The 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ gets a jack mount from Hi-Lift Jacks and Accessories

I was talking to Austin Harrah from Hi-Lift Jacks and Accessories about the fact I had nowhere to mount the New Hi-lift jack on Kelsey’s Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ. I sure did not feel comfortable about the jack getting mounted inside the Jeep. Austin tells me do not worry about it Hi-Lift Jacks and Accessories have just what I need to get the job done to secure the jack in a safe way on the Jeep.

A few days later the FedEx truck pulls up with some boxes from Hi-Lift and Kelsey and I get started on mounting the jack with all the new stuff on her Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Included from Hi-Lift was a cool new neoprene jack cover (NJC), handle keeper (HK-B) and the answer to my problem the Hi-Lift tube mount (TM-700)

Hi-Lift Handle Keeper (HK-B)
This is a really rugged polyurethane Handle-Keeper that holds the Hi-Lift handle to the upright steel bar. It works great in keeping the handle in place when not in use and eliminating "rattling" during driving down the road or makes it make easier for storage.

This Handle-Keeper easily slips on and off over the Hi-Lift Top Clamp-Clevis to allow for proper use of the Hi-Lift Jack. The unique design eliminates the need to remove the Top Clamp-Clevis for putting on or taking off the Handle-Keeper.

*NOTICE: IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE HANDLE-KEEPER TO BE REMOVED DURING JACK USE TO ALLOW THE HANDLE TO BE PLACED IN THE FULL UPRIGHT POSITION AS STATED IN THE HI-LIFT SAFETY INSTRUCTION MANUAL.

• Handle-Keeper Features & Specifications:
• Fits all models of Hi-Lift® brand jacks
• Available in two colors - Black & Red

Hi-Lift Neoprene Jack Cover (NJC)
Ok after being around this great jack since the 70’s. I know for a fact that keeping the “stuff” out of the mechanism of the Hi-lift jack is the secret to a long life and easy use. So getting this cover makes it very easy to protect the Jack assembly and keep mud, dirt and road grime from causing you problems. The Hi-Lift Neoprene Jack Cover product is designed to greatly reduce the amount of dirt and mud that can accumulate in the working mechanism of the jack. Remember - It WILL NOT eliminate ALL moisture or dirt.

•Easy On, Easy Off
•Tight Fit
•Fast Drying
•Machine Washable
•UV Protected

Now for the secret to getting the Hi-Lift Jack mounted on her Jeep.
Hi-Lift Adjustable Tube Mount (TM-700)
Two sizes offered:
•TM-700 is adjustable for tubing 1"-2" in diameter.
•TM-750 is adjustable for tubing 2"-3" in diameter.

Hi-Lift Adjustable Tube Mount is manufactured of 6061-T6 structural aluminum with stainless steel hardware. The really cool part is that there is “No drilling required”.
We just got the mounts in place and bolted them loosely till we could get the Hi-Lift Jack in place where we wanted it. Re-adjusted the mounts on the tire carrier and bolted all together again. After the jack was placed where we wanted it - out comes the hand tools and everything was tightened down really good.

So – After we had the Hi-Lift Jack package installed on the Jeep. The 96 ZJ Grand Cherokee was loaded on the car trailer and off we went to Southern Four Wheel Drive Association’s “Dixie Run 24” October 2010.

The mount worked GREAT and there was no noise at all from the Hi-Lift Jack or its components. After the first trail ride ended - when we got back to camp I doubled checked to see if everything was still tight – it was all still as tight as when the Jack was installed. Big Hats off to the gang at Hi-Lift Jacks and Accessories on another great new product from a great AMERICAN company still building products here in the USA.

Staff Writer,
Greg G
PowerandPlay.com

Installing Olympic 4x4 products Rockslide bumpers on the 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ

I was talking to Eric from Olympic 4x4 products about my concerns on Kelsey’ Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ rocker panels. After a few rides they were already getting beat on pretty good. Eric tells me that what I need is to install a set of their Rockslide bumpers and that would take care of the Jeep from trail damage.

Well – a short time later I get these two boxes and let me tell you these boxes not only arrived in great condition but my goodness if the weight of the boxes said anything it was Heavy-duty. Yes those bad boys are made from .120” inch heavy –duty wall 2 ½” round diameter steel tubing.

The only tools needed were:
• 3/8” and ½” drive ratchets
• Socket wrenches sizes 7/16” and 9/16”
• Socket wrenches sizes 7/16” and 9/16”
• Open end combination wrenches sizes 7/16” and 9/16”
• Drill
• 5/16” drill bit
• Punch or marker
• Cutting oil

First think is to hold the nerfs up against the unibody which we did free hand first but then found the best thing is a floor jack and some jack stands. Now the really cool thing that I found that the Olympic 4x4 products crew does is weld on the nerfs which side they fit such as Passenger side shown. Now this may sound simple but they are so close in fit it could really be a pain to figure out which side fit correctly.

