I don’t my glasses on, but it looks like there it’s around 150 bucks, 160 bucks for a trust. If it was just that that expensive to install it.

(…)

Yeah, you’ll probably pay more to have a quality labored person put it on. But no, they’re good quality.

(…)

So I like our tech ones and I know there’s a few other companies that make them, but it’s always been good quality.

(…)

I just think 90% of people who put trusses on have no need for them. Oh, interesting. So I was just saying earlier that to me not knowing anything about this stuff, you know, bringing it up on the show just so we all can learn that I can’t see a downside to not I mean a downside to trusting an axle and the only thing it would be is if you don’t take it off road.

(…)

Or having the wrong person put it on is just as bad.

(…)

Because when you’re welding them on,(…) the heat from welding causes massive things to move. In fact, if you look at like a lot of factory axles, they’ll have three or four inch weld on them and that three or four inch weld is to straighten the axle tube.

(…)

So when you’re welding a truss on if somebody starts at one side, you just goes ham. They can actually bend your axle beyond repair welding the truss in place.

(…)

What a mood killer.

(…)

Well, it’s a good cautionary tale. I mean, you don’t wind up with a taco axle and a truss. Yeah, and I’ve seen a lot like interseas people welding those on and you know, not knowing how to weld the mild steel to cast

(…)

and not heating it up properly and not, you know, following the proper cooldown procedures.(…) I’ve seen people weld interseas on and then wonder why the tire is now like an inch out of plumb, you know, because it’ll warp so bad and then they either it’s scrap or you have to cut everything off and reheat and straighten it all out and you know, you can spend four times the amount to fix your axle than just putting it on the right way in the first time. So they’re awesome and they’re good and they, you know, installed properly. It’s really nice insurance where you’re not breaking an axle and you’re not spending five grand for an aftermarket axle housing, but you just really want to make sure that it’s installed correctly.(…) Well, I like this. I actually found found the one for the JLJT Apex front axle truss. I think I’m looking at the right one. $120 or $121 and just find somebody that won’t charge me more than $120 to install it to be perfect.

(…)

Yeah, good luck with that. Yeah, I know. You’re only charging $120 to install it run away.

(…)

Yeah, it’s a nice looking one. Is that what you have Larry? The JLJT Apex front axle truss?

(…)

I used R-TECH. That’s what I’m on.(…) Okay, you say Apex. It’s well, it’s that’s one of the lines. It’s on the R-TECH site.(…) Okay. Yeah,(…) that’d be nice. So do you need to trust a front and rear or would you go front first?

(…)

Usually it’s the front first. The rear axle is inherently stronger than the front.

(…)

But you can do both.

(…)

I haven’t trust a lot of rear axles. Usually it’s the front because the front takes more abuse when it’s slamming into things. But I mean honestly put your money where your mouth is and do whatever you want. It’s your Jeep.

(…)

Yeah,(…) I think it’s a great idea.

(…)

So the for the for the armor. Do you guys anybody using armor like on the lower control arms or I don’t know where else you could armor an axle except for the lower control arms the mounts that hang down. I got there was a rock hard on the control arms. You do a pinion guard. Yeah, it’s been in guards.

(…)

I’ve got an old pan guard or what I want. Def covers or armor as well, right? True. Do you guys have the lean towards a specific cover?(…) I think Rough Country. I was really impressed with the Rough Country. Not Rough Country.(…) Rough stuff.

(…)

Diff covers. Those things are just just amazing to me. I got those on the XJ. I do a lot of a lot of research on your diff cover because there’s the wrong diff cover can create a massive amount of cavitation and actually cause premature gear wear and premature oil wear.

(…)

I think there’s a couple companies banks even has a YouTube video that shows what happens with the wrong type of cover. They actually do a clear cover so you can see what happens to the oil.

(…)

But some companies make they they actually engineer the cover to deal with that. So like the covers that are cut and welded together like origami.

