The Yeti Steering Review

Remember the steering attenuator? -- Now called the Griffin by Steer Smarts. The Griffin is a steering improvement part. It helps reduce the jittery steering wheel the JK is known for. I can attest the Griffin has made a definite improvement to my steering

The Griffin -- Jeep Momma Blog Posts 

I am looking forward to the new product Steer Smarts is coming out with soon. It is the Yeti version of the Griffin, and will work with their other Yeti steering components. 




My friend CPO, is one of two friends, who is field testing this new product on his Jeeps. The other day I went and interviewed him about the Yeti steering components on his Jeep and how they worked. 

CPO interview on the new Yeti steering components
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Jr12Po-Q0

What's Next for My Jeep?

I finally sold my stock Rubicon tires for $500 after lowering the price by $200 the second time around. I was pleased with the sale, and happy another Jeeper will get many miles of enjoyment from them. 

Now the next task at hand -- what to do to my Jeep. Most of my friends don't understand this need I have to constantly be on the look out for something to buy for my Jeep, or do to my Jeep. A couple of years back I would have probably thought the same thing. But the moment I drove my first Jeep off the lot, I was bitten by the bug, then became infected with Jeep Fever. 

With the proceeds from the tire sale burning a hole in my pocket, I have scoured the internet for ideas. Don't get me wrong, I don't need ideas on what to buy for my Jeep - that list is endless - I am investigating what would be the next most sensible purchase for my Jeep's needs. 

After checking over my Jeep after my last wheeling trip, it was noted the undercarriage was scraped and banged up. This was from my many trips wheeling stock. Now that my Jeep is lifted you would think I wouldn't need to worry about the undercarriage, but that would be wrong. So, I will continue the fortification. 

I am looking to purchase much tougher diff covers. Not only will this beef up my Jeep's belly, but I will have the opportunity to add some more purple to the Jeep. 



It looks like I will be going with Riddler.

Riddler Manufacturing Dana 44 Diff Cover

Several fellow Jeepers have suggested them. They are supposed to be one of the strongest Dana 44 covers on the market. Plus, with the lip free smooth transition, I won't need to worry about the protruding lip grabbing onto a rock.

The Riddlers are on sale for about $100 each which leaves me with enough money to celebrate my 50th birthday with Def Leppard and REO Speedwagon! 

Top 100 Topless Jeeping Songs

    

    Earlier I posted my Top 100 songs for when you are out with the wind in your hair and sun on your face. I have decided to alter that list just a tad. Here is my new list for driving topless in your Jeep. 






   1. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC 

     2. Hells Bells – AC/DC

     3. Don’t Stop Believin - Journey
 4. 3am - Matchbox Twenty
 5. Rock and Roll Band - Boston
 6. I Want You To Want Me - Cheap Trick
 7. Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi 
 8. Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin” Journey
 9. Pop Musik -
10. Calling Dr. Love - Kiss
11. Smokin’ Boston
12. More than a Feeling - Boston
13. Sign of the Gypsy Queen - April Wine
14. Flirtin' with Disaster - Molly Hatchett 
15. Hotel California - Eagles 
16. Have a Drink on Me - AC/DC
17. Hold on Loosley - 38 Special 
18. Livin' After Midnight - Judas Priest
19. Tom Sawyer - Rush 
20. Bad Boys Running Wild - Scorpions 
21. Thunderstruck - AC/DC
22. Hair of the Dog - Nazareth
23. Lonely is the Night - Billy Squier
24. No One Like You - Scorpions
25. Highway to Hell - AC/DC
26. Foreplay - Boston 
27. Rock and Roll Fantasy - Bad Company
28. Enter Sandman - Metallica
29. In the Dark Billy Squier
30. Cowboy - Kid Rock 
31. My Kinda Lover – Billy Squier
32. Let me Take you home tonight - Boston
33. Tonight She Comes – The Cars
34.  Good Times Roll – The Cars
35. Shake it up -  The Cars
36. Lets Get Rocked – Def Leppard
37. Rock of Ages – Def Leppard
38. Cinnamon Girl - Neil Young
39. Two Steps Behind – Def Leppard
40. Houses of the Holy -  Led Zeppelin
41. Do You Feel Like We do - Peter Frampton
42. Show Me The Way - Peter Frampton
43. Love Bites – Def Leppard
44. Rocket – Def Leppard
45. Slow Ride - Foghat
46. Run to the hills – Iron Madien
47. Beth - Kiss
48. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath  - Black Sabbath  
49. I was made for lovin’ you - Kiss
50. Lick it Up - Kiss
51. Rock and Roll all Night - Kiss
52. Mary Jane's Last Dance - Tom Petty
53. Bat out of Hell – Meatloaf
54. Two out of three ain’t bad - Meatloaf
55. Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne
56. Blaze of Glory - Bon Jovi
57. Bad Moon Rising - CCR 
58. Come on Feel the Noize - Quiet Riot
59. We're not going to take it- Twisted Sister
60. Fat Bottom Girls - queen
61. Mississippi Queen – Ozzy Osbourne
62. Rock you like a hurricane - Scorpions
63. Pinball Wizard – The Who
64. Squeeze Box – The Who
65. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
66. Peaceful Easy Feeling - The Eagles
67. Desperado - The Eagles
68. Country Roads - John Denver 
69. Highway to Hell - AC/DC 
70. Been a Long Time - Led Zepplin
71. Highway Star - Deep Purple
72. Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple
73. Boys are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy
74. Rainbow in the Dark - Dio 
75. Jack and Diane - John Mellancamp
76. Can’t live without you - Scorpions
77. Smokin' - Boston
78. I Love Rock N Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
79. Ride Like the Wind - Christopher Cross
80. Rockin’ Into the Night – 38 Special
81. Fantasy Girl – 38 Special
82. Ain't Even Done with the Night - John Mellencamp
83. Back in Black – AC/DC
84. Dust in the Wind – Kansas
85. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynard Skynard
86. Photograph – Def Leppard