So we get the bar up mark the holes with a punch and remove the nerfs to drill the holes. We then repositioned the nerfs and used the 3/8” self-tapping bolts to attach the bars to the Jeep. The other neat part of the Olympic 4x4 products nerfs is the outside bracket that attaches to the body pinch rail.

After we got both sides installed we just had to take the floor jack and try the nerfs – They held the Jeep with no problems and look really great also.

Next item on the list is trying them in the woods so – off to the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association’s “Dixie Run 2010”. As you can see by the video they got tried on the trail and are now officially “Tennessee Tested”. Eric can brag all he wants about testing product on the Rubicon but that means nothing till it get beat up in the Southeastern USA! The really good part we slammed a rock so hard guessing without these Heavy-duty nerfs you would not be able to open the doors on that Jeep Grand Cherokee now without them being installed.

PowerandPlay Trail Riding SFWDA Dixie Run 2010 Golden Mountain Park

PowerandPlay Trail Riding SFWDA Dixie Run 2010 Golden Mountain Park
Having some fun in the woods trail riding Golden Mountain park trails before the SFWDA.org Dixie Run 2010 gets kicked into high gear.
We got the chance to attend the Dixie Run 2010 manufactures/ Vendors ride and had a blast. Great people and great trails in the “Volunteer” state Tennessee. As always the crew with Southern Four Wheel Drive Association did a great job with the Dixie Run 2010… PowerandPlay.com can hardly wait till next year to see what Dixie Run 25 has in store for it… My goodness those guys have already been planning for next years event… See ya in the Woods~!
Greg G
Staff Writer PowerandPlay.com

Southern Four Wheel Drive Association’s - Dixie Run 2010

Southern Four Wheel Drive Association’s - Dixie Run 2010
This weekend is SFWDA.org Dixie Run 2010. The weather looks absolutely awesome – ya better bring a coat. Plus the trail report is that they are rough and challenging. The vendor ride is Thursday and PowerandPlay.com is looking forward to getting in the woods and seeing everybody once again at Golden Mountain Park.
The Dixie Run has been covered by most every one of the off road magazines and has even been shown on several TV shows including Spike TV. It is the main fundraising effort for SFWDA.org in helping with its ongoing battle to re-open the Tellico OHV Park near Murphy, North Carolina. The Dixie Run event itself will generate well over a million dollars in economic impact to the Sparta, Tennessee area that the people of Murphy, NC must not miss.
PowerandPlay.com is setting up in the vendor area and filming the vendor ride. Make sure and come by the booth to say hey and see what we broke on the trail. Fun, Family and fellowship is what Dixie Run is all about. It is great that manufacture and jobbers that compete every day to be the one you buy from is there eating and riding together and putting the business world to the back burner.
24 years and counting… Heck we are already looking forward to Dixie Run 25 (2011)… And this year has not even happened yet~!

See ya in the woods,
Greg G – Staff writer
www.powerandPlay.com

Forest Service study says negative effect on local economy will be minimal – Yep and national health care will pay for its self!

Forest Service study says negative effect on local economy will be minimal – Yep and national health care will pay for its self!

PowerandPlay.com - This is all so classic of our NEW world government of the future. It is also a lot of BS. The economic impact of Dixie Run 2009 to the Sparta Tennessee area was 1.5 million dollars. The study that the local forest service claims is no where near what...... the private and Government trails teams studies found. Compare a tank of fuel in a truck to a motorcycle. The food purchased to carry in a truck as opposed to carried on a motorcycle - They have killed the local economy and do not care. Tell me which carries more and causes the most economic impact!! The greenies are once again moving to make sure that their agenda is carried out no matter what happens to REAL people~!
Read the article at:

http://www.cherokeescout.com/articles/2009/10/20/news/doc4ade11732f0f4994576184.txt

SFWDA.org Dixie Run 2009 less than 4 weeks away – Come by the PowerandPlay.com display and say hi~!

SFWDA.org Dixie Run 2009 less than 4 weeks away – Come by the PowerandPlay.com display and say hi~!

Make sure if you are attending the Southern Four Wheel Drive Associations Dixie Run 2009 to come by our display and say hi. We will have some great new items on site for order and hopefully our new PowerandPlay.com easy up plus our PowerandPlay chairs. We look forward to a fun weekend of family fun and great rail riding. We will be taking pictures and even video at the event. See ya there PowerandPlay.com team.