Jeep Super Fans

Lisa Ziegler


The Jeep Grand Cherokee has received some further facelifts from STARTECH, a Germany-based company that exclusively tunes up Chrysler and Jeep vehicle models. STARTECH specifically made their tuning program for the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD model equipped with a 3.0-liter common rail turbo diesel engine.

According to the German tuning company, “The Jeep Grand Cherokee has arrived and STARTECH presents an exclusive refinement program for the SUV. The extensive product lineup is characterized not only by its professional engineering and innovative design: All components also offer exceptional quality. For the 3.0 CRD model with common-rail turbodiesel engine STARTECH offers the SD6 performance kit and a particulate filter.”

The bold and aggressive body styling of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD model was enhanced by STARTECH exterior design cues, which include the STARTECH front apron with integrated design elements, STARTECH rear apron with cut-outs for the two oval chrome tailpipes in the STARTECH sport exhaust system, STARTECH side skirts with integrated entrance lights, and STARTECH chromium plated mirror covers. The sport exhaust system is made of pure stainless steel and available for all engine types for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

In addition, the five doors of the Jeep Grand Cherokee come with STARTECH door sills with integrated LED lights that can be activated by using the standard keyless-entry remote or with the door handles. The Jeep wheels have been replaced with the high-quality STARTECH Monostar IV 9Jx20 light-alloy wheels. It features five-spoke wheel design wrapped with Yokohama tires measuring 265/45 ZR 20 both in front and rear. This completes the exclusive exterior package of the STARTECH tuning program for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Inside, the Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with an exclusive interior design from STARTECH.

Chrysler Group’s popular SUV features STARTECH leather dark slate grey interior trim, which is highlighted by a bunch of STARTECH interior accessories including the ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel with a leather cover. Other customize interior features include STARTECH floor mats for passenger compartment, STARTECH mats for the trunk, and polished stainless-steel sill plates with illuminated STARTECH logo.

With the new STARTECH SD6 tuning kit, the 3.0-liter common rail turbo diesel engine found on the Jeep Grand Cherokee now pumps out 262 hp (193 kW), 44 hp increased compared to the Grand Cherokee base model with 218 hp (160 kW). The torque output is also increased from 510 Nm up to 580 Nm rotating between engine speeds at 1,600 and 2,800 rpm. The STARTECH SD6 tuning kit allows the Jeep Grand Cherokee to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds, reaching an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. STARTECH also installed quality sport springs, lowering by about 40 millimeters.

Rika Susan


A Jeep mountain bike conjures up pictures of the rugged comfort, and performance with visual appeal, of the well-known vehicle. This is exactly what this bike range offers.

The company has created options in all different aspects of mountain biking, from children to adults, full suspension to hardtail, freeride and other models.

Jeep mountain bike frames are tough and good-looking, and have a limited lifetime warranty. Jeep only uses components from the most respected names in mountain biking. They have developed a range that will satisfy anyone who appreciates the Jeep tradition, but wants to use pedal power as a green option to energy consumption!

Young riders are catered for with the Jeep Mountain Bike Commando range. In the Commando TJ20, the exclusive T-Youth frame, hand brake, and coaster brake spells safety and control. A kickstand, fender, and padded frame are standard features. The Commando TSI model sports full suspension, with a twist shift 7-speed drive-train.

The adult range Jeep mountain bikes include Full, and Dual Suspension models.

The flagship is the New Jeep Rubicon All Wheel Drive line, designed to tackle the toughest terrain with tenacity. The Jeep Mountain Bike Rubicon Classic and Rubicon Sport harness the advanced innovative All Wheel Drive system, featuring an engagement clutch for a ’shift-on-the-fly’ option.

The bottom-line is vastly improved front wheel traction on any terrain, come sand, snow, mud, or rain. The system can also be engaged when losing traction in the back wheel, and adds power to the front. Smooth power transmission are offered by spiral cut gears. This Jeep mountain bike offers all-round improvement in control. Whether climbing, or descending, you will feel the grip on the ground. Slippery slopes are no threat to these bikes.

