Back in July, we picked up a brand new GoPro HERO HD video camera and have spent the better part of the summer looking for fun ways to use it on the Rubicon and on other trails up in Tahoe. Being very small, shock resistant, waterproof and offering a super wide angle lens that captures just about everything, we were eager to test it out trying to get difficult shots like that of our suspension system hard at work. In fact, that’s exactly what you’ll get to see in this short video - the Off Road Evolution Coil Over Suspension System and EVO Lever on our Jeep JK Wrangler flexing out over boulders, racing fast across rocky trails absorbing big bumps and, even taking a cool dive into a river. I hope you enjoy it.

After 1 year of testing in all kinds of on and off road conditions, Full-Traction Suspension introduces the newest in a series of superior engineered suspension systems for the 2007-2010 Jeep JK Wrangler. The Zero Maintenance - Silent Ride System (SRS).  Combining all the necessary components together in a 100% bolt-on package, this system will allow use of 35″* tires with ease, fantastic axle articulation, improved ride quality, and most innovative, NO LUBRICATION MAINTENANCE! Replacement front and rear upper control arms are manufactured from durable 1.5″ x .188” wall DOM steel tubing and come equipped with fully rebuildable 4130 ChroMoly  Kevlar-lined joints, and long lasting OEM style Torsion Rubber bushings - This kit runs silent.

Quality laser crafted components allow proper fitment to make this system the one to choose for JK owners demanding the best.

System comes complete with heavy duty adjustable front & rear track bars for proper axle alignment, new generation front sway bar disconnects, rear sway bar links, bump stops, off-set brake line relocation brackets, and ride frequency tuned coil springs for a comfortable ride. Detailed installation instructions included with step-by step photos.

* Using recommended tire widths & wheel backspacing

Part# FTS7153 2-Door $1195.00
Part# FTS7154 4-Door $1195.00

For more information regarding the all new Full-Traction Suspension 3.0″ Premium Plus SRS™ kit, please email them at: chris@full-traction.com or call at: 800-255-6464

One of the most confusing and controversial subjects in the JK world is ‘Which locker should I use?’ So, rather than tell you which locker is best, I’ll give you the choices and a brief overview so you can decide what is best for your application and budget.

First, we need to explain the function of a locker, or locked axle. For the purposes of our discussion, we’ll describe it as differential that allows 100% of the available torque to go to one or both axles in a front or rear end assembly. This means that even if one tire is in the air, power will still be transmitted to the tire that is still on the ground.

There are 3 basic categories of lockers: Automatic, Selectable or Spool. All 3 have their place in the 4-wheel drive world but they are not all equal in function. The term ‘best’ is subjective, but in each category there are brands and designs that are better than others.

Automatic or Auto locker - This is a locking differential that is always locked unless an outside tire needs to overspeed to navigate a corner. In this situation the axle/tire on the outside of the corner is unlocked and speeds up. Therefore the rig is propelled by the axle/tire on the inside of the corner. Another way to look at this is that an auto locker will allow any tire to turn faster than the driveshaft (speed up), but will never allow a tire to turn slower than the driveshaft (it will even turn if off the ground). After the vehicle has navigated the corner and equal wheel speed is restored (going straight), the differential will once again lock the axle. Tire circumference and suspension set up are crucial to good road manners in a rear axle. At the end of this article is information needed to check your vehicle for best performance with an auto locker.

Lockers in this category include: Detroit Locker, Grizzly Locker (a Detroit Locker imitation imported from overseas by Yukon/Randy’s R&P), Lock Right, Power Trax No-Slip, E-Z Locker, Aussie Locker and Yukon/Randy’s Spartan Locker. The Detroit and Grizzly are full case lockers and the rest are ‘lunch box’ lockers. ‘Lunch box’ refers to the box shape that the lockers are sold in. Auto Lockers are invisible in front axle applications in 2 WD. In 4WD they can adversely affect your steering but are a very effective at adding traction without constant on-off driver intervention.

Unlike a full case auto locker, the lunch box locker (except for Power Trax No-Slip) will wear out over time. The internal teeth of the locker will round and eventually cause failure. The lunch box style locker is also noisier than a Detroit Locker (but similar to a Grizzly) and is much more prone to failure. A lunch box locker retains the factory case and doesn’t require a professional installation. Installation can be done by a competent ‘back yard’ mechanic with the right tools. The original OEM case is a weak spot (as is the cross pin) and failures are fairly common. It is for this reason I don’t usually recommend Lunch box lockers for a rear application unless they are a temporary addition.

The Detroit Locker can be damaged if you break an axle shaft. For some people it happens with the first broken shaft and for others they might break a dozen and never see any damage. Use good DOMESTIC 4340 axle shafts to prevent this misfortune from occurring on your 4×4.

In the Auto locker category the Detroit Locker, Aussie and Lock Rights are your best options. The Power Trax is a good product but the cost is so close to a full case locker that the full case locker is a better choice.

