With so much of today’s consumer attention surrounding on a struggling economy and exorbitant fuel prices, it’s no surprise auto makers are focusing on fuel efficiency and making vehicles that are easier on the American pocketbook. So it’s no coincidence hybrid vehicles are taking the auto market by storm. Used to be, those that drove a Toyota Prius were looked upon as tree hugging liberals, but more people every day are turning to hybrids like the Prius as an answer to skyrocketing fuel costs and environmental responsibility.

It’s no surprise either that with the increased demand for hybrid cars, auto makers are scrambling to produce their entry into this lucrative market. No longer are consumers limited to one or two choices. Now there are a myriad of hybrid vehicles ranging from luxury models like the Lexus 450h sedan to 4-wheel drive options including the Ford Escape and full size Chevy Tahoe.

So what’s missing from this green picture? You guessed it—a Jeep. Be it a Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Liberty or any other Jeep model you’re partial to, you won’t find a hybrid version. It’s a shame really. When you think about auto makers that cater to outdoor enthusiasts you think Jeep. The name itself conjures images of traversing narrow mountain trails or navigating washed out desert back roads. But Jeep hasn’t answered the call.

Aside from the fuel economy and environmental considerations, electric engines are perfect for off road travel. These motors are not only quiet, providing a pleasant wheeling experience, they also have gobs of low end torque. In fact, no gas or even diesel engine on the plant can provide the on-demand torque of a comparable electric motor. What an advantage that would be on the slick rock of Moab, Utah.

I did a little digging, looking for news about if and when Jeep would release a hybrid vehicle and found limited news. According to Ridelust.com, Jeep introduced a 2008 Renegade concept at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. “Powered with a diesel engine that gets assistance from front and back electric motors with their combined output of 114-hp (the horsepower and torque ratings for the diesel engine have not been released yet), the Warthog-esque Renegade is designed to achieve 110mpg.”

Beyond that, mums the word on any kind of hybrid from Jeep. So, for now, we’ll be not-so-patiently waiting for Jeep to join the rest of the world and release a hybrid electric. In the mean time, maybe we can find a way to throw a transfer case and lift kit on a hybrid car like the Prius. Hey, it could happen.

I always keep an eye on my local classifieds website for good deals on Jeep parts, accessories, etc. Invariably I wander into the Jeeps for sale section. I’m consistently amazed by the crazy project vehicles people build—I’m not talking a little crazy either. From custom fabricated bodies to home-built tube frame vehicles, these vehicles are out there.

I thought it would be cool to make an ongoing post of the wild and wacky vehicles I come across in my travels. If you’re reading this and you either own a crazy rig or have seen one, please post pics/descriptions. For this post, the vehicle doesn’t have to be a Jeep, it can be anything weird or out of the ordinary. I’ll start off with a few that caught my eye this week.

Scout Monster - This rig looks wild and it’s built wild too. Custom 4-link suspension up front and 3-link in the rear. It’s set up for 44s, but the pic shows it with 33s…maybe that’s why it looks a bit off. This rig is for sale at ksl.com and can be yours for just $3250. The seller will also throw in a winch for $100.

Custom Crawler with Injected 454 - This wacky ride features a home-made aluminum body complete with removable soft top, windows and doors. Other features include a fuel injected 454, TH400 auto trans and dual transfer cases.

‘53 Willeys with 44’s - This wacky Willey’s features 44” Dick Cepek Fun Country mud tires on alum rims and is powered by a Ford 302 with chrome package and 4BBL. Don’t know that I’ve ever seen a Willey’s with 44s…pretty cool.

1988 Suzuki Samurai - This crazy little rig is custom built with all Toyata parts. The owner has lengthened the wheelbase to 91″ and put a set of 33″ mudders under it.

Super Sized Rock Crawler - This crawler is a custom “Bummer” kit built on a ‘74 3/-ton Chevy frame. It rides on 2 1/2 ton Rockwell axles with 6.72 gears and 46″ Mickey Thomson tires. A fuel injected Chevy 350 powers this monster.

It’s the new year and January is a popular time for many of us to review financial information including bills, bank statements and car insurance…or more appropriate to this site…Jeep insurance.

Let’s face it, many insurance companies love to penalize Jeep owners for a variety of reasons. So it’s important to shop around for best deal possible. If you’re looking for a good deal on insurance and you happen to be a Canadian citizen, you might want to check out Belairdirect.

