Mopar just announced a 2010-2018 Jeep Wrangler Gorilla Glass replacement windshield! No more rock chips that turn into long cracks that make you fail your inspection. Hopefully, no more $25 insurance premiums down in Moab either!

If you aren’t familiar with Gorilla Glass, it’s the same technology on modern cellphones which I think is a bad example since I manage to break my iPhone screen yearly. Luckily I found a cool video from Ford where they developed Gorilla Glass for the Ford GT and fired iceballs out of a cannon at a windshield.

Mopar is very confident the Gorilla Glass will protect you from the following:

Magnaflow and aFE have both released exhaust systems for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL. These Jeep exhaust systems will give your new JL a throatier and deeper sound as well as up to 9 extra horsepower. Let’s take a closer look at each one and you can decide which is right for you!

This Magnaflow MF Series exhaust system for the Jeep Wrangler JL is made in America and is built to last. Whether you are hoping to conserve fuel or utilize the extra horsepower, this Jeep JL exhaust system will allow your engine to operate more freely and give you the performance or economy you desire. But let’s be honest, when you hear a throatier exhaust, it’s hard to go light on the go pedal. The M/F19385 exhaust system is available at Nomadic Offroad Supply with free shipping. Here are a few specs:

• 18-Current Wrangler JL, 2 & 4 Door
• 3.6L V6 engine
• Dual 4″ polished exhaust tips
• All mandrel bent tubing
• 409 Stainless steel construction
• Increased horsepower and torque
• 2.5″ diameter pipe
• Straight through muffler
• Dual split rear exit
• Lifetime warranty on construction
• Made in the USA

Next up we have the aFe Jeep Wrangler JL exhaust system. The main difference between this one and the Magnaflow is clearance. aFe calls their exhaust system a “high tuck” and when you look at the tail pipe on the aFe compared to the Magnaflow, you can see a real clearance difference on ascent/descent angles. Plus, aFe comes right out and tells us that their system will give you an extra 9HP/8 lb-ft of torque.  The only downside of the aFe system is the act that you can’t really see the mod. That’s the entire point of this system because it’s built for true offroading, but some still might prefer the Magnaflow because it’s fun to see the dollars you put into your rig. Whichever you choose, you will experience more power and a better sound in your Jeep Wrangler JL. Here are some specs on the aFe Jeep Wrangler JL exhaust system.

• 18-Current Wrangler JL, 4-Door
• 3.6L V6 engine
• Exhaust tip not included
• 409 Stainless steel
• +9 HP and +8 lbs. x ft. Torque max gains
• 2-1/2″ mandrel bent, 409 stainless steel tubing
• High-quality stainless steel band clamps
• Hi-Tuck design for long travel clearance and greater approach and departure angles
• 100% hand MIG-welded for strength and durability

The first company I am looking at is Smittybilt. Smittybilt makes the Overlander rooftop tent and the Overlander XL rooftop tent. The Overlander tent is built to fit on top of a proper Jeep roof rack. It comes in tan, is waterproof and is made of heavy-duty 600D ripstop polyester. Inside you’ll find an LED strip light, a 60mm high-density foam mattress with a removable cover so you can wash it and they say it sleeps 2-3 people. I would comfortably say it sleeps two skinny people. I made this diagram so you can see how it lines up with a full-size mattress.

The only thing you need to know is these need a proper roof rack to live on. One thing I was confused about is that most roof racks say they will only hold up to 300lbs or so. Well, a helpful user over at r/Jeep explained this to me. Roof racks have two load ratings: static and moving. For instance, the Kargo Master Congo Cage has a moving rating of 350lbs and a static rating of 650 lbs.  So keep that weight limit in mind if you think it will be a problem. Smittybilt also sells jeep tent bundles that come with the tent and roof rack in one. Here’s a longterm review I found of someone who owns this Smittybilt jeep tent.

Now if that tent seems too small for your needs, Smittybilt also makes the Overlander XL jeep tent. This is probably the size that most of us actually want, but it is larger and more expensive. They say it will sleep up to 4 and I would agree with those dimensions if you are close friends and no one is over 6’4″ tall. Think of the Smittybilt Overlander XL jeep tent as a king size mattress with a twin mattress next to it. I know I sleep pretty well in a king with my wife (even if our 5-year-old jumps in with us) and having a twin size bed next to that means you have more than enough room for everyone to get a good night sleep. One issue I see is Smittybilt says this is meant to be mounted on a trailer or heavy duty roof rack so make sure your roof rack can hold the weight of the tent plus 4 grown adults if that’s how you plan on using it.