Another toughie is the Wrangler SE Jeep Mountain Bike . This is built on Jeep’s teardrop aluminum chassis, and has a solid Jeep shock fork. It is not a dual suspension bike, but a hardtail Jeep mountain bike, with the ability to climb effortlessly, and to cope equally well with light trails or city biking. Gear shifting is easy, and the brakes have strong and dependable stopping ability.

The Jeep Mountain Bike Cherokee Sahara Dual Suspension gives performance and comfort in a high-tech bike. It has a 21-speed drive-train, easy-twist gear shifter, and an all-aluminum linkage dual suspension, as well as extra frame gussets for strength. It has metal pedals, disc brakes, and Kenda knobbly tires for grip.

If you are battling to fit this Cherokee Jeep mountain bike into your suitcase, you should perhaps consider the Jeep Cherokee Folding Bike as an alternative…

The 20″ folding mountain bike takes up only 8 cubic feet of space. It takes only a few seconds to have your ride ready for the trail. The full suspension frame makes for a smooth ride, and the 6-speed indexed gear shifting loves to take to the hills. It includes mudguards, and a kickstand.

In the past, the Jeep mountain bike range has been seen as a good, reasonably priced option for beginners.

Many improvements later, with the Rubicon at the ready, even the big boys may just start to glance furtively in the direction of these Jeep mountain bikes…

For more information visit Best-Mountain-Biking.com

David Mellon


“When the tough get going – isn’t it nice to know you were smart enough to install Grab Handles with the reliability and versatility to withstand even the most challenged situations?”

When you built your Jeep high enough it no longer fits in the garage, you also created a situation for your passengers who are ready to hit the trail with you. You and your passengers need something to climb in with and hang on to. A good set of Handles should cover this task AND be multi functional!

A good set of Grips should be there to assist on entry and exit from the vehicle, give you and your passenger something to hold on to when to trail gets tough but also be available for use for your gear! Take for example the Sport handles by Rugged Ridge which are the most basic kind. These are perfect for holding your tow ropes rolled, jumper cables together and can even be used to as a pull handle when bringing out a winch line.

For vehicle entry there are also many choices. When choosing Handles consider the amount of stress that is going to be put on them and where they are going to be mounted….then of course appearance, you want some nice looking grips in your entry ways! For heavy pulling or vehicle entry we have found the Ultimate Grab Handles stand up to the name, these handles feature three web fasteners that hold the grips securely to the roll bar creating the strongest vehicle “entry-grip” we have used.

For the JK 4 Door Unlimited consider pairing the ultimate Handles with at least one set of Rugged Ridge Rear Grips. These are not only a perfect match with the ultimate handles but they are also mount up in multiple places in the JK. Use them for your rear passengers or mounted on your windshield channel! The JK Jeep Wrangler can also be outfitted with Seat-Back Grab grips for your back seat passengers.

Bottom Line: “Quality Grab Handles are one of the most economical accessories to add to your Wrangler to make life on or off the trail”

Jon Barlow


If you’re after sheer road presence the Jeep Commander has it in abundance, in fact short of driving a Challenger battle tank through the streets of some quaint British market town dragging various items of street furniture in your wake, the Commander looms on the horizon to show all the SUV pretenders that back in the day Jeep started the whole off-road thing.

However in terms of showroom success, the Commander is unlikely to cause much concern to its arch nemesis the Land Rover Discovery. Land Rover expects to sell around 12,000 Discos a year, while Jeep’s modest plans involve shifting only 600 examples of its seven-seat Colossus. Put another way, Jeep’s annual target is less than Land Rover expects to sell in around three weeks.
Oh well, never mind that because the Commander can play its trump card of wait for it, a 330bhp, 5.7-litre V8 engine which gives a 0-60mph sprint time of 7.5 seconds and maximum speed of 127mph which is highly respectable for a vehicle that weighs in at around 2,400kg.

Environmental concerns may deter a lot of buyers these days not to mention average fuel returns of 16mpg from Chrysler’s renowned HEMI V8 power plant. This can also be found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and the awesome Chrysler 300C. The big Jeep’s cunning solution is to use a Multi-Displacement System (MDS), which cuts off four of the eight cylinders at cruising speed, but in all honesty this does little to quench the Commander’s insatiable thirst.

