1. I'm Australian so there's no such thing as excess water 2. Again, Australian 3. Limb risers protect your windscreen and snorkel (but we barely run them) 4. A real cold air intake has a shroud to keep engine air out like my GTI 5. High lifts are excellent for different terrains when you don't get the choice on the ground you're jacking on
When it comes to overlanding I feel like one must look to the Australians and South Africans to determine what's useful and what's frivolous.. places of varied terrain where breaking down could be life or death. That said, I haven't had a need for limb risers but calling them useless seems incorrect.
I live In San Diego and it's similar to Australia , overlanders out here use pretty much the same gear as you guys. I couldn't imagine going out in the desert with minimal water.
This video is actually the first time I've ever heard anyone say anything about them being used to prevent pinstriping. Only ever heard of them being used to protect the windshield.
Limb risers aren’t to save your paint. They keep your windshield from being smacked by branches. At around $30, they’re cheap and if they prevent one broken windshield they’ve more than paid for themselves.
My limb risers saved my windshield from a falling object. The limb risers got ripped out of their mounting points, but they stopped it a few inches from my windshield and hood. I was able to easily bolt them back into place.
The purpose of Limb risers are not protecting paint job or windshield, they help to push the branches away so you can able to see through faster, Camel Trophy Defender use them over 40 years ago, oh I forgot you haven’t born yet,😅😅😅😅😅
I grew up using a bumper jacket (high lift jack) and I love them. They are extremely versatile, if you know how to use it properly and safely. Other than my family, I don’t know anyone that knows how to actually use one. You are 100% right that they are useless if you don’t know what you’re doing, and also very dangerous.
You can do more with a hi-lift than most people know how to do anyway, but you're on the money that they can bite ya if you don't learn how to work them. Actually had to shove my truck away from my wife when she was in an angry huff changing our truck from summer to winter tires on her own by her own choice. She changed her tune after she realized how close to dead she just had been.
Hard disagree on water, and water filtration. That may be enough for where you live, but in the Southwest, where water is generally not readily available in the mountains, having "excess" is a great idea. Running out of gas will be a PITA, running out of water will kill you. When it's hot, you're looking at more than a gallon per day per person, not to mention it being awful nice to be able to wash your hands, rinse your dishes, etc. I've had "plenty" of water twice, as in 10 gallons for 2 people for 3 days, and due to extenuating circumstances, ran out once and came pretty damn close the 2nd time. Now, do you need a 300$ water filtration system? No. I have a 70$ pump one, more designed for backpacking but it will do the job just fine given some time and elbow grease for a 5 or 10 gallon container.
@@brocklastname6682to many beautiful parts of the desert to only bring a couple gallons of water. Especially if you’re not planning on driving every day.
Agree with everything you said, except the limb risers. I dont have limb risers on my vehicle but I have been in scenarios where having a limb riser would have been beneficial. Its not for saving paint. Its for tight trails and pushing the branches away from your windshield. No you dont need to go very fast to have an errant branch smack your windshield
Wow dude, really? Hi lift jack? I’ve used a high lift jack for several self recoveries. I have a winch. I have traction boards. Nothing could have helped my self recovery other than the high lift jack. Yes winch is great. It won’t get you out of everything. It’s not about looking cool. Mine is buried inside. I’ll still give you the like though.
Carrying water is for emergency purposes, not everyday use. What happens if you’re in Death Valley 100 miles down a trail and you break down. You’re going to need that water.
I do solo trips all over in my truck. I use a lifesaver jug for my water jug as it ensures whatever water i get from gas stations or water sources on the road is clean to drink but only carry a 20L with 20 extra per person. Limb risers if done right with cable can save light pods and windshields from stray branches and tree branches. High lift jack as a backup winch or secondary winch for crosshill situations. Possibly also needing to lift a wheel or axle direct using a tire strap, and doing a tire repair popping the bead. But you did admit that most dont know how to use them and those people shouldnt carry them and that i agree with. In the end, everyones needs are different so you have to go somewhere and see what might fix your problems or difficulties.
limb risers not save paint Job or windshield, they help to push the branches away so you can able to see through faster, Camel Trophy Defender use them over 40 years ago, oh I forgot that you haven’t born yet. 😅😅😅😅😅
My favorite thing is seeing the high-lift Jack's mounted on trucks with factory bumpers and no rock sliders. So it has no method of lifting it or pulling it as a winch.
@benjaminjonholman Lots of fake overlanders in Colorado. They take a stock truck and burger it out with lights and lifts and it has small street tires. 🤣
Your explanation of what you think limb risers are for is a bit confusing as you think it’s to prevent pinstripes. As many have said it’s to prevent branches from contacting the windshield. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have extremely tight muddy tracks full of brush year round, limb risers are an absolute blessing even though a lot of people definitely don’t need them however that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to have them. Especially for people with snorkels the limb risers can save your snorkel hats from being ripped off. Another reason is tree branches heavily laden with snow that droop into the road the limb risers do a great job of clearing them and prevent dumping snow on your hood and windshield. Your reply of you shouldn’t be going that fast anyway as a copy and paste probably isn’t received well. I don’t really want to get into the air intake debate but the reality of cold air intakes are bad in just about every way and shouldn’t be used in an off-road vehicle so that I can agree on. Don’t mind the rest of the video but the limb riser explanation is something I couldn’t let slide. Limb risers are one of the mods that are definitely more situational than most.
Limbrisers are for saving your windshield. The forest you have there they are not so thick. travel to europe to see some real woods and see some thick branches hitting your windshield and cracking it
My only differing thoughts are on "cold air" intakes. They do work, but only marginally and at higher RPMs. At most +10HP in certain special conditions. Company and independent dynos show this too beyond just theoretical fluid mechanics. Stock intakes are designed to be at the best possible minimum standard at normal operating conditions (on roads at 1-3RPM) for as cheap as possible. At higher RPM (3-5) they are slightly restrictive, its the nature of fluid mechanics in tubes especially with filters. Larger intakes take up more space, cost more, are louder which some people dont like, and have little benefit to the average consumer driving normally. That's why they aren't stock. The "dream" performance combo would be a large tube snorkle (real cold air) feeding down into an enclosed cold air intake to maximize filtered flow even in high RPM.
I'd also point out that the temps for a "cold air intake" only become ambient when the vehicle is moving at a moderate to significant (highway) speed, and not so much when wheeling down a trail. I mean, if you're gunning down a trail fast enough to flow air through your grille to make the underhood temps like outside air, then that's a trail for Baja racing, rather than typical "offroading".
Water is more important in the desert, I've got aux house batteries in my rig that are way easier to use than the solar charging system, a simple voltage sensing charge control is way cheaper, I have used a hi lift jack for decades, and they are extremely useful, that being said I am looking for a lighter solution
WRT to water it depends were you live. For those of us who going overlanding on things like the canning stock route (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canning_Stock_Route ) and many other parts of Australia, water is essential, and people still die when their vehicles break down in remote areas and they run out of water. To keep clean on trips like that hospital bed bath wipes are a good low water way to keep clean ...
You said it correctly, your personal experience. Overlanding is such a meshing of other outdoor activities you can't put it in it's own little bucket. It is camping, it is offroading, it is roadtripping, it is survival, and so much more. The advice you're giving is great for someone exactly like you. I wonder how many people are exactly like you... Also, Huron-Manistee National Forest has trails so tight they can become impassable during certain times of the year. I do actually agree that limb risers wouldn't help much. It just goes to show you have a certain scope of experience that you're speaking to, and thats fine, but it should not be taken as gospel by your viewers.
A lot of areas are banning ground fires, though I agree... any proper campfire needs 1-2 gallons of water to ensure it is properly extinguished, though in Matt's neck of the woods and his love of camping next to water, I would carry a couple large silicone collapsible buckets (I used to carry a couple OLD waxed canvas buckets) and a couple shepherds hooks. Fill them creek side, you do not need drinking water for fire suppression. Someplace with less water sources available... I definitely agree with you... even with a raised fire pit, it is a good idea to soak the ashes before calling it a night.
@mattlewandowski5313 Yep. I uses probably 2-3 gallons every night last weekend in the mountains for exactly that. Other than that, we have bottled water.
Frustrating to hear the wrong description of what limb risers are for, followed by the continuous fake lost for words impersonation of how dumbfounded you apparently are by the fools who use them. "Be.. ah... I...". They have nothing to do with scratches. They are purely to lift limbs, and dump them on the roof that could otherwise rip off your wipers and potentially crack your windshield. You're driving a well used scratched up vehicle. You must have been in close proximity to some grabby branches, threatening your wipers, mirrors and ditch lights... How did you come to a conclusion that they were for scratches? I ah, eh... I Just don't understand that.
