I love the silence in your videos when you show sunsets and the vastness of the places you travel, tires crunching the gravel etc. Another wonderful video, thank you.
Hello Chris, So my routine is; wake up early Saturday mornings (5am) with a cup of coffee while watching your videos. It’s a great way for us weekend warriors to start the weekend...
Chris Kuempel we need more chill and adventure in our lives. I have been building my Jeep for a couple months for a trip from Florida to Colorado in July.
What I really enjoy about your videos besides the amazing scenery and great photography, is that (unlike many other RUclipsrs) you don't feel the need to have blaring background music. It is so nice to be able to hear the wind blowing, mud falling off your Jeep, crackle of your camp fire, even the sounds of your footsteps. It gives me such a peaceful feeling and makes the video seem more realistic, like we are actually here with you. I also appreciate the effort you put in as I can imagine how much of a pain it must be to have to set up your camera and then walk or drive back just so you can get the shot of you going by. If you're ever in northwest NV my property backs up to BLM land so there is plenty of camping spots.
The old railroad beds and your hand drawn pictures were interesting. New vehicle? JEHUMMER ? You videos are fun to watch. Man what a muddy mess on your Jeep. Thanks for taking us with you. Have Fun. Don't forget to check the tomatoes out in the grocery stores. She may be there!
Your vlogs remind me of the nature segments on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt that I would watch every week as a kid. The silence, the sounds of nature. Your minimalist approach to narration. A true delight. I'm a Jeep owner who one day hopes to take a few journeys of my own.
Chris, you are killing me. I wish I was out doing what you’re doing. I have a year and a half before my kids are all in college and gone, then I can take off and see this great country of ours. Thanks for the vids!
Opening shot is gorgeous, as is 3:06 and 12:10, really all of it. You frame/compose video like it is a photograph, which I've always appreciated in cinematography.
Mojave Road is a great trip. I recommend everyone who has a chance to do this. Thanks for your coverage of this iconic road. There is so many little hidden gems out in the Mojave along this road they need exploring. Note: The Soda Dry Lake bed where the travelers mound is located contains some corrosive salt mix that will do unexpected unwanted damage to your under carriage if you do not clean it off thoroughly.
Kangaroo rat. Get them in camp all the time when south of Quartzsite for hunting. Have no issue coming right up into your business, getting shooed away, and coming back for more. As brave as they are adorable and quirky. And much prefer them to the various rattlers, sidewinders, and scorpions that wander their way into camp.
Loved your Mojave Road episode. You have inspired me to get out and start a little over landing. I have to start from scratch. Just a Ford F-150 FX4. I have watched all your episodes from the start. I admire your GRIT.
I bought a 2016 Wrangler Sport about 2 months ago. I absolutely love it! And I’m really enjoying watching your videos of all your travels! Safe Travels!!👍🏽😬
That looked pretty amazing.... great road! Sorry to see the mechanical problems, hope you get them all worked out soon. Look forward to your next episode!
I recently found your channel, and have been enjoying watching your videos. And then I see that we just missed each other at the Mojave Road Mailbox! I signed at the top of the page where you signed, at 12:45 in the video. Too bad, I could have started watching your videos months ago. Best of luck in your travels, and keep up the good work!
You spent my birthday on one of my favorite places on earth! The Mojave. Glad you made it through the "dry lake" since it is a real disaster if you get stuck out there. Which happens often with Mojave newbies when it's recently rained there. A few yards either way off the main tracks and you'll end up stuck up to your axles in mud. Looking forward to next week! As for the sway bar gizmo, I installed a Currie Antirock sway bar. Love it! Works great on the road and off road, and you don't need to mess with disconnects. Look into it!
I’m doing half of the Mojave road in mid April. Thanks for sharing the depot being closed on Tuesday and Wednesday ...........we’ll be there on Tuesday ugh
Spray those connectors with WD40 followed by blowing them out with air from your compressor, connect them (put some dielectric grease around the connectors if you have it) and disconnect your battery for a hard reboot and your sway bar disconnect issues should be over. Had it happen to my buddy’s JK and I had it back in business in about 15 minutes.
