www.jeep.com, Jeep Super Fans blog for my favorite jeep

Eric Morris


The Grand Canyon is famous for its adventure tours, including its exciting and gripping safari-type jeep tours. The tours are like a stroll through the woods and rough terrain of the Grand Canyon, experiencing the wildlife up-close and personal, and learning the history of the places and landmarks. There is a virtually unlimited number of activities to partake in when going on a Grand Canyon jeep tour. The tours are exciting and fun, for you get to experience and enjoy nature in its true form.

The gigantic rocks and widespread woods with the sound of chirping birds and wild animals make it more thrilling. For Jeep tours you can to opt to have a driver, or drive yourself. You are accompanied by a guide with good knowledge about the ecology, history and area of the Grand Canyon. The guides generally help you have a close look of the wildlife without disturbing the animals. With the help of guides at certain places you can halt your four-wheelers and go down for picture shots of wildlife, a stretch of woods or a view of the sunset.

Some Grand Canyon tours also offer camping options in the deep forests. You get a protected camping area at night with a bonfire, food and of course a tent to sleep in. The experience is breathtaking and divine. Next day you again start your journey through the waters and the woods, enjoying your tour as you drive in the open air. The Grand Canyon offers the thrill of a lifetime for fans of adventure tours.

Al Carl


It usually doesn’t take the new owner long after getting their first Jeep to start thinking about making modifications. Owning a Jeep and self-modifying it seem to go hand in hand like owning a hot tub and soaking. You see other jeeps tooling down the road and they look so much more,..…well, Jeep-like. You know the look “Rough and ready to rock on!” A lot of first time owners may wonder, “What do I need to do to get that look?” Well you can give your vehicle that look with 4 modifications.

First, tires and wheels are a good place to start. Those stock tires are pretty wimpy looking and spicing up the tires and wheels goes a long way to making your Jeep take on a new appearance. You’ll want to consider if you’ll be installing a lift and how much of one before you jump on the tires. The bigger the lift the larger the tires you’ll be able to run. Tires and wheels might be a simple way to change the look of your rig, but they won’t be an inexpensive way to go. They can be downright costly! You’ll need to consider your Jeep use before investing. Is it a daily driver, purely an offroad vehicle, or a mix of the two? You’ll also want to consider how your Jeep is powered and geared. A number of folks place way too much rubber under their rig and then wonder why it doesn’t respond or have any pick-up! Hello, you just added a few hundred pounds of rubber; do you think that it will have an effect? If you go with large tires, you might need to upgrade your gears. There is a cause and effect at work here. How your Jeep is powered and how you use it should ultimately determine what wheel and tire package you select. Consult with your local offroad performance shop if you’re not sure or you need help. They should be able to steer you in the right direction.

Second, those stock bumpers really do need to go. Not only are they unimpressive, they simply will not stand up to an offroad beating! There are a ton of options out there from tube units to the rock crawler bombproof heavy-gauge block units. The finishes are wide and varied as well; stainless steel, black powder coated, titanium finish (the latest craze), etc. Bumpers seem to be made by everyone these days from small shops making custom units to major manufacturers like Warn, Warrior and ARB producing lines of them. So you have a ton of options! For me I’d stick with a well-known company that offers a warranty on its products. You know their bumpers have been tested, passed DOT regulations, and the company stands behind them for defects. You won’t get any of that from a local shop, and even if you do, who knows how long they’ll be around to support it? Warrior makes a good basic steel bumper along with tube units. Warn makes a nice Rock Crawler Bumper with an optional grille guard. And ARB makes a tube bumper they call a Bull Bar. All three companies are recognized for well-made products and they all have a very good reputation. I don’t think you can go wrong with one of their bumpers.

Third, lift that Jeep. Raising your Jeep gives it a better, hardier profile. It really makes a difference. You can lift it with a simple lift system like coil spacers or lift shackles. Or you can go with a body lift or, even bigger and better, a suspension lift. There are tons of options from style, manufacturer, and price to select from. So, do your research and be thorough before making a final decision.