I may have fumbled on the purpose of limb risers but them being useless is still valid. How is a branch going to grab a wiper blade? What idiot is going to go fast enough and run into a branch large enough to brake a side mirror or a windshield. Limb risers are a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist... unless you're stupid and can't drive.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures They bend. Are you picturing old growth tree branches? Think young growth springy evergreen brush. They are pushed outwards to the extent of their range as you push through, so they release, usually down the sides, but also up and onto the hood if they're at the right height. Those ones are the ones that rush at the lower windshield as it's the armpit of the situation where it all gathers. That's the area and directional ones the cables redirect. It sends them up into the air, and over and down onto the roof instead. These are the only ones the limb risers deal with. Not for scratches. Not along the sides, but up higher, along the hood, and not onto the glass, disallowing them from doing a dental floss maneuver up and under the wipers. They're for redirecting. Which they do very well. You just referred to literally hundreds of people calling you out on this and liking comments explaining it to you, as being stupid and not knowing how to drive. You really think they're all wrong, and you individually are right, when you didn't understand what they're for?
@@breaddrinker limb risers are nothing more than a placebo making people feel better about a problem that doesn't exist. The small branches they are moving out of the way aren't going to damage your rig. Only an idiot would drive into a lower branch that would have enough mass to break a windshield. You're going to get out and cut the branch. And here's the thing... if you disagree with me and think I'm an idiot, that's fine. I don't care. You're spending a lot of energy trying to convince me I'm wrong so you can validate you having limb risers. I don't care if you have them or not. If they make you feel better then cool. I find them pointless and I would challenge anyone in the continental US to have driven more tighter trails than I have.
Pretty good video. I grabbed a hilift jack to strap the tire and jack up there. Also, it is a "poor mans winch" electric winches are the bees knees but these work just fine too. I dont disgree with any of it though, i know mine is mostly decoration! 😊
We have enough time doing this and now know the real world requirements for basic overlanding. I too find my solar panels to be useless in most situations. Love the part about the hi lift jack. You just saved me a few bucks. Keep up the great work.
If you run a fridge and are in warm climates a solar panel is a must if you r are not driving everyday enough to recharge. That is even with a second battery. We have dual battery systems in 3 vehicles. All three have their own fridge and they also all have a hood solar panel. I deem them a necessity based on actual use in the desert SW.
High lift jack can serve as a handy recovery tool when buried in the mud and you need to brake the suction and get some traction boards under the tires but not something i would remember for maintenance or to carry for every Overland adventure and can be vary dangerous if used improperly
19:50 Pro-Eagle off-road jack. Designed to raise lifted vehicles in awkward terrain. It has the stability for use in off-road conditions. A bottle jack is a good idea, uses less space, and costs less, but has a small bottom surface, and depending on the terrain could be useless. Not hate or rebuttal. We're here to help each other, which this video touches on some constructive feedback that needs to be said. Definitely appreciate you putting this video out there.
Points to Agree (A) / Agree to Disagree (A2D)…😂😂 1) (A) Water…plan water and fuel for the trip you plan to take…potable water is a must have… 2) (A2D) Limb Risers- Install Video available if you change your mind…a bit of Camel 🐪 Trophy Nostalgia for me; but they do keep limbs from smacking the windshield and also mitigate wipers and wiper blades from getting ripped off on those overgrown trails in the rain or mud. They don’t protect from pinstripes even on the windshield frame. 3) (A) Hi-lift…can be a life saver or life taker…I’ve had a couple of near misses personally. It’s big and heavy but the Badlands Off-road Jack rides in the back. 4) (A2D)Cold Air intakes…somewhat agree….The modified stock AFE intake works perfect with the AEV snorkel. Not much gain; but you will notice it on a turbo diesel especially with a tune…from the driver’s seat… 5) (A) Solar…maybe a nice to have on more stagnant trips… There’s one “hack” on YT…that raises my blood pressure on horrible Jeep Gladiator advice…it’s definitely not you… If a creator in the community says “The first mod you should make” is anything other than a winch or recovery related for an off-road vehicle…it’s a clear sign they’re a “hack”… 😂😂 “Thumbs Down Guy”…seems I’ve got that one guy too…Usually he comments in slurred typing or leaves a thumbs down late on a Friday or Saturday night after a few beers 🍻 😂😂
We were camped at Alta Lakes in CO a couple summers ago and we did actually use the lifestraw bag and it worked great. We were running low on water and it was nice to have because a run to the store would have been a hassle. I also like it because it stores easily and you never know when you might need to treat water in an emergency. I think I paid $100 for the 3 gallon bag.
I think your comments on the Hi-lift are very valid, in that you need to know how to use it and maintain it. And the number of times you will use it is likely once a year at most, for very specific uses so it tends to be dead weight. For example, I have used mine with a tire lift kit to lift tires out of a collapsed wood culvert. But this is a case where a winch would not help as I had to go backward and get the frame off the ground. Yes, bottle jack would have worked, with a lot of digging to get it in place. And it was a long hard couple of hours as was. Excellent video and commentary
Just wanted to weigh in on the "cold air intake" . I agree they have no place in off-roading or overlanding because of the dusty environment and poor filtration. A true "cold air intake" is sealed from the engine bay and draws colder denser air at a higher volume into the engine. The air is metered by a MAF sensor with an IAT sensor that's built into it nowadays. Your ECU uses a variety of different multipliers based off intake air temp, manifold pressure, and air volume to achieve the perfect A/F ratio at any given time. So if your cold air intake with a high flow filter is efficient enough to allow more air, which is colder, it will have to adjust the mixture as you mentioned in the video to achieve the commanded AF ratio parameters in the ECU. If all you're pulling in is hot air at a lower volume because of a restricted filter the ECU will require less fuel to achieve the desired AF ratio thus making less HP. Colder air at a higher volume will require more fuel for a complete burn which will give you more HP. I'm not willing to sacrifice my filtration system for 5-10HP so in a off-road application it's still useless unless you have a mall crawler or a sports car.
Aftermarket cold air intakes are illegal in California. The best legal thing you can do is install a 21:41 high-flow air filter media. A cat-back (or filter-back for diesel) exhaust system is also still legal. Even an oil catch can or a non-stock intercooler are technically illegal. Essentially, anything that modifies the induction or exhaust cycle is illegal.
@@JamesMcGillis That is an incorrect generalization. Aftermarket parts are LIMITED, but not completely legal. Certain manufacturers make aftermarket components for intakes and exhausts that are CARB legal [California Air Resources Board].
As someone who is just getting into this overland stuff I appreciate the info you share it makes A lot of sense that’s the main reason I subscribed to this channel plus y’all from the Ozarks as well so I’ll see close trails to me
19:47 This is one of the things that no one talks about, what kind of jack should you get. I always thought I needed a high lift jack, and more so than people that have one, it's people that review bumpers and stuff, they ALWAYS make a point of talking about hi lift jack points as if it's one of the best parts of the bumper. "AND!!! You get two high lift jack points ." I ended up buying this SUV jack from Amazon and that thing was useless on my Jeep. Even a Rubicon at stock height it was almost all the way up before it even touched a lift point LOL. I think the bottle jacks are really nice. Small and not huge.. the SUV Jack I have weighs something like 40 pounds and is huge and completely useless. and it's also useless for a car at least sports car because it's too low and the jack won't fit. I ended up wasting my money.
Great content and no complaints here on anything you said or recommend. I admit I am one of those that have limb risers - but not for protection against pin stripes (that just seams stupid to me), but for windshield protection. I live in Idaho and spend a lot of time traveling the southern part which is mostly desert. The trees and bushes are low and very tight on a lot of the trails I frequent, where MANY branches (some 2"-3" thick) hit against your windshield (and Jeep windshields are notorious for damage). My limb risers help direct those branches over my windshield so I don't have to stop and cut the branches off the trees. Anything bigger and the saw(s) come out. I do have a High-lift (but I'm an old timer) that I've used several times, but never for changing a tire. I also carry 2 bottle jacks which are much more useful in 99% of needs.
Funny Matt, I'm sitting here watching your video trying to find something to disagree with you and get mad...😂 but everything you pull out, I'm like, oh yes, I have that and never used it.... he's right. The biggest one that hit true for me was the solar panels. They were expensive, and I have never used them. Except... when I tried to charge a 12 volt AGM battery without an inverter. That is a story for another time (didn't work out, lol)
Time 13:27. I guarantee you here in the east, our trails are narrower! They’re so overgrown most often it’s like going through tunnels! Also why my trucks always have MILLIONS of pinstripes! Lol. As for limb risers? IMO pointless. They’re supposed to keep branches off the windshield. They don’t do what they’re claimed to do. Any branches large enough to cause damage, usually break the limb risers anyway. Some guys have them, many have tried them. As for me? I don’t use them either. Knowing what size limb to push with your windshield comes with experience. As for the other? I just accept that pinstripes are par for the course after 30+ years of off roading. 🙂
A hi lift saved my bacon when no other recovery tool would. Stuck in sandy water river. Every shovel the sand would rush back in with the current. No way to get a bottle, sissor jack under the vehicle in the water. Had a winch facing into the river, nothing to winch to. Used the hi lift with their wheel attachment tool and got max tracks under the front tires. 4 hour recovery but only because of the hi lift. On my Jeep, I don't have a winch but I carry a hi lift, max tracks and some rigging and ground spikes to recover my self a foot or so, just enough to get out of a bad situation.