Selectable Lockers - This is a differential that can changed be from open (or limited slip in the case of the Ected) to fully locked (or semi locked- also the Ected) by the operator from the driver’s seat. Actuation can be achieved by 12v power, air or cable. These products have superior road manners when compared to an auto locker, but only when they are in the OFF and Unlocked position.

Lockers in this category include: ARB, Auburn Ected, Eaton ELocker, OX locker and Zip Locker.
ARB is still the benchmark to beat. While they can experience failures due to poor installation, ARBs remain on the top of the heap. When properly installed they are reliable, lock and unlock very quickly and are very strong.

The Eaton ELocker is right up there with ARB with their Dana 30 (and 35) model, but the ELocker has an advantage due to its 12V actuation. Eaton claims that testing has shown the ELocker to be equal to ARB in strength and ease of actuation. The other ELocker models (e.g. Dana 44 & Dana 60) have a less desirable 2-pinion design that is much weaker than their comparable ARB. Their actuation, while also 12V, is different than the Dana 30 and 35 versions and not as reliable. The Eaton ELocker has similarities to the GKN produced Tru Lok differential that is standard equipment with the JK Rubicon package. Be aware that, as mentioned above, Dana 44 Eaton ELockers are a 2-pinion design. This design is much weaker than the 4-pinion design used by GKN in the Tru Lok.

The OX locker is very strong but still struggles with a poor actuation method. The cable actuation can be very good or very bad depending on the user and/or installer. OX also provides an air or electric actuation method but we do not have much positive feedback on them at this time. Actuation is also much more cumbersome than the competitors. While usually fairly easy to lock, sometimes unlocking the OX Locker can be a real chore.

The Auburn Ected looks great on paper but the actual function is not as robust compared to the others. This unit is based on a clutch driven limited slip design and doesn’t truly ‘lock’. When ‘locked’, extra pressure is given to the clutches and it will act locked until there is enough engine torque and traction to overcome the clutch pressure. Additionally, over time, the clutches will wear and lock up will be even less effective. The internal side gear design has very little axle spline engagement in the LSD mode and we have seen some axle shafts getting the splines stripped. Auburn is working on a new Ected model that is said to address these issues.

The Zip Locker (imported by Yukon/Randy’s R&P) is an imitation of an old ARB design and is a poor substitute for the new ARB. It may be somewhat cheaper in price than an ARB, but we don’t see the benefit especially if a failure causes collateral damage to gears, and other internal parts.

The best part of a selectable locker is also the worst part- YOU must make the choice. If you forget to make the choice it can sometimes lead to a bad situation. A selectable locker up front will be harder to steer (while locked) than an auto locker. Steering box and pump upgrades should be considered for best operation with this product.

In the selectable locker category the ARB and the Eaton ELocker (Dana 30 and 35 models ONLY) are the best options.

Spools are a solid lock between the R&P and the axle shaft. This solid lock function can be obtained by purchasing a spool (commonly used in Drag racing), or by installing a locking block inside the factory case (called a mini spool), and finally by welding up the internals of the factory differential (aka. Lincoln Locker). All of these methods work exactly alike but an actual spool is stronger and not prone to failure.

While a spool does provide very consistent, reliable traction, it also places a huge amount of additional stress on your axle shafts during street driving and causes excessive rear tire wear. Off road, a rear spool will greatly increase your turning radius. In tight trees or rocks it will not allow you to make the sharp, highly maneuverable turns you will need.
A spool or similar is a perfect choice for the mud bog racer but not a great idea for the average off road vehicle.

Auto locker vehicle set up: If you plan on installing an auto locker in the rear axle (full case or lunchbox), you’ll want to check your tires for their circumference. An auto locker is always locked until the outside axle must unlock and overspeed to navigate a corner. After the corner, the differential will lock the outside axle when equal axle speed has occurred. If your tires are of unequal circumference, the axle will lock and unlock at inappropriate times causing handling issues. Even a tire with low air pressure can change the circumference and the larger tire will cause the locker to unlock even on a straight road.

To check your tires, air all 4 tires up to 25 PSI. Use a good dial type gauge, not some cheap pencil style gauge. Then using chalk, draw a down the sidewall of the tire and onto the pavement. Do this with all 4 tires. Next you roll the rig until the sidewall mark once again contacts the ground and you make another mark on the pavement. Now you measure the distance between the marks of each tire. You now put the 2 tires with the closest measurement on the rear axle.

Jeeps with long arm kits are notorious for their lack of precision in suspension set up. For example, if a bolt won’t go in the long arm because of improper alignment what happens? The installer loosens or tightens the heim until the bolt will pass through. Are all the arms the same length now? With an open diff or a selectable, poor axle alignment is masked. An auto locker will show these faults. Additionally, Jeeps aren’t known for precise bracket locations and most long arm kits require you to measure up for placement.

To get the best performance from an auto locker, you should get a GOOD 4 wheel alignment. It’s almost never done but it makes a huge positive difference in handling. This alignment will get your long arms set to proper length, and make sure your rig is tracking true. There are even ways to adjust stock short arms that will help. Do it.