If your adventures ever bring you to the East side of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico. Find SR-14, the Turquoise Trail, about 4 miles up the road off of I-40 you'll find Trail Rider Pizza. It's a family owned place you might like I'll buy you a pie if it works out.. Your drawings & explanation on the swaybar disconnect were great.
Sway bar - Some will tell you the electronic sway bar is junk and you should replace it. However, for your use it is a nice feature. They can last a long time if they don't get water past the gaskets and inside. Not just the electric part, but the mechanical part. Try to save yours. Open up the mechanical portion and check for water or corrosion. Clean it out and re-grease it. It will probably work again. Good luck. Also, make sure you get all that mud from the lake washed off. It is salty and corrosive.
I see now how people express themselves in public places. In Europe it's graffiti, in the UK it's litter and in the States it's bullet holes! As an experienced desert traveller I think the SW USA has the most interesting desert landscapes on the planet. Great vid.
1) electronic sway bar - take it out and apart to clean out muck and grease up (see motocheez video) or get manual disconnects from Amazon $125-175 (JKS or Teraflex). 2) mice - hate peppermint, strobe lights and noise. I have a peppermint spray that I sprayed my wiring with, and I check the air filter from time to time as it’s a favorite nesting spot. Amazon has some devices that emit ultrasonic sound and strobe light under the hood when engine is off (have auto kill if battery goes below certain voltage). Loraffe is one brand.
ALL AWESOME Info. While I've used the sonic repellers without much success, I'm still game to give it a try for $15. Where did you get Peppermint Spray? I TOTALLY need to put that on my air filters in our cars, which become nests.
As someone already mentioned if your electronic swaybar is toast the Evo manual retrofit works really well. It literally takes 15 seconds to disconnect or connect. Added plus is its cheap. Keep the great vids rolling.
IDK if you read these comments, Chris. If you do, my advice would be to disconnect the e-disco harness, let it dry out and wrap it with rubber or silicon tape so no further moisture gets inside. Then either install a manual conversion kit or a standard swaybar and disconnects. I went through two of them before giving up on them. Many others have had the same issues. Worse, there's a sensor inside the connector that can cause random CANBUS errors if it gets junked up (I know one person who actually had to cut-off the connector to get his JK running again). Although convenient when it works, ultimately it's not worth the trouble, especially since it can go haywire and leave you stranded.
Welcome to the sway bar light club. If you haven't already figured it out, make sure to check if you are stuck connected or disconnected. If the electrical connection is shot from water, the Evo manual disconnect is the cheaper solution.
Too bad no shots of you going through the Mojave River in Afton. I bet you didn’t want to go through it more than once. This year is the deepest I’ve ever seen it.
Oh wow! I found this old video I started to watch and got distracted or something. Found it when trying to thin out the 500 some tabs I have open. For a bit I thought that tire was yours. whew that didn't look good at all.
LOVE THE JEEP:) AND THE TENT-LOOKING INTO A 4 door also! Trying to wait for the diesel , however, if the price is too high anything from a 2007 to current as i will have a URSO minor top put on, along with a good winch (just in case) I have never roughed it before down to a crosstrek awd, but the clearance on this crosstrek is nice 8.9 inches until i get my new jeep. Been jeeping since 1990:) Your definitely an explorer! Speaking of that my youtube channel is Shameless Xplorer.
I personally don't worry about sway bars. Usually when I get a vehicle the first thing I do is take off the sway bars and beef up the suspension in other ways. I find they are more of a nuisance than anything.
If you get into Lake Havasu we can show you some great trails after getting all that mud off. And gas is only $2.45. We also have a great independent Jeep expert to take a look at that sway bar disconnect.
I have traveled on this road when I lived in California. When I came to that pile of rocks , it had a historical sign there. That said " At this exact location in 1898, nothing happened". Did you not see it there?