    87. Pour Some Sugar on Me
     88. Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
    89. Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
    90. Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams
     91. Come On Feel the Noise – Quiet Riot
     92. Purple Rain – Prince
     93. Round and Round – Ratt
      94. Hot Blooded – Foreigner

     95. Urgent – Foreigner
      96. Closer to the Heart Rush

     97. Riders on the Storm – The Doors
     98. Electric Eye – Judas Priest

      99. You are the one that I want – Grease

     100. Summer Nights - Grease

50 Before 50: #22 Check

My 50 Before 50 list is slowly dwindling to nothing which means my 50th is getting closer and closer. I am happy to announce I was able to check another one off the list. 

Now that my Jeep is lifted I feel more confident to tackle those tougher trails. While taking the 301 driving course with Off Road Consulting I checked in with the Jeep Badge of Honor program and wheeled Crawler's Ridge. I even took the tougher part of the hill! 

Crawler's Ridge at Rausch Creek -- A Jeep Momma Video

It was a great experience to climb up the rock ladders and to start using the tools I was taught. However, the pictures nor video do the trail justice to show how difficult the trail is. The real question will be can I do these trails again with out Kyle's support and guidance.  

Are You Sure That's a Trail?

Three weeks into my new lift and I headed up to Rausch Creek Off Road Park to test it out. I decided my best course of action would be to tackle the tougher trails with Off Road Consulting. They offer a 301 driving class. The 301 training classes can be catered from stock to extreme depending on the individuals driver's needs. Check out their facebook page -- Off Road Consulthing.

Kyle was my instructor when I first decided to try my Jeep out on the trails two years ago. He was such a wealth of 4x4 knowledge and patients. Last Friday, he taught me how to approach blue and black trails. Plus, he gave me some great "tools" to put in my "driver's toolbox"

Devil's Den at Rausch Creek - A Jeep Momma Video

It was amazing to be able to get out on those tougher more challenging trails. I look forward to my future rock crawling experiences. 

Rubi Rails Too Long?

Yikes! I am a little nervous about my Rubi Rails rubbing on my tires when I go wheeling. I have asked around, and 90% say I will be just find. 

It does look a tad close for my comfort. I will certainly find out tomorrow when I head up to Rausch Creek Off Road Park.  I will be taking the 301 off roading instruction with Kyle from Off Road Consulting. He is the same guy who instructed me during the 101 and 201 driving classes. 




Hitting those blue trails will give me a good test on my new lift and tires. It will also give me a feel for those rubi rails, and if I need to cut them. However, cutting them might just look better.

How To Get into a Lifted Jeep

Since my recent changes to my Jeep -- it is lifted in case you missed it -- getting in and out have been somewhat comical.  

Finally My Jeep is Lifted -  May 23, 2016


I have embarrassed myself trying to climb into the now much higher driver's seat. I decided I better come up with a good plan on getting in without looking like a fool.  

"Getting Into a Lifted Jeep" Plan

3 Easy Steps

First, place your right foot on the rock sliders. Hopefully you have them on your Jeep. 








Second, take your right hand and grab onto the grab handles on your roll bar. Make sure you have strong grab handles. Mine are from EK Motorsports    

Third, Pull with your right hand and push with your right foot and swing your bottom onto the driver's seat.  

And your off!

Molle Panel & Storage Bags Install

A couple weeks ago I finally installed the Molle Panel from Justice Off Road onto my tailgate. 

Jeep Momma Molle Panel Install - May 3, 2016






Well this past week I finally weaved all my Molle storage bags. My friend and fellow Jeeper CPO from Overclock3d really helped with his Molle panel and bag weaving instruction video.

Overclock3d-jku video

I am glad I watched his video. I would have never known how to properly weave the Molle bags to the panel.  

The strap on the Molle bag should be weaved through the panel then to the bag and back again to the panel. CPO does a great job explaining this in his video. 

On my tailgate panel I have the first aid kit from Justice Off Road. The kit features a "rip away" mounting system with attachment straps. A very cool feature when you are on the trails and need to take the first aid kit with you. You can just un-clip the straps, "rip" the bag from the panel then take it with you.





I am also using the Molle Utility bag. It is big enough to store my tree saver plus other recovery items. 










Finally my tailgate storage is complete.










But that doesn't mean I'm done. Like everything with Jeep the additions and modifications continue. I bought a cargo net for the rear trunk space. This is to hold down any loose items in the back. An important tip when off roading.  

Although I did have to make a few modifications to this cargo net. Instead of using their attachment hardware I attached the loops to the latches all ready in the Jeep. I am not sure how secure this will be, but I will find out soon enough. 







Then I zip-tied the net to the footman loops at the bottom of the rear seats. 

Next on my storage list is a back seat Molle Panel from Blue Ridge
Overland Gear. 

#JeepParts = never ending