Writen By: Scott Frary - Dynatrac Products Inc.
www.dynatrac.com

Bestop announces the release of the brand new PowerBoard for the 2007-2010 JK Unlimited (Part Number - 75122-15). This electrically powered running board extends down automatically when a door opens and retracts up when the door closes. This works for both front and rear doors. Get a boost without all the bother of a low hanging step!

Bestop PowerBoards are manufactured to not only meet but exceed stringent OEM standards including:
• Corrosion Testing - over 1000 hours of pressurized salt spray testing which roughly equals to over 5 years of driving in constant coastal conditions. This means your PowerBoard will last through anything you throw at - sun, sand, snow, slush, dirt or mud
• Cycle Testing - Linkages and motors are brutally tested without stopping for up to 25,000 cycles, which equals to about 5 years of daily use.
• Load testing - PowerBoards are tested to destruction and succeed well above the 600 pound load rating.
All testing results in the PowerBoard being tested to failure - therefore giving you a product that can outlast the truck itself.

PowerBoards are manufactured from the highest quality materials out there today. These materials include:
• High strength aluminum die-cast linkages
• OEM certified heavy duty wiring harness that features weatherproof connectors
• Integrated, weatherproof LED lightkit illuminates board and ground below for easier access in and out of your JK Unlimited
• 6.25 inch wide aluminum extruded running board with ultra durable textured powder coat board for a sure footed, non-slip surface

The PowerBoard for the JK Unlimited is a must have product for anyone looking for that extra boost to get into their vehicle. Bestop is running a $100 Cash Back on ALL Bestop PowerBoards including the JK Unlimited application now through October 31, 2010. Visit: www.Bestop.com/Rebate for complete rebate details.

Back in May, I received an interesting email from the owner and general manager of a company called Powerline Patrol Services. Located in Gilbert, Arizona, this unique company specializes in high voltage asset inspections for utility companies and apparently, they were seriously looking into the options and possibilities of building a more capable patrol vehicle. As I would learn, most power line patrol vehicles today are built off of standard 3/4 ton trucks which have stiff suspension systems and have limited wheel travel. Unfortunately, these drawbacks significantly limit the patrol range of these vehicles to easy driving locations and, when the terrain gets too tough, the only other option available has been to employ the use of Helicopters. In the search for a better and more cost effective solution, Powerline Patrol Services came across a few of our YouTube videos and, as you can guess, that’s when they contacted me.

Inspired by what they saw in our videos, Powerline Patrol Services decided that a new patrol vehicle based on the Jeep JK Wrangler might be the solution they’ve been looking for. Eager to test market this concept, they hired a production company to create a promotional video highlighting some of the unique services they offer and asked if we might be willing to bring out our JK so that they could film it traversing the rough power line roads and difficult right-of-ways that are commonly found in the Arizona desert. Happy to help out in any way that we could, we hammered out the details and made our out to Phoenix. To watch a short video that Cindy made of our adventures, simply click on the link below:

Helicopter Video Shoot of Moby Dick 

When all was said and done, this is what the final product looked like…

In addition to the primary promotional video that was made for Powerline Patrol Services, a fun secondary video was also made to  highlight the Jeep JK Wrangler patrol vehicle (our Moby Dick) and this is what it looks like….

Powerline Patrol Services YouTube Channel

For more information about Powerline Patrol Services, please visit their website at:
www.powerlinepatrol.com

Powerline Patrol Videos were produced by The Reid Effect Production Studios

Coming Soon From Jeep®:
New Version of the Iconic Wrangler
New 2011 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited Feature All-new Interior and Premium, Body-color, Removable Hard Top.
August 19, 2010 , Auburn Hills, Mich.

Chrysler Group LLC released images today of the new 2011 Jeep® Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. Jeep continues to refine the successful Wrangler formula by combining its legendary, benchmark capability with an all-new interior that delivers rich styling with significantly upgraded touch surfaces, occupant comfort and versatility, and a premium appearance courtesy of an all-new body-color hard top for the popular Sahara model.

“The iconic Jeep Wrangler keeps getting better,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO - Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “While retaining unmatched, legendary capability, the 2011 Jeep Wrangler boasts an all-new interior that delivers a host of comfort, convenience and versatility features. In addition, Sahara models now feature a stunning, all-new body-color hard top, for customers looking for a Jeep Wrangler with a more premium appearance.”

New 2011 Jeep Wrangler interior highlights include a redesigned instrument panel and new storage areas with improved ergonomics and upgraded materials. A new lockable console and upgraded door armrest areas boast comfortable touch points, while a redesigned center stack is easier to reach and operate. Heated, power mirrors are now available, and drivers and passengers will enjoy enhanced visibility courtesy of larger rear windows.