The frogs are freaking me out. Nightmares tonight. On the disconnect, seems every Jeep in my club that goes through water has the auto disconnect fail, and it's not a cheap part. Mine is not Rubicon, so I have the JKS quicker disconnects. It doesn't care what you go through, but unfortunately you have to get under a muddy dripping Jeep to put them back when you're done. Sure would be nice to hit a button...
If the electronic disconnect motor itself didn't bonk out, you may be able to clean up the electronics parts by rinsing really well with 99% isopropyl alcohol and blow it out really well, then let it evaporate out overnight. If you get it working again, dab some dielectric grease on the contacts to repel moisture.
There are some good videos addressing the electronic sway bar disconnect issue. The internal mechanical parts can get all gummed up with dirt/mud and fail to function. Taking it apart and giving it a good clean, and grease has worked for others. Apparently, it’s a thing with this piece of equipment on the JKUR. Good luck with it! ruclips.net/video/fr8ePuMqFxA/видео.html
G' Day All, Nice info, Thank You, Will be driveing my 04 Ford 4x4 super duty lifted Van with Blu Dog from Venice Fl west as far as land do last, trying to stay in cool world Sept, Oct, Nov heading North West, Cheers To All Joseph
At 4:58 there's a weird noise comming from your jeep. Do you know what it could be because i have a similar noise on my jeep and i can't seem to pin point it? Thanks
Nice setup sir; sold my JK & grabbed a JL, so the depletion of savings account begins again. Starting w/ 2” lift & 35s, but you have some good gear that I’ll partially emulate. Does the Rotopax holder on the rear work with the Mopar tailgate reinforcement bracket? Looks like that’s what you have, but can’t tell.
I love the silence in your videos when you show sunsets and the vastness of the places you travel, tires crunching the gravel etc. Another wonderful video, thank you.
Hello Chris, So my routine is; wake up early Saturday mornings (5am) with a cup of coffee while watching your videos. It’s a great way for us weekend warriors to start the weekend...
KN4RUF KN4RUF I do the exact same thing.
Chris Kuempel we need more chill and adventure in our lives. I have been building my Jeep for a couple months for a trip from Florida to Colorado in July.
Gino KN4RUF Nice. Where in Florida? I’d love to drive my Jeep from Fl to Colorado. Especially to Ouray
LSanti from Sarasota area,
Thanks so much for the quiet in this video.
Good video 👍
What I really enjoy about your videos besides the amazing scenery and great photography, is that (unlike many other RUclipsrs) you don't feel the need to have blaring background music. It is so nice to be able to hear the wind blowing, mud falling off your Jeep, crackle of your camp fire, even the sounds of your footsteps. It gives me such a peaceful feeling and makes the video seem more realistic, like we are actually here with you.
I also appreciate the effort you put in as I can imagine how much of a pain it must be to have to set up your camera and then walk or drive back just so you can get the shot of you going by.
If you're ever in northwest NV my property backs up to BLM land so there is plenty of camping spots.
I have a whole new appreciation for Jeeps, after watching this video. Thanks for sharing!
The old railroad beds and your hand drawn pictures were interesting. New vehicle? JEHUMMER ? You videos are fun to watch. Man what a muddy mess on your Jeep. Thanks for taking us with you. Have Fun. Don't forget to check the tomatoes out in the grocery stores. She may be there!
Your vlogs remind me of the nature segments on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt that I would watch every week as a kid. The silence, the sounds of nature. Your minimalist approach to narration. A true delight. I'm a Jeep owner who one day hopes to take a few journeys of my own.
The are seriously some of the best videos on RUclips for 4x4, overland, campings, etc.
Thanks for the ride, I think that weird pokeman thing was a kangaroo rat!
Reflections can freak you out.
Chris, you are killing me. I wish I was out doing what you’re doing. I have a year and a half before my kids are all in college and gone, then I can take off and see this great country of ours. Thanks for the vids!