(…)

They might be strong as hell, but you might get other issues down the road. The cast covers like AEV makes or ARB and a couple others. They actually deal with the oil flow and making it flow the right way because I got the right one. You want it. You want to do two different things. You want to pay attention to you don’t want your oil to cavitate and you also need a certain amount of sling. So the as the the ring gear is spinning. It is slinging the oil and if you if you dissect an axle, you’ll see that there’s an actual oil passage.

(…)

Up above the ring gear that puts oil on to the pinion gear.

(…)

The why can’t I think the bearing it actually it it keeps that bearing impregnated with oil. And if you put a diff cover on that’s like cut up origami, you might be slowing down the amount of oil that’s going to that pinion or pinion bearing.(…) So there’s there’s actually a really cool science about diff covers. So, you know, do a little research before you buy a diff cover. Some of them are amazing, right? The ARBs are really nice because they’ve got a dipstick and they’ve got different fill and sight lines and other things and and even AEV. They built some really really nice ones. And I think that they still do. I think the ARB is probably the best one on the market for a long time. I’m sure somebody’s knocked him out of the park by now, but

(…)

you know, don’t don’t skimp out to save a few bucks and the weld it together yourself. But like the DIY ones, even if you’re a great welder, you might be causing issues with the sling of that oil and now you’re going to have other issues down the road. Right. Yeah. ARB is what I was planning going with primarily because it’s red. You can go. Yeah, I knew that was going.

(…)

Yeah,(…) who cares about the dipstick and who cares about, you know, the fill lines and all that. No, it’s red. It’s red. Yeah.

(…)

Priorities man. Like the track bar that’s still sitting upside in this house for the rear. Well, and also something else that you got to be aware of when it comes to the aftermarket ones is where the fill hole is because the rule of thumb was always to bring the oil up to the bottom of the hole. But like a bunch of like, I know metal cloak for sure. There’s the hole is actually higher than it needs to be.(…) So if you fill it to that same mark, you’re going to be over filling it. Yeah. So your oil should be filled up to the bottom of your axle tube, not above it. Yeah.

(…)

I mean, if you can fill it up to above it, it’s just going to leak out the seal anyways. That’s one thing I didn’t understand with the ARBs is it’s got the dipstick, but you have to market.

(…)

Yeah. So basically, and they give pretty good instructions, but yeah, you market. So, but I don’t know why they just like a market specifically for the JL. It’s because not every because not every Jeep is set up the same way. So some people use the wrong steering setup or some people use the wrong track bar setup or some people have put too much pinion, right? So they they’re setting their axle at like seven or eight degrees because they’ve got a shitty lift.

(…)

So depending on where,(…) depending on where the pinion is shifted, changes that fluid level. So at ride height, you want it to be right at the bottom of the axle tube. That’s where your your fill line should be. Shouldn’t be above that because otherwise you’re just filling the tubes with oil and now you’re you’re getting too much sling. So so that’s why they give you the dipstick because not every axle is the same all depending on the amount of lift and the amount, you know, how your axle is orientated for your drive shaft changes where that fill level needs to be. Okay, so that was driving me nuts. Why it’s for the jail. Why the hell do you need to market? It should come marked, right? Well, depending on your gear ratio, how much room each of those how the gears are cut, you know, it may change your fluid level. It may not be a lot, but it can change it by, you know, it’ll change the amount that you put in, but it won’t change the level.(…) For a change in the amount that you put in. Yeah.

(…)

Because there’s less mass chicken chicken to the egg. So more mass means. Yeah, if you’ve got 323 is you’re going to have way more mass than me if you have 513. 513 are going to have way less metal in them. If you change your gear set up, you’ve done it.

(…)

You know, you already know where it should be. Yeah, and that’s one of the other reasons why I like that ARB with the dipstick is you can actually set it and know exactly where it needs to be forever.(…) Right. What’s right for years. And of course, if you make a change, you may need to readjust that mark. And just so the actual best part of ARB aside from all the engineering that went behind it and the fill port that’s huge and the dipstick. Oh, red jigs are sexy.