Fourth, you’ve lifted your Jeep and have bigger tires, now it’ll look a whole lot better with bigger fender flares. The higher vehicle and larger tires scream for wider and more pronounced fender flares! The most popular these days seem to be the Bushwacker 6 inch extended fender flares. Their flares are made of a tough Dura-Flex material so they take a beating and are easy to maintain. They bolt on using existing factory drilled holes and come in a black matte finish that is easy to custom paint. Bushwacker backs them up with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Xenon and Bestop also make very good extended fender flares for your Jeep. Whichever flare you choose, your Jeep will look better with the extended type, and they’ll offer better protection against the flying debris from those larger tires.

With these four upgrades your Jeep will take on that rugged rock ready look. Don’t hesitate to contact a local performance offroad shop or a couple of them to ask questions and get input. The people at these shops are heavily involved in the sport of wheeling and they can offer some valuable insight into your options.

Lisa Ziegler


Most consumers that would do some shopping in an f.y.e. store would have the surprise of their lives once they see an ad for the new Jeep Wrangler.

It was only very recently that Chrysler maker of top-of-the-line Jeep park light launched its aggressive ad campaign for its newly redesigned Jeep Wrangler. And one of the components of the campaign was a promotional partnership with retailer Trans World Entertainment that delivered over 17.8 million impressions to various target audience of Jeep.

Trans World operates under the banner f.y.e. which is short for “For Your Entertainment”. The Trans World has 800 stores and f.y.e. is the largest specialty retailer in the country when it comes to the entertainment category which includes selling movies, music, games, and even small electronics.

The f.y.e. promotion has been very important for the whole promotional effort of Jeep since customers of the said store are comprised of young men with age ranging from 18 to 34, the very same demographic coveted by Jeep for its Wrangler.

The heart of the f.y.e. promotion is a contest in which customers are given a chance to scan the barcode on an entry in order to win a new Jeep Wrangler. The contest was a fully integrated promotion that includes an in-store signage, store associates in Jeep tee shirts, Jeep ads on f.y.e. in-store TV, Wrangler presence on the f.y.e. web site, a Jeep integrated into the fuse TV show “Amplified Guide to the Holidays”, Jeep integration with the retailer’s e-marketing communications, a Jeep Wrangler tag on f.y.e.’s national radio spots, and a special “scan to win booklet” with a Wrangler ad distributed in the stores.

The f.ye. promotion was an exciting non-traditional way for Jeep of reaching its potential customers however so far the most exciting and the most unique part of the promotion were the custom ads showcased at the f.y.e.’s listening and viewing stations (LVS).

The LVS is unique to f.y.e. stores. The listening and viewing stations have LCD screens placed around the store at eye level and allow customers to scan the bar code of a CD, DVD or game plus get the chance to sample the contents. The LVS is installed in the f.y.e. stores five years ago and are now in their third generation.

There are two ways on how customers can view the Jeep ads at the LVS stations. First is when they got the entry booklets in the stores with a barcode printed on the back page. They can use this to scan and see whether they won the Wrangler. The second way of viewing an ad is by scanning a product at the LVS stations.

At this time and age where DVRs, satellite radio, etc. reigns the ability to deliver ads through such technology becomes a vital part of any promotional endeavors. Although some may consider such way of marketing as intrusive to customer’s shopping experience but according to Burmaster so far they have not received any complaints about the ads. This may be because f.y.e. is also employing restraint when it comes to the ads making them less of an intrusion and become more of a regular part of the whole product scanning procedure that their customers are accustomed to.

The Jeep ad is shown the first time that customers scanned products and would not appear on succeeding scans. The ads were also made short and took 10 to 15 seconds only. The ads were very entertaining and engaging that Burmaster said that customers are not annoyed watching them. “Our stores are all about entertainment so if the spot is not entertaining it simply will not work as well and might even meet with consumer resistance,” explained Burmaster.