Because of this, Jeep estimates that the alternative 215bhp 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine will account for around 85 per cent of new sales. Owners of this model are likely to see their fuel consumption creep to as high as 25mpg on a motorway run. This may offer some comfort as diesel fuel prices seem to be heading down again. Ride quality at any speed is excellent; yet as a 4×4, the Commander feels neither quick nor comfortable being thrown around country lanes. Jeep says it will adjust the set-up for European roads, but the Commander has some way to go before matching the all-round ability of the all-conquering Land-Rover Disco.

Its squared-off, no-nonsense styling may not be to everyone’s liking, either. Inside, exposed metal Allen bolts will be too macho for some as will the visible bolts around the lights and wheel arches. I must confess I am rather curious as to why some manufacturers started this trend, I understand it is primarily to convey ruggedness but to me it just looks like some bloke has stuck them on in his garage. Also the interior plastics aren’t what I would expect from a car in this price range. There are some neat touches, though, such as the roof-mounted drop-down DVD player, easy-to-use folding seats, twin sunroofs and carry hooks. But some other practical features let the Commander down a little. The middle row of seats is surprisingly tight on legroom and the third row is strictly for children or very short people only. The individual ventilation and temperature controls are a nice feature though and will stop the usual arguments between middle and back seat passengers about being too hot or too cold especially amongst kids.

While it is priced a little higher than Jeep’s own Grand Cherokee, The Commander has a slightly higher level of standard kit, so the argument for the Commander comes down to whether you really need the two extra seats. If not, the Cherokee is clearly a more sensible buy. However if you wanted a V8 Discovery you would be paying a whole lot more so in that sense the Commander is a bargain by comparison.

Joe Thompson


The State Fair of Texas became a huge battleground for those people who were vying to take home a 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. But still, the whole ordeal was not an easy task for the contenders. They had to go through tons and tons of dirty and filthy mud to get to the prize.

There were more than a hundred people who joined the grand event. They had to go diving into mud and even digging through it. There was a giant pool which contained more than 14,000 gallons of mud and this became their battleground. The challenge was dubbed as “Jeep Stick in the Mud”.

So what did the contestants go through? Not only did they have to battle it out with each other and with that really dirty thing called mud. The contestants also had to survive through various rounds of games so as to be able to be nearer to the grand prize which was the 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It was not disclosed through if the runners up had some prizes, like Jeep parts or accessories, to take home though.

Who took home the award? It was Homero Perez who hailed from Garland, Texas who bested everybody else by being able to earn the highest points after all rounds. But he did have to go through a great ordeal of trying to find and uncover hundreds and hundreds of sticks in the huge pool of mud. But it looks like all was worth his sweat for he now proudly owns an all new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited that holds four doors. Perez even proclaims, “It felt great to get out there and wade through all that mud. I’m the type of person who’s always up for an adventure, and I can’t wait to hit the road and explore in my new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.”

This new version of the Jeep Wrangler comes as a vehicle that holds four doors and has an open air design. It can even take in five passengers inside which is a first in its line. This also means that you can have friends or family with you as you go along your adventures.

Peter Gitundu


Among the many interesting activities that people engage in is rock climbing. This involves going up high and steep rocks so as to either have fun or to engage in some sort of competition. It is an activity that requires a lot of enthusiasm and energy if you are to hit your target of getting to the peak.

While at the same activity, it is good to note that for the best results, there should be one person who leads and lays the belays while the other members of the team follow. The belays are devices that are meant to act as supportive and protective devices to prevent falls, cuts and bruises.

Jeep rock climbing is the instance where jeeps are used to do the mounting. These vehicles, which are 4-wheeler automobiles and a registered trademark of Chrysler, are used to maneuver rough and rugged terrain and they should therefore be designed in a way that they will be able to withstand the harsh conditions. In fact, this activity is gaining so much popularity all over the world. However, the word jeep is generic and may be used to refer to any vehicle that can perform this task.

Jeeps are best used for rock climbing in areas that have large boulders. The tires are especially able to overcome the challenge posed by these huge rocks. Other names that are used to refer to this vehicle are Pygym, Peep, Blitz-Buggy among others. Furthermore, it may also refer to an airplane or tractor that is used for carrying heavy equipment.