(…)

Now the best part is the biggest thing is when you pull a dipstick, you’re hoping there’s no metal shavings on the bottom of the little magnet. Is it magnetic? That’s good. I like that.

(…)

Yep. Yeah. Their drain plug and fill plug are magnetic too.(…) Yeah.

(…)

And it’s red.

(…)

Okay. Red.

(…)

That thing is beefy is all good out to that thing. Oh, yeah. Max.

(…)

That’s why I want to see our views. Yeah. After seeing the the banks thing where he where he used the clear diff cover on the back of that truck and he was talking about the flow of the fluid and stuff. Yeah, that’s a cool video. That’s when I started paying attention asking the question is what what about the the the diff cover on our Jeeps and I actually I was I forget who it was. I spoke with I did an interview with somebody and I asked him about that and they said it was less critical on Jeeps. It has more to do with the full-size trucks and you’re towing with those full-size. Well, whoever told you that’s an idiot. It’s critical on all axles. It was probably more that used to be on Truck Show podcast that works at banks. It’s probably not as critical off-road as it is on road because you’re right. Yeah, you’re right. That’s who it was Truck Show podcast. Yeah, because off-road you’re not going in and pray for anybody. Can you guys use that? Well,

(…)

yes, I said Roger walking around Greg Shop. I was going to ask him should I call security?

(…)

I know I wait here Sunday. What I really need is somebody needs to get one of those century cams.

(…)

Yeah, you do. That would be cool. I need one of those century cams with the paintball gun and we can light it with peppermoles.

(…)

Oh, your wife would want access to that. So she could make you come in and eat food or go to bed.

(…)

No, she just shoot at me whenever I didn’t do what I told her what she wanted me to do. There’s not enough ammo.(…) Hook it up to AI and train it to recognize certain people that it shoots.

(…)

Yeah.

(…)

All right. So I think I think we did a good job with that. Thank you guys for all that. They put on the trust is the guts. It’s the armor. Did anybody have any questions or want to add anything before we move on?

(…)

All right. So the next question here is is your Jeep pink?

(…)

Everybody is stunned.(…) So the the the Chick Chat ladies, the Team B Natalie and Janet brought up something the other day on on Monday’s Chick Chat and she they were saying that they don’t particularly care for whenever some man finds out that that’s the best way to find out that they have a Jeep. They want to know if if it’s pink, you know, is it a specific female color and I thought it would be a good subject to bring up. Maybe what do you guys do if you find out a young lady has a or even old Lee has a as a Jeep. Do you immediately think she’s she’s got ducks on the dash and and I’m sure you guys know Janet wheels the hell of it and Natalie wheels the hell out of hers as well.

(…)

I think a duck is bit Dan.(…) I don’t automatically assume it but I am actually considering once I get my links and stuff done for the new axles having them powder coated pink.(…) I don’t care what color the Jeep is it can be pink, but that doesn’t change how well they can drive it. I mean, but you understand how they have somebody to tell how a woman might take that after years several times about does your husband take it off road?(…) You know, is it is it pink that you have a fuzzy steering wheel all those things that guys kind of have a tendency to automatically assume about women and Jeeps and I bring it all you bring it up. You see it just in case you well, if you just meet somebody and they don’t have their Jeep there, they just you just find out they have a Jeep. You might ask those incense insensitive question.

(…)

I just figure if that’s pink. They just got bad taste in color. I mean, you know, red pink, you know, whatever same thing.

(…)

If I have to probably the least insensitive or incorrect question I’m going to ask.

(…)

No, but Bob works for the public. So let’s just but isn’t that the goal to bust each other on stuff like that? Yeah, irregardless and you know, just all they got to do is just say, yeah, okay, come follow me if you can.

(…)

That’s all I’d say about the challenge accepted. Yeah, come forward if you can. Yeah.