All-new steering-wheel controls allow the driver to operate the radio, cruise control, hands-free phone and other vehicle functions while keeping hands on the wheel. A new USB device interface connects to storage devices (thumb drives and most MP3 players) for use with the vehicle’s Media Center, which now includes streaming Bluetooth audio. Twelve-volt accessory outlets have been added and a new 110-volt outlet is available to provide power similar to AC outlets in the home.

In line with traditional Jeep design, hex-head bolts are utilized throughout the interior, and are used to mount a “Jeep, Since 1941” inlay onto the new passenger grab handle.

Jeep engineers increased acoustical treatment in the 2011 Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited, resulting in significantly reduced interior noise.

To provide a more premium appearance, the 2011 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited Sahara models boast an all-new, premium, body-color hard top.

Several new Jeep Wrangler colors are available for 2011, including Detonator Yellow, Deep Cherry Red, Sahara Tan, Cosmos Blue and Bright White.

Production of the new 2011 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited began earlier this week at the Toledo Assembly Complex in Toledo, Ohio.

2011 Jeep JK Wrangler Photo Gallery

DYERSBURG, TENNESSEE: Rough Country Suspension Systems announces release of the new 1 ¼” Jeep JK Body Lift Kit for manual transmission models. This Body Lift provides a full 1.25″ of additional tire clearance, as opposed to the standard 1″ provided by most other manufacturers. The 1.25″ fiberglass reinforced nylon spacers nest with the factory body mounts keeping the body properly aligned with the frame. This design not only provides lift but also retains the noise and vibration canceling characteristics of the factory mounts while offering a tough enough build to withstand the elements and hazards on the trail.

Rough Country’s 1 ¼” JK Body Lift is a comprehensive all-in-one kit; featuring everything needed for a great well rounded lift. The manual transmission versions of these kits ship with Rough Country’s new Shifter Adapter. This adapter raises the shifter length preventing a common shortened stature that occurs with many other lift kits. Custom designed by Rough Country’s Research and Development Department, the Shifter Adapter allows realignment of the shifter with a spacer – similar to the body lift itself – therefore requiring no cutting or modifying of the inner shift boot. All versions of this kit also include Rough Country’s Rear Bumper Brackets which hoist the bumper flush with the rear of the vehicle avoiding the unsightly exposed frame all too common in other lift kits.

The 1 ¼” kit designed for manual transmission two door (RC603) and four door (RC604) models retails for $129.95 and 139.95 respectively, while the automatic two door (RC600) and four door (RC601) models retail for $99.95 and $109.95. The Shifter Adapter can be purchased separately and utilized with other 1” – 1 ¼” kits for $49.95 as well as the Rear Bumper Brackets which retail for $24.95

For more information regarding this product or any Rough Country Suspension Products, please visit their website at: www.roughcountry.com or call them at 800-222-7023

Offset and backspace are essentially two different ways of looking at the same thing. They determine the location of the wheel and tire assembly when bolted to the vehicles hub.

Offset is the measured distance between the hub mounting surface and the wheels center line.

With X being the determined offset, the hub mounting surface on positive offset wheels is X amount forward from the wheel center line. The hub mounting surface on negative offset wheels is X amount backwards from the wheel center line. The hub mounting surface on 0 offset wheels is the wheel center line.

Backspacing is the measurement from the hub mounting surface to the back edge of the wheel.

Typically speaking, the higher the offset/backspace, the more the wheel will tuck inwards towards the suspension or away from the fender. The lower the offset/backspace, the more the wheel will push out away from the suspension or towards the fender.

For Example:

If the offset on a 9″ wide wheel is +12mm, the hub mounting surface will be 12mm forward from the wheels center line. Measuring from the hub mounting surface to the back edge of the wheel, the backspacing is 5.5″

If the offset on a 9″ wide wheel is -12mm, the hub mounting surface would be 12mm towards the back of the wheel from the wheels center line. Measuring from the hub mounting surface to the back edge of the wheel, the backspacing is 4.5″

Here’s how to calculate the backspacing using the rim width and offset:

First - add 1″ to the rim width and then divide by 2 to find the wheels center line (you have to account for the wheel flange which is why you add 1″ to the rim width) . Second - convert the offset which is in millimeters into inches. There is 25.4mm in 1 inch so divide the offset by 25.4. Lastly - add the converted offset to the wheels center line if the offset is positive for the correct backspacing. Subtract the converted offset to the wheels center line if the offset is negative for the correct backspacing.

For Example:

17×9 +12mm offset

9″ rim width + 1″ = 10″
10″/2 = 5″ (wheels center line)
+12mm offset/25.4 = 0.47″ (0.50″ rounded up)
0.50″ + 5″ = 5.50″ Backspace
17×9 -12mm offset

9″ rim width + 1″ = 10″
10″/2 = 5″ (wheels center line)
-12mm offset/25.4 = 0.47″ (0.50″ rounded up)
0.50″ - 5″ = 4.50″ Backspace

*** Please note that the wheels center line is the backspacing for 0 offset wheels.
I hope this helps.

Article written by Matt at Discount Tires Direct
www.discounttiredirect.com

Rough Country Suspension Systems announces the addition of a highly versatile suspension lift kit for Jeep JK. The 3.5” Series II Lift Kit is focused around drastically improving off-road performance without compromising highway ride quality. Engineered by Rough Country’s Research and Development department, the 3.5” JK lift kit has been designed to mirror or exceed the quality of OEM equipment where possible while providing extra clearance and reinforced suspension components for off-road applications.