No High Lift Jack?! THIS VIDEO IS AN ABOMINATION!! In all seriousness, I have considered removing my high lift jack several times, but on my last outing I was wheeling with a guy that had just lifted his vehicle and thought a wheel bearing was going out. His stock jack wouldn't even come close to lifting his tire off the ground. Thankfully he had also installed some rock rails, so I was able to use my high lift to get his tire off the ground and check his bearings out. Still not 100% sold on it, but it did help out.
OMG!!!! FINALLY Common sense about a "Cold" Air Intake. THANK YOU. LOL.... I have been saying this for YEARS. MAYBE a different filter style rather than paper ( ie K&N etc ). But $500 for a tube that sucks warm air from inside the the engine compartment is just foolish ( IMO ). Then you top it off with the HiLift ....STOP MAKING TOO MUCH SENSE!!!!! LOL
I just subscribed because I found you with Revere Overland yesterday. You really pushed some buttons with this video. It looks like most people agree with you on the solar panels but that is about it. I have used my hi-lift jack but I had to use it in conjunction with a bottle jack. I got a lift a few months ago and my Wrangler jack would not go high enough and neither would my bottle jack. So, the combination worked. I have since now have a block of wood to set my jack on that will work. But I will keep my cool looking hi-lift jack since it is not mounted on the hood.
Fully agree with you on all the points, ESPECIALLY the high lift jack, the weight just does not justify the usage, and extremely dangerous, being remote, prevention of possible injuries is really important.
1 gallon of water per person per day Solar can trickle charge batteries Limb risers save your windshield It's not called a cold air intake if it's not getting air from outside but a aftermarket intake is less restricted but I agree they are pretty pointless and a high lift has its purpose in the right situation
Water is life, but... love your perspective. I have a Waterdrop bag - Keep in mind that you are in the Ozarks and water is plentiful. You are far more likely to be denied water in the West, sadly... it is expensive! Also, I have a CPAP and use my solar daily while camping... matter of life, literally, and I deep cycle my batteries each night. DC to DC is way important as well. Totally agree on the rest... FYI... I'm in NE Nevada (5800 feet) and wheel rural NV, Utah, and Idaho. Was nearly killed by a HiLift "in the wrong hands" ... they are seriously dangerous in the wrong hands. I don't let anyone touch mine. I have 2.5 acres and need it for other purposes... seriously dangerous though.
I subbed because you called out all the Cold air kits.. I just bought a Silverado that someone had installed a cold air kit on. I paid money for the factory setup just to get that out from under the hood before someone noticed it and thought i would have installed it. :) Complete horse shit
Generally a fair assessment!! Every thinking person know there is a " glam" element in overlanding.....just like other hobbies/ pass times! personally, its easy to tell real outdoor people from yuppies playing pretend! so figure out what works for you, and develop your systems. Personally I run a hmmwv. with a trailer built on an M-105 trailer. I have an on board water purification system, because I love mountian stream water! It's so yummy!!! Screw hauling tap water....I have little use for Jeeps, over priced, and in thier stock configuration, not very good. I've owned 2. point? We all choose our gear, based on our needs..and what we want, and opinions are like assholes ,we all got em and they all stink.....( I have rescued several jeeps!!! LOL! ) but i digress..... stay safe! and enjoy your time out there!!!!! .
Come on, Jeeper. You aren't towing the harry-chested Jeeper line. You should carry ZERO recovery gear because you wouldn't use it if you had it anyway - too much peer pressure to thrash your rig against a rock to prove you're a real Jeeper. So stand and be counted! Take out ALL that shameful recovery gear and go commando! Now for those who take this stuff seriously... 1 - Rule of thumb on water is 1 gallon per person, per day. This includes gray water use. On board filtration (OBF) is great if you can fit it and maintain it. 2 - Changing a tire on a lifted rig has always required a bottle jack under the axle tube. Not sure how anything different ever became a serious point of discussion or consideration. Plus too you can just drive off a bottle jack when tire change is complete. Hi-lift jacks have their place - and specific mount point on bumpers - but changing tires isn't one of them these days. 3 - Agree that foldy-boi solar panels are static use only. But they don't take up much space anyway. Solar is the only source of free energy in the middle of nowhere. To tie your batt storage level directly to your fuel storage level is hugely inefficient and wasteful (charging batts only when the engine is running) and will not deliver long-term self-sufficiency. 4 - Limb risers too have their place. Personal pref. I haven't seen any trails in the videos you've posted tighter than what we come across in CO, several of which your fat Gladdy wouldn't fit through. Still, haven't required limb risers. YMMV Regular consumer of your content. Keep up the great work. Happy Trails! #80series
My first car was a 64 Ford with a bumper jack. Hate 'em, they kill. HiLift jacks make more sense as a winch than a jack IMO. Water is the source of all life, never too much. Have dumped a 5 gal jug over my head to clean up, twice to treat heat stroke. Never have filtered water, but I can if I need to. Solar, meh! One point you make is you move too much to need several tools. If you're solo and you break, you stay where you are till you fix the problem or someone else rescues you. Water can save your life, and solar can make it more enjoyable. Never had or needed or even seen a limb riser, but I miss curb feelers... CAI's were originally used to fool earlier ecu's into pumping more fuel, same with lower temp thermostats. Modern engines are tuned to stock, just a CAI will actually hurt, need exhaust and fuel tuning with CAI to make more horsepower.
I’d really have to disagree with the cold air intake on a Jeep. For example my 2008 jku 6th gear was absolutely terrible could barely maintain speed. Watching the pids on the highway it was starving. A cold air increases airflow not always temperature. More air in more air out. 6th woke up I could actually accelerate in 6th. Factory air boxes are highly restrictive. Is it 30 hp improvement no but free flowing air absolutely. And yes snorkel is more cold air. Engines are really nothing more than air pumps
100% agree on water, I started off carrying 10 gals plus different types of liquids in my fridge. Always excessive. I do disagree about hi lift. I will agree that their use is very very rare. I've used mine exactly twice. Second time, probably could have used bottle jack. First time I used it was when my trailer flipped. I couldn't separate it from my vehicle to turn the vehicle around to use the wench, we were in the desert without any nearby tie down points, and the trailer was partially falling down an incline sideways, over a 90 degree angle. Only jack tall enough, hi lift.
Not that you’re wrong, but currently on a 2+ month trip and I work via starlink. Even with moving quite frequently, I need to offset my power consumption of the starlink and the 160W solar panel has saved me more than once. But I have a unique situation and for my weekend trips, probably won’t bring them along.
Guzzle h20 stream. Look it up. Just a couple 2 gal rotopax and ANY water source you can find. Btw you described a ram air intake. Cold air Intake is literally low in the fender close the tire. Cold air from bottom including water from water crossings 🤣
99% of folks camping out of 4x4s don't need to replace to their stock bumpers, front or back. Also, Skottles are $300 frying pans, lol. "But looks, its up higher!"
Thank you for doing this video. Just bought my Jeep and yes everything you said makes sense. Especially about looking cool in the Jeep community. It has definitely made me think twice about future purchases.
A real cold air intake has a pipe outside of the engine bay. Usually to the side of the car. The in engine ones became popular more for look but had zero effect.
IMO, the extra water is emergency reserve if you break down a long distance from any water source. Probably more important in the deserts of the south west and socal than the ozarks
As a mechanic cold air intakes are an absolute joke. Like you said they are sucking in hot air from the engine bay and all air is metered and fuel is added accordingly. Too much air can cause a lean condition and higher combustion temperatures causing damage to cylinders, valves and pistons. You’re not going to suck in any more air or a cooler temperature of air with a cold air intake. You’re not changing the throttle body or the opening in the throttle body so the only way you can possibly get any more air is with a power adder like a super charger or turbo charger. Then you hit a wall when it comes to fuel compensation and need a stronger fuel pump to get more pressure and more fuel to go with more air to trim values with in an acceptable range for engine performance, along with the proper tune.
Great Info. I'm buying a Rubicon within a year, and watching your videos have help me a lot. But I disagree a little about your opinion of about water. Love your videos.
Every 6 months I pull everything out and if I never used it it gets thrown in the garage. You got me on the water. I had a huge 12 gallon tank and I went down to a little 4 gallon waterport for hand washing and cooking water. Enough for a quick Shower. Hotel every 3-4 days and body wash wipes is key. You got me on the hanging water filter thing. In the garage it went. 😂 Water is weight. McDonald’s is awesome for filling up water. Triple filtered. Very cold. I bring in a big bottle and fill up. Solar panel on the roof works good for the beach and and home to keep the fridge on 24/7. With redvision you don’t need it anyway. 😉 I had limb risers. Ok on a full size on my tundra here in the Appalachian mountains it is tight trails. Don’t have them in the jeep. Good for hanging wet clothes. 😂 100% agree on the cold air intake. Exsp on a jeep. Extra dumb points on a diesel that already has a intercooler 😂 Please do a review on the syclone pre filter!!! You will love it. I sold my high lift jack. Used one time. Saved my ass. But Bottle jacks 100% and soo heavy!!!