Like the Smittybilt Overlander Jeep tent, he Overlander XL is built to last. It’s made of heavy-duty 600D ripstop polyester, is waterproof and comes with a protective cover. It also has the LED interior light, 60mm high-density foam mattress with removable cover, mosquito screens, and a telescoping aluminum ladder. You can buy the Smittybilt Overlander XL at Nomadic Offroad Supply with free shipping.

If you own one of these tents or another brand, leave us a comment and tell us what you think! Do you like it? Should we get one?

This spare tire cover size chart from Jeep Daily will help you know what size cover your need for your 2011 Jeep Wrangler JK. Once you know what size spare tire cover you need, check out some of these spare tire cover options from Life is Good.

1. The first thing you want to do is look at your spare tire’s size on the sidewall of the tire. It will look something like 225/75R16. Don’t worry about what those numbers mean right now, but a simple thing to know is the last number is your wheel size in inches. In this case, you have a 16-inch wheel.

2. The second thing you need to do is look at the handy chart we have built and locate your tire size in this chart. We have built this chart based on stock tire sizes that came with the Jeep Wrangler. If you have aftermarket rims and tires you might need to do your own measurements.

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If you need to know what size spare tire cover will fit your 2010 Jeep Wrangler, look no further. Jeep Daily has put together this Jeep Wrangler spare tire cover size chart for your 2010 JK. Once you know what size spare tire cover to get, check out some Life is Good spare tire covers.

1. The first thing you want to do is look at your spare tire’s size on the sidewall of the tire. It will look something like 225/75R16. Don’t worry about what those numbers mean right now, but a simple thing to know is the last number is your wheel size in inches. In this case, you have a 16-inch wheel.

2. The second thing you need to do is look at the handy chart we have built and locate your tire size in this chart. We have built this chart based on stock tire sizes that came with the Jeep Wrangler. If you have aftermarket rims and tires you might need to do your own measurements.

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This spare tire cover sizing chart for your 2009 Jeep Wrangler JK will help you figure out what size cover you need for your spare tire. Then you can take a look at some of the more popular spare tire covers in this post.

1. The first thing you want to do is look at your spare tire’s size on the sidewall of the tire. It will look something like 255/75R17. Don’t worry about what those numbers mean right now, but a simple thing to know is the last number is your wheel size in inches. In this case, you have a 17-inch wheel.

2. The second thing you need to do is look at the handy chart we have built and locate your tire size in this chart. We have built this chart based on stock tire sizes that came with the Jeep Wrangler. If you have aftermarket rims and tires you might need to do your own measurements.

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The guys over at JCR Offroad are playing with putting 37 inch tires on their 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL. They are rocking the 2 inch Mopar lift kit with bump stop extensions and 37 inch Nitto Trail Grapplers on Mamba M14 Intel wheels with 5.47 inch backspacing. The wheels were from another build JCR is working on but they are pleasantly surprised with the fitment.

From most of the forums and internet chatter I’ve heard, a 2 inch Mopar lift is not going to be awesome offroad with 37 inch tires and 35 inch tires would be a better choice for that lift if you want to keep articulation and disconnect your sway bars. But, JCR Offroad came out and said they would wheel this setup all day and the clearance is similiar to a Jeep Wrangler JK with a 3.5 inch lift.

So, anyone else out there have any experience on this? I’d like to hear of someone else attempting this setup.

If you want to know what size spare tire cover you need for your 2008 Jeep Wrangler JK check out this helpful chart from Jeep Daily. Then you can take a look at some of the more popular spare tire covers in this post.

1. The first thing you want to do is look at your spare tire’s size on the sidewall of the tire. It will look something like 255/70R18. Don’t worry about what those numbers mean right now, but a simple thing to know is the last number is your wheel size in inches. In this case, you have an 18-inch wheel.

2. The second thing you need to do is look at the handy chart we have built and locate your tire size in this chart. We have built this chart based on stock tire sizes that came with the Jeep Wrangler. If you have aftermarket rims and tires you might need to do your own measurements.

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This 2007 Jeep Wrangler JK spare tire cover size chart will help you know what size cover you need to buy to protect your spare tire. In a few easy steps, you will be on your way to buying a new Jeep spare tire cover.

1. The first thing you want to do is look at your spare tire’s size on the sidewall of the tire. It will look something like 225/75R16. Don’t worry about what those numbers mean right now, but a simple thing to know is the last number is your wheel size in inches. In this case, you have a 16-inch wheel.

2. The second thing you need to do is look at the handy chart we have built and locate your tire size in this chart. We have built this chart based on stock tire sizes that came with the Jeep Wrangler. If you have aftermarket rims and tires you might need to do your own measurements.