(…)

Well, obviously you guys can do whatever you want to do. I just thought I’d bring it out from the standpoint of maybe thinking about it before you you say something that is I don’t know if you feel uncomfortable about women being off-road. I don’t I think it’s great.(…) You know, I think it’s egotistical and dumb to think you can wheel better than some of the women out there because there’s a woman out there that can wheel the hell out of their(…) Yeah, they’re not afraid to do shit that me. I’m not doing with my Jeep. I love it when I see my wife out there wheeling her Jeep. I think it’s awesome. Roger. She never does it, right? Not always. It right after she turns off the radio.

(…)

She did put a little wrinkle in her in her B pillar. This last time we went out. So, you know, really not all. Not all of us are male chauvinists and tell our wives every little turn and button to push while they’re going up. Yeah, but you know, that’s just the wife. She tells come on. Let’s face it. I do that because it helps to build her confidence because if she’s already thinking what I’ve told that what I’m telling her it builds her confidence. Believe me. She it’s helped her out a lot because when she first started she had very little confidence in what she was doing and now I don’t even tell her anything. She just does it on her own. Is that what you’re telling yourself or you’re telling her? Yeah,(…) so I’m offering everybody up to speak especially our new new viewers and listeners. So Roger when we went to EJS, it was 2024 2023. I think we were all on the GMRS and Roger was constantly telling his wife that okay, honey, you’re coming up to this thing. No, dear not honey dear dear. Okay, dear. Good. Do you do this and we’re all rolling our eyes and finally she’s just like, you know, I can do this leave me alone type of thing. It was it was just really funny. It was one of the situations where you just had to be there. So of course, we got to give Roger shit about it all the time. I actually consider that an accomplishment for because in the beginning she wouldn’t say a thing. She was she was she wanted to hear it. So the fact that she doesn’t need to hear it now, it’s an accomplishment. She’s she’s her her confidence level has gone up to the has gone up enough to feel more confident what she’s doing on her own.

(…)

Rogers is not going to stop us from giving you crap. Oh, I don’t care. I don’t care. I’m just saying my wife. My wife does a damn good job. We don’t know exactly. She oh, yeah, perfect. She’s she’s great at what she does. That’s why I would never sit there. Criticize. I was just as I was just going to sit now with her with her Jeep that I won’t do with mine. It’s just funny when Roger gets in trouble over the radio in public. It’s so we can all hear it’s this hilarious. Well, that’s an everyday affair. I mean,(…) yeah.

(…)

If the day ends and why I’m in trouble.

(…)

So obviously, like I said, you guys can do what you want to do. But one of the things one of the reasons why we have a Chick-Cha episode on Monday is so women can talk to women. It’s not just for women. Men can listen and men can be on the show as well, but it’s women running that episode because men have a tendency to be a little critical and even whenever you think you’re joking around it could be viewed as being critical. So next time you run across a lady with a Jeep,(…) treat her like a man. Give her ask her questions. Ask what she did. How many different what the gears than different and don’t it don’t give her a roll of the eyes or something if she doesn’t know the answer to the question. We’re all learning and it was all new to us at one point. So, you know, you may not know what the gears are in your differential either.

(…)

Yeah, I think you you you had a point there though everywhere we go, even if if Nicole’s driving the Jeep, it doesn’t matter what Jeep or where we are, you know, they always men or, you know, mostly men. They’re always look at me and go, oh, that’s a nice Jeep. You got that’s not even mine,(…) but you know, that’s just where it goes. It always goes to the mail and you know, she rarely gets recognition. So that’s why she wheels it. That’s why she gets out and works on it.(…) So she knows her stuff. So we go to a you know, a show or a Jeep meet or whatever and then she can answer the questions and deal with it because she gets that a lot. So it’s pretty tough.(…) Yeah, I just think it’s a thing to think about. I’m not telling anybody to change the way you are. I just think it’s a good idea to think about it and give give people the credit that that they deserve and and I’m sure I’m gonna I’m I would give a woman a hard time too. So I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’m just trying to think about it ahead of time and treat everybody equally and you learn and I think it’s easier to talk to a person if they don’t think they’re being put down by you.

