Essential Trail Gear and Tips / Jeep TJ Part 4

(ANNOUNCER)>> YOU'D THINK THAT WHEELIN' IS WHEELIN' NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, RIGHT? WELL WHAT WORKS GREAT IN THE ROCKIES MIGHT NOT DO SO WELL BACK EAST. TODAY ON XTREME 4X4 WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO SET UP YOUR RIG NO MATTER WHERE YOU RIDE. PLUS SKID PROTECTION FOR OUR TJ.

(IAN)>> ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY IS HOW DIFFERENT THE TERRAIN IS FROM COAST TO COAST. NOW DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE REALLY DETERMINES HOW YOU PUT YOUR RIG TOGETHER TO GO FOUR WHEELIN'. A BUGGY THAT YOU BUILT TO KILL HILLS IN THE SOUTH MAY NOT BE IDEALLY SUITED FOR SOME MILD TRAIL RIDING AND CERTAINLY STREET RIDING UP IN THE NORTH EAST. NOW I'M LUCKY. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WHEEL THIS COUNTRY BASICALLY ALL AROUND THE MAP, AND I'VE SEEN HOW GUYS BUILD RIGS SPECIFIC TO WHERE THEY LIVE. BUT WHAT IF YOU WANT TO LOAD UP YOUR RIG, GO ON A FOUR WHEEL ADVENTURE, MAYBE FROM ONE SIDE OF THE COUNTRY TO THE OTHER? WELL THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TODAY. HOW RIGS ARE SET UP SPECIFICALLY FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF THIS COUNTRY AND HOW YOU CAN ADAPT YOUR RIG TO BASICALLY WHEEL ANYWHERE YOU WANT. WE'RE GONNA START IN THE SOUTH, HOME OF THE XTREME SHOP, WHERE YOU CAN FIND SOME MILD TRAILS. BUT HONESTLY, THOSE ARE THE BYPASS ROADS FOR THE REALLY GOOD STUFF. IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO HIT THE BIG TRAILS HERE, YOU'RE GONNA NEED BIG TIRES, BIG HORSEPOWER, AND A WELL BUILT RIG. NOW HERE AT XTREME WE'VE BUILT A COUPLE OF RIGS THAT CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS TRUE SOUTHERN STYLE RIGS. FIRST WAS OUR OVER THE TOP S-10, AND THE SECOND IS OUR ROYAL PURPLE BLOG BUGGY. LONG WHEEL BASE, BIG TIRES, LOTS OF POWER UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, AND OF COURSE A REALLY FLASHY PAINT, OR IN THIS CASE POWDER COAT, JOB TO MAKE IT SHOW OFF. NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M NOT TELLING YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO BUILD A TUBE BUGGY IF YOU PLAN TO COME TO THE SOUTH AND GO WHEELING. THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER VEHICLES OUT ON THE TRAIL CONQUERING THE SAME HILLS. FROM JEEPS TO SUZUKIS, AND OF COURSE A FEW TOYOTAS. THEY HIT THE TRAILS IN THE SOUTH ALL THE TIME, AND WITH A FEW SPECIFIC MODIFICATIONS YOU CAN HIT THE HARD STUFF TOO. ONE TELL TALE ITEM THAT YOU'LL FIND ON ANY TRUE SOUTHERN RIG IS THE CENTER MOUNTED LIMIT STRAP. THAT'S A SHORT LIMIT STRAP THAT ATTACHES THE MIDDLE OF THE AXLE TO THE MIDDLE OF CHASSIS. IT USUALLY ONLY HAS ABOUT TWO INCHES OF MOVEMENT, BUT IT DOESN'T EFFECT THE OVERALL ARTICULATION OF THE AXLE BECAUSE IT IS IN THE MIDDLE. NOW THAT COMES INTO PLAY ON THE BIG HILL CLIMBS THAT WE DO DOWN HERE. SEE WHEN YOU'RE LINED UP FOR THE HILL CLIMB AND THE SUSPENSION'S ALL LOADED, EVERYTHING IS OKAY. WHEN