Off-Roading Basics

When I first put my tires on those rocky gravel roads I had no basic background knowledge of off-roading. At the time I didn’t even realize how intense off-roading could be or what it was all about. I just thought it was gravel road driving with some mud thrown in here or there. 

There are a few techniques I wish I would have known those first few times I hit the trails. 

Jeep Momma's Garage - Off Road Basics You Tube Video

One of them was simultaneous brake/throttle operation otherwise known as “Two Footed Driving”. There are several off-road conditions that require this type of driving. When climbing rocks or stepped objects using light brake pressure with light throttle will keep the vehicle from jerking or lurching.

This technique should also be used when you need to stop and restart a vehicle on a steep incline. 




 Another important key for a successful off-road trip is controlling your vehicle.

Each different terrain has a different effect on the steering which means you always need to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and maintain a good driving posture. 


Even when your Jeep goes off camber you need to keep your back parallel to the seat. 

You need to resist the urge to stay “upright” and go “off camber” in your seat with the Jeep. This will help you become familiar with what it feels like and give you a better feel for off camber situations to help you control your Jeep better. 

Airing down your tires is a must to give you a bigger footprint while you are out on the trails or in the sand or mud or snow.  When you do air down you need to be aware of your air pressure while you are off-road. Reduced tire pressures could cause tire unseating and total loss of air pressure. To reduce the risk of tire unseasting while at a reduced tire pressure, reduce your speed and avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers. 

Slowing down in general is a good idea anyways. Take your time to traverse those obstacles and trails to prevent any damage or injury. Taking your time also allows you to enjoy nature and gives you a break from the busy everyday stresses of life.

ProClipUSA Phone Mount Review

In the age of rapidly growing technology my cellphone is my everything. It's not just a phone to make calls anymore. My phone is also my address book, camera, GPS, alarm clock, flashlight, CD player (or 8 track player depending on how old you are), mirror, and so much more. 

As a society we are never without our phones. They have become our lifelines. So even when we are driving in our vehicles we want them close at hand, but now with hands free laws they are not allowed in our hands. We need to have our phones mounted in our vehicles for a safer driving solution.





I finally had some free time this weekend to install my ProClipUSA phone mount in my Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. ProClipUSA offers three different styles of mounts for the Jeep Wrangler (See below). I installed the extra strength center mount. This will allow for two points of attachment for two different devices. Now when I am off-road, I will be able to use my cellphone and another device for my Maprika app. 

When I am out on the trails I am usually alone in my Jeep so having two devices will make it easier for me to follow the map and take pictures at the same time! 

The great part about this mount is there is no drilling holes into your dash or taking your dash apart. It just clips right into the grooves of your dash - so simple and easy.  
    

The ProClipUSA Mounting system is a two part mounting system which allows you to customize to fit your Jeep's needs. Along with the mount, I needed a holder for my device. This holder easily attaches to the mounting device. 

I have an I-phone7 with a thin no-name case so I am using the adjustable holder for small to medium cases. I love how easy it is to just slide the phone into the holder. The phone slides from the top and docks on the bottom notch. 

A JEEP MOMMA TIP: Before any install read over the instructions and look at the pictures before you begin. This is a good idea before any install. It will help prevent you having to re-do any steps.   

The install, including recording the install video, took 30 minutes. Following the instructions that came with the mount made for a super easy, straight forward install.  

Jeep Momma's ProClipUSA Phone Mount Install Video

The ProClipUSA home page allows for a trouble free search for the product you need. You just select your vehicle and/or device then the website does all the work for you; effortless.  

    

Once the mount was installed it was time to see how it worked inside my Wrangler. My phone was mounted within easy reach and at the right eye level for me. It did not get in the way of the CD player, but I don't use CD's anymore and very rarely the radio. All of my music is on my phone.


The mounting unit I used has one con of blocking a small portion on the top left part of the in-dash radio/navigation unit. However, I very rarely use this unit as I prefer my phone. When I do use the radio I usually set it before I hit the asphalt.   



There are 3 different types of the phone mount for the JK/JKU's. There is even a version for the new JL.

Picture courtesy of ProClipUSA

This version is the most popular for optimal viewing & use in the Wranglers. 

ProClip Jeep Wrangler JK/JKU Center Dash Mount

Picture courtesy of ProClipUSA

This is the mount I installed in my 2015 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. It allows for two devices. This will work great for when I am off-roading. I can have my phone on one side. Then a tablet on the other where I can be running my Maprika app. 