So far, Jeep’s f.y.e. campaign is successful in reaching the youth market and according to Burmaster, they have just scratched the surface in terms of their ability to deliver personalized ads in-store.

Mike Strawbridge


One of the more vulnerable points on the otherwise very reliable Jeep Cherokee is the alternator. The alternator is located very low on the engine and is susceptible to damage from mud and water during off road conditions.

Usually the first indication of an alternator failure will be the check engine light. The ECU controls the alternator and will detect when it is not responding properly to its commands. The second indication will be a drop in voltage.

To replace the alternator:

1. Remove the battery and battery tray.
2. Remove the air box and loosen the bolts on the power steering pump to loosen the belt. It is not absolutely necessary to loosen the belt to reinstall the alternator but it make sit a lot easier.
3. Working from under the Jeep, remove the main power wire from the alternator. This will be the large wire with a cover over the bolt
4. Next remove the control wires. On some older models these are held in place by a somewhat unusual 7mm bolt. There are four bots total holding this connection in place.
5. Now, working from the top, remove the upper and lower mounting bolts.
6. Note the stamped steel stiffener on the front of the engine that the alternator bolts to. Loosen but do not remove the bolt next to the alternator bracket. This will help get space to reinstall the new alternator.
7. To get the alternator out of the engine bay, you will likely have to raise the engine slightly. The easiest way to do this is with a jack under the engine oil sump. Be sure to spread the load with a block of wood to avoid damage to the sump.
8. You may also have the slightly bend the AC lines if they interfere with removal of the alternator.
9. Install the new alternator in place.
10. Lower the engine back into place and reinstall the mounting bolts.
11. Tighten the bolt beside the mounting bolt if you loosened it earlier.
12. Replace the control wiring harness.
13. Replace the main wire. And reposition the cover.
14. Tighten the belt.
15. Tighten the power steering bolts and replace the air box.
16. Remove any wrenches that you may have left lying around.
17. Reinstall the battery tray and reconnect the battery and give it a test run.
18. The check engine light should be gone immediately and the battery voltage should begin to climb.

Note that if you allowed the battery to discharge before you replaced the alternator, it is a good idea to charge the battery from a different source before installing a new alternator. The new alternator can be permanently damaged by placing a high charging load on it at its initial startup.

Matthew Keegan


Jeep has finally done it. A 7 passenger trail rated Jeep is now available at a dealer near you. Long a maker of manly SUVs, the Commander holds true to form as it can easily be taken off road as well as down the highway. Unlike more pedestrian models, the Commander looks every bit the rugged vehicle that it is. For Jeep fans who need the extra room the Commander offers space not available in any Jeep since the Wagoneer was retired a generation ago. Let’s take a look at the 2006 Jeep Commander, the focus of this review.

So, why build a seven passenger Jeep? To give customers a choice, that’s why. With existing models able to carry only five passengers or less, the Commander meets the demand for a larger model. Instead of losing sales to GM or Ford, Jeep is now able to offer a vehicle that will keep customers from leaving for bigger and roomier models.

The Commander looks a lot like the Cherokee, which was retired in 2001 after an 18 year run. The boxy Cherokee was a favorite with many and the Commander successfully incorporates the Cherokee’s look and body style.

As it is, the Commander is not a huge beast. At just two inches longer than the Gran Cherokee, the Commander makes use of available space without adding a tremendous amount of bulk.

Key features of the Commander include:

3 engine choices: a 3.7-Liter V6; 4.7-Liter V8 MPI; 5.7-Liter HEMI® Multi-Displacement2 transmission choices: a pair of five speed automatics3 four wheel drive systemsAnti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Brakes3 Sound Systems: AM/FM Stereo with CD Player and Changer Controls; an AM/FM Stereo Radio w/In-Dash 6-Disc CD/MP3 Player; or a DVD-based GPS Navigation System with 6-CD/MP3 ChangerLeather trimmed or bucket seatsSupplemental Side Curtain Air Bags In All RowsThe usual accouterments including air conditioning, bucket seats, power everything, etc.