I love your videos man.
Opening shot is gorgeous, as is 3:06 and 12:10, really all of it. You frame/compose video like it is a photograph, which I've always appreciated in cinematography.
Another great week, excellent, thanks Chris.
Mojave Road is a great trip. I recommend everyone who has a chance to do this. Thanks for your coverage of this iconic road. There is so many little hidden gems out in the Mojave along this road they need exploring.
Note: The Soda Dry Lake bed where the travelers mound is located contains some corrosive salt mix that will do unexpected unwanted damage to your under carriage if you do not clean it off thoroughly.
Those little drawings 😂 loved it!
Love the large panoramic frames, well actually, the whole shoot was fantastically scenic. Great video, Chris.
Nice adventure , I really like it 🔶🔷
“That weird Pokémon thing” LOL
Kangaroo rat. Get them in camp all the time when south of Quartzsite for hunting. Have no issue coming right up into your business, getting shooed away, and coming back for more. As brave as they are adorable and quirky. And much prefer them to the various rattlers, sidewinders, and scorpions that wander their way into camp.
natedawgg99 when you live in the Eastern US it is easy to forget the diversity of plants and wildlife in a country this big. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the hard work that you put into this video. Enjoyed every turn and hill. Will check out your other videos.
The illustrations are just plain awesome!
Another great watch, thanks for sharing.
Another great journey! Love it!
Great Video. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
Always excited for your video! Clicked that Like button instantly!
I loved this episode. Keep on going, man. I know you’ve been thinking of putting down roots, but you’ve got a full blown channel now. Keep it going!
Another interesting video - thanks for sharing. Enjoy the rest of you adventure
Loved your Mojave Road episode. You have inspired me to get out and start a little over landing. I have to start from scratch. Just a Ford F-150 FX4. I have watched all your episodes from the start. I admire your GRIT.
Great video 👍🏼👍🏼
I love your videos.... i just got my jeep and need to learn so much - thank you for explaining the sway bar button..... :)
I bought a 2016 Wrangler Sport about 2 months ago. I absolutely love it! And I’m really enjoying watching your videos of all your travels! Safe Travels!!👍🏽😬
The lava tube looked really cool! Great side adventure!
5:27 LOL. Interesting historical reference you made me aware of. Boraxo hand soap, vintage, Twenty Mule Team. A blast from the past. Amazing.
yo - venture. another fine trip. thanks (and for the natural sounds instead of background racket (music?)).
I find that so annoying.
I’m amazed that you bring a pen, a sharpie and paper with you while overlanding. 😂
Look forward to catching up on your adventures each week, really appreciate how you tell the story!
That looked pretty amazing.... great road! Sorry to see the mechanical problems, hope you get them all worked out soon. Look forward to your next episode!
Awesome. Definitely on my bucket list. Thanks for bringing us along. A rock and a frog are a must from what I hear.
Super vlogs! Love these older Vlog style vids!
Glad you like them!
I recently found your channel, and have been enjoying watching your videos. And then I see that we just missed each other at the Mojave Road Mailbox! I signed at the top of the page where you signed, at 12:45 in the video. Too bad, I could have started watching your videos months ago. Best of luck in your travels, and keep up the good work!
You spent my birthday on one of my favorite places on earth! The Mojave.
Glad you made it through the "dry lake" since it is a real disaster if you get stuck out there. Which happens often with Mojave newbies when it's recently rained there. A few yards either way off the main tracks and you'll end up stuck up to your axles in mud. Looking forward to next week!
As for the sway bar gizmo, I installed a Currie Antirock sway bar. Love it! Works great on the road and off road, and you don't need to mess with disconnects. Look into it!
I’m doing half of the Mojave road in mid April. Thanks for sharing the depot being closed on Tuesday and Wednesday ...........we’ll be there on Tuesday ugh
Spray those connectors with WD40 followed by blowing them out with air from your compressor, connect them (put some dielectric grease around the connectors if you have it) and disconnect your battery for a hard reboot and your sway bar disconnect issues should be over. Had it happen to my buddy’s JK and I had it back in business in about 15 minutes.