Alexander Sutton


You’ve got your brand new Jeep, a group of friends, and a great piece of land to go driving. That sounds like a recipe for a very good time, but before you take off to have your fun, you should check out this checklist of essential Jeep items for off-roading safely. Once you have these items packed and secured if your Jeep, you’ll know that you’ll be ready to take on anything and face any sort of emergency that might happen while you’re out in the wilderness. These items are especially important if you ever go off-roading alone, or with children.

The biggies are drinking water, a first-aid kit, and a fire extinguisher. If you ever get stuck and need to wait for a rescuer crew-whether that’s your buddies or Search and Rescue-you’ll be able to survive for much longer and avoid serious illness if you have drinking water. You should have a few jugs beyond what you would normally bring for a trip. Also, if there are any accidents or injuries, a first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher can go very far in keep a bad situation from becoming worse. There are plenty of travel-sized fire extinguishers, and you can make your own first-aid kid with items that you deem necessary.

You should also include a tool kit, spare parts, and a jack. Fan belts and tires can become damaged, especially on particularly rough terrain. If your fan belt breaks and you don’t have another one, you’re going to be screwed until somebody can come and rescue you. Having a good spare tire and an extra fan belt can make your journey safer and your life much easier.

Matthew Keegan


Much to some people’s surprise, SUVs are still selling and are in demand by buyers who crave the utility that these types of vehicles offer. But with one small caveat — that SUV must get good fuel mileage.

The industry leader for all SUVs insofar as fuel economy goes is the Ford Escape Hybrid. For 2009, the hybrid Escape deliver 34 mpg city and 31 mpg on the highway; along with the twin Mercury Mariner Hybrid, no other SUV comes close.

But, the cost of buying a Ford Escape Hybrid scares some people off, as its near $30K starting price is a bit much to swallow. Fully loaded, the Escape Hybrid can cost around $36K, just above the base price of the luxury Cadillac CTS.

A Clear Winner: Jeep Patriot

Edmunds.com surveyed the small SUV market recently and determined that the Jeep Patriot was the most affordable SUV to own, costing owners about 48 cents per mile to operate. That figure includes fuel, insurance, financing, depreciation, taxes, maintenance, and repairs.

“Even though gas prices are high, some consumers are still in search of a sport-utility vehicle to meet their needs,” said Jesse Toprak, Executive Director of Industry Analysis, Edmunds.com. “For those consumers, vehicles like the Jeep Patriot are relative bargains in their segment.”

Good Fuel Economy, Excellent Entry Level Price

Powered by a 2.4L I4 engine paired with a five-speed manual transmission, the Patriot produces 172 horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of torque. The five passenger Patriot delivers a respectable 23 mpg city and 28 mpg on the highway, the latter number just 3 mpg less than the Escape Hybrid. More telling is the Patriot’s base MSRP of $17,065, some $11,000 less than the Escape Hybrid. Think you need a hybrid? That price differential will take years to make up unless you do heavy driving.

Of significance are the sales numbers for the Jeep Patriot, which are up by 119% over last year even with the overall domestic automotive market being down by double digits this year. Jeep’s Senior Manager of Brand Marketing, Robert Hegbloom explains the trend this way: “In difficult periods like this, it is vital that we continue to evolve our products to exceed customers’ needs and Jeep Patriot does just that. By providing great fuel economy, performance, handling and flexibility, all at an affordable price, the Jeep Patriot is a tremendous value.”

Maybe the high price of gas has scared you away from SUVs, but the Jeep Patriot offers proof that value can be had even in one of the industry’s most battered vehicle segments.

(Source: Edmunds.com)

Mike Strawbridge


The Select Trac option on the Jeep Cherokee gets you the New Process NP 242 transfer case. This transfer case gives the following operating modes: 2wd, 4wd with the center differential open, 4wd with the center differential locked, neutral, and 4wd low range (center differential locked)

The addition of a center differential is the main difference between the NP 242 and the NP 231 or Command Trac transfer case. Without a differential, the 231 transfer case offers only part time four wheel drive mode.

The NP 242 transfer case Full time mode opens the center differential allowing the front and rear axles to rotate at different speeds while still being linked by the transfer case. The end with the least traction will get the most torque. While this mode may have some disadvantages off road where a wheel may loose contact with the ground, it has the advantage of being usable on all paved surfaces. Part Time mode – with the center differential locks can only be used on loose or slick surfaces with out possible damage to the transfer case.