Jeep gives owners the option of owning a traditional rear wheel drive Commander or 4×4 models. Base price for the entry level Commander starts at just over $28,000 while the fully loaded Commander Limited retails at just under forty thousand. Prices for the Commander are on par with those in its class.

I like what Jeep has done with the Commander and think that you will too. I am, however, holding my breathe as Jeep prepares to introduce its first non-trail rated model [sacrilege] next year; in the meantime the Commander carries on the Jeep tradition with much distinction and aplomb.

John Davison


Most early motor vehicles had a basic set up with the engine mounted in the front with a gearbox attached to it driving the rear wheels only and this became the normal design of most vehicles for many years. As design progressed engine position and transmission (gearbox) position was experimented with to help with traction and handling. Rear engine and mid-engine vehicles became available as did front and all wheel drive. Four wheel drive vehicles began life early in the twentieth century and a number of companies had their own designs for supplying off road trucks for business and commercial use. The importance of having load carrying vehicles that could transverese harsh terrain was important due to the lack of roads. Both the British and American armies during World War One had four wheel drive trucks for heavy terrain use for carrying troops and equipment. However the need for a true multi purpose on and off road vehicle became apparent.

With the onset of World War Two the need for off road vehicles that could literally drive over any terrain became a necessity of the military and with any technology war tends to drive designs forward quickly. In the early days of the war the United States Military required a light-weight four wheel drive vehicle that could transverese almost any terrain. A number of companies came forward with designs including Bantam, Ford and Willys. The result of this was the world famous Willys Jeep. The jeep proved to be both very rugged and dependable through out the war and by the close it had become well known for its on and off road ability and its durability.

After the war the potential within the civilian market for jeeps was clearly apparent and Willys filed for the trademark registration of the name Jeep and began production for the public sector. The first models named Civillian Jeeps (CJ) began production in 1945 and the name Jeep became an icon of tough go anywhere vehicles soon to become a legend to future four wheel drive owners. The history of the Jeep and production models are as follows:

1945 – 1949 CJ-2A

1946 – 1953 CJ-3A

1947 – 1965 Willys Jeep Truck

1948 – 1950 Willys Jeepster

1952 – 1968 CJ-3B

1954 – 1983 CJ-5

1955 – 1981 CJ-6

1976 – 1986 CJ-7

1981 – 1986 CJ-8

1953 Kaiser buys Willys Overland

1970 American Motors Corporation AMC takes over Kaiser-Jeep

1987 Chrysler Corporation buys American Motors Corporation

1998 Daimler-Benz merges with Chrysler Corporation.

The modern day Chrysler Jeep has many models and incorporates all the benefits of modern technology and comfort but it has tried to retain some of the old willys features as the front grill shows.

Back in the United Kingdom the Land Rover project was first born and the legend began.

Dennis J James


This is the newer model of Jeep Wrangler; it is wider and bigger than the previous model to provide the owner and passengers with maximum comfort and interior space. Also, this model has a different chassis which makes it more suitable for off road presentation as well as on road soothe driving. The Wrangler vehicle provides you with more space and experiences as it has four doors as well as five passenger seats. For maximum cargo suppleness, the unlimited Wrangler models include a 60/40 split folding backseat for three passengers. This vehicle is great for those family camping and fishing trips but it is also ideal for your every day ride.