YOU START TO CLIMB THAT HILL, THE SUSPENSION WILL START TO UNLOAD. THE CHASSIS WILL MOVE AWAY FROM THAT AXLE. NOW IN A WORST CASE SCENARIO THE AXLE WILL TRY TO CONTINUE TO CLIMB UP THE HILL AS THE CHASSIS PULLS AWAY FROM THE GROUND. ONCE THE CENTER OF GRAVITY IS PUSHED SO FAR BACK, THE CHASSIS IS GONNA ROLL END OVER END ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM, CAUSING A WHOLE BUNCH OF DAMAGE. NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE WORK OF INSTALLING THAT LIMIT STRAP. YOU CAN STEAL AN IDEA FROM THE COMPETITION ROCK CRAWLING WORLD. SIMPLY ADD A SMALL METAL HOOP OR RING TO THE MIDDLE OF YOUR AXLE. TAKE YOUR WINCH LINE AND RUN IT THROUGH THE FAIR LEAD AND THEN HOOK IT ONTO THAT LOOP. NOW WHEN YOU WANT TO LIMIT THAT FRONT SUSPENSION TRAVEL, YOU'VE JUST GOT TO SUCK THE WINCH DOWN A LITTLE BIT, PULL THE SUSPENSION OUT NICE AND TIGHT, AND IT WON'T UNLOAD WHEN YOU'RE ON THOSE STEEP HILLS. ONE OF THE MOST NOTICEABLE THINGS ABOUT A CAR THAT SPENDS ITS LIFE DEEP IN THE SOUTH IS WHAT IT DOESN'T HAVE. THEY USUALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STORAGE. YOU DON'T SEE THEM ROLLING AROUND CARRYING A WHOLE BUNCH OF SPARE PARTS AND TOOLS. HECK, MOST OF THE TIME WE DON'T EVEN PUT A SPARE TIRE ON THE BACK. AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH WHERE WE GO WHEELING. PRIVATE OFF ROAD PARKS ARE USUALLY FAIRLY WELL EQUIPPED. SOME OF THEM EVEN HAVE FULL MECHANIC SHOPS IN THEM. THINGS LIKE AXLES, TIRES AND WHEELS, AND TOOLS, YOU CAN KEEP BACK AT YOUR TOW RIG AND YOU CAN NORMALLY WALK FROM MOST TRAILS BACK TO THE TRAILER AND GET WHAT YOU NEED TO GET YOUR RIG FIXED. ONE THING YOU MIGHT WANT TO THROW IN THE BACK THOUGH IS A SPARE DRIVESHAFT, OR AT LEAST A SPARE LOWER SLIP YOKE. NOW THAT IS BECAUSE NORMALLY THIS IS THE ONE PART THAT BREAKS WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE TRAIL. SEE SOUTHERN HILL CLIMBS MEANS BIG TIRES, BIG HORSEPOWER, AND A LOT OF WHEEL SPEED. THE BUGGIES ARE BOUNCING ALL OVER THE TRAIL. SOONER OR LATER THAT ONE ROCK IS GONNA JUMP UP, KNOCK THE DRIVESHAFT RIGHT OFF THE AXLE. GOOD NEWS IS NINE TIMES OUT OF 10 IT'S USUALLY JUST THE UJOINT THAT BREAKS. YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THROWING IN A COUPLE OF NEW CAPS AND A STRAP KIT, AND THAT'S WHAT MOST GUYS JUST THROW IN THE BUGGY WITH THEM. UJOINT, STRAP KITS, AND A GOOD SET OF HAND TOOLS TO GET THE TRUCK OFF THE TRAIL AND BACK DOWN TO THE PARKING LOT. NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG, YOU CAN'T JUST BRING ANY RIG TO THE SOUTH AND HIT THE HARDCORE TRAILS. THERE'S A REASON THAT THESE BUGGIES LOOK THE WAY THEY DO. BUT HEY, IF YOU WANT TO GIVE IT A SHOT, THROW YOUR RIG ON A TRAILER, GRAB SOME MINIMAL HAND TOOLS AND A FEW EXTRA PARTS, COME ON DOWN TO THE SOUTH AND HAVE SOME FUN.

(ANNOUNCER)>> ON THE EAST COAST YOU'RE USUALLY NOT FAR AWAY FROM SPARE PARTS AND SUPPLIES, BUT SOME PLACES YOU COULD BE DAYS AWAY FROM HELP. COMING UP WHAT TO CARRY WITH YOU FOR WHEELING OUT WEST.