This article was generously provided by u/Wranglicon, a member of r/Jeep over on Reddit. As I told him, this is why this community is so great. Jeepers helping Jeepers and eventually Jeepers helping everyone else because we have the only vehicle that can get out of everything – especially if we have a trail kit!

Hey Jeepers! That disconcertingly orange thing there is my Jeep, affectionately known as “lil’ Gorilla” – there’s a story to that name that I may or may not share down the line. I bought my JK in 2013, my first new vehicle, and it’s been a long, strange journey to this picture here. A journey filled with new friends, new places, and a lot more mud in unlikely places than I’m willing to admit. You can check out my build so far HERE. But today, I’m going to talk about something no trail rider should be without: a good trail kit.

I think the name trail kit is a bit of a stretch. I keep my kit in my Jeep 24/7. Emergencies and accidents can happen anywhere, so it can’t hurt to be prepared. My goal here is to help new Jeepers, or anyone interested in 4×4-ing to be well prepared. This will not be comprehensive by any means – you don’t need all the stuff I keep, and I don’t want to get so far into this where we start talking about things like rigging up emergency welds using car batteries in series – I want to talk about the basics – what you should have on any trail: from the gnarliest rock crawling, to the most basic almost-paved-but-not-quite trails. I’m also going to avoid supplies like water, extra fuel, and food – which are very important as well. So with that, let’s get started!

Here’s a quick overview of my essentials. A tub to store all the goodies, replacement oil, tow strap, and an air compressor. Not pictured here are the oil filter, shackles, tire pressure gauge, zip ties, and tool kit. The tool kit is the only one I’m wishing I had on hand, as everyone on the trail should have a tool set with them. You don’t need anything crazy, but getting the standard + metric sets (Stanley 85 piece comes to mind) are a good start. Also, making sure you can get your wheels off your Jeep in the case of a puncture or popping a bead is necessary, if not mandatory on a trail run. Our first 2 rules are full-size spare and recovery straps. If you’re like me and have aftermarket wheel nuts, be sure you have the tools on hand to support it. So now that we’ve got a handle on what we’re looking at, let’s bust this open!

That’s a lot of stuff, so let’s start from the top. If it’s difficult to see, #1 is around 11 o’clock in the image, and this list will work counter clockwise. ( denotes low priority)

1. 1. Tire plug kit – every trail run demands a full-size spare. In some instances, a simple plug kit could save you a lot of grief since the tire wouldn’t need to be unmounted.
   2. Garbage bags – many uses for these. First and foremost, pack out more than you pack in. I could write a whole other blog on mitigating environmental impact while wheeling but this rule should be tops on any trail run. I’ve also had to dump soaked clothing in bags, dirty mud flaps, dirty boots, and tools, you name it.
   3. First Aid Kit – because you never know. There have been close calls on the trail but luckily I haven’t needed more than just some band-aids and iodine.
   4. Hammock – this is just a cheap-o hammock I got from Amazon. It could come in handy if something happened and were stranded for a night or if there was a serious injury and needed a method of stretcher, or fashioning up a sling by cutting it up.
   5. Multimeter – having electronics fail on a trail is a nightmare of mine, so I keep one on hand to at least diagnose easier. Add some spare electrical wires in the case, for any fixes we could do.

1. Fire Starting Kit + Hatchet – Anything that may need to be cut, chopped or bludgeoned. Emergency fire (matches also live in this kit, not pictured), forgot a hammer, any reason you can imagine to need one!
2. Headlamp – Even in daylight, there are dark places of a Jeep’s underbelly.
3. Handheld CB – This acts as both as my primary and as a safety. When I head out, I keep batteries and the OEM antenna on hand. When wheeling, I have it wired into my jeep antenna and aux. power outlet.
4. Safety Vest – We’ve had to do repairs on the side of the highway before (story below!), and being visible during the night is just good sense. Lights or cones are also a good idea to help you further. *Something I have, stuck between gloves and tools in photo, is a mag-back flashlight, with side LEDs that pulse red or white. Very handy for roadside emergencies.
5. Spill Pads – Any fluids leaking on a trail are a bad thing (back to that environmental bit). These will soak up anything leaking from punctures or cracks. (Story Below!)
6. Gloves – I keep a wide variety of gloves on hand but the basics would be a mechanics’ glove and synthetic for any fluid leaks.
7. Seal/Gasket Maker – differential covers primarily come to mind.
8. Air Compressor – I personally run a simple 12V battery connected compressor. Airing down is a normal practice for off-roading, so it’s only natural to have some way of airing back up! You can get away with a smaller system like mine or can scale all the way to something like the ARB dual onboard system that could power pneumatic tools! I’ve wheeled with some people that have onboard air tanks as well for the truly hardcore.
9. Basic Tools – an assortment of pliers and crescent wrenches to compliment the sockets and screwdrivers.
10. Ratchet Straps/Bungee Cords – for whatever your mind can come up with.
11. Oil – Always have a full oil change with you on the trail. A cracked oil pan or flooded engine could be fixed on the trail that way. (Story below!)
12. Storage tub – any cheap plastic tub to fit the small stuff. Things will get dirty, as will the tub!
13. J-B Weld – It apparently fell over while taking the photo but trust me, it’s there! Can come in very handy in a pinch. (story below!)
14. Folding Shovel – I can’t believe how useful this tool has been. From building a campfire ring, starting a fire (has flint and a sparker built in, among other tools), digging out a latrine, a lever… I could go on. It joins me on any adventures I can afford the space and weight to have it.

So once again, this isn’t meant to be an end-all be-all list nor do I feel this is complete. Rather, I hope I can help a few people new to their journey with some insight gleaned over my few years on the trails. I’ve been fortunate to ride with some amazing and experienced people over that time and sometimes I was ready for what was thrown at us. Other times, I was the recipient of some well-deserved derision. Story time!

screenshot from random YouTube video at Alberta Falls for context

In 2016, there were five jeeps on a trail run down one of my favorite places in the world: Ruby Falls, Alberta. This is a beautiful area in the mountains that is about 80% river rock, so it’s rough and occasionally very wet. It was my first time in the area and this trail has a bit of a reputation (on our 2017 run there were the charred remains of a side-by-side on the trail). I needed my jeep the following weekend for a long road trip, so I was running navigator with a friend. Most of the day was great and we made it to the falls without any concern. The ride back was going ok but then things were getting ominous when we came across a quad-pulled trailer with a snapped axle. About a kilometer later, we came to our secondary staging point which was still about 7km from the trailhead. At this point, one of the Jeeps came to a sudden stop at the crest of the water crossing. He had cracked his oil pan and it was leaking fast.

We don’t know exactly where it happened, the best guess was a rock on the embankment coming out of the river. Finding out was far from our minds, however. We were beginning to panic a little bit – how do we get this vehicle out? It’s 3 pm and 2.5 hours to the nearest town where stores close at 6 pm and half of that is a gravel road, plus a good chunk of trail in front of us! We decided to split up – our Jeep was designated the supply run, the rest of the crew were tow-support. They towed the broken Jeep off the trail and down the gravel road until they hit the pavement. Our supply Jeep ran to the nearest town to pick up JB weld, oil and some food and coffee for everyone and meet them back at the pavement to attempt a field repair. Bad news for us, the hardware store didn’t have JB Weld! We got a high strength epoxy to try; everyone was fully prepared to tow this vehicle home if need be.

We finally met up with the tow crew several hours later and started our fix. It was a tense couple of hours with the epoxy, unsure if it would hold or not, and it seemed dire. We tested it out on a short drive after an oil change and there was a small leak, so we gave it a little more time. It did eventually hold but he had to keep driving to keep the epoxy cool. As soon as he stopped, the heat of the oil weakened the epoxy and it would start leaking again. Thankfully it was all highway to within a few blocks of his house. My day started on the road to my driver’s house at 5 am on Saturday, and I got home at 2:30 am on Sunday. This is normally a day run that was complicated by an ill-prepared group.

This single event went terribly. The dozen or so other trips I have taken with my Jeep never had a sniff of issues of this magnitude. Some beads were popped, tires punctured and several recoveries but those were relatively easy to take care of. This one event spurred me to research the necessities for trail runs to a larger degree, and I am by no means finished. U-joints, driveshafts, trail weld kits, 6th tire and more. I do have hopes of getting my Jeep into some of the more well known, crazier, trails out there. I have several trails in Moab on my to-do list as well as the Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada. Some of these call for more robust preparedness. Do your research if you’re unsure about where you’re going. Talk to experienced drivers. Get involved in local groups if there are any. The Jeep community is vast and generally willing to share their experiences and expertise. My personal first rule of thumb is to make sure you can get out of shit before you can get in.

Thanks for reading! Want to give huge props to “Invader” and “Chirp” for their input on this and of course to JeepDaily for the post.

• “Sure, you can go faster, but I can go anywhere.”

Our successful 2017 group for Ruby Falls. Photo credit Nanette Samol.

Big thanks again to Wranglicon who took the time to write this for the benefit of all of us. It’s also nice to see that he cares about the environment in which we all wheel. I don’t think I’ve ever read an offroad article that mentioned bringing something with you to clean up oil leaks. If you’d like to write an article for JeepDaily, please hit us up!