Cold air intake is the stupidest thing ever thought of. You want trucold air intake run an intake into the cab and join it into your ac ducts. The 30 degree difference in temperature will give you about 10 horsepower. If that, the only way to benefit on any kind of air cooler is to turbocharge and install a inter cooler
Haha you started off with “I’m going to hurt some y’all’s feelings” bwahaha… good vid, noted especially on the hi lift Jack and other things you mentioned. 👌🏼🍻💯
I would say people in the PNW probably driver through tighter roads than you do in the Ozarks. A high lift jack can be much more useful than just for jacking up your ride. I've used them for moving logs and boulders, winching, lifting, etc. But its an item where you either need it or you don't. Can't stand people that mount them on the hood. Water is something I don't skimp on even though I'm in the PNW but some of our areas are desert. I would think you would have to tailor your water needs to where you are going. Someone going to Death Valley is probably going to need far more water than someone going up in the North Cascades.
Lot of truth to all of this. The one exception is water. I spend most of my time in the deserts of the south west. You always want to carry more water than you think you'll need, in case of a breakdown. I also travel with my dog a lot and that dude can put some water down!
For the water filtaton, of course, if your not going where there is fresh water, then yes, do not invest in water carrying, purifcation vessesls. However, keep them on hand, they are valuable, you never know if your going to need them or i you get stuck. If you drive in heavy foreested areas, they do reduce the scrateches. As for the cold air intake, it has to tack the air outside the engine,of course. I ihave a Toyota Tundra 2023, and it has changed for the benefit that I changed the fsctory to the the OEM air intake. Mine also takes air outside the engine bay, so big difference ! If you bpught a air intake system that dose not take in the air from the outsie, then yes, you got takem....sorry. As for the Jack,wrong, that can comes in vary usueful for overlanding, if your not overlanding, then no it wouldn't be good to have....but you would already know that since you had the experience as an ,especially if your vehicle requires it, yes, farmers know how to utilz equipment to get the job done. That is not even spaking about overlandinG, MAYBE you have not exsperianced the level of overlanding to the level of a long challeging time or your have not accutally lived it full time? Bell, whistle and toys do not make an overlander, it is what you do with the tools to survive that make it and the humbling moments.
I agree with Brett on limb risers. I have them, they do work. Saved my windshield a few times on some trails. Thanks for your opinion. I agree with the water section.
Hi-Lifts are great, if you don't have a winch and need to shift the vehicle off a rock or use it as a come-along. But once you have a winch, that thing is useless. Mine is a glorified fence-post puller for the our property now.
Along same vein as high lift jack, traction boards.....stupid. Also, we disagree on those silly cans hanging off the side of the truck. Get a 5 gallon jug, put it in the back and be done with it, they look silly!!!!
Hi-lift jacks aren't made for changing tires, although you totally can. They are the best tool though for picking the body of the truck or wheels up so that you can position stuff underneath them, lift out of ruts or off of obstacles, etc. It seems like you just misundstand their intended application
There are actual "cold air intakes" which remove restrictions from the air intake system. If used in conjunction with other parts and/or a programmer, you could see substantial gains, particularly with a turbocharged engine.
There is at least one thing I gotta say agree to disagree, which is fine, and that's cold air intakes. You might be basing your opinion on your set up or experiences, and I do agree with what you're saying here, but a properly set up cold air intake will get air from outside of the engine bay (unless it's very poorly designed, even the OEM intakes will get the air from the front of the engine bay so essentially they pull air that is coming in from the grill area, not exactly ideal but not "hot air" from within the engine bay), everything will be closed off from the engine bay which helps keep the air as cool as possible for as long as possible and it definitely helps performance even if only slightly. It's hard to argue with that last point as countless people have tested it with dyno testing. You're probably not going to see huge numbers but you might get 4-10hp, or even more in some cases. You can get the cheaper intakes which might help a little or you can customize it to your hearts content, funnel that intake from wherever you wish to get your air. Most people try to isolate it as far from the engine as possible, obviously, and bring it down below the engine bay so it's sucking up air from below. I know I probably sound like a K&N salesman at this point and I don't want to come off as angry that you're attacking my precious investment or anything (I haven't upgraded my intake) but I just wanted to try to explain that it's not snake oil. All that being said, it's probably not worth the money for overlanding which is why I have no intentions of upgrading it until I have more money than sense.
Limb risers are moreso helpful for keeping limbs from tearing up your wipers. I've broken 2 wiper blades from limbs, got risers and haven't broke one yet. Don't care about pinstripes, im wheeling not doing a show and shine. Pinstripes just show you use thse vehicles for what they are meant to do.
I have a family of 5. With kids (one bottle fed) we go through water. Even with no showers. Overlanding for me is quite a bit different for others because of the 3 small kids but let me say i run at gvwr so i just carry the lifesaver jug and nothing else and it's been terrific. 5 gallons of water only isn't safe enough for me with my family but with that jug i can get water from anywhere and poof I don't have to carry more then 5 gallons ever. If you dont have kids especially younger ones ya save the $. We have to filter water at home so i use it in the kitchen too tho. 20k gallons of filter.
Hi mate great vid. But the water thing is a location thing here in Australia, Africa water and remoteness is a huge thing. And your challenge first I agree limb raises are B.S but you said find someone that needs them more.... TH-cam or Google wild bull catchers/ buffalo catcher Australia.... we do use tracks at all.
I was kinda with you, besides the water, until you said cold air intakes dont give you any performance. Unfortunately thats just not true. If you invest in an "open air" cold air intake than your gains will be minimal. As with anything cheap you get what you pay for but a nice cold air intake built by a reputable company will absolutely give you hp and torque gains. This has been proven numerous time on dynometers. Love the channel, love the jeeps, and i hope to make it to the Ozarks to wheel one day! Keep wheelin bro
Stoichiometric air/fuel ration 14.7 to 1. Why I remember that from shop class 25 years ago, I have no idea. Good video though. I think a lot of us go overkill on gear and dont step back and say, do I reallly need this or does it just look cool.
Grandpa taught me to use a Farm Jack (Hi-Lift) as a young boy on the farm. I would never consider using it as a come along. I can change a tire with mine. I do agree they are decorations for most people they are hey look at me decorations. Thought you made all good points. Great tips, especially the excess water.
I will agree with you on moat, like you said agree to disagree. But as a mechanic and now teaching automotive and diesel technology I will 100 percent disagree on the intake portion. Cold air yes I agree with that part but not the air itself. Computer doesn't control amount of air in just how much fuel is injected. And I think personally from years and years of experience that snorkels are overrated and not needed and don't do what people think they do. A snorkel is only useful if everything is 💯 sealed in the engine bay. Come out to wyoming and I will show you some tight trails. Good video and keep up the great work.
If you use up all/most of your water on a trip that means you didn't bring enough water. You're supposed to have extra water -- it's for if you get stranded. Now, I guess if you're with a lot of people or only riding where there are always crowds you don't have to worry about that. But if you're going anywhere on your own, extra water means you're doing it right. Of course there's a balance. Like you said you don't really want to be carrying around just tons and tons of extra.
1. I'm Australian so there's no such thing as excess water
2. Again, Australian
3. Limb risers protect your windscreen and snorkel (but we barely run them)
4. A real cold air intake has a shroud to keep engine air out like my GTI
5. High lifts are excellent for different terrains when you don't get the choice on the ground you're jacking on
How DARE you question an obvious EXPERT from ARKANSAS. /sarcasm
What cold air intake model do you have and what vehicle do you have it installed on? Are there advantages that you notice with it? Thanks.
When it comes to overlanding I feel like one must look to the Australians and South Africans to determine what's useful and what's frivolous.. places of varied terrain where breaking down could be life or death. That said, I haven't had a need for limb risers but calling them useless seems incorrect.
I live In San Diego and it's similar to Australia , overlanders out here use pretty much the same gear as you guys. I couldn't imagine going out in the desert with minimal water.
Always thought “Limb Risers” were to protect the windshield?
Yeah I’ve never heard of using them to prevent pin-striping but they make sense for preventing windshield damage.
This video is actually the first time I've ever heard anyone say anything about them being used to prevent pinstriping. Only ever heard of them being used to protect the windshield.
If you're going fast enough for a limb to break the windshield then that's driver error and poor decision making. 😂😂
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Well, it doesn’t take much! Let’s count the cracked ones at OE this year! I guess we’ll have to disagree on this one. 😉
I use the “limb risers” to clear the view in dense and bushy trails.
Limb risers aren’t to save your paint. They keep your windshield from being smacked by branches. At around $30, they’re cheap and if they prevent one broken windshield they’ve more than paid for themselves.
My limb risers saved my windshield from a falling object. The limb risers got ripped out of their mounting points, but they stopped it a few inches from my windshield and hood. I was able to easily bolt them back into place.
If you're going fast enough for a limb to break the windshield then that's driver error and poor decision making. 😂😂
Right?.. Going fast and furious? 😮
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures i represent that statement
The purpose of Limb risers are not protecting paint job or windshield, they help to push the branches away so you can able to see through faster, Camel Trophy Defender use them over 40 years ago, oh I forgot you haven’t born yet,😅😅😅😅😅
Some of your points are very valid. Where I live, the deserts of Nevada, water is life. You can NEVER have too much.
