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Emily Joswiak

Reasons Why Jeep Wranglers Are Cool

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A Jeep Wrangler catches the eyes of many passersby when it’s on the road. Since its inception, the Jeep Wrangler has gained significant popularity for automotive enthusiasts, everyday commuters, and all vehicle drivers in between. There are many reasons why Jeep Wranglers are cool, but we narrowed down our selection to our top three. Check out why the Wrangler continues to garner so much admiration in the automotive industry.

Historic Roots

The creation of the Jeep Wrangler was an essential part of the US military’s triumph in WW2. Originally called the “Willys MB model,” the Wrangler arrived from Willys-Overland in response to the US government’s request for a reconnaissance vehicle.

The vehicle needed to be able to tackle various adverse terrains and supply ample cargo space. Every evolution of the Jeep Wrangler since then has maintained these admirable features. Since the vehicle helped the US and the Allied troops come out on top, its practicality is clear.

Their Off-Roading Capabilities

Their near-limitless versatility is one major reason why Jeep Wranglers are so cool. Whether you enjoy getting out in nature or not, you can appreciate this model’s ability to conquer mud trenches, steep sandhills, and sketchy snowbanks.

The Jeep Wrangler consistently ranks on top off-roading vehicle lists. Reviewers regularly commend it for its high clearance, true 4WD drivetrain, responsive suspension system, and plenty of other high-quality features ideal for off-roading. Even with all these revered components, Jeep still offers its Wranglers at a fair price as well.

Great for All Seasons

Clearly, the Jeep Wrangler has some serious adaptability. So, it may come as no surprise that it performs well in any season. Even in the most formidable of winters, the Jeep Wrangler remains a trusty and safe car.

As we reach the summer months, you can enjoy the removable rooftop feature to welcome more sun and fresh air as you drive. You’ll also look plain cool while on the road. Just be sure to prepare your Jeep for summer weather to ensure a smooth ride all season long.

How To Enhance Your Vehicle’s Towing Capabilities

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Imagine yourself cruising down the highway to your lakefront vacation or camping trip, towing along your supplies behind your truck. If you have a powerful truck and have ever wanted to use it to tow something, you may be wondering how to enhance your vehicle’s towing capabilities. With these tips, you’ll be towing a trailer, camper, or even a boat behind your truck in no time!

Choose the Right Hitch

Without a tow hitch, you won’t be able to tow anything. Without the right hitch, you may be able to tow, but the trip won’t be pretty. Choose a hitch with a weight rating appropriate to the weight of the object you’ll be towing. This will allow for proper weight distribution throughout your vehicle’s frame, which will help it to handle all that weight.

Invest in a Programmer

Investing in a vehicle programmer will give your vehicle the extra torque and horsepower it needs to tow a load. Programmers do this by adjusting the settings of the vehicle’s computer to provide this extra power. Keep in mind, you may sacrifice fuel efficiency for the additional power.

Improve the Braking System

When you’re towing a heavy load, your vehicle’s braking system is even more important than usual. Before towing with your vehicle, upgrade its braking system for the heavier weight and make sure that all its components are working properly. You should also ensure that a braking system is installed on whatever you’re towing, making it easier to stop.

Upgrade the Suspension

Next on the list of parts to upgrade is your vehicle’s suspension. Whenever you’re towing a heavy item, it can take a toll on your suspension system. To help distribute the weight and avoid potential maintenance issues, replace the parts of your system with heavy-duty parts. Installing a suspension lift kit to your vehicle can also help raise it a few inches and keep it from sagging under the weight of the item being towed.

Strengthen Your Axle

Like the suspension system, your vehicle’s axles will be put under a lot of pressure while towing. To keep your axles in good condition, consider replacing them with heavy-duty axles that can support more weight.

And there you have it—that’s how to enhance your vehicle’s towing capabilities. Before you jump to make these upgrades, however, be sure to check your vehicle’s towing capacity. If your vehicle isn’t built to handle the weight it’s towing, you risk seriously damaging your vehicle. Keep your vehicle and its load safe and be smart about any upgrades you choose to make.

The Most Common Causes of Transmission Failure

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If there are two words you don’t want to hear when taking your vehicle in to the mechanic, they are “transmission failure.” Few vehicle issues are more difficult and expensive to resolve. To avoid having to pay several thousands of dollars on a transmission rebuild or replacement, you need to prevent this costly problem from occurring in the first place. Below, we’ll address some of the most common causes of transmission failure so that you can take measures to avoid them.

Transmission Fluid Leaks

One of the top causes of transmission failure is the occurrence of transmission fluid leaks. Transmission fluid serves the important purpose of lubricating the moving parts of the transmission and protecting its surfaces from wear. If a leak occurs, the transmission won’t have an ample amount of fluid to provide lubrication. From there, friction will start to build up between the metal parts.

