Jeep JL Wrangler Off Road Rock Crawling Completely Stock on Last Chance Canyon Trail : JL JOURNAL

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and JLWrangler.com
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Although we have had a chance to take JET Li, our brand new 2018 Jeep JL Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited, out on dirt and even up some rocks down the street from us, what Cindy and I have been really dying to do, is put him to the test and out on one of our all time favorite trails, Last Chance Canyon. Located in the El Paso Mountains near the town of Ridgecrest, Last Chance Canyon is a relatively short but beautiful trail that's filled with tons of great history and of course, plenty of rocks that are just small enough for a bone stock Jeep to take on but still big enough for a built up Jeep to have fun on. In fact, it's because of this reason that we typically like to take people who are new to Jeeps, out on this trail and to give them their very first taste of wheeling.
In this episode of the JL Journal, you get to see totally raw and unscripted footage of JET Li taking on the rocks, out in Last Chance Canyon and totally bone stock. Clearly, what you'll see is far far from hardcore rock crawling but we think it'll give you some idea of what an JL Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited is capable of and right off the showroom floor. We will have to apologize ahead of time for the quality of this video as we were using a back-up camera the day this was filmed and it isn't exactly the best. We hope that you'll enjoy the video just the same.

[@2terryp]

Great to see someone put a brand spankin' new JL through its paces fearlessly. Note to FCA/Jeep: If you're watching, you should sponsor wayalife, or at least give 'em rock sliders.

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Thank you for the plug :)

[@succare]

I was hurting for the jeep on those rocks. I must give u props for taking it there. Great video!!

[@osamaelhawat2766]

Thank you 😊 for the wonderful trip Wayalife ,,,

[@wayalife]

Glad you liked it :)

[@brirhochistone]

Eddie, I've been watching your video's for years, they are what originally got me addicted to Jeep's! Thanks. I'm really enjoying the JL Journal so far also, I can't wait to see where it goes. Nice job as always!

[@wayalife]

Awesome, glad to hear you've been watching our videos for a while now and like our JL Journal as well. :)

[@JamplayJeff]

Great video! I am so amazed at how people can take brand-new cars like this and scrape them up! Ithink if I ever get a Wrangler i'll have to get one used!

[@sherryb9770]

You and your Mrs make a great team. Your videos are fun to watch. Nice to know what stock can do with a good driver.

[@wayalife]

Thank you, we really appreciate it and we're so glad that you enjoy our videos :)

[@srlewis29]

Yes ,we all have big dreams of getting to do this .This just brings them to life for a little bit. Great video. The capabilities are what makes it a wish lister .

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Glad you enjoyed what you saw :)

[@schoocg]

Great video. So nice to see how the JLU does stock. Impressive and informative! I am enjoying your contributions to KZbin. Thx.

[@wayalife]

Thank you :)

[@Gonzo1968]

Fairly new to the channel, but im loving what yall are doing. Its like a tutorial on how to use a rubicon JL! Videos are so professional as well! That jeep is so capable off the showroom floor its ridiculous! Looking forward to many more offroad adventures! Counting the days until one of those beautys is parked in my driveway! Keep on keeping on!

[@wayalife]

Thank you, we really do appreciate it and we're so glad that you enjoyed the video.

[@arrecho4x4]

Yeah, that is what i like, a stock jeep in a expert hand showing us the capabilities! This days 37, 40 and more are pretty common. Thanks!

[@wayalife]

LOL!! I'm far from being an expert but I am flattered by your kind words. 37's and 40's are very common now and they do have a way of making it so that you don't have to think as much on the trail.

[@jjscustomfabrications8234]

Another great video. You can really hear that fan around the 14 min mark. Thanks for posting.

[@wayalife]

This is an old one but glad you still enjoyed it :)

[@henryjones6957]

This is definitely the best "fresh outta box" Jeep ever. Impressive what you can do with it without any lift, spacers etc

[@wayalife]

It really is amazing what Jeep did with the JL

[@CoRy35744]

I really need to stop watching JL videos my JK might catch me.... love the vids btw, i'm jealous.