Right. They live in Arkansas and pretend to be experts of overloading out West. Zero clue.
Truth!!! I don’t get the rotopack. 2Gal jug for over a hundred dollars? Yeah, a 5 gal jug for 20 makes all the sense in the world. My opinion anyway
I grew up using a bumper jacket (high lift jack) and I love them. They are extremely versatile, if you know how to use it properly and safely. Other than my family, I don’t know anyone that knows how to actually use one. You are 100% right that they are useless if you don’t know what you’re doing, and also very dangerous.
i love mine also
You can do more with a hi-lift than most people know how to do anyway, but you're on the money that they can bite ya if you don't learn how to work them. Actually had to shove my truck away from my wife when she was in an angry huff changing our truck from summer to winter tires on her own by her own choice. She changed her tune after she realized how close to dead she just had been.
and there great for pulling power
Hard disagree on water, and water filtration. That may be enough for where you live, but in the Southwest, where water is generally not readily available in the mountains, having "excess" is a great idea. Running out of gas will be a PITA, running out of water will kill you. When it's hot, you're looking at more than a gallon per day per person, not to mention it being awful nice to be able to wash your hands, rinse your dishes, etc.
I've had "plenty" of water twice, as in 10 gallons for 2 people for 3 days, and due to extenuating circumstances, ran out once and came pretty damn close the 2nd time.
Now, do you need a 300$ water filtration system? No. I have a 70$ pump one, more designed for backpacking but it will do the job just fine given some time and elbow grease for a 5 or 10 gallon container.
Agreed.
@@brocklastname6682to many beautiful parts of the desert to only bring a couple gallons of water. Especially if you’re not planning on driving every day.
Agree with everything you said, except the limb risers. I dont have limb risers on my vehicle but I have been in scenarios where having a limb riser would have been beneficial. Its not for saving paint. Its for tight trails and pushing the branches away from your windshield. No you dont need to go very fast to have an errant branch smack your windshield
One point about water I would add is that it depends on where you are going. The Ozarks seem to have water everywhere.
Yes except for July and August. lol.
Wow dude, really? Hi lift jack? I’ve used a high lift jack for several self recoveries. I have a winch. I have traction boards. Nothing could have helped my self recovery other than the high lift jack. Yes winch is great. It won’t get you out of everything. It’s not about looking cool. Mine is buried inside. I’ll still give you the like though.
Hello, I'm here to troll.
You’re not very good at it. 😂
@@OzarkOverlandAdventuresBUT YOU HAVE COLORFUL HAIR!!!1
@@RevereOverland very true. And you’re from Australia. 😂
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures😂
Hahaha
Hey Matt I believe the limb riser is designed to save your windshield. lol I live in western Canada and we have tight trails too
Carrying water is for emergency purposes, not everyday use. What happens if you’re in Death Valley 100 miles down a trail and you break down. You’re going to need that water.
A few extra gallons of water to ensure your campfires are completely out is wise and responsible.
Us old guys that grew up with bumper jacks know how dangerous lifting from the bumper can be. It best to lift it from under the frame or the axel.
I do solo trips all over in my truck. I use a lifesaver jug for my water jug as it ensures whatever water i get from gas stations or water sources on the road is clean to drink but only carry a 20L with 20 extra per person. Limb risers if done right with cable can save light pods and windshields from stray branches and tree branches. High lift jack as a backup winch or secondary winch for crosshill situations. Possibly also needing to lift a wheel or axle direct using a tire strap, and doing a tire repair popping the bead. But you did admit that most dont know how to use them and those people shouldnt carry them and that i agree with.
In the end, everyones needs are different so you have to go somewhere and see what might fix your problems or difficulties.
Mission and expected/unexpected environmental conditions dictate gear. Plan adventures accordingly. ✌️🇺🇸
Limb risers,intakes ... I'm done😅
So let me get this straight , a guy with blue hair is going to say something looks ridiculous on a jeep ? 😂
limb risers not save paint Job or windshield, they help to push the branches away so you can able to see through faster, Camel Trophy Defender use them over 40 years ago, oh I forgot that you haven’t born yet. 😅😅😅😅😅
I appreciate you thinking I’m that young. 😂
My favorite thing is seeing the high-lift Jack's mounted on trucks with factory bumpers and no rock sliders. So it has no method of lifting it or pulling it as a winch.
@benjaminjonholman Lots of fake overlanders in Colorado. They take a stock truck and burger it out with lights and lifts and it has small street tires. 🤣
Great tips. I don't usually buy anything from Harbor Fright but I like my bottle jack.
Your explanation of what you think limb risers are for is a bit confusing as you think it’s to prevent pinstripes. As many have said it’s to prevent branches from contacting the windshield. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have extremely tight muddy tracks full of brush year round, limb risers are an absolute blessing even though a lot of people definitely don’t need them however that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to have them. Especially for people with snorkels the limb risers can save your snorkel hats from being ripped off. Another reason is tree branches heavily laden with snow that droop into the road the limb risers do a great job of clearing them and prevent dumping snow on your hood and windshield. Your reply of you shouldn’t be going that fast anyway as a copy and paste probably isn’t received well. I don’t really want to get into the air intake debate but the reality of cold air intakes are bad in just about every way and shouldn’t be used in an off-road vehicle so that I can agree on. Don’t mind the rest of the video but the limb riser explanation is something I couldn’t let slide. Limb risers are one of the mods that are definitely more situational than most.
Heavy snow is something we don't get here so that may be a valid justification for limb risers that I haven't experienced.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I wouldn’t say you need a valid justification for most stuff people put on rigs.
Im sorry I wish I had had limb risers on my CJ years ago I believe it would have saved My Windshield in Alabama
Limbrisers are for saving your windshield. The forest you have there they are not so thick. travel to europe to see some real woods and see some thick branches hitting your windshield and cracking it
My only differing thoughts are on "cold air" intakes. They do work, but only marginally and at higher RPMs. At most +10HP in certain special conditions. Company and independent dynos show this too beyond just theoretical fluid mechanics. Stock intakes are designed to be at the best possible minimum standard at normal operating conditions (on roads at 1-3RPM) for as cheap as possible. At higher RPM (3-5) they are slightly restrictive, its the nature of fluid mechanics in tubes especially with filters. Larger intakes take up more space, cost more, are louder which some people dont like, and have little benefit to the average consumer driving normally. That's why they aren't stock. The "dream" performance combo would be a large tube snorkle (real cold air) feeding down into an enclosed cold air intake to maximize filtered flow even in high RPM.
I'd also point out that the temps for a "cold air intake" only become ambient when the vehicle is moving at a moderate to significant (highway) speed, and not so much when wheeling down a trail. I mean, if you're gunning down a trail fast enough to flow air through your grille to make the underhood temps like outside air, then that's a trail for Baja racing, rather than typical "offroading".
I couldn’t agree with you more on the cold air intake and Hi Lift. Heavy and never got used, I took mine off years ago.
You got me on the solar panels, air intake, and hilift lol. 😅 I do bring a bottle jack tho. Basically just keep the hilift for looks now.
My limb risers are only for supporting tarps when hail is expected - saves the hood and windshield.
Limb risers protect windshield from being broken by pushing bigger limbs,
Water is more important in the desert, I've got aux house batteries in my rig that are way easier to use than the solar charging system, a simple voltage sensing charge control is way cheaper, I have used a hi lift jack for decades, and they are extremely useful, that being said I am looking for a lighter solution
WRT to water it depends were you live. For those of us who going overlanding on things like the canning stock route (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canning_Stock_Route ) and many other parts of Australia, water is essential, and people still die when their vehicles break down in remote areas and they run out of water.
To keep clean on trips like that hospital bed bath wipes are a good low water way to keep clean ...
You said it correctly, your personal experience. Overlanding is such a meshing of other outdoor activities you can't put it in it's own little bucket. It is camping, it is offroading, it is roadtripping, it is survival, and so much more. The advice you're giving is great for someone exactly like you. I wonder how many people are exactly like you...
Also, Huron-Manistee National Forest has trails so tight they can become impassable during certain times of the year. I do actually agree that limb risers wouldn't help much. It just goes to show you have a certain scope of experience that you're speaking to, and thats fine, but it should not be taken as gospel by your viewers.
Most overlanders are about fashion accessories on their rig and social media likes.
That’s not true at all. 🤦🏼♂️
Disagree about water if you are using a camp fire. 😉
A lot of areas are banning ground fires, though I agree... any proper campfire needs 1-2 gallons of water to ensure it is properly extinguished, though in Matt's neck of the woods and his love of camping next to water, I would carry a couple large silicone collapsible buckets (I used to carry a couple OLD waxed canvas buckets) and a couple shepherds hooks. Fill them creek side, you do not need drinking water for fire suppression. Someplace with less water sources available... I definitely agree with you... even with a raised fire pit, it is a good idea to soak the ashes before calling it a night.
@mattlewandowski5313 Yep. I uses probably 2-3 gallons every night last weekend in the mountains for exactly that. Other than that, we have bottled water.
Frustrating to hear the wrong description of what limb risers are for, followed by the continuous fake lost for words impersonation of how dumbfounded you apparently are by the fools who use them. "Be.. ah... I...".