(…)

Yeah, I knew a woman that was obsessed over that. Well, she would say that you know, every time she’s out somewhere is that your boyfriend’s deep is that your husband’s deep, you know, and she was I mean like obsessed to the point of nuts like she went up to a dude in a bar who couple of guys talk and minding their own business and you just this a bit you can’t go outside and pick out which Jeep is mine like who freaking cares? Yeah, but but I mean she was that obsessed over look at this Jeep. It is my Jeep not anybody else’s I’m like, okay got it.

(…)

Yeah, not giving her my number. All right. Yeah, no, I can definitely go both ways. So I’m not saying that’s just it’s just a man a man problem, but oh look at Carrie, right? She came out with this in 2020. What’s this? 20-25-24. She came out with this demo. I was helping her through a lot spotter through a lot this year. Shit. She did Pritchard. Didn’t she Roger with you?

(…)

Who did? Carrie and Wayne. No, she did. They did cliffhanger with me. Yeah, so that I’m not. Yeah, so that I’m not doing so good for her, right?

(…)

That’s how it is. Yeah, and actually a good point. It might actually cause women to do things more difficult outside their comfort zone because of the teasing they get from us and well, to be fair to be fair. She’s trilling it. I’m not so I’m a big chicken with some stuff. What I do.(…) Yeah, we give Steve a lot of grief and he doesn’t do anything harder than he was anyway. So I don’t think that’s true. Well, I’m talking about the women getting women to do. I was too. Okay. I was talking about a woman.(…) And there’s a difference between light-hearted teasing and being an asshole. Absolutely. Yeah.

(…)

You know, people are not comfortable. You don’t push them. That’s the bottom line.

(…)

And I’m not going anybody push me to do what I don’t want to do. I want to do it. I’ll do it. If not, I don’t. Yeah,(…) I don’t think there’s anything.(…) I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a little bit of pushing because that’s what helps people gain a little bit more confidence is by doing something that there is outside of their box. There’s a limit. The person doing the limiting understands when no means no. Well, absolutely. Absolutely. But maybe maybe get to know the person before you start teasing them. Maybe if you start immediately, oh, yeah, teasing teasing people, they don’t they don’t know that it’s just teasing. They think that the that you know, you feel like they shouldn’t be involved in it because they’re a woman and we don’t want to do that. I think I don’t think any of us want that to happen. It’s not like AI where we want AI to go away. We don’t want the women to go away.

(…)

So I think it’s great when we get women out there on the trails because so many of you have said it anybody can can wheel and it’s a lot of fun having additional people out there and especially the nicer the better sex of women being out there.(…) Yeah, I’ve I’ve willed with Janet and I’ve seen what she can do. And matter of fact, she she made obstacles that a lot of us didn’t she she she cleared them Janet has a problem. And I know I’m a Russian problem and I know that she knows that I know how how well she can will so I can’t wait to the next time I willing with her. I’m going to ask her is that your boyfriend’s G?(…) Yeah, because she knows you she knows where that’s coming from. I was she’s gonna get mad as she listens to this right talk about she’s aggressive. You know, she’ll be aggressive because I said she was aggressive but it’s funny. I forget. I think it was I was talking to Greg on Tuesday or when we recorded for Tuesday’s episode and we were we actually commented about Janet how she’s not as an aggressive Wheeler now since she’s broken a bunch of shit.

(…)

It’s like I want to I want to build this thing up so it doesn’t break but I’m gonna take it a little easier to it’s not good. It’s gonna be the the Charlie panel all the time.

(…)

Kind of like water crossings.

(…)

We learn we learn by chatting. Reach it.