Under the load panel in the trunk you will find a hidden compartment that allows you to lock away your valuables and things you wish to keep safe. It is also a perfect place to keep all the tools and equipment you would need should you obtain a flat tire. It can hold all kinds of things like tow rope, first aid kit, tools, jumper cables and related items. When the bin is locked, no one will be able to have access to it so you can also lock your valuables in there when you have to leave your car but cannot take it all with you. On each door of the Jeep Wrangler there are lock cylinders, these can also be found on the swing gate and glove compartment. Compared to the previous model of this vehicle, the glove compartment is an advantageous 35% bigger than before.

The aspect that people like most about the Jeep Wrangler is that fact that the interior is so easy to clean. So when you get home from a heavy day of off road fun, all you have to do is remove the carpet on the floor of the jeep and wash the floor. Connect a hose pipe and rinse and wash the floor of your jeep and if required, the carpet can be taken inside and vacuumed. The outside of the Jeep can be washed normally, just keep in mind that you might want to use a soft cloth to avoid any kind of scratches or damage.

The Jeep Wrangler is 20% less noisy when on the road, compared to the previous models. Numerous aspects of the Jeep were improved with the Wrangler to provide the driver with a quieter ride which allows them more concentration on the road and also makes listening to music slightly easier.

The Jeep Wrangler also offers an instrument panel with four airflow outlets. The panel is available in either dark or gray. The panel features two sets of powerful speakers that are mounted just above the instrument panel. The exterior of the vehicle can be purchased in these colors;

• Flame Red

• Stone White

• Light Greystone Pearl

• Black

• Jeep Green Metallic

• Bright silver Metallic

• Red Rock Crystal Pearl

• Steel Blue Metallic

• Rescue Green Metallic

These are all great colors to choose from, but the choice is yours. It often depends on the personality of the driver to determine which color would best suit them.

Peter Gitundu


We all know that jeeps are one of the best off road cars in the world, but snow is a whole other territory even for a jeep. However you can attach several equipments on the jeep such as ice pokes on the wheels as well as snow plowing equipment at the front of the car. The best way to find this kind of equipment for making your jeep into a snow plowing machine is by searching the internet, where you will find the right stores to go to as well as the right equipment to buy so you don’t go buying the wrong size or the wrong material.

There are currently a variety of snow plow machines and vehicles in the market today and a couple of them would include ATV, tractor snow plows, and truck snow plows. Jeep snow plows are not that different from these others. However with a jeep snow plow you are probably using your own jeep and will have to buy your own materials that you will attach to the jeep for plowing purposes.

The materials involved will have to be strong and sturdy as well as light enough to be held by your jeep. The blade has to have corrosion resistant paint so as to last you a while and also be able to withstand brute force because you might encounter some hard surfaces as you are plowing the snow. The best quality of blades would be from Meyer’s snow plow blades and Boss snow plow blades.

Jeep snow plows are mostly used by home owners or buy people who are trying to make a living during a snow season by plowing the streets for others as well as driveways. Its best to get the right materials for your jeep and if you are not sure look for an expert and get an opinion on how to go about it.

Anthony Fontanelle


The Chrysler Group’s Jeep brand will prove enthusiasts that the old charm could be rekindled to make it new once again. Jeep’s pool of engineers has redesigned the new Liberty with strong ties to the traditional model.

To some brands, the classic versions of their product lines are better. This is true even with Jeep. This is why the automaker, the American division of DaimlerChrysler AG, has redrawn the 2008 Jeep Liberty to radiate a more classic Jeep aura and form.

The vehicle, which epitomizes the characteristics of a lean and mean machine of more traditional Jeeps, has debuted at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). Behind the innovative features of the new Liberty is the distinctly classic look and feel. And Jeep purists are glad to hear the news. As a fact, even those who are not Jeep enthusiasts are pleased with the changes. “Our objective was to refine the design and stay true to the core of the brand,” said John Sgalia, the director of Jeep Design.

The redesigned Liberty, scheduled to hit dealerships this fall, entertained several elements that vaulted the auto into a top seller small SUV. Jeep’s designers straightened out some of the vehicle’s curves but retained its quirks.