They have nothing to do with scratches.
They are purely to lift limbs, and dump them on the roof that could otherwise rip off your wipers and potentially crack your windshield.
You're driving a well used scratched up vehicle. You must have been in close proximity to some grabby branches, threatening your wipers, mirrors and ditch lights... How did you come to a conclusion that they were for scratches?
I ah, eh... I Just don't understand that.
I may have fumbled on the purpose of limb risers but them being useless is still valid. How is a branch going to grab a wiper blade? What idiot is going to go fast enough and run into a branch large enough to brake a side mirror or a windshield. Limb risers are a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist... unless you're stupid and can't drive.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures
They bend.
Are you picturing old growth tree branches? Think young growth springy evergreen brush.
They are pushed outwards to the extent of their range as you push through, so they release, usually down the sides, but also up and onto the hood if they're at the right height. Those ones are the ones that rush at the lower windshield as it's the armpit of the situation where it all gathers.
That's the area and directional ones the cables redirect. It sends them up into the air, and over and down onto the roof instead.
These are the only ones the limb risers deal with. Not for scratches. Not along the sides, but up higher, along the hood, and not onto the glass, disallowing them from doing a dental floss maneuver up and under the wipers. They're for redirecting. Which they do very well.
You just referred to literally hundreds of people calling you out on this and liking comments explaining it to you, as being stupid and not knowing how to drive. You really think they're all wrong, and you individually are right, when you didn't understand what they're for?
@@breaddrinker limb risers are nothing more than a placebo making people feel better about a problem that doesn't exist. The small branches they are moving out of the way aren't going to damage your rig. Only an idiot would drive into a lower branch that would have enough mass to break a windshield. You're going to get out and cut the branch.
And here's the thing... if you disagree with me and think I'm an idiot, that's fine. I don't care. You're spending a lot of energy trying to convince me I'm wrong so you can validate you having limb risers. I don't care if you have them or not. If they make you feel better then cool. I find them pointless and I would challenge anyone in the continental US to have driven more tighter trails than I have.
Pretty good video. I grabbed a hilift jack to strap the tire and jack up there. Also, it is a "poor mans winch" electric winches are the bees knees but these work just fine too. I dont disgree with any of it though, i know mine is mostly decoration! 😊
We have enough time doing this and now know the real world requirements for basic overlanding. I too find my solar panels to be useless in most situations. Love the part about the hi lift jack. You just saved me a few bucks. Keep up the great work.
If you run a fridge and are in warm climates a solar panel is a must if you r are not driving everyday enough to recharge. That is even with a second battery. We have dual battery systems in 3 vehicles. All three have their own fridge and they also all have a hood solar panel. I deem them a necessity based on actual use in the desert SW.
High lift jack can serve as a handy recovery tool when buried in the mud and you need to brake the suction and get some traction boards under the tires but not something i would remember for maintenance or to carry for every Overland adventure and can be vary dangerous if used improperly
19:50 Pro-Eagle off-road jack. Designed to raise lifted vehicles in awkward terrain. It has the stability for use in off-road conditions. A bottle jack is a good idea, uses less space, and costs less, but has a small bottom surface, and depending on the terrain could be useless. Not hate or rebuttal. We're here to help each other, which this video touches on some constructive feedback that needs to be said. Definitely appreciate you putting this video out there.
Points to Agree (A) / Agree to Disagree (A2D)…😂😂
1) (A) Water…plan water and fuel for the trip you plan to take…potable water is a must have…
2) (A2D) Limb Risers- Install Video available if you change your mind…a bit of Camel 🐪 Trophy Nostalgia for me; but they do keep limbs from smacking the windshield and also mitigate wipers and wiper blades from getting ripped off on those overgrown trails in the rain or mud. They don’t protect from pinstripes even on the windshield frame.
3) (A) Hi-lift…can be a life saver or life taker…I’ve had a couple of near misses personally. It’s big and heavy but the Badlands Off-road Jack rides in the back.
4) (A2D)Cold Air intakes…somewhat agree….The modified stock AFE intake works perfect with the AEV snorkel. Not much gain; but you will notice it on a turbo diesel especially with a tune…from the driver’s seat…
5) (A) Solar…maybe a nice to have on more stagnant trips…
There’s one “hack” on YT…that raises my blood pressure on horrible Jeep Gladiator advice…it’s definitely not you…
If a creator in the community says “The first mod you should make” is anything other than a winch or recovery related for an off-road vehicle…it’s a clear sign they’re a “hack”… 😂😂
“Thumbs Down Guy”…seems I’ve got that one guy too…Usually he comments in slurred typing or leaves a thumbs down late on a Friday or Saturday night after a few beers 🍻 😂😂
We were camped at Alta Lakes in CO a couple summers ago and we did actually use the lifestraw bag and it worked great. We were running low on water and it was nice to have because a run to the store would have been a hassle. I also like it because it stores easily and you never know when you might need to treat water in an emergency. I think I paid $100 for the 3 gallon bag.
@WTFover714
you don't get it..... Obviously.
Highlift jacks are great for stretching fence or pulling fence posts, and that's it. Definitely a newbie piece of equipment.
I think your comments on the Hi-lift are very valid, in that you need to know how to use it and maintain it. And the number of times you will use it is likely once a year at most, for very specific uses so it tends to be dead weight.
For example, I have used mine with a tire lift kit to lift tires out of a collapsed wood culvert. But this is a case where a winch would not help as I had to go backward and get the frame off the ground. Yes, bottle jack would have worked, with a lot of digging to get it in place. And it was a long hard couple of hours as was.
Excellent video and commentary
Just wanted to weigh in on the "cold air intake" . I agree they have no place in off-roading or overlanding because of the dusty environment and poor filtration. A true "cold air intake" is sealed from the engine bay and draws colder denser air at a higher volume into the engine. The air is metered by a MAF sensor with an IAT sensor that's built into it nowadays. Your ECU uses a variety of different multipliers based off intake air temp, manifold pressure, and air volume to achieve the perfect A/F ratio at any given time. So if your cold air intake with a high flow filter is efficient enough to allow more air, which is colder, it will have to adjust the mixture as you mentioned in the video to achieve the commanded AF ratio parameters in the ECU. If all you're pulling in is hot air at a lower volume because of a restricted filter the ECU will require less fuel to achieve the desired AF ratio thus making less HP. Colder air at a higher volume will require more fuel for a complete burn which will give you more HP. I'm not willing to sacrifice my filtration system for 5-10HP so in a off-road application it's still useless unless you have a mall crawler or a sports car.
Aftermarket cold air intakes are illegal in California. The best legal thing you can do is install a 21:41 high-flow air filter media. A cat-back (or filter-back for diesel) exhaust system is also still legal. Even an oil catch can or a non-stock intercooler are technically illegal. Essentially, anything that modifies the induction or exhaust cycle is illegal.
@@JamesMcGillis
That is an incorrect generalization.
Aftermarket parts are LIMITED, but not completely legal.
Certain manufacturers make aftermarket components for intakes and exhausts that are CARB legal [California Air Resources Board].
That’s interesting because there is enough evidence that aftermarket cold air intakes do just fine in off-road applications.
As someone who is just getting into this overland stuff I appreciate the info you share it makes A lot of sense that’s the main reason I subscribed to this channel plus y’all from the Ozarks as well so I’ll see close trails to me
19:47 This is one of the things that no one talks about, what kind of jack should you get. I always thought I needed a high lift jack, and more so than people that have one, it's people that review bumpers and stuff, they ALWAYS make a point of talking about hi lift jack points as if it's one of the best parts of the bumper. "AND!!! You get two high lift jack points ."
I ended up buying this SUV jack from Amazon and that thing was useless on my Jeep. Even a Rubicon at stock height it was almost all the way up before it even touched a lift point LOL.
I think the bottle jacks are really nice. Small and not huge.. the SUV Jack I have weighs something like 40 pounds and is huge and completely useless. and it's also useless for a car at least sports car because it's too low and the jack won't fit. I ended up wasting my money.
Great content and no complaints here on anything you said or recommend. I admit I am one of those that have limb risers - but not for protection against pin stripes (that just seams stupid to me), but for windshield protection. I live in Idaho and spend a lot of time traveling the southern part which is mostly desert. The trees and bushes are low and very tight on a lot of the trails I frequent, where MANY branches (some 2"-3" thick) hit against your windshield (and Jeep windshields are notorious for damage). My limb risers help direct those branches over my windshield so I don't have to stop and cut the branches off the trees. Anything bigger and the saw(s) come out. I do have a High-lift (but I'm an old timer) that I've used several times, but never for changing a tire. I also carry 2 bottle jacks which are much more useful in 99% of needs.
Funny Matt, I'm sitting here watching your video trying to find something to disagree with you and get mad...😂 but everything you pull out, I'm like, oh yes, I have that and never used it.... he's right. The biggest one that hit true for me was the solar panels. They were expensive, and I have never used them. Except... when I tried to charge a 12 volt AGM battery without an inverter. That is a story for another time (didn't work out, lol)
Time 13:27. I guarantee you here in the east, our trails are narrower! They’re so overgrown most often it’s like going through tunnels! Also why my trucks always have MILLIONS of pinstripes! Lol.