I use full time mode on wet streets, hard packed gravel or dirt, some snow and ice situations and on dry pavement when full acceleration without wheel spin is desirable. I use part time mode on loose gravel, dirt, grass and any off road situation. I use Part time mode when RallyCross racing as well.

I use low range for more control in off road situations or on rough gravel roads when traveling downhill to avoid excessive use of the brakes. I also often use low range when positioning my trailer or other towed equipment when precision placement is needed.

The NP 242 transfer case can be switched between 2wd and either 4wd mode at any speed simply by moving the lever. The switch to low range must be made at very low speed – the Jeep manual says 3 mph.

One common operating problem with the 242 transfer case is that it will stick in 4wd even if the lever is moved to 2wd. Internally, moving the lever loads a spring which then applies force to move the selector fork. If the gears are loaded with torque, the spring will not have enough energy to move the sleeve off the gears. Once torque is removed from the gears, the spring will then move the fork and slide the sleeve of the gears.

Momentarily lifting your foot off the gas will often unload the gears enough to allow the spring pressure to move the fork. On some high mileage units, a wear groove will form on the sleeve or gear causing it to stick longer and may require a couple of changes from loaded to unloaded to get the sleeve to release form the gear.

The Jeep NP 242 is lubricated with Automatic Transmission fluid. The level is checked by removing the upper of the two large plugs on the back of the case. The fluid should be level with the upper plug.

The NP 242 has a slip yoke on the tail shaft. If the drive shaft is damaged or removed, fluid will be lost out the tail shaft. Also this seal is important to maintain in good condition to prevent fluid loss.

The NP 242 is a very versatile transfer case and is my choice for three of my five Jeeps. The full time selection gets frequent use in all of them.

Laura R


A Jeep comes with a pedigree that stands up to scrutiny, because any manufacturer that has built military vehicles very quickly learns what modifications are needed in order to supply their market with reliable, powerful vehicles that can take the rough with the smooth.

As the pioneers of the off-road vehicle, it’s no wonder that Jeep have maintained a high profile since their inception in the 1930s. With a range of models that adeptly cover every conceivable need, a Jeep is arguably one of the most recognizable icons of perseverance and performance on the road today.

I’m no stranger to the 4×4 world, owning a well-loved Landy Series IIa and Defender, so it comes as no surprise to learn that I was quite taken with the classic looks, open-air driving capability and promises of “off-road attitude” that the Jeep Wrangler proudly flaunts.

I want a car that can go off-road at a moment’s notice, but still have the good grace to return to on-road manners with the minimum of fuss. The Jeep Wrangler had slightly different ideas. There’s a slight sense of constant adrenaline with this car, as if it’s calling you a wuss for wanting to pop to the shops without tackling a rugged hill on the way.

However off-road is where it shines. That repressed power suddenly comes to the fore and grapples the terrain with a relish that will make you feel as if you’re conquering the countryside. I was fortunate enough to be borrowing a friend’s Jeep Wrangler, so it was no problem to go for a quick caper on country lanes that would have most other cars reaching for the smelling salts. The Jeep took the challenge with little more than a shrug.

Bigger obstacles were… well, not an obstacle. Plowing up a steep hill felt like no more effort than going over a particularly cheeky speed bump. I began to understand why the Jeep Wrangler was described as having an attitude, because it’s at its best when tackling the sort of rough areas that would normally have you rubbing your chin in contemplation of whether it might be a bit much for even a 4×4.

Certainly a Jeep Wrangler won’t be the car for everyone, but if you’re looking for a vehicle that can handle anything and still want more, it could be the car for you. It’s impressively sized, so may not prove ideal for busy inner city living. However if you’re in a more suburban area and have always fancied a bit of off-road adventure, a Jeep will make you wonder whether you’ll ever have to use a tarmac-covered road again.

When I returned the borrowed Jeep Wrangler, my friend asked whether I had taken it off road, or whether it had taken me. It was a good question, and one that I’m still not sure of. The Wrangler definitely lets you know what it wants, but respects that there is a time and place for everything, and heading back on the motorway there was less attitude and more attunement.