Belairdirect offers competitive rates on car insurance for all makes, models and drivers. In fact, you’ll save 5% right away, simply by purchasing your policy online. They offer no-obligation quotes and will even provide you with competing quotes so you can make sure you’re getting the best deal.

One feature I like is their Crash Proof Policy. For $5 a month you’ll get a bunch of benefits including a guarantee that your rates won’t go up—even after your first at-fault accident. There’s even a $0 deductable offer that allows you the freedom to make a claim without going out of pocket.

When you think Super Swamper, you think big, gnarly hunks of rubber churning through mud and rock like an electric blender through cake batter. Boggers, Iroks, TSLs and now the Vortrac. Sounds meaty right? Ummmm….nope.

The Vortrac is Interco’s entry into the kinder, gentler tire market. It’s an all-terrain tire designed for daily drivers that require long tread life and a versatile tire design for snow, rain, dry roads and the occasional off road adventure.

The tread pattern is a tight design that integrates a series of siping grooves for surprisingly good performance in wet conditions. There’s also a series of sidewall lugs, bear in mind these are nothing like a Thornbird, but I guess they’re better than nothing.

So the next time you’re looking for a new set of rubber for your wife’s Ford Exporer or your work truck, check out the Super Swamper Vortrac. It’s not a Bogger, but at least you’ll still be sporting swampers.

I recently had a buddy get transferred to Hawaii for work. (rough assignment, huh?) This guy has spent just about every weekend for the last few years tweaking and tuning his 1978 Jeep CJ-7. So there was no way he was going to part with it.

Needless to say, shipping a Jeep to Hawaii sounds like a daunting task, but if you find the right auto transport company it’s not too big a deal. We did some research on the web and came across National Car Shipping. If you can drive it, these guys will ship it…anywhere. They do car shipping across every state in the U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska) as well as international car shipping to any destination overseas!

Many of us just can’t bear to part with our rigs when we move or get transferred and shipping it is a good option. Plus, with the popularity of eBay and other online car buying sites, many Jeepers are saving money by finding rigs hundreds or even thousands of miles away. So rather than haul it yourself, a service like National Car Shipping is a good way to get your Jeep delivered without all the hassle.

Constant fuel combustion results to the heating up of vehicle engine. Because of this, the coolant present in the engine expands. This is especially true with the grueling condition of terrains that all-wheel drive vehicles, like the Jeep face. For this reason, Jeep Expansion Tanks are needed. Jeep’s expansion tank, also known as overflow tank, coolant reservoir, or overflow canister, is a chamber that supplies storage space for the coolant when it expands. Jeep Expansion Tanks are usually linked to the radiator’s overflow tube. How do Jeep Expansion Tanks function? When a Jeep engine cools down, a vacuum is produced in the vehicle’s cooling system. This process, in turn, results to the sucking of coolant in the Jeep expansion tube back into the system. The coolant can move between the system and the expansion tank as it expands and contracts. This is because the cooling system that contains a Jeep expansion tube is a sealed system. As a result, no coolant is lost. A lack of a Jeep expansion tank may cause the coolant to flow out of the overflow tube and the cooling system, spilling onto streets or roads.

Another crucial job of Jeep Expansion Tanks is to get rid of air bubbles from the cooling systems of Cherokee, Compass, Commander, Liberty, and Wrangler. Coolant without air bubbles absorbs heat much faster, and thus, far more efficient than coolant with air bubbles. The basic difference between a Jeep radiator and a Jeep expansion tank is that the former is always full, while the latter’s level of coolant constantly changes – increases and decreases. Replacing Jeep Expansion Tanks can be done fairly simply. Installation involves mounting the expansion tank adjacent the radiator, connecting it to the overflow tube, and replacing the radiator cap. A few aftermarket part manufacturers, such as IK Multimedia and RC2, offer quality replacement Jeep Expansion Tanks. Maintaining the Jeep expansion tank is needed to make sure that the radiator holds up in demanding situations that may require temperature control.

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Jeeping has truly become an international pastime. You can find Jeeps on every continent and virtually every country in the world. One of the largest populations of Off Road Report readers outside the U.S. is in Australia. We’ve heard from Jeepers in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and dozens of other cities spots down under.

For aftermarket tires (tyres) and wheels, many of our Australian readers rely on JAX Quickfit tyres. The result of a merger between two of Australia’s largest tire retailers, JAX Quickfit offers a huge selection of tires, wheels and associated products.