The kit includes both front and rear coil springs which have been factory tuned based on Jeep’s stock spring rate allowing maximum off-road absorption while maintaining incredible highway handling. A drop pitman arm and track-bar bracket help promote proper geometry of drag link and steering parts once the vehicle is lifted. The innovative track-bar bracket also features an extra mounting hole for securing the infamous weak spot on the stock JK bracket. Rough Country’s Series II Lift Kit also includes a pair of fixed lower control arms complete with an innovative High Clearance Design for optimum flex and OEM style rubber bushings that provide unparalleled vibration absorption. Debuting along with the 3.5” kit are a complete set of Rough Country’s new N2.0 shocks which incorporate self-adjusting velocity sensitive valving. This technology allows for variations in resistance valving according to piston speed which allows for a super smooth highway ride and outstanding control in rugged off road situations from the same shock, without turning any knobs or shock removal for re-adjustment.

For more information about this or any Rough Country product, please visit their website at www.roughcountry.com

Thanks to your direct feedback and input here on JK-Forum.com, Dynatrac has developed their all new ‘Unlimited’ ProRock 44 axle housing and will be offering it to our members at an introductory special price until August 13, 2010 - 5PM PST:

Our ProRock 44 has been a very popular upgrade for Jeep JK’s, but owners have been asking us for even more. We’ve listened, and we’ve got a brand new option - Introducing the Unlimited ProRock 44!!

The owners of some Jeep JKs have discovered that lifted rigs need a bit more pinion rise to minimize the possibility of drive shaft vibration. However, changing the pinion angle on a front axle housing, affects the caster angles which are important for handling and steering. Therefore, there is a practical limit to increasing the pinion angle adjustment.

Our new Unlimited ProRock 44 is built to allow an increased pinion angle but retains or even increases factory caster angles. This helps prevent drive shaft vibrations and can improve on-road handling substantially. It also helps get the drive shaft moved up and out of the rocks. We’ve also moved the shock mounts outboard slightly to help prevent the shocks from rubbing on the frame under full articulation, and make it easier to utilize some of the new, big body shock absorbers.

• Over 2 ½ times as strong as a factory Jeep housing!! Over twice as strong as most sleeved and welded housings.
• Suspension Brackets are 50% thicker and much stronger than stock
• Equipped with Dynatrac’s own heavy-duty end forgings (aka C’s) - Some areas are over 180% thicker than stock- No gussets needed
• Brackets and mounts designed and located for lifted Jeeps (Unlimited housing)
• Made in the USA!!

See the following links to our website for more technical information.

http://dynatrac.com/
http://www.dynatrac.com/images/pdf/P…20FAQ_revI.pdf
http://www.dynatrac.com/images/pdf/C…using_revC.pdf

Here’s the deal!
This limited time offer allows you, the loyal members of the JK Forum. SAVE UP TO $300.00 on our standard JK ProRock 44 or our new Unlimited ProRock 44! We’ve made this easy by including all of the most popular options. We’ve been getting great feedback on our ‘Extreme’ ½” wall axle tube so every housing, both standard and Unlimited, will have 1/2” wall axle tubes. Our ProSteer ball joints have also been a very popular option so we’re including them in here too.

6 Options - 2 Prices:
Unlimited JK ProRock 44 for Rubi Locker- Jeep OEM ball joints
PN JK44-1X3010-G
$1,849

Unlimited JK ProRock 44 for conventional diff (ARB-Detroit)-Jeep OEM ball joints
PN JK44-1X3010-H
$1,849

Standard JK ProRock 44 for Rubi Locker- Jeep OEM ball joints
PN JK44-1X3010-E
$1,849

Unlimited JK ProRock 44 for Rubi Locker- ProSteer ball joints
PN JK44-1X3010-K
$2,335

Unlimited JK ProRock 44 for conventional diff (ARB-Detroit)-ProSteer
PN JK44-1X3010-L
$2,335

Standard JK ProRock 44 for Rubi Locker- ProSteer Ball joints
PN JK44-1X3010-I
$2,335

These terrific JK forum vendors are also stocking Dynatrac dealers, and are ready to take your order. They are also well equipped to provide you with gears, differentials, set-up labor, installation, and other parts if you need them. These vendors are a great resource for tech help, and quality service!! Call them now!!

4 Wheel Drive Hardware
800-967-5535
www.4wd.com

Northridge 4×4
360-340-0282
www.northridge4×4.com

Off Road Evolution
714-870-5515
www.offroadevolution.com

Quadratec
800-745-2348
www.quadratec.com

If necessary, you may also purchase directly from Dynatrac. A crating charge of $65, per axle housing, will be applied to every order shipping from Dynatrac. Freight charges will also apply and be determined by your shipping destination from Huntington Beach CA.