(…)

All right. So now let’s get into something a little silly. I brought this up to Greg and we may have talked about this on the show before and it’s just just an FYI. What do you think type situation? I saw the other day that motor built had come out with door stickers on the inside so you can put a pattern it sticks to the inside of the door. So it fancies up the inside of the Jeep which I don’t see other than LED lighting and some other things some goofy things that are done and you guys may think this is goofy as well. But it’s kind of a pattern sticker that sticks to the inside of the doors. I thought it was a great idea, especially if you’re a an influencer. Oh and especially if you’ve done the unofficial use only door pockets now you can really fancy up that door and make it even more fancy with the with the door pocket down there. All right, it’s criminal. Those door pockets are just pure artistry. Come on. Are they really good?(…) That’s not something I’d invest in. I just just buy things. Was it like little fake like remote controls and like(…) electric window, but there you go. You put the window button on there.

(…)

I’ve always said that you spend more time inside of the vehicle than outside looking at it. So anything you can do to make the inside more comfortable make you happier in there as long as you can do it cleanly and make it look good.

(…)

Then you should do it.(…) Like I’ve bought specific vehicles because of the interior they had being nicer than some other ones because I knew I was going to spend a lot of time in that interior creature comfort. I mean, it doesn’t have to be cushy or anything, but just it looks nice. It makes it nice for you when you’re driving it. Yeah.

(…)

Hey, I just had my dash apart and I didn’t put all the junk back in that center tray yet. Let me tell you it makes the difference.

(…)

Where is your Jeep not apart?

(…)

Right now.

(…)

I like those. I don’t know if they make them for the JL and the JT’s but the center console that has the tire tread thing that goes on there. You know where you put your arm. I think that’s pretty cool. I don’t know how comfortable it is, but it looks cool. Oh, it’s like a cover that just looks like a top. Yeah.

(…)

Yeah, those do look cool.

(…)

Well, that’s something that also dual purpose that’s going to protect because me, you know, working on the manual, my arm is always on the armrest with my hand on the stick even though it’s not right. Even though it’s an automatic. It’s just I don’t know the way I do it and you’ll notice on all my cars that that armrest it’s wearing right in that spot. So that’s some protection. That’s something I would do. Well, I mean, if you work with your Jeep too, you can get that center console really dirty because you know, grease and stuff on your arms. Oh, yeah. I mean, I know you should clean up, but sometimes that just doesn’t happen. You know, you want to start it and drive it and see if it’s going to work. Well, you’re wheeling too. You’re out there getting dirty. Very true. Yeah, that’s very true. Same reason why do people to see protection doing it for aesthetics or you don’t refer real protection? Depends what your purpose and what your goal is. It’s your Jeep. It’s your Jeep life. Do you do you right?

(…)

So, you know, I just thought about that. Go ahead.

(…)

That’s all I’ve got covers.(…) I’ve got covers on the back doors.

(…)

They’re solid. I don’t know. It’s a company as a buddy of mine. One of them in their for jails, but it’s a solid door panel that clips over and it protects from dogs like scratching getting on the door doing damage and I actually love them. I’ll leave them on 24-7 and Waylon’s never in the back of the Jeep, but I’ll leave those on just in case or wire, you know, it is what it is. Just fancy colored stuff. I don’t know if I would do that. I saw those on metal cloak as I was shopping around.

(…)

You know, if I want them at a raffle, I’d throw them on, but I don’t think I’d spend the money to do it, but there’s so many mall callers. I mean, we typically unless it’s doing that protection. I don’t really see it a reason for 90% of us that are here today, but there’s a huge market that would 100% appreciate like those.

(…)

Well, I mean, let’s be honest and I think this is really important for the new listeners so that the people are new to jeeping. Let’s be honest about it. You don’t need to do any of this shit.(…) You can just take your stock Jeep and wheel it.(…) So all this fancy and up and trusting and everything else. It’s really for the hardcore folks or people that just want to do something that they think is cool and add to their Jeep. I mean, it’s fun modifying a Jeep. It’s fun adding stuff to it. I don’t know about you guys, but I just enjoy driving my Jeep because it’s got this this stuff in it that isn’t like everybody else’s stuff.(…) So it’s it’s it’s a sickness, but I’m enjoying it.

