Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Monthly Guided Trail Ride

This past Saturday I loaded up my Jeep Wrangler with all my off-roading essentials, and hit the road. I was headed to the Rausch Creek Off Road Park in Pennsylvania. Even though it is a three hour drive to the park, it is totally worth it. There are 3,000 acres of trails for every level of off road enthusiast. 

The other great thing about the park is their options for every type of off-roader. You can wheel with a group of friends or your Jeep Club. They also offer off road driving classes. And if you are not familiar with the trails you can request a trail guide for your group. But the best is their monthly guided trail rides, perfect for the lone Jeeper like me. 



This was my first guided monthly trail ride. Myself and 14 other Jeepers met in the parking lot after we all readied our Jeeps for the trail. I popped down the soft top, and aired down my tires to 15 psi. In our group we actually had a Bronco, Landrover and Cherokee join us as well.





Now it is time to hit the trails. There was a wide variety of terrain for us to wheel. Everything from muddy water holes, rocky roads, rutted paths, and steep inclines. For me it is a total adrenaline rush over each obstacle I tackle. 


Then... the feeling of pure joy once I make it over the obstacle successfully. On past wheeling trips I felt if I scraped my undercarriage or rock sliders it was a failure, but not anymore. That's what they are there for. 

On this trip I stepped up my game attempting trails and obstacles I had by-passed in the past. Like this trail on this video I posted on You Tube. CLICK HERE for video. 

There was also the big rock obstacle at the end of the trail ride I finally attempted. But since I have a four door and my wheel base is longer, I didn't go over the rock because I would have high centered my Jeep. 
But it was still an intense short little climb as you can tell in this video. CLICK HERE 

As always on these trail rides I always wonder who is noisier... My Jeep or Me? Check out this video of all the sounds on the trail. Which do you think is noisier? CLICK HERE for video. 


I really don't like wheelin' through the water holes on the trails. But even though I am tense once I am through the water again it is a pure sense of accomplishment and excitement. 

CLICK HERE for Muddy Waters Ride 


Wheelin' at Rausch Creek for me is thrilling and exciting. It is my version of a theme park. Each time I go there is something new and different. The trails are ever changing and my level of confidence grows. I am looking forward to the next off-road adventure, just less than a month away when the women get together for Women's Wheelin' Day at Rausch Creek. I can't wait!!!

                    - Simple Living! - Enjoying Life! The Jeep Momma Way -

  

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Jeep Wrangler Noises!


Purchase 👉 Click Here

Jeep Noises

"Did you hear that?" My mom asked me while we were out cruising in my Jeep Wrangler. I had just installed my new rear bumper. I told her it was my d-rings (shackles) clanging on my rear bumper. Ever since she pointed it out I constantly heard the clanging noise, especially when I would bounce over the speed bumps in my neighborhood. It drove me nuts. 



Try a New Product

I bought the Daystar D-Ring Islolator kit to install on the rear bumper's shackles. 


This kit includes a black isolator and 2 washers. They are constructed with durable polyurethane material.  They are intended to prevent rattling against the anchor points. They also protect the finish of the bumper from damage. No more clanging, so the ad said. 


The claims were right.  The install was simple and easy. The isolator snaps onto the d-ring (shackle). The rubber washers slip between the recovery point and the shackle. 

Put to the Test



Time to put them to the test. I took my Jeep Wrangler out for a test drive through the neighborhood streets over several speed bumps. My top was down allowing for me to hear any noises better. I was impressed. The clanging noise was gone. 


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Thursday, September 17, 2015

Tips to Winterize Your Jeep!

Embracing the Chilly Season: Jeep Care Tips for Winter



(Updated  November 2023) As the icy grip of Old Man Winter approaches, it's a time of year when our vehicles face a tougher test. Cold temperatures, corrosive road salt, snow, and ice can all take a toll on our trusty Jeeps. To ensure your Jeep remains your reliable companion throughout the winter, let's dive into some essential tips I've gathered from my experiences.

Myth-Buster

In the past, many believed in letting their vehicles warm up for several minutes before hitting the road in winter. However, modern auto experts dispel this myth, advising that you should warm up your vehicle for no more than 30 seconds before driving. Extended idling doesn't actually benefit your vehicle in any significant way, and it's a practice best left in the past.