In addition to causing premature wear and tear, such friction will produce excess heat, which could cause the transmission to fail. To prevent a small leak from destroying your transmission, make sure to check your transmission fluid levels regularly. Since it doesn’t use up the fluid, low levels will indicate leak somewhere in the system.

Contaminated Transmission Fluid

In addition to low fluid levels, contaminated transmission fluid can also result in issues. Over time, fluid can become burned or contaminated with dust, flecks of metal, and other debris. In such cases, it won’t flow through the system properly, and excess friction and overheating may occur.

To prevent transmission failure, make sure to check the quality of your fluid regularly. If it appears discolored (it should have a translucent pinkish color) or has particles floating around inside it, you should have it changed. To further prevent any issues, you should also replace your transmission filter regularly.

Torque Converter Problems

Another one of the most common causes of transmission failure is a torque converter problem. A torque converter transfers rotating power from the engine to the transmission and then to the vehicle’s drive wheels. In addition, it also has a hydraulic pump that produces pressure that helps propel transmission fluid throughout the entire transmission. 

If the needle bearing on the torque converter wears down or becomes damaged, the converter may stop working properly. As a result, it won’t pump fluid throughout the transmission as it should, and the system will likely overheat and break down. To catch any torque converter problems before they result in a transmission failure, keep an eye out for common warning signs, such as whining noises, shuddering, gear slipping, or an inability to accelerate.

Quintessential Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids

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Summer is upon us, which means it’s time for your kids to finally get out of the house and enjoy what life is all about once the school year concludes. There are certain things we recall from growing up that made summers such a magical time, and it’s important as parents to give your child the same opportunities to create those memories. To help you remember what those memories might be, here are some quintessential outdoor summer activities for kids.

Pool Fun

With the summer heat always taking a toll, kids need a way to cool off when they are out playing. The first thing that comes to mind is going down a Slip ‘N Slide or running through sprinklers. Both are incredibly easy to set up and, more importantly, fun! Another essential for summer fun is heading to the pool, whether it’s yours or someone else’s. Pools offer an endless possibility of activities for kids and parents to enjoy!

Playground Visits

The next stop on the summer activity tour is the playground, where imagination runs wild. Like the pool, there’s no shortage of fun games kids can play here; parents can join in on the fun as well! COVID has limited the amount of socialization your child received in the past year. Now that things are heading in the right direction, a visit to the playground can continue your child’s development in many ways, such as giving them opportunities to interact with others in person.

Cruising Around the Block

Another quintessential outdoor summer activity for kids is riding around the block. This can be on a bike, skateboard, rollerblades, or even an electric car or scooter. Going for a ride in the neighborhood is great fun and exercise for you and your child.

Playing Sports

During the pandemic, kids might’ve also been kept from playing sports, but that might soon come to an end as well. Sports are another excellent way for kids to remain active. Summer is the perfect time to play outdoors, whether it’s just with friends or in a league.

Ice Cream!

The last activity on this list might not necessarily be very active, but it’s something every child should have the chance to enjoy. There’s not a lot that can give off that summer feeling more than hearing the sound of an ice cream truck in your neighborhood. In addition to all the activities to take part in this summer, make sure your child lives summer to its fullest with a delectable treat.

Small but Mighty: Things You Didn’t Know About Muscle Cars

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When you hear the term “muscle car,” your mind might immediately jump to an image of a hulking, intimidating monster truck. Despite what their name suggests, muscle cars aren’t very big at all. At best, they’re average size. But what they lack in size, they make up for in power. They’re high-performance vehicles that have taken American by storm for their power capabilities and unmatched aesthetic. Let’s take a look at what makes these small but mighty vehicles special. Here are some things you didn’t know about muscle cars.

Mysterious Origins

The term “muscle car” wasn’t popularized until the mid-1960s, but vehicles that fit the definition of a muscle car have been in production since the 1940s. There’s just one problem—no one can come to an agreement on which car was the first muscle car. Many enthusiasts claim that General Motors created the original muscle car in 1949, when they modified the small and lightweight Oldsmobile 88 by swapping out the stock engine for a powerful V8. However, others argue that the 1964 Pontiac GTO was the first genuine muscle car, since it was one of the first muscle cars produced after the concept was invented.

Turbo vs. Super

The next thing you didn’t know about muscle cars is that most of these super-powered vehicles feature either turbo or supercharged engines. Turbochargers and superchargers work by packing more oxygen into the engine’s cylinders, which allows them to burn more fuel and supply the engine with more power. Due to size restrictions, most muscle cars are outfitted with space-saving superchargers. However, turbochargers are a popular option in vehicles that can accommodate them. They’re more efficient than superchargers and come in a wider variety of types, including variable geometry, electric, and twin-scroll turbos.