ProClip Jeep Wrangler (JK) Center Dash Mount - Extra-Strength 

This mount looks like it will keep the head unit the radio screen free from the devices.

  ProClip Jeep Wrangler JK/JKU Center Dash Mount Extra-Strength Wide 

Sponsored Vendor ProClipUSA

www.proclipusa.com

Live Your Best Life

Instead of wondering when your next vacation is,

maybe you should set up a life 

you don’t need to escape from.

~Seth Godin

Ever since I bought my Jeep I have began looking at my life in a different way. The time we spend on this earth is limited and so very precious. More recently - when I was about to turn 50 - I decided I needed to make the most of this time. It was vital to my happiness to live my best life.




I believe the meaning behind this quote is rather than just enjoy life while on vacations or holidays, we should strive to make our every day lives the ones we want to be living —every day of the week.


I have been on this search ever since. I read this quote the other day and I realized part of this process is what I am already doing by simplifying my life. I have been getting rid of the physical and mental clutter. 



By doing this it will allow me to enjoy more of my time. However, it is so much more than a de-clutter. It is a process and it can take several years before you can perfect it. 



I want to make my life one I don't need to go on vacation to escape from. It isn't easy to do which is why I am constantly searching for new ideas to make this possible. 




Here are nine ways I found on the Becoming a Minimalist blog to begin crafting a life so you don't need to escape. 

9 Ways to Craft a Life You Don't Need to Escape From

Blog Post with more details. 

1. Make Relationships a Priority.

2. Remove Unneeded Possessions from Your Home and Life.

3. Make Your Work Your Job.

4. Or, See Your Job as Part of Your Work.

5. Guard Your Time.

6. Take Care of Yourself.

7. Appreciate Your Season in Life.

8. Understand the Reality of Trials in Life.

9. Find Happiness in Your Every Day.

It's all about discovering and recognizing happiness. If we get rid of the clutter we can see the happiness. It can be appreciated in the simple things in life. 

Changing our mindset and knowing where to focus the energy is required. It won't happen overnight as it takes a long time to really start feeling true happiness in the simple.




Thomas Kinkade once said, “True simplicity begins when you learn to enjoy the amazing abundance of what is already yours.”

Fixed My Headlight!!! I Hope

My fingers are crossed. I think my headlight issue has been solved. Check out the history of my headlight saga below before you read on. 

History of My Headlight Woes

In June I went back to Adrenaline Off-Road. Jeff had ordered the factory wiring and plug. However, Mike (the mechanic who does most of the hands on work on my Jeep) checked everything over. He cleaned up the factory plug by using a paper clip to clean out the plugs holes. Then he added dielectric grease. We plugged in the headlight, jiggled the wires and plug around and it seemed to work.




All was working good until I went off road a couple of days later. The moment I hit those bumpy trails the headlight went out. However the next time I started up my Jeep they went back on. For the next two months my headlight had a mind of it's own deciding when it wanted to shine bright or go dark.


Summertime is usually a busy time with summer vacations, weekday and weekend outings so I didn't have a lot of time to take my Jeep back into the shop. It wasn't until I was pulled over by a police officer for having faulty equipment did I decide I better get my headlight looked at again. That night of the pull over my headlight was blinking on and off. Almost like my Jeep was sending out a Morse code message.





It was back to Adrenaline Off Road, for what I hope was my last trip for my headlight issues. Mike cut off the old plug. Then he soldered on the new wires and plug. We ran into a small issue of the new plug not making that "Click" when we plugged it in. The new plug's tab was a tad too long to make the connection. So Mike shaved off a small bit of the plastic and it snapped right in.

When inspecting the old plug comparing it to the new one there was a break in the plastic inside where they connected together. Maybe that was the problem. Only time will tell. 

So far it's been almost two weeks and no issues. My fingers are crossed. I will keep you posted.      

The JL Trim Models

The Jeep Wrangler has been around for over 30 years. I took a look at all the different Wrangler models over the years. Check out the links to my blog posts below. 

Just this year Jeep came out with the 4th Generation Wrangler featuring four trim models each with very different features.

Check out this  comprehensive video from Extreme Terrain's Ryan Huck who shares all the differences in the new JL trim models, plus all the add on packages you can get from the factory.  

Extreme Terrain Video: JL Wrangler Trims Explained

What is a Wrangler

The First Generation Wrangler -- YJ

The Second Generation Wrangler -- TJ

The Third Generation Wrangler -- JK/JKU

The Fourth Generation Wrangler -- JL/JLU