Call the dealer nearest you and get your ProRock 44 ordered now! Supplies are limited. Dynatrac reserves the right to discontinue this promotion at any time before the 8/13/10 closing time.

Opening up your fenders and providing more clearance is by far the easiest ways to get your Jeep JK Wrangler sitting on top of much larger tires and without too much effort. And, while there are several options available to do this including trimming your factory fenders or installing a set of steel tube fenders, nothing I have seen to date compares to the new Flat Style Fender Flares made by Bushwacker. By far the most well designed and well made option available, the Bushwacker Flat Style Fender Flares provide install cleanly and offer a look as if they came on your JK right from the factory. And, in addition to providing OE tire coverage which is required by most state laws, they also come complete with DOT-compliant LED marker light and a means to retain the factory fender pants. Last but not least, the Bushwacker fenders are made from Extreme Dura-Flex® 2000 TPO material which, unlike steel, is flexible and will bend, but break. The Bushwacker Flat Style Fender Flares do come with a decent set of instructions but, I think you’ll find the write-up below to be helpful as well.

Read more

Did you like the look of the Lower Forty Jeep Concept, where Jeep reduced body roll by raising the fender for greater tire clearance?

The new All Terrain Flat Fender Flares from Rugged Ridge allow to run larger tires without lifting the vehicle or cutting the body, so you can add a bigger tire option for that true off-road look.

The ability to run a larger tire with little or no suspension lift means a “lower center of gravity” making you JK more stable, yet still gives you the ground clearance you need to head off-road. With 1.5″ less coverage in the front and 1″ less in the rear these flares are slightly narrower than factory, yet still maintain proper tire coverage and aggressive looks. Constructed of a flexible UV treated high impact thermoplastic, these flares are made for the trails. The flares attach to factory mounting locations and no drilling or cutting is required. The kit also includes an easy to install brackets that relocate the factory side marker lights.

For more information regarding this or any Rugged Ridge products, visit their website at: http://www.ruggedridgeoffroad.com

Rough Country Suspension Systems announces an exciting new contest today: The Lights, Camera, Cash! YouTube Video Contest. Customers are to film themselves reviewing and talking about their favorite Rough Country products for a chance to win a cash prize. All videos will be uploaded to YouTube and contestants will submit the link to their video via Rough Country’s website. Contestants are encouraged to be creative as they highlight features of their Rough Country gear including lift kits, level kits, body kits and accessories.

Each submitted video will be placed on Rough Country’s Facebook page and fans will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite video. The votes will be tallied and the top five videos will be pitted against each other in a final round to determine a winner. Grand prize is a cash payout equal to the cost of the kit being reviewed.

Rules are simple and contestants are encouraged to find their own unique way of highlighting the products. For consideration in the contest, videos must feature Rough Country branded equipment, must be at least one minute long, and must be uploaded to YouTube -adhering to the website’s terms and conditions. The deadline to enter the contest and submit a video link is Wednesday, July 28th 2010. The first round of voting starts the following day.

A full list of official rules can be found at www.roughcountry.com/contests. The winning video will be announced Tuesday, August 3rd 2010.

More times than not, the best line you can take through a technical section of trail will require you to use your tires to climb up and over big obstacles. Of course, by doing this, your rocker panels quickly become the lowest point on your Jeep JK Wrangler and if left unprotected, you leave the door wide open for significant body damage. It is for this reason that I always recommend a good set of rocker guards or, "rock sliders" as a must have upgrade and only second to a set of tow points front and rear. Designed to mount directly to the frame rails of your Jeep JK Wrangler, the LoD Signature Series Rock Sliders are without a doubt one of the best rocker guards available on the market today. I have personally run a set on my White JK for over a year and can tell you that in addition to them being incredibly strong and capable of taking punishing abuse, they are also very stylish and work great as a side step. The step by step write-up below will show you just how easy the LoD Signature Series Rock Slider are to install.

Read more

Rock Krawler Suspension is proud to release our JK PRO Suspension System Line of Products. Unlike our standard system components that are made of solid alloy steel, the PRO components are made from ultra light weight, ultra strong 7075 Aluminum. These systems are designed for the guy who demands the very best! Who wants a nice, nimble JK, but still wants his/her jk to perform off-road like a hero!

The first of our PRO Systems is the 2.5″ Max Travel PRO Mid Arm System. The SKU for the system is RKJK25MT-PRO. The retail price of the system is $1549 and the MAP price is $1399. This system includes an HD Tie Rod made from 7075 Aluminum.

The second of our PRO Systems is the 3.5″ X Factor PRO Mid Arm System. The SKU for the system is RKJK35XF-PRO. The retail price of the system is $2699 and the MAP price is $2499. This system includes an HD Tie Rod made from 7075 Aluminum, H.D. Drag Link, and Drag Link Flip Kit!