(…)

Travis, have you have you looked at the or consider getting the CMM off-road shifter sticks, you know, the one that you can slam it back into reverse really quick.

(…)

100% have.

(…)

Yeah, I’m looking into it. It’s just every one of their products is expensive. Now, I said it’s a very well-built solid product. I can’t knock the price for what it is.

(…)

You know,(…) but I am I am truly considering it after situations. I put myself into I’m an idiot.

(…)

But I yes, it is something I’ve looked into. Yes, it is something I want.(…) Yeah, it’s really cool. If you guys and I do think for the true wheelers, it is definitely well worth the investment and they make a cheaper version. That is just for looks for all those that just want the look that won’t slam in, you know, when you go through and reset it and get it where you have the ability to slam. And if you guys don’t know we’re talking about the killer CMM off-road basically it is the automatic shifter handle. It kind of looks like a top gun thing, which I’m sure that was on purpose, but you can it has a little adjustment on the side so that if you if you turn the the adjustment, it allows you to go from drive to reverse very quickly. So if you get yourself in a situation where you’re going to flip over or you need to get out of whatever the current(…) configuration you’re in is going up over some rocks and stuff. You can quickly hit that reverse and potentially save the Jeep.(…) So it turns off the reverse lockout.

(…)

Yes.

(…)

It’s a hill killer. So you can if you’re you know incline or decline, you’re able just to literally slam the opposite direction.

(…)

Got you.

(…)

Pretty cool idea. It is not not such a great thing on the highway.

(…)

No, well, it’s got a safety mechanism. So if you’re off-road if you’re not off-road, you’ll like you you mentioned earlier, you’ll you’ll you know, have the safety on there to where that’s not the case. Yeah, as long as you’re on the highway.

(…)

Right.(…) It’s like air down tire or anything else, you know, you’re going to remember to air up your tires. You’re going to remember, hey, I’ve got this product. I’m going to remember to do it. So it kind of it kind of emulates a reverse manual valve body is what it’s doing.(…) Yes, sort of like and that’s what I was about to say. Like I’m going to put a reverse manual valve body in the turbo 400 or that I’m putting in my Jeep.

(…)

And I haven’t decided which shifter I want,(…) but even then like I’m never going to go like into reverse while I’m driving because third or high gear is going to be all the way back instead of all the way forward. So,(…) Yeah.

(…)

Yep, yep, yep.

(…)

Yeah, I think this is a good solution for somebody that’s that doesn’t have a heavily modified Jeep. It’s nice because you can model you can adjust something so that you can slam it in reverse but turn it off. Maybe when somebody else is driving your Jeep, you know, if it’s a daily driver weekend warrior. I think that this lends itself to that. I don’t know. I need to read more about it, but I thought it was a pretty cool idea.

(…)

All right, everyone. That’s a wrap for this week’s Jeep Talk Show Roundtable. A big thank you to all of our zoom participants. You guys make it so much fun and informative every week. Oh, and don’t forget next week if all goes as planned, we’re going to have a talk to Grock segment. It won’t be the whole show. So don’t not show up because you don’t listen to Grock go wrong. Go on and on for an hour, but we’ll have a little Grock segment that you can talk to Grock and we can have some fun with it. I’m sure it’ll be like talking to drunk Travis again.(…) Remember you can join us again next Tuesday, 7 30 p.m. Central Time for more Jeep Talk random questions and always a few rabbit trails. Don’t forget to visit Jeep talk show.com slash contact to find out how you can be part of the conversation. Thanks again, and we’ll see you next week. And as I like to say, yeah, give the Royal Wave that lies. I like to say we now return this zoom meeting to normal

Broadcasting Sense 2010