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Thank you, we're glad that you're enjoying them.

[@calebjamiesonjamieson9707]

Loving the videos 👍 I’m a Mechanic for Jeep in Australia, we don’t have the JL yet, but you guys are definitely making me want to put my name on the wait list!!

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Honestly, I think you're gonna love it :)

[@raptorboi9623]

Your a bosss! Love it when people aren't scared to take break in something new.

[@wayalife]

LOL!! All I did was put the skid plates to use :)

[@raptorboi9623]

Wayalife as you should! Great video

[@co4x4]

The sounds of the rocks crunching are great

[@wayalife]

LOL! It is kinda fun to hear :)

[@sherryb9770]

That was the sound of metal crunching. The rocks are fine. 😉

[@dobbins2550]

Yes.

[@mikejautosandstuff3349]

🤗awesome!!! Brand new too!! Well at least 4 years ago lol. I just bought a new wrangler rubicon 392 xtreme recon and I definitely WONT BE DOING WHAT YOU JUST DID 4 years ago lol. Major respect to you

[@wayalife]

LOL - Glad you enjoyed the video and congratulations to you.

[@alyssamiguel5752]

Wow that's amazing I hope to see more...

[@wayalife]

Thanks, glad to hear it :)

[@odatsun79]

Great video, as always! You really seem to capture the emptiness of the outdoors. Doesn’t seem like I ever see many other people wheeling when you go, at least in your vids.

[@wayalife]

LOL!! We got lucky on this trip. The trail is actually quite popular.

[@edwu8253]

The JL design looks more awesome- the more that i see them👍

[@marcoagricoli4117]

Best review I’ve seen to date on a stock JL Rubicon.

[@wayalife]

So glad to hear it. 😎

[@jacman619]

Another excellent video Eddie and Cindy! Your videos sharing your adventures and upgrades over the years have served me well with my 2014 JKUR build. Now as I get closer to that goal line of the last monthly payment, watching these Jet Li videos has me contemplating starting over again with a new JLUR. 😟🤔

[@wayalife]

Thank you, we're so glad to hear you've been enjoying our videos. The JL really a great Jeep and I'd be lying if I said you shouldn't consider one for yourself.

[@chuckhepler4157]

Whoever does your camera work is excellent. Love your editing. Scenery is gorgeous. Also, thanks for NOT having obnoxious music blasting in the background I have a ‘21 Rubicon like that. Pretty impressed. Thx

[@wayalife]

Awesome, thank you!

[@fwschnaar3179]

To add to the 197 Comments.... Thumbs Up Cindy and Eddie, and Trail Bud 😎 for another Great Video. The Writings on the Wall as You and the Team start to Slowly add the Mods to the JL... 👍

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Thanks, we really do appreciate it.

[@chrispastor4067]

Can't wait to see more videos with this!

[@wayalife]

Awesome, glad to hear you liked it :)

[@scuba1788]

Great video, can’t wait to see the upgrade process of your JL. I’ve recently started over with a 2015 since my 07’ caught fire and was a total loss a few weeks ago. Saddened by the loss of what I put into it. But now excited for the fresh start and progression of my new build.

[@wayalife]

Sorry to hear about your 07 but glad to hear you're still in it and starting over with a 15.

[@stealtheli]

I had to go to the Jeep dealership today. Looked at a JL today. They are nice. Again great video. That looked fun. Keep them coming.

[@wayalife]

Glad to hear it and hope you end up getting one.

[@Cardroid]

Really enjoyed the JL content on this channel! Can’t wait to see what you guys will do to it..

[@wayalife]

Thanks! We're so glad to hear it. More is coming your way for sure :)

[@RumrunnerAdventures]

Can't wait for the first time out with ours!!!!

[@desertchevy]

Been hooked on your vids great driving great editing keep it up see ya on the trail someday

[@wayalife]

Thank you, we really do appreciate it.

[@RCPlayGround]

Awesome rock crawling~!

[@wayalife]

LOL! Thanks

[@ericedmondson5214]

First time I ran across your videos. Probably because I am driving my first Wrangler (a shiny new orange JLU Rubicon :) Great example of what a stock Rubicon can do and I'm glad that all the off road bits and pieces do what they should (always wondered if those sliders would stand up to ... well ... sliding!). Only difference is mine has the 2.0L turbo which has been a real joy in all environments (so far anyway). Looking forward to seeing more of your vids! Great job!

[@wayalife]

Congrats to you!

[@kris_roro]

I’m enjoying your vids. Love the new JL!

[@wayalife]

Awesome, thanks!

[@24nathan48]

As with anything you and Cindy produce amazing job again. I was on the fence, but now I must have one, I'll make sure Jeep sends you a nice little slice of the proceeds. 🍻

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Thank you for the kind words :)

[@avstech4068]

Another awesome video guys, keep up the great work. More and more envious of you guys with every video you make ;) Cheers

[@wayalife]

Thank you. We're so glad you enjoy our videos :)

[@markjoppru8015]

Love it. Great job. Cool video

[@wayalife]

Thank you :)

[@drewg4357]

Just picked up a white 2018 JL Unlimited Rubicon and love it! Glad to see that it is more than capable to trek through these places, and look forward to doing this as well. I saw that you have NV plates, and as I am out of LV, I have yet to see another one of these roaming the streets. Keep up the excellent videos, I love em!

[@wayalife]

Congrats to you on your JL! We're up in Northern Nevada but we do have family in Henderson so we're down there all the time too.

[@taylorauldelectric8080]

Beautiful jL, going to be a great journal

[@wayalife]

Thank you

[@jlee6410]

New to watching you vids, Last Chance canyon is really close to where I live. Just bought a 2019 JL sport. Gonna put Dynatrac ProRock 44's on it, RockKrawler 2.5 X factor lift, 35's, and i'm sure a bunch more after that. Took last chance in my retired PoorRunner, can't wait to get my Jeep through there as a test run after my upgrades.

[@movette]

Amazing. Can’t imagine what you will do once you put the 40” tires.

[@iridemotorbikes]

Great video!!! JET Li kicking ass!

[@wayalife]

Thank you :)

[@andymckane7271]

Excellent video. Never been on that trail, but now I want to try it in a Rubicon. Fabulous driving with no apparent fear of where you were driving your Rubicon! And your wife's photography is first-rate, too. (You JL seemed to be a bit noisier on the road at the start of your video driving to the canyon than I experienced on the two fairly short test drives I've had in the JL Rubicon.) Thanks for sharing another superb video!

[@wayalife]

Thank you, we really do appreciate it. As far as the noise goes, it was windy out. By our account, it was pretty damn quite for all the wind we were having.

[@4X4MonthlyNZ]

Ive only just got a TJ and now wanting a JK and now the JL comes out! least that might drop the price of the JK's here in NZ haha love ya work guys, keep em coming!

[@souledoutrc8174]

This was a cool video especially seeing Doug Trailbud haven’t seen him since some of your older videos. Hopefully you can get together with some old friends and go out trailing.

[@wayalife]

LOL!! I was great having TrailBud with us again.

[@michael9678727]

Great video loved it all the way from Australia.

[@wayalife]

Awesome, it's great to see people from around the world enjoying our videos :)

[@michael9678727]

Wayalife yeah I can't believe it's taken me this long to find your awesome videos! I have a jk Rubicon and love wheeling it as much as possible!

[@RedRockCrawlers]

great to see this JL on the rocks, like the JK it looks very capable right from the factory!

[@wayalife]

From what we've seen, stock to stock, it's MORE capable than the JK.

[@RedRockCrawlers]

hopefully we'll get one someday. For now were still getting the most out of our JK

[@mrkennya80]

It seems more like a truck going over the rocks with the longer frame. Doesn’t seem to soak up the rocks like the 2 door jk rubicon. If it’s longer that means there’s usually more to get hung up on. Longer usually means more weight too.

[@SuperThunder911]

Awesome video, I just got a black 19 Rubicon,congrats brother

[@wayalife]

Congratulations to you :)

[@user-wc8yw4dw8w]

Thank you for sharing your trip. I love that you guys are taking your time to show the jeep with incremental changes and not doing a whole ton of mods at once. I've watched your videos with my son for years and I still don't have a jeep. The day "Rubicat on the Rubicon" was posted I almost went in and traded my FJ cruiser in for one, but I still haven't. I hope you guys have the time to keep going out and showing the difference as you do each mod. The stickers really seem to make a difference 😉

[@wayalife]

LOL!! The stickers gave us about 10 extra HP and improved our MPG by about 20 for sure. Who knew that advertising our website could be so beneficial ;) We'll definitely be covering the gamut of our JL and we hope you keep watching :)

[@user-wc8yw4dw8w]

Wayalife my 6 year old seemed to think it was the coolest thing ever how you showed the sticker application tricks. We’ll keep watching and dreaming of jeeps 😃👍

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Awesome :)

[@Matt02341]

Great Video! Awesome wide shots and if thats a backup camera, you have invested wisely. Of course you are free to go to any size tire you want but as 35's should be able to fit on a stock Rubi JL I would love to see that install and ride first. Thanks!

[@wayalife]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@makeyourownadventure1653]

Love to see the new JL on a trail, great video. Although I have to say, when the license plate got caught up on the rocks, I cringed a little.

[@wayalife]

LOL!! It popped back in place like nothing happened :)

[@zwlewis87]

Like I said in one of your last videos, beauty marks, beauty marks, beauty marks. Great video!

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Indeed. Thank you.

[@richardmorris8764]

You should check out Big Bear mountain in Los Angeles the creek and trails would be fun for that new jeep

[@wayalife]

Oh yeah, John Bull, Holcomb Creek, Dishpan Springs and the rest are fun trails. Maybe we'll get to them before our JL is lifted and running bigger tires.

[@christophermartinez5314]

Great off roading

[@wayalife]

Thank you :)

[@0dq0]

Nice action!

[@wayalife]

Thanks :)

[@upwings]

fine job once again!!

[@wayalife]

Thank you :)

[@upwings]

Mine looks a lot like yours..... minus the white flares!

[@MutantNinjaMonkeys]

Woo! That flex though 5:51

[@Texas183six]

YOU THE MAN !!!!!!

[@masonb4582]

What was the sound upon start up around 02:04? It sounded like grinding. I’m sure it was something else, but just curious. Thanks.

[@swarajsandhu]

Amazing to see a what a stock jeep can do!!!

[@wayalife]

It really isn't too bad :)

[@thomascarpenter5536]

I finally got out to last chance canyon today. I don't know if it is just the whole rocks never look that large on camera thing but the trail seemed way rougher than in this video. I am in a 2" lifted Xterra on 33s with open diffs but I was surprised by how many times I hit my front bumper on the rocks when pulling up to them. That massive plastic bumper cover will never be the same. Fun trails and cool tunnel. Felt like 30 degrees cooler in the tunnel.

[@wayalife]

LOL - cameras never do a trail justice.

[@popoypoop]

Luv it!

[@JosephSmith72]

I have watched a few of these "Rock Crawling" videos from other Jeep owners and man you give a whole new meaning to "Crawl"...LOL. You fly over them rocks bro. I guess that JL is just that good huh!

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Honestly, I can't imagine the need to go much slower that I was going. Guess I need to see some of these other videos.

[@user-yn6oz7iq9u]

Very nice I like this

[@ryanmartinage]

Love the JL but Im waiting for the pickup! Jeep Rubicon pickup just ticks all the boxes for me!

[@GoatBastard]

Nice video man ....great job 👍👍👍

[@wayalife]

Thank you, we're glad you enjoyed it :)

[@judebayer2609]

At the top of Graduation Hill it looked like Jet Li was smiling!

[@wayalife]

LOL! Indeed he was :)

[@elinsatya454]

Right on his habitat

[@phillipvera9040]

Another great video! What plans you guys have for tires, upgrade or keep the ko2?

[@wayalife]

37x13.50 Cooper STT Pros are in its near future :)

[@thomasrsunday8945]

Awesome!!!

[@wayalife]

Thank you :)

[@prestond]

Loved the video. Question: What improvements over the JK have been made to the JL to make it more off road capable in bone stock form? I own a JKUR and have made modest modifications to it (2" lift, 33" ko2s, etc.) so I'm curious. Are there parts of this trail that a stock-ish JK would have to work slightly harder on than the JL?

[@wayalife]

The new 8-speed ZF transmission helps the 3.6L motor to perform better. It also gives a slightly lower crawl ratio in 4LO. On Rubicon models, the axles are now 68" wide, that's a whole 2.5" more than a JK and just a .5" shy of a full width axle. On this trail, I would have been able to drive a stockish JK about the same. You'd need a harder trail to show where one is better than the other.

[@priestguardian2587]

nice video. I recommend next purchase should be some 35's and poison spider custom bumpers. I run 37s on my 3.5 lifted Sahara and no problems yet

[@wayalife]

Actually, if you watch some of our more current videos, you'll see that we're already running 37's But thanks.

[@coleslaw110]

3:49 It looks like the JL is looking down with it's headlights.

[@xzerbaluyot3837]

Eddie and Cindy nice video! I can't wait to get a JL Rubicon in black...... Just waiting for the diesel!

[@wayalife]

Glad you liked it. Hope you're able to get your JL sooner than later.

[@ateamoffroad1179]

Will be doing last chance canyon Dec 31.

[@bobwampler3387]

That is damn awesome for a stock Jeep. Got to save up for one.

[@wayalife]

The JL really is quite capable right out of the box.

[@brisonp6148]

WOW pretty extreme trail for pristine stock Rubicon

[@wayalife]

Kinda nice that it could run the whole thing stock too :)

[@LastStarfighterAJ]

Awesome video, really enjoying the JL Journal. Is this a new camera lens though? The CA at the edges of the field of view was a bit distracting

[@wayalife]

As is stated in the video description, we were using a backup camera when we filmed this. We apologize for the poor quality that you're seeing.

[@jkempling]

good video, nice camera work too.

[@wayalife]

Thank you

[@visumexcipio]

Awesome

[@wayalife]

Glad you enjoyed seeing this :)

[@Maxdady01]

Excellent video once again! That is one hard working camera person :) Thanks for not covering up the sounds of a little wheeling with anything, sometimes its just comforting to hear the sounds of a Jeep. Question that you may have answered previously but was there a reason you didn't wait for the diesel engine in the JL?

[@wayalife]

We're glad to hear you like the rawness of this video and hope you can be forgiving of the fact that we'll still do feature videos that include music and effects. This was just an entry into our JL Journal and we try to leave them as is. Regarding a diesel, we had a hard enough time justifying buying a JL that cost over $50k. Paying upwards of $60k just to have a diesel seems a little crazy to us. The 3.6L has provided plenty of power to push the 40's we have on Rubicat and with the new 8-speed transmission on the JL, there feels to be even more and MPG is better too.

[@curlyeagle]

That mic on the camera picks up every screech and scrape making it sound way worse then it really is. Love the vids and can’t wait to see the transformation. Hopefully with as much stock parts till the next level. I’ll be doing the same but on a slow budget.

[@wayalife]

Awesome and hope you have fun out there!

[@casey3057]

Missed seeing TrailBud out with you guys. Glad he’s back

[@wayalife]

It had been a while since we've been able to get him out with us :)

[@JoseRodriguez-lg6mk]

Is this with the steel bumper? Looks awesome, I can't wait to get mine!

[@wayalife]

Yes, with the steel bumper but with the front end caps removed.

[@RK-kj8di]

Great to see TrailBud. Please say hello to him for me

[@wayalife]

It was good to have him back out with us :)

[@jonathanbrakewell5487]

Greetings from the UK!! Great! But what’s it like wading through water and mud? Maybe another episode?

[@wayalife]

I really hate mud and avoid it as much as possible but we'll definitely do some water crossings. Future episode for sure.

[@jonathanbrakewell5487]

Wayalife we don’t get much sun here like in your videos so a little muddy wet knarly stuff would be great to see if it can handle it. Fingers crossed for an episode soon but 👍👍 so far for keeping me interested!

[@robinsonmac]

Great video as usual. The stock KO2's handled well. What do you think of them?

[@wayalife]

The stock KO2's did great. We've always found them to be good tires and they tend to wear like iron.

[@RubiconUnlimited]

Someone's going to have to make a license plate skid plate 😜! Looked like a fun run to take while that thing is still stock

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Probably better to just relocate the plate :)

[@angelnunez2851]

Man that fan it really working overtime. Can you give us more info on why it comes on so much during heavy off road driving? Love the new JL! White looks the best imo.

[@wayalife]

It only came on the 2 times you see/hear in the video and both times only after turning off the engine and starting it up again. I can only assume that the computer was trying to preemptively cool things down because a quick look at the gauges showed that things were running at a safe temp. Sure, coolant and trans temps were on the warm side but nothing even close to being critical. I should note that the fan is crazy powerful too - you can almost feel the air sucking into the engine standing next to the grill.

[@handtohandcombat3535]

Nice!

[@wayalife]

Thanks!

[@ALIENxXxWARE]

I have a Cherokee Trailhawk w/ the 3.2 V6 & 9-Speed.. Your jeep probably has the same cooling logic as mine. If I used 'D' while in low range the trans would shift much more often than needed. By manually selecting gears in 4-Low I was able to bring the temps way down. Just a thought for ya! -I have a 2.0T Rubicon on order, loving the footage on your videos :D

[@wayalife]

Thank you for posting that! I started to do that to see if it'd make a difference and it did. I'm glad to hear someone verify what I was seeing.

[@bad1487]

Can't wait for the pickup. Do you know if the six speed will be offered with the diesel?

[@wayalife]

I'm almost 100% sure that the diesel will NOT be offered with a 6-speed.

[@julianmcd8414]

I want that JL sticker you have above the side Jeep logo!

[@wayalife]

You can order them from our store.

[@wanderingphynix]

Sorry I’m new here and I’m trying to learn as much as I can about the JL Rubicon because I’m really interested in buying one in the near future. What’s the reason for taking air out of the tires when your off roading here?

[@wayalife]

Letting air out of your tires helps to soften up your ride and give you more traction off road by allowing more of your tread to wrap around obstacles.

[@redneck6pack]

Love watching your videos and I am building a JT but I always loved the wrangler and I am thinking of shopping for one to build for my son lol I wonder what my daughter would want? TJ .... JK ... Dude you are living my dream lol

[@wayalife]

LOL - awesome :)

[@Michael_ryan91]

So i noticed in the video when u were in 4lo and put the trans in park there was alot of gear clash sound. Do u get that often my jl rubicon seems to do this everytimw i go to park in 4lo?? Normal???

[@wayalife]

It's the tight tolerances in the transfer case when new. They soften up a bit with use.

[@REELANGLERS101]

Did u have the front sway bars disconnected on this run? Just curious, I have yet to disconnect mine and have ran her thru a few trails just shy of this terrain..

[@wayalife]

Yup, we sure did

[@DestrieroCeleste]

I remember "someone" screams out loud "SCRATCH THOSE WHEELS!!!" in another video *winks* So now we know that people DO take brand new 50K Jeeps off roading :) Love your videos guys, keep up the great work.

[@wayalife]

LOL!! Nice to hear you're a long time viewer of our channel :)

[@andrewtarroyo]

Did you use the manual feature in 4 low to keep it in 1st? I'm new to driving automatic off road. Thanks for answering the question and for the great content!

[@wayalife]

Yes, you want to be in manual mode when in low range.

[@andrewtarroyo]

@@wayalife thanks for the quick response.

[@JamesPettifer31]

I would like to know what that 8 speed automatic is like off road. That first gear must be super low especially with the 4:1 transfer case. I am assuming you can pick each gear and stay in them?

[@wayalife]

Yes. The transmission has a very nice manual shift and you can select a gear and stay in it.