(IAN)>> EVERY YEAR I GO ONE TWO WHEELING TRIPS. THE FIRST IS IN THE SPRING, I HEAD DOWN TO MOAB, UTAH, TO THE EASTER JEEP SAFARI. AND THEN IN THE FALL I GO UP TO KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN JEEP RALLY. NOW EVEN THOUGH THESE TWO PLACES ARE THOUSANDS OF MILES APART ON THE MAP, WHEN IT COMES TO THE TYPE OF RIG TO WHEEL THERE, THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR. THESE TWO PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, JEEPS ARE KING. SURE, YOU'LL FIND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE SAME TRAIL, BUT WHAT THE JEEP HAS GOING FOR IT IS VERSATILITY. YOU WANT A RIG THAT CAN HANDLE SOME SERIOUS WHEELING, BUT VERY WELL EQUIPPED, BUT IS ALSO STREET LEGAL. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE THE XTREME HEMI JEEP. LOTS OF POWER UNDER THE HOOD, GREAT WORKING SUSPENSION, AND 40 INCH TIRES. AND DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GO FOUR WHEELING, YOU MAY NEED TO HAVE A STREET LEGAL RIG. NOW WHEN YOU WHEEL OUT WEST, A LOT OF THE TIME YOU'RE RIDING ON PUBLIC LAND, OR OHV AREAS. SOMETIMES IT'S SHARED USE. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE JEEPS ON IT AND HIKERS. NOW MORE COMMON THAN THAT IS THE FACT THAT IT'S USUALLY NOT A LOOP. THERE'LL BE A PARKING LOT OFF OF A ROAD. THE TRAIL WILL SNAKE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, AND THEN A PARKING LOT AT THE FAR END. NOW THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL IF YOU HAVE A VEHICLE THAT CAN DRIVE ON THE ROAD. YOU CAN DRIVE IN HERE, OUT HERE, CIRCLE BACK ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEREVER YOU'RE STAYING. NOW IF YOU HAVE A BUGGY THAT'S NOT STREET LEGAL, YOU REALLY ONLY HAVE TWO OPTIONS. YOU CAN DROP IT OFF IN THIS PARKING LOT. TAKE A COUPLE OF BUDDIES, DRIVE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE END OF THE TRAIL, LEAVE THE TRUCK AND TRAILER DOWN HERE, COME BACK, GET IN YOUR BUGGY AND RUN THE TRAIL. OR YOUR OTHER OPTION IS TO RUN THE TRAIL TWICE. ONCE DIRECTION, TURN AROUND, AND RUN IT ALL THE WAY BACK. EITHER WAY, NOT HAVING A STREET LEGAL RIG MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED. NOW THESE TRAILS ARE USUALLY PRETTY LONG, SOMETIMES FIVE TO 10 MILES, AND IN NEW ENGLAND IT'S ALSO VERY SIMILAR BECAUSE YOU'RE RUNNING ON A LOT OF TRAILS THAT CUT IN BETWEEN LOGGING ROADS. YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR RIG NOT ONLY WELL BUILT, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN IT. YOU BREAK DOWN HALF WAY THROUGH THAT TRAIL, WALKING BACK IS NOT AN OPTION. IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT WITH YOU, YOU COULD BE STUCK. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS TIRE PRESSURE. THE KEY TO GOOD WHEELIN' IS AIRING YOUR TIRES DOWN SO THEY CAN FORM TO THE ROCKS. YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO PUMP THEM BACK UP TO STREET PRESSURE BEFORE YOU DROP YOUR RIG BACK ON THE ROAD. NOW TO DO THAT YOU HAVE THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS. YOU CAN UPGRADE YOU'RE ARB AIR COMPRESSOR, YOU CAN TAKE AN AUTOMOTIVE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR, BELT DRIVE IT FROM THE ENGINE, AND PUT TOGETHER WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ONBOARD AIR SYSTEM. OR YOU CAN GET ONE OF THESE POWER TANK CO TWO TANKS. NOW ONE OF THE BENEFITS TO THE CO TWO TANK IS NOT ONLY CAN YOU USE IT TO AIR UP YOUR TIRES, BUT YOU CAN ALSO ADJUST THE PRESSURE ON THE REGULATOR TO RUN AIR TOOLS WHEN YOU'RE DOING TRAIL REPAIRS. NOW WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAIL REPAIRS ON THESE LONG RIDES, YOU NEED TO BRING A LOT OF STUFF. JUST LIKE BEFORE, A GOOD SET OF TOOLS, SOME UJOINTS, AND SOME STRAP KITS. BUT THIS TIM YOU WILL DEFINITELY WANT TO CARRY A COMPLETE DRIVESHAFT, PREFERABLY ONE FOR BOTH THE FRONT AND THE REAR AS A SPARE. SPARE AXLE SHAFTS ARE ALSO GOOD TO HAVE. AND IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD A TRUE SET OF CHROME MOLY SHAFTS TO REPLACE THE CHROME MOLY ONES ALREADY IN YOUR RIG, JUST KEEP THE STOCK SHAFTS THAT YOU'VE PULLED. KEEP THEM AROUND AND CARRY THEM WITH YOU. PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT'S GONNA STOP YOU ON ONE OF THESE RIDES THOUGH IS GONNA BE SOME TYPE OF A LEAK. NOW IF IT'S A COOLANT LEAK, YOU CAN JUST PICK UP SOME OF THIS NYLON HOSE FROM YOUR LOCAL HOME CENTER. YOU CAN USE IT TO EITHER PATCH INSIDE A RADIATOR HOSE, OR REPLACE THE HOSE COMPLETELY WITH SOME HEAVY DUTY HOSE CLAMPS. IF IT'S A SMALL PIN HOLE LEAK, THIS LOCTITE SEALING TAPE WILL ACTUALLY WORK REALLY WELL JUST WRAPPING IT AROUND EITHER THE RADIATOR HOSE OR THE HEATER HOSE. NOW ANOTHER LEAK THAT WILL DEFINITELY STOP YOU ON THE TRAIL BUT PROBABLY NOT END YOUR DAY WILL BE AN ARB AIR LOCKER LEAK. NOW WHEN YOU PLUMB YOUR RIG, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE LEFTOVER AIR LOCKER TUBING LIKE THIS. SO GO AHEAD AND KEEP IT AROUND, THROW IT IN YOUR RIG WHEN YOU NEED IT. AND OBVIOUSLY IT GOES TO SAY YOU'RE GONNA NEED SOME ELECTRICAL WIRES, SOME BUTT CONNECTORS, AND EVEN A SPARE BELT FOR THE ENGINE IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE. NOW WHEN IT COMES TO A STEERING LEAK, HERE'S A LITTLE TRICK I'VE LEARNED. YOU ALWAYS WANT TO CARRY AN EXTRA STEERING HOSE, BUT IF YOU HAVE RAM ASSIST STEERING, ALSO THROW IN A COUPLE OF THESE DASH SIX PLUGS. THAT MEANS IF YOU BLOW A LINE COMING FROM THE STEERING BOX DOWN TO THAT RAM ASSIST CYLINDER, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO SPEND THE TIME TO REPLACE THE HOSE. JUST PLUG THE BOX IN SOME OF THESE PLUGS, AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE ON YOUR WAY DOWN THE TRAIL. AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GONNA NEED FLUID TO REPLACE WHAT'S LOST DURING THESE LEAKS. SO YOU NEED TO CARRY EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR RIG. GEAR OIL, ENGINE OIL, TRANSMISSION FLUID, BRAKE FLUID, AND EVEN POWER STEERING FLUID. HECK, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG OF A TRIP YOU'RE GOING ON, YOU MAY EVEN WANT TO CARRY AN EXTRA CAN OF GAS. NOW THIS IS A LOT OF STUFF TO FIT INTO A RIG THAT'S ALREADY PROBABLY CRAMPED FOR SPACE, BUT I'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY UNIQUE SOLUTIONS TO CARRYING THIS IN YOUR BUGGY.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR RIG'S REAL ESTATE!

(IAN)>> TODAY WE'RE HAVING A LOOK AT HOW DIFFERENT RIGS ARE PUT TOGETHER DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY GO WHEELING, AND WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU'VE GOT A RIG LIKE OUR SOUTHERN STYLE CRAWLER AND YOU WANT TO CARRY IT TO A DIFFERENT AREA TO DO SOME OFF ROADING? THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO IS CARRY A FEW MORE SPARE PARTS. ON A BUGGY LIKE THIS, FINDING A SPOT TO PUT THEM CAN BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT. SO INSTEAD OF PUTTING THEM IN THE CHASSIS, WHY NOT MOUNT SOME OF THEM TO THE CHASSIS. TO MAKE SURE THE BEARING CAPS DON'T FALL OFF, BOTH ENDS OF THE DRIVESHAFT ARE WRAPPED WITH SOME ELECTRICAL TAPE. PARTS LIKE