JAX Quickfit carries wheel brands including Advanti, BBS, Champion Motorsport, Enkei, OZ Racing, Petrol and Victor Equipment. As well as a full selection of tire brands including Goodyear, Falken, Michelin, Bridgestone and Pirelli.

So if you’re a Jeeper from Australia and you’re in the market for a good deal on some great wheels and tires, check out a JAX Quickfit near you.

Shirley, MA — October 24, 2007 - There are those of us who love our car. And then there are those of us who love our Jeep. As the saying goes, “It’s a Jeep Thing… You wouldn’t Understand” But this holiday season, even if you don’t understand, you can fake it with the 2007 Jeep Gift Buyers Guide from www.allthingsjeep.com. For the 5th year in a row, the company has compiled a list of this year’s 10 most unique Jeep gift ideas. If you can’t afford to put a new 2008 Jeep under the tree, you can put any one of these items there and still make your Jeep fan very happy.

TOP 10 BEST JEEP HOLIDAY GIFTS

1. Our Cookie Cutters for the Jeep enthusiast - What better gift for your favorite Jeeper than a plate of yummy Jeep inspired cookies. These handmade copper cookie cutters make both a front view and a side view of our favorite vehicle. The decoration is up to you! ($19.99)

2. Just Arrived! A full line of Jeep Clip Watches, Pocket Watches and Multi-Tools - You need to know the time but hate wearing a watch? These handsome Jeep clip, carabineer & pocket watches do the trick. There are over a dozen to choose from, all sporting the rugged Jeep logo. (Starting at $39.99)

3. Jeep® Polar Fleece Vests - Brrrrrr. The weather outside is getting nippy and these warm polar fleece vests sporting the Jeep logo are just the layer you need to keep you toasty. We’ve got 4 colors and 4 sizes. Enjoy! ($29.99)

4. Holiday cards / greeting cards for Jeep lovers - Purchase these early enough and share the Jeep spirit with everyone you know. We have 6 different designs available, all original artwork. There’s something magical about these cards. ($12/set)

5. For Girls who love feminine pink and tough Jeeps, we bring you the “Pink Jeep” line! From pink Jeep hats to pink Jeep tees to pink Jeep license plates, who says Jeep girls need to look tough? ($7.99 and up)

6. Jeep 2007 Wall Calendars - Count down the days to the next trail run with a Jeep calendar for your wall. It sure beats the one you get from the oil company every year. And there’s a few to choose from. Starting at $9.99.

7. Jeep-The Trail Never Ends Wall Sign - Here’s an inexpensive gift that truly epitomizes the feelings any Jeep owner has for their beloved vehicle. Finding this Jeep wall sign under the tree on Christmas morning will delight any Jeep owner. $10.99

8. The Jeep Mountain Bank & Coin Sorter - For the Jeeper who thinks they have everything-surprise! Bet they won’t have this! Put your pocket change in the back of the Jeeps, flip the switch and let the Jeeps do the work of carrying your money up the mountain and depositing it into the coin sorter at the top. Great novelty item! $29.99

9. The Handiest Jeep Accessory on the list - You’ll always have light with this super sturdy Jeep Dynamo Crank Flashlight. A couple of cranks of the handle and you’ll have bright light whenever you need it. No batteries required. It’s a perfect accessory for the Jeep, boat or home. (And it can power your cell phone also.) $29.99

10. Choose from over 200 Jeep-licensed apparel items including t-shirts, sweatshirts, & jackets for men, women, children & babies. No, this isn’t just one item. But with so many new Jeep apparel items, it was hard to choose our best pick. We’ll leave this one for you. ($10 and up)

About All Things JP LLC
All Things JP LLC is one of the largest providers of gifts, accessories and memorabilia to the Jeep® and off-road market. Through outstanding service, product variety and quality, All Things JP LLC delights Jeep® owners with items that enhance their adventurous lifestyles. Visit www.allthingsjeep.com for the perfect gift for Jeep® lovers including clothing, decals, tire covers, watches, bikes, jewelry, videos and more.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2007 – Thousands of servicemembers get care packages with surprises in them every day, thanks to caring folks back home. Some of the surprises, however, are bigger than others.
Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit troop-support group, celebrated the packing of its 250,000th care package by teaming with Tri-State Jeep Dealers Association to put Army Spc. Alfonso Sanchez in the driver’s seat of a 2007 Jeep Patriot Limited.

“We were thrilled to give a Jeep Patriot to a true American patriot,” said Carolyn Blashek, Operation Gratitude’s founder. “It is an honor to be able to recognize him and, through him, all servicemembers in uniform.”