As for limb risers? IMO pointless. They’re supposed to keep branches off the windshield. They don’t do what they’re claimed to do. Any branches large enough to cause damage, usually break the limb risers anyway. Some guys have them, many have tried them. As for me? I don’t use them either. Knowing what size limb to push with your windshield comes with experience. As for the other? I just accept that pinstripes are par for the course after 30+ years of off roading. 🙂
A hi lift saved my bacon when no other recovery tool would. Stuck in sandy water river. Every shovel the sand would rush back in with the current. No way to get a bottle, sissor jack under the vehicle in the water. Had a winch facing into the river, nothing to winch to. Used the hi lift with their wheel attachment tool and got max tracks under the front tires. 4 hour recovery but only because of the hi lift. On my Jeep, I don't have a winch but I carry a hi lift, max tracks and some rigging and ground spikes to recover my self a foot or so, just enough to get out of a bad situation.
No High Lift Jack?! THIS VIDEO IS AN ABOMINATION!!
In all seriousness, I have considered removing my high lift jack several times, but on my last outing I was wheeling with a guy that had just lifted his vehicle and thought a wheel bearing was going out. His stock jack wouldn't even come close to lifting his tire off the ground. Thankfully he had also installed some rock rails, so I was able to use my high lift to get his tire off the ground and check his bearings out.
Still not 100% sold on it, but it did help out.
great information, as always. love your channel. I've learned so much.
OMG!!!! FINALLY Common sense about a "Cold" Air Intake. THANK YOU. LOL.... I have been saying this for YEARS. MAYBE a different filter style rather than paper ( ie K&N etc ). But $500 for a tube that sucks warm air from inside the the engine compartment is just foolish ( IMO ). Then you top it off with the HiLift ....STOP MAKING TOO MUCH SENSE!!!!! LOL
I just subscribed because I found you with Revere Overland yesterday. You really pushed some buttons with this video. It looks like most people agree with you on the solar panels but that is about it. I have used my hi-lift jack but I had to use it in conjunction with a bottle jack. I got a lift a few months ago and my Wrangler jack would not go high enough and neither would my bottle jack. So, the combination worked. I have since now have a block of wood to set my jack on that will work. But I will keep my cool looking hi-lift jack since it is not mounted on the hood.
This type of brutal honesty is very welcome.
Fully agree with you on all the points, ESPECIALLY the high lift jack, the weight just does not justify the usage, and extremely dangerous, being remote, prevention of possible injuries is really important.
Good stuff. Its so easy to overthink overlanding gear or do what looks cool. Great video
Glad you liked it!
1 gallon of water per person per day
Solar can trickle charge batteries
Limb risers save your windshield
It's not called a cold air intake if it's not getting air from outside but a aftermarket intake is less restricted but I agree they are pretty pointless and a high lift has its purpose in the right situation
Water is life, but... love your perspective. I have a Waterdrop bag - Keep in mind that you are in the Ozarks and water is plentiful. You are far more likely to be denied water in the West, sadly... it is expensive! Also, I have a CPAP and use my solar daily while camping... matter of life, literally, and I deep cycle my batteries each night. DC to DC is way important as well. Totally agree on the rest... FYI... I'm in NE Nevada (5800 feet) and wheel rural NV, Utah, and Idaho. Was nearly killed by a HiLift "in the wrong hands" ... they are seriously dangerous in the wrong hands. I don't let anyone touch mine. I have 2.5 acres and need it for other purposes... seriously dangerous though.
I subbed because you called out all the Cold air kits.. I just bought a Silverado that someone had installed a cold air kit on. I paid money for the factory setup just to get that out from under the hood before someone noticed it and thought i would have installed it. :) Complete horse shit
Generally a fair assessment!! Every thinking person know there is a " glam" element in overlanding.....just like other hobbies/ pass times! personally, its easy to tell real outdoor people from yuppies playing pretend! so figure out what works for you, and develop your systems. Personally I run a hmmwv. with a trailer built on an M-105 trailer. I have an on board water purification system, because I love mountian stream water! It's so yummy!!! Screw hauling tap water....I have little use for Jeeps, over priced, and in thier stock configuration, not very good. I've owned 2. point? We all choose our gear, based on our needs..and what we want, and opinions are like assholes ,we all got em and they all stink.....( I have rescued several jeeps!!! LOL! ) but i digress.....
stay safe! and enjoy your time out there!!!!!
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Come on, Jeeper. You aren't towing the harry-chested Jeeper line.
You should carry ZERO recovery gear because you wouldn't use it if you had it anyway - too much peer pressure to thrash your rig against a rock to prove you're a real Jeeper.
So stand and be counted! Take out ALL that shameful recovery gear and go commando!
Now for those who take this stuff seriously...
1 - Rule of thumb on water is 1 gallon per person, per day. This includes gray water use. On board filtration (OBF) is great if you can fit it and maintain it.
2 - Changing a tire on a lifted rig has always required a bottle jack under the axle tube. Not sure how anything different ever became a serious point of discussion or consideration. Plus too you can just drive off a bottle jack when tire change is complete. Hi-lift jacks have their place - and specific mount point on bumpers - but changing tires isn't one of them these days.
3 - Agree that foldy-boi solar panels are static use only. But they don't take up much space anyway. Solar is the only source of free energy in the middle of nowhere. To tie your batt storage level directly to your fuel storage level is hugely inefficient and wasteful (charging batts only when the engine is running) and will not deliver long-term self-sufficiency.
4 - Limb risers too have their place. Personal pref. I haven't seen any trails in the videos you've posted tighter than what we come across in CO, several of which your fat Gladdy wouldn't fit through. Still, haven't required limb risers. YMMV
Regular consumer of your content. Keep up the great work. Happy Trails!
#80series
Actually a cold air intake can increase horse power dramatically. I know a guy a who blew up his engine from dirt sucking in so he LS swapped it!
I always wonder why people have permanent solar panels fixed to the roof of vehicles when they are driving all day charging their batteries 🤷🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
My first car was a 64 Ford with a bumper jack. Hate 'em, they kill. HiLift jacks make more sense as a winch than a jack IMO. Water is the source of all life, never too much. Have dumped a 5 gal jug over my head to clean up, twice to treat heat stroke. Never have filtered water, but I can if I need to. Solar, meh! One point you make is you move too much to need several tools. If you're solo and you break, you stay where you are till you fix the problem or someone else rescues you. Water can save your life, and solar can make it more enjoyable. Never had or needed or even seen a limb riser, but I miss curb feelers... CAI's were originally used to fool earlier ecu's into pumping more fuel, same with lower temp thermostats. Modern engines are tuned to stock, just a CAI will actually hurt, need exhaust and fuel tuning with CAI to make more horsepower.
I’d really have to disagree with the cold air intake on a Jeep. For example my 2008 jku 6th gear was absolutely terrible could barely maintain speed. Watching the pids on the highway it was starving. A cold air increases airflow not always temperature. More air in more air out. 6th woke up I could actually accelerate in 6th. Factory air boxes are highly restrictive. Is it 30 hp improvement no but free flowing air absolutely. And yes snorkel is more cold air. Engines are really nothing more than air pumps
100% agree on water, I started off carrying 10 gals plus different types of liquids in my fridge. Always excessive.
I do disagree about hi lift. I will agree that their use is very very rare. I've used mine exactly twice. Second time, probably could have used bottle jack. First time I used it was when my trailer flipped. I couldn't separate it from my vehicle to turn the vehicle around to use the wench, we were in the desert without any nearby tie down points, and the trailer was partially falling down an incline sideways, over a 90 degree angle. Only jack tall enough, hi lift.
Not that you’re wrong, but currently on a 2+ month trip and I work via starlink. Even with moving quite frequently, I need to offset my power consumption of the starlink and the 160W solar panel has saved me more than once. But I have a unique situation and for my weekend trips, probably won’t bring them along.
Guzzle h20 stream. Look it up. Just a couple 2 gal rotopax and ANY water source you can find.
Btw you described a ram air intake. Cold air Intake is literally low in the fender close the tire. Cold air from bottom including water from water crossings 🤣
99% of folks camping out of 4x4s don't need to replace to their stock bumpers, front or back. Also, Skottles are $300 frying pans, lol. "But looks, its up higher!"
Thank you for doing this video. Just bought my Jeep and yes everything you said makes sense. Especially about looking cool in the Jeep community. It has definitely made me think twice about future purchases.
A real cold air intake has a pipe outside of the engine bay. Usually to the side of the car. The in engine ones became popular more for look but had zero effect.
IMO, the extra water is emergency reserve if you break down a long distance from any water source. Probably more important in the deserts of the south west and socal than the ozarks
As a mechanic cold air intakes are an absolute joke. Like you said they are sucking in hot air from the engine bay and all air is metered and fuel is added accordingly. Too much air can cause a lean condition and higher combustion temperatures causing damage to cylinders, valves and pistons. You’re not going to suck in any more air or a cooler temperature of air with a cold air intake. You’re not changing the throttle body or the opening in the throttle body so the only way you can possibly get any more air is with a power adder like a super charger or turbo charger. Then you hit a wall when it comes to fuel compensation and need a stronger fuel pump to get more pressure and more fuel to go with more air to trim values with in an acceptable range for engine performance, along with the proper tune.