The third and final PRO System we are going to be offering is our 3.5″ Triple Threat PRO Long Arm System. There are two SKU’s. The first is RKJK35TT-PRO-2 which is for 2 Door Model JK’s and the second is RKJK35TT-PRO-4 for 4 Door Model JK’s. The retail price of the system is $3999 and the MAP price is $3799. All lower control arms are made from 2″ O.D. solid 7075 Aluminum! Unlike our standard 3.5″ Triple Threat Long Arm Systems, a drag link flip kit, H.D. Drag Link and 7075 Aluminum H.D. Tie Rod are thrown into the systems!

For further product information and details please check out our website at
www.rockkrawler.com.

Rock Krawler Suspension

Over the past few years I have been fortunate enough to go on several organized Off Road Trail Adventures. Some more intense than others with hard-core trails, long road days, a hot dog and brew by the fire and a tent as my shelter. Other runs have been more laid back with fantastic scenic trails capped off with a nice hot shower, restaurant prepared meal, and comfortable climate controlled room in a hotel. While each event is vastly different from the next, the experience I brought back from them was very similar. An Experience that I have wanted to share with as many friends, customers, and business partners as possible so they too can tell their own stories, show their own pictures and videos, and most importantly have a new set of friends for life that together conquered some of the toughest and most beautiful trails in the world.

- Mel Wade, Off Road Evolution CEO and founder of the JK Experience

This is an extreme event that is intended, by design, to be the most demanding and toughest JK only event EVER. A gathering of the top Manufacturers of JK performance parts together with JK owners and JK enthusiasts, and have them wheel their rigs nose to tail and mile after mile. Off Road Evolution’s JK Experience presented by Falken Tire will be an event that will promote and showcase the off-road and on-road capabilities of the Jeep JK, and in particular the products from those manufacturers that participate/sponsor the event. Expect hardcore terrain, mind blowing scenery, and what you will call “The best experience I have ever been on” when it is all said and done.

“We could not be happier or luckier to have Project-JK.com and JK-Forum.com as part of the JK Experience”, said Mel Wade. “Eddie and Cindy do such a great job taking care of their members and making both sites the best in the business. I’m truly honored of our affiliation.”

All JK owners interested in participating on the JK Experience must sign up and send in the form that is on the www.jk-experience.com web site. Our team will review all entries and pick 10 lucky participants to join us and our top tier manufacturers. A full guideline of the rules and regulations are also on the JK Experience website.

As our tag line states, “Got one, Bring it on!”

Additional discussion regarding the JK Experience can be found on following JK-Forum.com Special Events Forum here:

JK Experience Discussion Forum

As I have stated many times before over the last couple weeks, when in doubt, it’s best just keep your mouth shut. Trust me, no matter how bad of an experience you may of had with your dealership, providing a customer evaluation that’s anything less than stellar will come back to bite you. Your evaluations are NOT confidential, are purposefully shared with your dealership and believe me, if your review causes them to feel any pain, they will do what they can to return the favor. In my case, the dealership in question was Tuttle Click Jeep in Irvine, CA, and they decided to retaliate against me by placing a “flag”, or what Chrysler refers to as a “restriction” on my Jeep.

Now, while Chrysler will try and suggest that a restriction should only require a dealership to closely inspect any aftermarket modifications that you might have made prior to performing any warranty work, the reality of it is, your Jeep will be seen by ALL dealerships as having NO warranty at all. Essentially, you are guilty until proven innocent or, more specifically, your warranty will be voided until you jump through hoops just to get Chrysler to review your case. At least, that’s what happened to me and what I had to go through before I could get Chrysler to finally admit that an exhaust manifold leak I paid to have fixed at another dealership should have been covered under warranty. While I was refunded for the charges, I was dismayed to find out that the wrongful restriction placed on my Jeep was still in place and that’s when I decided to write about my experiences and fight to have it removed.

After doing some research online, I decided to try and send an email directly to Sergio Marchionne, the current CEO of Chrysler Group, LLC as well as C. Robert Kidder who is the current Chairman of the Board. As luck would have it, this put me in touch with the Head of Top Care at Chrysler and thus began a two week long dialogue that was certainly frustrating at times but, ultimately proved to be an educational experience. During this time, I learned a whole lot about warranty restrictions and the fact that the one placed on my Jeep was clearly given as a form of retribution. However, in spite of the fact that my restriction was wrongfully given, I was told that it would not be removed as my Jeep was still modified and therefore should have been restricted anyway. As Chrysler would explain, they have a policy that requires all dealerships to apply restrictions on any customer vehicle if it is determined that it has been modified.

Fortunately for me, I have the wonderful support of the members on JK-Forum.com and thanks their keen attention to detail, I was shown that no such policy was listed in the Jeep owners warranty handbook. Sure, there are sections that go over what would be covered under warranty, what wouldn’t be and there’s even a section that covers restrictions.  However, this section clearly states that restrictions would only apply to vehicles that have been neglected, abused or not properly maintained. Absolutely NO language exists regarding modified vehicles or that they should be restricted just because of it and to be quite honest, I don’t see how there could be without it standing in direct conflict of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C)). Needless to say, I made to sure let Chrysler know as much.