Preparing Your Jeep's Top for Winter



Using specialized soft top cleaners and applying a quality soft top protectant will help maintain your soft top's condition during the colder months. However, for our friends in the warmer regions of the Deep South and Southwest, now might be the perfect opportunity to shed that hard top and relish the cooler winter temperatures in your open-air Jeep.

Soft Top and Zipper Care 👉 Read More 

Winter Cleaning Tips to Keep Your Jeep Salt Free 👉 Read More

Top 5 Winter Accessories 👉 Read More



Winter Maintenance Checklist for Your Jeep

Mirrors and Windshield: Avoid using an ice scraper on your mirrors to prevent scratching. Use a de-icer windshield washer fluid for efficient de-icing.


Rain-Ex De-icer windshield washer fluid 👉 Buy Here


Heating and Defrosters: Prioritize safety by checking that your heat and defrosters are in optimal working condition to maintain clear visibility.


Wrangler Owners: Give your Jeep some extra love by lubricating the door hinges and securing the Torx bolts.


Mopar Jeep Wrangler Door Tool Kit 👉 Buy Here


Exterior Care: Wash and wax your Jeep to protect its paint from the corrosive effects of salty winter roads.


Steps to Protecting Your Jeep 👉 Read More


Fuel Tank: Keeping a full tank of gas can prevent condensation from forming on the tank walls and dripping into your fuel, ensuring smooth operation.


Emergency Kit: Be prepared for any unexpected winter challenges by carrying an emergency kit. This should include a shovel, ice scraper, blankets, jumper cables, flashlights, extra clothing, recovery gear, and provisions such as food and water.


Weather Emergency Gear for Your Jeep 👉 Read More


Brake Check: Ensure your brakes are in good working order to guarantee reliable stopping power in icy conditions.


Wiper Blades: Invest in a quality set of winter wiper blades, which offer superior protection against snow, sleet, and ice build-up. Specialized winter wiper blades can be especially helpful in extreme weather.

Wiper Blade Maintenance 👉 Read More




If you are off-road you most likely have scraped your undercarriage, I suggest spending some time on those scratches to prevent rust from forming. To save some time you may want to take it to a professional who does rustproofing and undercoating. 



     



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Wednesday, September 2, 2015

How to Interpret Those Tire Numbers

Increase Your Tire Knowledge




There are many different kinds of tire varieties like compacted, full Size, limited-use, all-terrain, mud-terrain are just some. Some tires have limited tread life and are to be used for a temporary emergency. These are usually what we used to call donut tires. They are a lot smaller. 

Nate and I discuss tires on The Off-Road Insiders Podcast 👉 Watch Here




How do you know what kind tire came stock with your vehicle? There is a placard in your vehicle. It is usually located in the driver's side door opening. re smaller, we know them as donuts. But you can also tell by looking at the placard in your vehicle.  


My front, rear and spare are all the same -- lt255/75R17 C 

What do those numbers mean?  Good Year Tire Size Help



The first letter or letters are the type -- lt = light truck

The first set of numbers is the tire width from sidewall to sidewall -- 255 mm 

The second set of numbers is the aspect ratio  -- 75 means the height is equal to 75% the tire's width. The bigger the aspect ratio the bigger the sidewalls. 

The next letter "R" stands for Radial. The construction of the tire which means the layers run radially across the tire.

The next number, 17, is the wheel size. 

Now don't confuse tire and wheel.  Tires are the rubber part that grips the road... the wheels are the round steel or alloy part the rubber tire goes on. 

There are also a lot of other markings on your tires check this page out for more information.  TireRack.com 

My tires are made in the USA and are for the mud and snow. They are tri-guard 3 ply sidewall Mud-terrain T/A.

Then there is the 111/108 Q. This has something to do with the load index and I am not sure what the Q stands for.  

They have Load Range of C which has to do with how much weight they carry. The C's are lighter and a better ride than D & E . 

It's a Jeep Thing

More Than Just a Phrase In the automotive culture, certain phrases and slogans become emblematic of an entire community. Among them, "I...