Great Job
Patrolling the Mojave makes me wish for a nuclear winter...
Just found you channel and I absolutely love it, keep up the great work.
Ya, we totally saw you on 95, awesome.
great video like always!
Beautiful scenery, love the Mojave!
Nice exploration!
Enjoyed your adventure thanks for the road trip
Awesome. I became so caught up in the views and the story that I forgot you were recording this. It felt like I was there
Nice trail to ride these Mojave road... love the landscape overthere.... Greetings fom Europe
If your adventures ever bring you to the East side of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico. Find SR-14, the Turquoise Trail, about 4 miles up the road off of I-40 you'll find Trail Rider Pizza. It's a family owned place you might like I'll buy you a pie if it works out.. Your drawings & explanation on the swaybar disconnect were great.
Thank you Chris. Reminds me of another time in my life
Thank you.
Bro...mud is life...jeeps love mud...embrace the mud...sling the mud...dig the mud!!
Sway bar - Some will tell you the electronic sway bar is junk and you should replace it. However, for your use it is a nice feature. They can last a long time if they don't get water past the gaskets and inside. Not just the electric part, but the mechanical part. Try to save yours. Open up the mechanical portion and check for water or corrosion. Clean it out and re-grease it. It will probably work again. Good luck. Also, make sure you get all that mud from the lake washed off. It is salty and corrosive.
As much as my manual sway bars are sometimes, I prefer them. 1990 YJ.
"Goonies" still one of my favorite movies.
Another great video. Love the attention to detail in your drawings. Seven slots!
I see now how people express themselves in public places. In Europe it's graffiti, in the UK it's litter and in the States it's bullet holes! As an experienced desert traveller I think the SW USA has the most interesting desert landscapes on the planet. Great vid.
Awesome technical diagram of benefits of sway bar! (Coffee)
1) electronic sway bar - take it out and apart to clean out muck and grease up (see motocheez video) or get manual disconnects from Amazon $125-175 (JKS or Teraflex).
2) mice - hate peppermint, strobe lights and noise. I have a peppermint spray that I sprayed my wiring with, and I check the air filter from time to time as it’s a favorite nesting spot. Amazon has some devices that emit ultrasonic sound and strobe light under the hood when engine is off (have auto kill if battery goes below certain voltage). Loraffe is one brand.
ALL AWESOME Info. While I've used the sonic repellers without much success, I'm still game to give it a try for $15. Where did you get Peppermint Spray? I TOTALLY need to put that on my air filters in our cars, which become nests.
Okay, found it on Amazon - THANKS!!
That's not just a movie! It's The Goonies!
Good sway bar explanation, I wondered how those things worked, what they did.
As someone already mentioned if your electronic swaybar is toast the Evo manual retrofit works really well. It literally takes 15 seconds to disconnect or connect. Added plus is its cheap. Keep the great vids rolling.
Always Great!!!
Great work
Good thing no mud got slung on the passenger side 😁
Good one 👍👍🇨🇦
IDK if you read these comments, Chris. If you do, my advice would be to disconnect the e-disco harness, let it dry out and wrap it with rubber or silicon tape so no further moisture gets inside. Then either install a manual conversion kit or a standard swaybar and disconnects. I went through two of them before giving up on them. Many others have had the same issues. Worse, there's a sensor inside the connector that can cause random CANBUS errors if it gets junked up (I know one person who actually had to cut-off the connector to get his JK running again). Although convenient when it works, ultimately it's not worth the trouble, especially since it can go haywire and leave you stranded.
Great episode Chris!!!!! Maybe it’s time for a new Jeep!!!
Killer sunset by the dunes!
Incredible shot at 9:16!!!!
Welcome to the sway bar light club. If you haven't already figured it out, make sure to check if you are stuck connected or disconnected. If the electrical connection is shot from water, the Evo manual disconnect is the cheaper solution.