Great Info. I'm buying a Rubicon within a year, and watching your videos have help me a lot. But I disagree a little about your opinion of about water. Love your videos.
Every 6 months I pull everything out and if I never used it it gets thrown in the garage.
You got me on the water. I had a huge 12 gallon tank and I went down to a little 4 gallon waterport for hand washing and cooking water. Enough for a quick Shower.
Hotel every 3-4 days and body wash wipes is key.
You got me on the hanging water filter thing. In the garage it went. 😂
Water is weight. McDonald’s is awesome for filling up water. Triple filtered. Very cold. I bring in a big bottle and fill up.
Solar panel on the roof works good for the beach and and home to keep the fridge on 24/7. With redvision you don’t need it anyway. 😉
I had limb risers. Ok on a full size on my tundra here in the Appalachian mountains it is tight trails. Don’t have them in the jeep. Good for hanging wet clothes. 😂
100% agree on the cold air intake. Exsp on a jeep. Extra dumb points on a diesel that already has a intercooler 😂
Please do a review on the syclone pre filter!!! You will love it.
I sold my high lift jack. Used one time. Saved my ass. But Bottle jacks 100% and soo heavy!!!
Limb risers are mostly designed for visibility. Not paint. I have them on my 97 Diso....and 2 times a bushy branch blocked my view. So yeah it helped.
Cold air intake is the stupidest thing ever thought of. You want trucold air intake run an intake into the cab and join it into your ac ducts. The 30 degree difference in temperature will give you about 10 horsepower. If that, the only way to benefit on any kind of air cooler is to turbocharge and install a inter cooler
Haha you started off with “I’m going to hurt some y’all’s feelings” bwahaha… good vid, noted especially on the hi lift Jack and other things you mentioned. 👌🏼🍻💯
I would say people in the PNW probably driver through tighter roads than you do in the Ozarks. A high lift jack can be much more useful than just for jacking up your ride. I've used them for moving logs and boulders, winching, lifting, etc. But its an item where you either need it or you don't. Can't stand people that mount them on the hood. Water is something I don't skimp on even though I'm in the PNW but some of our areas are desert. I would think you would have to tailor your water needs to where you are going. Someone going to Death Valley is probably going to need far more water than someone going up in the North Cascades.
Lot of truth to all of this. The one exception is water. I spend most of my time in the deserts of the south west. You always want to carry more water than you think you'll need, in case of a breakdown. I also travel with my dog a lot and that dude can put some water down!
For the water filtaton, of course, if your not going where there is fresh water, then yes, do not invest in water carrying, purifcation vessesls. However, keep them on hand, they are valuable, you never know if your going to need them or i you get stuck. If you drive in heavy foreested areas, they do reduce the scrateches. As for the cold air intake, it has to tack the air outside the engine,of course. I ihave a Toyota Tundra 2023, and it has changed for the benefit that I changed the fsctory to the the OEM air intake. Mine also takes air outside the engine bay, so big difference ! If you bpught a air intake system that dose not take in the air from the outsie, then yes, you got takem....sorry. As for the Jack,wrong, that can comes in vary usueful for overlanding, if your not overlanding, then no it wouldn't be good to have....but you would already know that since you had the experience as an ,especially if your vehicle requires it, yes, farmers know how to utilz equipment to get the job done. That is not even spaking about overlandinG, MAYBE you have not exsperianced the level of overlanding to the level of a long challeging time or your have not accutally lived it full time?
Bell, whistle and toys do not make an overlander, it is what you do with the tools to survive that make it and the humbling moments.
I agree with Brett on limb risers. I have them, they do work. Saved my windshield a few times on some trails. Thanks for your opinion. I agree with the water section.
Gorilla Glass windshield works too
Hi-Lifts are great, if you don't have a winch and need to shift the vehicle off a rock or use it as a come-along. But once you have a winch, that thing is useless. Mine is a glorified fence-post puller for the our property now.
Spit it out! lol
hahahaha...yabba dabba dooooooooo
Along same vein as high lift jack, traction boards.....stupid. Also, we disagree on those silly cans hanging off the side of the truck. Get a 5 gallon jug, put it in the back and be done with it, they look silly!!!!
You are absolutely correct on all counts . Good information 👌
Hi-lift jacks aren't made for changing tires, although you totally can. They are the best tool though for picking the body of the truck or wheels up so that you can position stuff underneath them, lift out of ruts or off of obstacles, etc. It seems like you just misundstand their intended application
The badge of honor trial in Ocala FL would like you to hold its beer and watch this in regard to tight trails and pinstripes.
I was ganna say, Florida has some very tight trails, a lot of people just don’t know about them.
There are actual "cold air intakes" which remove restrictions from the air intake system. If used in conjunction with other parts and/or a programmer, you could see substantial gains, particularly with a turbocharged engine.
There is at least one thing I gotta say agree to disagree, which is fine, and that's cold air intakes. You might be basing your opinion on your set up or experiences, and I do agree with what you're saying here, but a properly set up cold air intake will get air from outside of the engine bay (unless it's very poorly designed, even the OEM intakes will get the air from the front of the engine bay so essentially they pull air that is coming in from the grill area, not exactly ideal but not "hot air" from within the engine bay), everything will be closed off from the engine bay which helps keep the air as cool as possible for as long as possible and it definitely helps performance even if only slightly. It's hard to argue with that last point as countless people have tested it with dyno testing. You're probably not going to see huge numbers but you might get 4-10hp, or even more in some cases. You can get the cheaper intakes which might help a little or you can customize it to your hearts content, funnel that intake from wherever you wish to get your air. Most people try to isolate it as far from the engine as possible, obviously, and bring it down below the engine bay so it's sucking up air from below.
I know I probably sound like a K&N salesman at this point and I don't want to come off as angry that you're attacking my precious investment or anything (I haven't upgraded my intake) but I just wanted to try to explain that it's not snake oil. All that being said, it's probably not worth the money for overlanding which is why I have no intentions of upgrading it until I have more money than sense.
Limb risers are moreso helpful for keeping limbs from tearing up your wipers. I've broken 2 wiper blades from limbs, got risers and haven't broke one yet. Don't care about pinstripes, im wheeling not doing a show and shine. Pinstripes just show you use thse vehicles for what they are meant to do.
I have a family of 5. With kids (one bottle fed) we go through water. Even with no showers. Overlanding for me is quite a bit different for others because of the 3 small kids but let me say i run at gvwr so i just carry the lifesaver jug and nothing else and it's been terrific. 5 gallons of water only isn't safe enough for me with my family but with that jug i can get water from anywhere and poof I don't have to carry more then 5 gallons ever. If you dont have kids especially younger ones ya save the $. We have to filter water at home so i use it in the kitchen too tho. 20k gallons of filter.
Hi mate great vid. But the water thing is a location thing here in Australia, Africa water and remoteness is a huge thing. And your challenge first I agree limb raises are B.S but you said find someone that needs them more.... TH-cam or Google wild bull catchers/ buffalo catcher Australia.... we do use tracks at all.
I was kinda with you, besides the water, until you said cold air intakes dont give you any performance. Unfortunately thats just not true. If you invest in an "open air" cold air intake than your gains will be minimal. As with anything cheap you get what you pay for but a nice cold air intake built by a reputable company will absolutely give you hp and torque gains. This has been proven numerous time on dynometers. Love the channel, love the jeeps, and i hope to make it to the Ozarks to wheel one day! Keep wheelin bro
From South Africa cold air intake different to an elevated air intake (snorkle).
My 2 most unusual but key for solo travelling vice, pull-pal
Stoichiometric air/fuel ration 14.7 to 1. Why I remember that from shop class 25 years ago, I have no idea. Good video though. I think a lot of us go overkill on gear and dont step back and say, do I reallly need this or does it just look cool.
Grandpa taught me to use a Farm Jack (Hi-Lift) as a young boy on the farm. I would never consider using it as a come along. I can change a tire with mine. I do agree they are decorations for most people they are hey look at me decorations.
Thought you made all good points. Great tips, especially the excess water.
I will agree with you on moat, like you said agree to disagree. But as a mechanic and now teaching automotive and diesel technology I will 100 percent disagree on the intake portion. Cold air yes I agree with that part but not the air itself. Computer doesn't control amount of air in just how much fuel is injected. And I think personally from years and years of experience that snorkels are overrated and not needed and don't do what people think they do. A snorkel is only useful if everything is 💯 sealed in the engine bay. Come out to wyoming and I will show you some tight trails. Good video and keep up the great work.
If you use up all/most of your water on a trip that means you didn't bring enough water. You're supposed to have extra water -- it's for if you get stranded.
Now, I guess if you're with a lot of people or only riding where there are always crowds you don't have to worry about that. But if you're going anywhere on your own, extra water means you're doing it right.
Of course there's a balance. Like you said you don't really want to be carrying around just tons and tons of extra.