In the end, this is what would make all the difference. Even after their lawyers spent days looking into this matter, Chrysler ultimately came to the conclusion that the restriction placed on my Jeep had no merit and, as a result, finally decided to lift it. Yes, you heard right, my 2009 Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited X once again has a clean record, has no restrictions placed on it and, a call I made to 877-I-AM-JEEP this morning confirmed as much!

While justice prevailed, it certainly wasn’t without its trials.  And, if you wish to avoid all the trouble I had to go through, please try to learn from my experiences.  When in doubt, keep your mouth shut, refuse to participate in any customer evaluation you might get by phone and toss the ones you get by mail in the trash.  If I had known what I know now, that’s what I would have done and will do from here on out.

SPECIAL THANKS: I would like to take a moment and thank everyone for all the encouragement and support I received during this crazy ordeal.  I would also like to thank Nate over at Chrysler for all his help. Unlike some of the people I’ve had to deal with over at Chrysler, Nate was always professional, friendly and really went out of his way to help me out and for that, I’m grateful.

In an online press conference that was held this morning, Mr. Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand, made an announcement regarding the release of a new vehicle owner information app that can be download and installed on your iPhone for free.  While this app is currently only available for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler is intending to make it available for all future vehicles they manufacture as well. 

So, what all can this new iPhone app do?  Well, not a whole lot more than what your owners manual or the internet can do already.  Some of the categories provided on this app include information regarding vehicle operation and maintenance, an instrument panel guide to tell you what all the idiot lights mean, vehicle features and highlights, service contracts and frequently asked questions.  On the more interesting and useful side of things, there are also categories for customer assistance which, depending on how well it works could be useful, a link to their social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter and the like) and, as if there would be any doubt, a link that will allow you to purchase parts and accessories and more.

To watch a short YouTube presentation of how this new iPhone app works, simply click on the screen below:

As mentioned, this new iPhone app will only be made available for new vehicles made by Chrysler so existing JK’s will not be able to take advantage of it.  However, if you’d like to see how this app works, it will be made available for download for free in the next couple of days.

What a pleasant surprise.  As I was promised by Chrysler, a refund check for the full amount I was made to pay to have an exhaust manifold leak repaired back in March was in fact issued and I received it in the mail yesterday.

For those of you who haven’t been following my ordeal, this repair was something that should have been covered under warranty but was wrongfully denied due to a restriction that I currently have on my Jeep’s VIN.   Apparently, a negative customer evaluation I made against Tuttle Click Jeep in Irvine, CA, last year resulted in them getting “dinked” (from what I have been told, a form of punishment resulting in financial loss) by Chrysler.   And, being that Chrysler has a policy of NOT keeping customer evaluations confidential but rather, purposefully shares them with dealerships along with specific customer details, Tuttle Click Jeep was alerted to who gave them this review and they in turn issued the restriction as a way to retaliate against me.

Unfortunately, once your vehicle has been flagged with a restriction, your warranty is effectively voided.  Chrysler will try to tell you otherwise and suggest that all it does is require a dealership to closely inspect and make a review of all the aftermarket modifications made to your vehicle prior to performing any warranty work but, the reality is, this is not true at all.  In the eyes of a dealership, all they will see is that your vehicle no longer has a warranty - PERIOD.  At least, this what I was told and what happened to me and the ONLY way I was able to get Chrysler to review my case was to be diligent and make phone call after phone call after phone call and it was only until the last call I made that I was finally told that I needed to send a written letter to their headquarters in Michagan.  In the end, this is the only thing that worked and ultimately resulted in an apology and a refund check.

That’s right, contrary to what some of you may think, it was the letter I sent to Chrysler that made all the difference and NOT the phone calls, this website or anything that I may have written on it.  In fact, I hadn’t written a thing about my Jeep’s VIN being restricted until several days after I was informed I would be getting a refund check.  And, the only reason why I finally decided to write about my experiences is because I felt an obligation to inform as many people as I could of what can happen to them if they made the mistake of submitting a negative customer evaluation to Chrysler regarding their dealership.  Again, these evaluations are NOT confidential, they are purposefully shared with your dealership and they can and WILL be used against you. As I’ve said many times before, when in doubt, you’re better off just keeping your mouth shut.  Is this fair?  Not in the least and I can’t tell you how troubled I am knowing that the company responsible for making the vehicles I love so dearly and the brand I am so passionate about would have policies in place that can hurt their loyal customers in this way.

As of now, I have nothing I need to have fixed and being that I have been refunded in full for the work I was wrongly made to pay, I’m not even out a dime.  However, I still have a restriction on my Jeep that was clearly given out of spite, has no merit for it’s existence and so long as it remains, I will continue to do what I can to have it removed.