THX FOR SHARING !! BE SAFE
Dangit! We are going the end of March (28th-31st) Thanks for your excellent coverage.
Mohave Road is definitely on my bucket list... nice vid!
Mojave Road, Mohave is the Arizona spelling, just saying. Carry on...
Too bad no shots of you going through the Mojave River in Afton. I bet you didn’t want to go through it more than once. This year is the deepest I’ve ever seen it.
Nice. Love the primitive nature of the Mojave Road. Too bad graffiti makes its way to such remote areas. Next week!
GREAT VIDEO THANK UOI@
Oh wow! I found this old video I started to watch and got distracted or something. Found it when trying to thin out the 500 some tabs I have open. For a bit I thought that tire was yours. whew that didn't look good at all.
LOVE THE JEEP:) AND THE TENT-LOOKING INTO A 4 door also! Trying to wait for the diesel , however, if the price is too high anything from a 2007 to current as i will have a URSO minor top put on, along with a good winch (just in case) I have never roughed it before down to a crosstrek awd, but the clearance on this crosstrek is nice 8.9 inches until i get my new jeep. Been jeeping since 1990:) Your definitely an explorer! Speaking of that my youtube channel is Shameless Xplorer.
I personally don't worry about sway bars. Usually when I get a vehicle the first thing I do is take off the sway bars and beef up the suspension in other ways. I find they are more of a nuisance than anything.
Highlight of my Friday’s 🤲
Illustrations....👍👍
If you get into Lake Havasu we can show you some great trails after getting all that mud off. And gas is only $2.45. We also have a great independent Jeep expert to take a look at that sway bar disconnect.
You should make that second illustration into a t shirt.
SWEET, I have been here!
Thanks, have a great evening!
I have traveled on this road when I lived in California. When I came to that pile of rocks , it had a historical sign there. That said " At this exact location in 1898, nothing happened". Did you not see it there?
Awesome
Goonies!,,yesss!
19:33 love that shot
That expensive gas station is famous for local off-road people.
They start their half day course there to Yermo area thru desert area.
The frogs are freaking me out. Nightmares tonight. On the disconnect, seems every Jeep in my club that goes through water has the auto disconnect fail, and it's not a cheap part. Mine is not Rubicon, so I have the JKS quicker disconnects. It doesn't care what you go through, but unfortunately you have to get under a muddy dripping Jeep to put them back when you're done. Sure would be nice to hit a button...
23:50 Hand over Chris' left shoulder....spooky. 👻
If the electronic disconnect motor itself didn't bonk out, you may be able to clean up the electronics parts by rinsing really well with 99% isopropyl alcohol and blow it out really well, then let it evaporate out overnight. If you get it working again, dab some dielectric grease on the contacts to repel moisture.
There are some good videos addressing the electronic sway bar disconnect issue. The internal mechanical parts can get all gummed up with dirt/mud and fail to function. Taking it apart and giving it a good clean, and grease has worked for others. Apparently, it’s a thing with this piece of equipment on the JKUR. Good luck with it! ruclips.net/video/fr8ePuMqFxA/видео.html
G' Day All, Nice info, Thank You, Will be driveing my 04 Ford 4x4 super duty lifted Van with Blu Dog from Venice Fl west as far as land do last, trying to stay in cool world Sept, Oct, Nov heading North West,
Cheers To All Joseph
There are videos on you tube on how to fix your sway bar disconnect.
At 4:58 there's a weird noise comming from your jeep. Do you know what it could be because i have a similar noise on my jeep and i can't seem to pin point it?
Thanks
Nice setup sir; sold my JK & grabbed a JL, so the depletion of savings account begins again. Starting w/ 2” lift & 35s, but you have some good gear that I’ll partially emulate.
Does the Rotopax holder on the rear work with the Mopar tailgate reinforcement bracket? Looks like that’s what you have, but can’t tell.