Not Just USA

Muscle cars are extremely popular in the United States, but that doesn’t mean the US is the only place you’ll find these unique and powerful vehicles. They gained popularity in Australia around the same time that they became mainstream in the US. In fact, they were so popular that the government had to crack down on their use. The Supercar Scare of 1972 was the result of newly produced prototypes that could reach speeds of up to 170mph. People feared that these models would be too unsafe to drive on regular roads and that they would make motorsport races unfair. Today, manufacturers such as Chrysler, Ford, and Holden supply Australian enthusiasts with a wide variety of muscle cars to suit their needs.

Ways To Enjoy Your Favorite Sport

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Most sports enthusiasts have one sport that they can’t help but like more than the rest. Whether it’s football, baseball, basketball, soccer, or something else, they just can’t seem to get enough of it. Most people enjoy their favorite sport by closely following every game on TV, but you can engage with your hobby in other ways, too. Here are some alternative ways to enjoy your favorite sport.

Attend the Games

It’s one thing to experience a game from the comfort of home, and another thing entirely to experience it in person. If you’ve never been to a game before, consider buying tickets and heading out to the stadium. You don’t necessarily have to go see your favorite team, either. Go out and support your smaller, local teams! They might go big one day, and then, you can proudly say you were one of their original supporters.

Alternatively, you may have attended local games, but never a professional event. Securing tickets for an NFL game can prove difficult and expensive, but getting to attend your first professional game is often worth the cost. The same goes for events held by other popular sporting leagues, such as the NBA, MLB, and NHL.

Collect Memorabilia and Apparel

There’s nothing that screams “diehard fan” like having an entire room (or closet) dedicated to sports memorabilia and apparel. Collecting is a fun and rewarding hobby. Most sports memorabilia and apparel features both aesthetic and functional qualities, which means you aren’t just buying things that will sit in the attic collecting dust—you’re buying stuff that you and your family can actually use. You’ll have a jersey for every game, ergonomic coffee mugs for drinking, sporty decor for sprucing up the interior of your home, and much more.

Share Your Love of Sports With Your Kids

Sharing your passion with your loved ones—specifically, your kids—is a great and impactful way to enjoy your favorite sport. There’s nothing better than getting to teach your children about your hobbies. Show them how to play the sport, take them to games, and explain why your favorite team is number one. These are all fantastic bonding opportunities. You never know—they might end up loving the game as much as you do. Maybe they’ll even be a Hall of Famer one day!

The Different Types of Firefighters for Wildfires

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People who are up for a physically and mentally demanding career may find their niche with firefighting. There’s much more to firefighting than loud sirens and iconic helmets. In fact, in wildfire firefighting alone, there are roughly seven kinds of firefighter crews. This article looks at the different types of firefighters for wildfires who dedicate their lives to protecting nature’s beauty.

Hand Crew

A firefighter that’s part of a wildfire hand crew is on the frontline of battling blazes. Hand crews utilize both direct and indirect methods of fire suppression to distinguish intense outdoor fires.

A few different approaches to combatting harsh flames that hand crews use include making fire lines, burning areas out, and restoring burned spaces. Chainsaws, drip torches, firing devices, and other hazardous hand tools contribute to a common hand crew member’s arsenal of devices.

Fuels Crew

Fuels crew firefighters aim to replenish fire-adapted environments. They home in on pre-fire and post-fire factors of these environments, counteracting dangerous fuels with appropriate chemicals and clearing them from fire-prone ecosystems. Most fuels crews contain about ten members.

Engine Crew

Of the different types of firefighters for wildfires, engine crew firefighters focus on fire suppression and monitoring. The majority of their daily tasks are physically straining, which is why apt physical fitness is a must. Engine crews utilize a lot of durable firefighter hand tools to safely tend to their responsibilities.

Hotshot Crews

Hotshot crews are a hodgepodge of multifaceted firefighters. These firefighters are well-versed in wildfire suppression, their advanced knowledge and skillset typically leading them to highly demanding firefighting responsibilities. Hotshot crews may be requested to assist with dire wildfires in different parts of the country.

Helitack Crews

Due to their utilization of helicopters, helitack crews are almost always first to arrive at the scene of a wildfire. They help transport firefighting and medical personnel, as well as essential equipment, to aid fire extinguishing.

Smokejumpers

Like helitack crews, smokejumpers are often one of the first crews to respond to a wildfire call. They drop from aircraft directly into ongoing wildfire locations to employ immediate suppression tactics. Because a smokejumper role is risky, extensive training and experience are required before pursuing the position.

Wildland Fire Module

Firefighters that comprise a wildland fire module are highly skilled. They’re tasked with a wide variety of responsibilities, from monitoring fires to planning, prepping, and executing a fire management strategy. When blazes are suppressed using various methods, it’s common for wildland fire modules to construct other firefighters due to their considerable proficiency and experience.