DRIVE SHAFTS AND AXLE SHAFTS CAN BE PROTECTED BY EITHER A PLASTIC BAG OR SOME SHRINK WRAP, AND THEN ATTACHED TO A CHASSIS CROSS MEMBER WITH SOME RADIATOR HOSE CLAMPS. PARTS LIKE BELTS, SMALL PIECES OF WIRE, AND EVEN SPARE HOSES CAN BE ZIP TIED TO DIFFERENT PARTS ON YOUR RIG. WITH A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AND SOME PLANNING, YOU CAN FIND SOME PRETTY UNIQUE SOLUTIONS TO THE STORAGE PROBLEMS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR RIG ON SOME OF THOSE LONG TRAIL RIDES. INSTEAD OF FITTING THAT HUGE FIVE GALLON GAS CAN IN THE BACK OF YOUR BUGGY AND MAYBE HOLDING IT DOWN WITH A RATCHET STRAP, WHY NOT GRAB A COUPLE OF THESE DAYSTAR CAM CANS. THEY'RE SMALL TWO GALLON FLUID CONTAINERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN ALL THE REQUIRED COLORS TO MAKE IT LEGAL TO CARRY THEM ON THE HIGHWAY. GRAY FOR WATER, GREEN FOR OIL, AND RED FOR FUEL, BUT WHAT MAKES THEM TRULY UNIQUE IS HOW YOU ATTACH THEM TO YOUR RIG. THIS BRACKET WILL BOLT ONTO THE SPARE TIRE. THEN YOU SIMPLY SLIDE THE CAM OVER AND LOCK IT IN PLACE. NOW THAT MAKES IT REALLY EASY TO GET ACCESS TO THE THESE CANS WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE TRAIL. SIMPLY TURN THEM AND PULL THEM OFF WHEN YOU NEED TO USE THEM. BUT THE BEST PART IS, IS IF YOU'RE JUST DOING A SHORT TRAIL RIDE AND YOU DON'T NEED THEM, JUST UNBOLT IT FROM YOUR SPARE TIRE AND LEAVE THEM BACK AT THE TOW RIG OR THE TRAILER. BUT SOME OF THE HARDEST FLUID TO CARRY HONESTLY IS GONNA BE ALL THE LOOSE FLUID, THE COOLANT, THE OILS, THE GEAR OIL, AND THE BRAKE FLUID. PUTTING THIS STUFF IN YOUR BUGGY AND YOU'RE OUT ON THE TRAIL IS GUARANTEED THAT THAT'S JUST GONNA FLOAT AROUND AND EVENTUALLY FALL OUT. NOW WE'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND WE FOUND THIS PRETTY COOL ITEM RIGHT HERE. THIS IS AN RTECH INDUSTRIES QUART CASE. IT IS A LASER CUT CNC BENT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT IS DESIGNED TO HOLD ALL THE FLUID THAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED OUT ON THE TRAIL. IT'LL HOLD SIX QUARTS OF OIL OR TRANSMISSION FLUID, A GALLON OF ANTIFREEZE, A THING OF BRAKE FLUID, AND ONE THING OF GEAR OIL. BUT THE BEST PART IS, ONCE YOU INSTALL THE LID ON THE TOP AND LATCH IT ALL DOWN, EVERYTHING IS HELD SECURELY INSIDE THE BUGGY. IF YOU BOLT OR WELD THIS TO YOUR CHASSIS, ROLL YOUR RIG WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE TRAIL, NOTHING IS GONNA FALL OUT. ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TO ADD TO A RIG THAT WASN'T BUILT SPECIFICALLY TO CARRY IT IS GONNA BE A FULL SIZE SPARE. NOW SURE, YOU COULD THROW IT ON THE BACK OF YOUR BUGGY, HOLD IT DOWN WITH RATCHET STRAP, OR EVEN BUILD A COMPLETELY REMOVABLE SPARE TIRE MOUNT. BUT IF YOU'VE SPENT ANY TIME SUSPENSION TUNING ON YOUR RIG AND THEN YOU ADD A COUPLE HUNDRED POUNDS HANGING OFF THE BACK, IT'S GONNA ACT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE HAPPY WITH IT. A BETTER OPTION IS TO RUN DOWN TO YOUR PARTS STORE AND PICK UP ONE OF THESE TIRE REPAIR KITS. IT COMES WITH A BUNCH OF TIRE PLUGS, A REAMER, AND AN INSERT TOOL, AS WELL AS SOME RUBBER CEMENT. NOW THESE WILL BE ABLE TO PATCH HOLES IN THE TIRE TREAD, AS WELL AS CUTS IN THE SIDE WALL. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REAM OUT THE HOLE AND THEN STACK A BUNCH OF PLUGS INSIDE EACH OTHER AND STICK THEM IN UNTIL IT STOPS LEAKING AIR. AIR THE TIRE BACK UP AND AT LEAST IT WILL GET YOU OFF THE TRAIL WHERE YOU CAN GET TO YOUR FULL SPARE, WHICH YOU'VE GOT BACK AT THE TOW RIG AND TRAILER.