“There are two types of Jeeps, modern and classic,” explained Ralph Gilles, Jeep’s top designer. “We wanted the Liberty to mature but still remain playful,” said Gilles, who designed the interior for the original Liberty that debuted in 2002. “The open top was really an engineering tour de force.”

The Sky Slide, an industry exclusive, works like a giant sunroof creating an open space 33-inches by 41-inches, Liberty engineers said. “It’s four times the size of a standard sunroof,” said Rick Reuter, the chief engineer who worked on the Jeep Liberty. “But it still operates the same way for a driver.”

The roof opens electronically, gathering the canvas at either end. When the roof is completely open, passengers in the second row will be able to enjoy open sky ride. The automaker spent several months testing the roof to ensure that it would not leak and would seal tightly when closed. “Jeep has always been about being in the open air, and this roof is one way to give our customers that,” said John Plecha, Jeep’s marketing director.

The new Liberty looks substantially bigger than its ancestors. The automaker has increased its overall length by two inches, expanded the cargo space by three inches, and extended the wheelbase by two inches. The spare tire, once on the rear hatch, was transferred behind the rear axle.

Other features of the redesigned Liberty include the powerful 3.7-liter V-6, new front and rear suspension mated to EBC rotors and other refinements to provide comfy and reliable ride. The new Liberty finishes Jeep’s lineup, Plecha noted.

Dorian Jepsen


Lifting your Jeep Wrangler can be an expensive project that’s also time consuming, especially if you’ve never installed a lift before. Often times, customers will ask if there’s a cheaper or faster way to get 33-inch tires on their Wrangler YJ without parting with the cash for a complete suspension lift. The answer to that is yes, and while it may not be a setup that will perform as well off-road as a full suspension lift, it will certainly make your Jeep Wrangler more trail-worthy than the factory Wrangler setup.

A traditional suspension lift kit for the 1987-95 Jeep Wrangler YJ primarily consists of four leaf springs and installation hardware. The amount of arch in the leaf springs determines how much lift will be attained once they’re installed on the Jeep. Separating the old springs from the axle, then removing them from the vehicle, and then reversing this process to install the new springs can take some effort and is difficult to accomplish alone. Installing a suspension lift kit is not an exact science, but there will certainly be times when you’ll have to get “creative” during the installation process in order to get some pieces to fit and align properly before they can be bolted down. This is where some people cringe and justify that it’s better to spend less money to install a simpler lift that takes less time.

Fortunately, a 3-inch lift on the Wrangler YJ can be attained with a 2-inch body lift combined with a 1-inch shackle lift.

What is a body lift? A body lift is a set of spacers that are placed at the mounting points where the Jeep tub (or body) is bolted to the frame (or chassis). The idea is to use these spacer to raise the body away from the frame, hence the term “body lift”.

What are shackles and what is a shackle lift? The shackles are devices that attach the leaf springs the the frame. They pivot when the spring gets extended or compressed. A shackle lift is a set of replacement shackles that are longer than the factory shackles. By replacing the factory shackles with longer shackles, the frame is moved away from the axle which results in lift, hence the term “shackle lift”. A 2-inch shackle will net approximately 1-inch of lift.

The typical 3-inch Jeep Wrangler YJ suspension lift with shocks can cost anywhere from $600 to $900 (depending on the manufacturer) and take anywhere from five to 10 hours to install (depending on installer experience). A 2-inch body lift for the Wrangler YJ can cost between $100 and $150 and takes approximately two hours to install. A 1-inch shackle lift for the Wrangler YJ can cost between $50 and $100 and takes approximately one to two hours to install.

By combining a 2-inch body lift and a 1-inch shackle lift, you can attain a 3-inch lift on your 1987-95 Jeep Wrangler YJ for a budget cost of about 1/4 to 1/3 the price of a suspension lift and have it installed in less time and still fit the same size tires. In fact, the money you save can be applied toward a new set of wheels and tires.