Operation Gratitude is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

Sanchez, who received the package containing keys to the Jeep on July 24, is assigned to the 16th Military Police Brigade, which is serving in Iraq. He will receive the actual vehicle upon his redeployment to the states, hopefully by the end of the year, Blashek said.

Not expecting any packages, Sanchez didn’t initially respond when his name was called.

“When they called my name, I was shocked, stunned, and I froze for a second, double-checking that my last name was Sanchez,” he said. “The first thing I saw when I opened the box was a Jeep brochure, but they give those at the post exchange.

“I expected anything else but this vehicle,” he said. “I don’t have enough words, but with all my heart, thank you (Operation Gratitude) for all you do.”

The package also contained a letter from Blashek explaining how her group was able to provide such a special “goodie” in their milestone package.

Sanchez won’t be the only one who will receive a Jeep Patriot vehicle, however. Jeep, Major League Baseball’s New York Mets and a New York television station launched a letter-writing campaign July 15. Letters of support for the troops will be accepted until Sept. 17, when one lucky letter writer letter will be randomly chosen to receive a Jeep Patriot. That person’s letter will then be sent to Sanchez, as well. The winner of the letter-writing campaign will be announced during a Sept. 30 pre-game ceremony at Shea Stadium in Queens, N.Y., Blashek said.

“We are proud and humbled to contribute to a great organization like Operation Gratitude that does so much good in support of our troops,” Eric Neilsen, president of the New York Dealer Association, said. “The Jeep was originally developed to serve our military, and we are very pleased to be able to continue this tradition in a small way.”

(Army Spc. Beatrice Florescu contributed to this report.)

• Iconic off-roader returns to its storied roots with J8 multipurpose model primarily developed for military use � but also suitable for civilian government applications

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chrysler LLC unveiled the Jeep® J8 multipurpose vehicle at the 2007 Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi) military trade show, making the legendary vehicle available for reenlistment in active military service.

“Jeep vehicles made their original debut in 1941 for military duty, and have built their reputation with more than 65 years as the world�s benchmark for off-road capability and versatility for civilian and military vehicles,” said Thomas Hausch, Vice President – International Sales, Chrysler LLC. “The new Jeep J8 marks the brand’s return to vehicle production for military and civilian government use – the same capability that makes the Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited famous also makes the Jeep J8 a truly multipurpose vehicle.”

With the all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited as the starting point, Jeep engineers increased its capability and versatility. The frame of the Wrangler Unlimited is reinforced for increased ruggedness and to allow greater payloads � up to a maximum of 1,339 kg (2,952 lbs.). Axles, brakes and suspension components are engineered specifically for more demanding military and civilian government use, including utilizing a leaf-spring suspension system in the rear. The J8’s Command-Trac® four-wheel-drive system allows maximum versatility and performance in both on- and off-road conditions.

The Jeep J8 is powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 118 kW (158 hp) and 400 N�m (295 lb.-ft.) of torque, providing towing capability of up to 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs.). The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The J8 also features a unique air-intake system with special filtration and a hood-mounted snorkel that enables the J8 to ford water up to 762 mm (30 in.) deep and operate in sandstorm conditions for up to five hours.

The Jeep J8 is available as a two-door with an extended pickup bed for personnel or equipment transport, or a four-door multipurpose vehicle. It may be produced with numerous vehicle-body and seating configurations in either right-hand or left-hand drive.

While not designed for front-line combat operations, the Jeep J8 is fully armour capable and excels in a variety of duties ranging from command vehicle to troop/cargo carrier, ambulance, communications vehicle and other duties – also making it suitable for civilian government applications. Tow eyes and heavy-duty bumpers allow the Jeep J8 to be easily transported by airplane or helicopter.

The Jeep J8 will be produced in a Chrysler LLC joint-venture facility in Cairo, Egypt, and will be available beginning in spring 2008.

Jeep in the Military
In June 1941, the U.S. Army received its first shipments of the Willys MA, the rugged 4×4 vehicle that came to be called the Jeep. This predecessor to today’s Jeep Wrangler would prove so vital to the Allies’ World War II effort that Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower declared that the war could not have been won without the Jeep vehicle.

Jeep vehicles have been produced for various militaries around the world. The Jeep J8 marks the start of Jeep’s renewed commitment to supply the defence community with the highest-quality 4×4 vehicles available anywhere in the world.