(ANNOUNCER)>> OUR UPGRADED TJ WILL TAKE US TO SOME TIGHT SPOTS ON THE TRAIL. WE BETTER GIVE IT SOME ARMOR!

(ANNOUNCER)>> XTREME'S DOUBLE DUTY TJ IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FOUR WHEEL PARTS, YOUR TRUCK AND JEEP ACCESSORY SUPER STORE, ONLINE AT FOUR WHEEL PARTS DOT COM.

(IAN)>> SO FAR WE'VE MADE REALLY GOOD HEADWAY ON OUR DOUBLE DUTY TJ, TAKING WHAT WAS BASICALLY A MALL CRAWLING RIG AND TURNING IT INTO A DUAL PURPOSE TRUCK THAT YOU CAN DRIVE EVERY DAY AND STILL HIT SOME HARDCORE TRAILS ON THE WEEKEND. NOW WE PROTECTED THE BODY ALL THE WAY AROUND, GOT IT UP IN THE AIR ON A GOOD SUSPENSION SYSTEM, ALL RIDING ON 35 INCH TALL TIRES WITH BRAND NEW AXLES BOTH FRONT AND REAR. NOW TODAY WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT PROTECTING ITEMS THAT ARE UNDERNEATH THE JEEP, AND THREE KEY AREAS THAT YOU NEED TO ADDRESS IF YOU'RE GONNA HIT EVEN THE MILDEST OF TRAILS. WHETHER IT'S A CJ, YJ, OR A TJ LIKE WE HAVE HERE, ALL JEEP WRANGLERS CAN BENEFIT FROM HAVING A GAS TANK SKID PLATE. IT'LL PROTECT IT WHEN YOU'RE CRAWLING OFF THE ROCKS AND DRAGGING THE TANK ACROSS THOSE OBSTACLES. THE NEXT IS A BELLY UP SKID PLATE. BASICALLY A SKID PLATE CROSS MEMBER THAT MOVES EVERYTHING UP ALMOST FLAT WITH THE FRAME RAIL. NOW OUR SUSPENSION CAME WITH THIS TYPE OF SKID PLATE, SO WE'VE OBVIOUSLY ALREADY INSTALLED IT. AND THE LAST AREA TO PROTECT IS GONNA BE ON THE FRONT OF THE JEEP. WHEN WE INSTALLED THESE ROCK CRAWLER SPECIFIC BUMPERS ONTO THE FRONT OF THE JEEP, IT HELPED US OUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS ON THE TRAIL. IT MAKES THE FRONT OF THE JEEP A LOT NARROWER, HELPING US GET THROUGH NARROW TRAILS AND GETTING THE TIRES ONTO ROCKS A LOT SOONER TO LIFT THE JEEP UP OVER THE OBSTACLE. BUT BECAUSE IT'S MADE OUT OF THICK THREESIXTEENTHS STEEL, WE CAN ACTUALLY USE IT TO DRAG THE FRONT END OF THE JEEP OVER CERTAIN THINGS LIKE TALL LEDGES. WE'LL BASICALLY DRIVE THE JEEP UP TO THE LEDGE AND WINCH IT INTO THE BUMP. THEN USE THE POWER FROM THE JEEP TO PUSH THE BUMPER UP OVER THAT ROCK AND GET THE TIRES ONTO IT. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN THAT LEDGE GOES UNDERNEATH THE BUMPER AND ENGAGES THE JEEP'S FRAME RAIL BEFORE THE TIRES HIT IT. THE FIRST THING THAT'S UNDER HERE IS THE STEERING BOX, OR STEERING GEAR. NOW IF YOU HIT THAT HARD ENOUGH, NOT ONLY WILL YOU LOSE ALL THE FLUID IN THE STEERING SYSTEM, BUT YOU CAN ALSO LOSE THE ABILITY TO EVEN STEER THE JEEP, MEANING YOU ARE 100 PERCENT DEAD ON THE TRAIL. NOW THE EASY WAY TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING IS TO SIMPLY INSTALL A STEERING BOX SKID PLATE. THE SKID PLATE THAT WE PICKED UP FROM FOUR WHEEL PARTS

INDEXES OFF ONE OF THE STEERING GEAR BOLTS AND USES ONE OF THE BUMPER BOLTS. FOR DETAILS ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS SEEN IN TODAY'S EPISODE, HEAD ON OVER TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM.