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Cab Curtain and Cargo Cover for Jeep

8/28/2017

I mentioned that I was given a Trektop NX from a coworker. He also gave me acargo cover and cab curtain (Note: Amazon is showing the curtain as working with 07-12 Jeeps, but I checked the website and it says it works with 07 to current) Hard to believe that he was so generous, when I didn't even know him prior to him giving me his leftover Jeep parts after he sold his Jeep. I was lucky to know a coworker than knew him, though. Anyway, I believe these pieces are both made by Pavement Ends. The pieces fit my Jeep Wrangler JKU great and I was able to use the Trektop tailgate bar to get a great fit on the back of the Jeep.

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

The cabin curtain gives you some extra protection during the rain and keeps it from getting too windy in the main cabin. This is the first time I have had it on the Jeep and got a lot of rain. I had shoved some towels behind the seats to cover areas that were exposed to the elements and it worked without much of a hitch. Water did gather on the top of the cargo cover, but it rolled off when I drove the Jeep. The towel was damp when I pulled it out when I got home from work.

One thing I like about the pair is that the cargo curtain slides onto the cover via a ridge, so you get a nice seal between where the curtain meets the cover. The only downside to using the curtain, other than losing some of the open air feeling, is that it takes some time to get it on with the Trektop NX "Bikini". There is a bar that goes across the back of the cover that needs to be removed to get the buckle of the strap through. It is very tight. I was able to pull the buckle through when I removed the curtain, but even that took a bit of work. I may use the cargo cover without the curtain if I am pretty sure we won't have rain.

All in all, I would rather have my Trektop NX windows in during a downpour, but this worked out fine for the time being. It wasn't worth getting up early, removing these pieces, and putting in the windows, but I did spend about 30 minutes removing these pieces and putting back in the windows when I got home from work. We are supposed to have some rain pretty much every day for the rest of the week.

Jeep Wrangler thoughts

Now that I have a few months with the Jeep, I am glad I went this route rather than getting another BMW. While I still love BMW, I like the idea of having a vehicle that can get through rough terrain including flooded streets (common in Memphis), seeing over traffic (thanks to the lift and 35s), go from hard top to soft top within a couple of hours, or just pull the top off completely and have that open air feeling. Not to mention that my soft top is like a "Transformer" in the way it goes from bikini mode, to flip back "sun rider" mode, to fastback and the way it allows the use of the cargo cover/cab curtain combo, etc. It is ridiculously versatile. The gas milage isn't very good, but it uses the cheap stuff rather than premium, so it saves money there. I also like the Jeep Wave and feeling like part of a community.

Jeep ("Just Empty Every Pocket") Wranglers can be taxing for the wallet if you want to customize them. I was lucky to find someone to donate a few pieces that I could use and it saved me several hundred dollars, so it was hard not to take that "saved" money and spend it on one of my "wishlist" items (and I have several), but I am trying to spread out the cost over a few years before I pay it off. The problem is my wishlist is growing faster than I checking stuff off. :) I never had that issue with any of my BMWs, they were great off the lot and I really didn't feel like they needed to be changed. Of course, the stock Jeep is great, too. It just begs to be modified, though. That is really where some of the fun comes in, but having a stock soft top Jeep with the top down is what I remember from my first Jeep, so it ain't all bad!

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

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Review of Belkin 5,000mAh Durable Ultra Slim Portable Charger

8/27/2017

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First off, I own several Belkin products, so I have faith in the brand. When buying a battery pack you want some idea of reliability when you are depending on it. The main attribute of the Belkin (~$29) is that it is small and sleek, while still doing the job. For reference, the pick above is the Belkin resting on an iPhone 7Plus.

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

The way you can tell if the Belkin is charged is by pushing a small button on the side which will illuminate 1 to 4 led indicators to let you know how much charge it has. It had two lights on when I received it. I plugged it in and charged it to a full 4 bars (small round lights). With these type of devices, you want to keep them fully charged when you aren't using them.

We have had plenty of storms this year that have made our electricity go out for more than 8 hours. I already have one larger charger, but I wanted something small and sleek that I could take on trips and not have to deal with much weight and without sacrificing much space in the backpack. This charger fits the bill.

As with most of these type of products, it contained a USB cable for charging, but it did not include a power brick to plug it into. I have several ways to plug in USB these days, so it isn't a big deal, but I still wish companies would include the power plug rather than have customers looking around for a solution.

All in all, I like the small, slim, pocketable size of this charger and the fact that it is made by Belkin. It uses a 2.4A total output to quickly charge your devices and its indicator lets you know if it is fully charged and how much charge the battery has left in it. In other words, it works great for my purposes.

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

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Trektop NX

8/22/2017

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As I mentioned in my prior post, I got aTrektop NX from a coworker, so I decided to pull of the hard top for a while and run with a soft top. I want to mention up front that hard top is a lot quieter, but the trade off was worth it for me to be able to easily get open air.

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

This particular top has a flip back section that gives you open air in the front cabin:

I also like the "fastback" design that gives you a more sporty rear end to the Jeep:

All in all, I am pretty happy. The back and side back windows can be completely removed and you can run in "bikini" mode. Once we get a few clear days on the calendar, I will take those out and post another picture.

Grab Bars

I also put some grab bars in the back seat area. I doubt I will have very many people back there, but I am sure they will eventually be needed, so I went ahead and put them in. They are easy to install and they look good, so it was an easy update.

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

In the pic below, you can also see that Quadratec sent me a new cover for the driver side head restraint. It was black before, but now it matches the passenger seat.

67 Designs Phone Holder

I was using a magnetic holder before, but my phone fell off the holder one too many times and I got a small nick in the screen. I decided togo with a better option:

The Wrap Up

I was going to wait until next year to get buy a soft top, but since I got this one for free, I was definitely going to use it. I was hoping there would be a version of this top that can be easily folded down all the way, like the OEM top, but I am happy with the fold back Bikini. There is a video on Youtube showing how to completely fold it down, but I doubt I will bother with completely detaching everything unless I have good reason to do so.

Since it is so loud, I still have plenty of reasons to hold on to the hard top. I can't imagine taking long trip with the wind noise. However, I am pretty darn happy to have such a generous coworker!

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Some new updates for the Jeepster

8/13/2017

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As you may remember, in my last list of updates, I also added a list of some of the things I wanted to add next:

1. Barricade Rear Bumper
2. Smittybilt Winch
3. Backup Camera
4. CB - still deciding on a model (will most likely have it installed with the camera)
5. Teraflex Big Rotot Kit
6. Side steps (it would make it easier for my girlfriend to get in the Jeep)
7. Soft Top of some kind. I am hoping Bestop comes out with a top that has the same features at the NX Glide, but with zippers in the back window.
8. A light bar for my front bumper
9. Misch Big Boy Brackets - these are still on my radar
10. Tuffy 2011+ JK Deluxe Security Deck Enclosure

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

The list above is still very close to what I want to do in the future, but the order has changed. I actually don't know if I will add an aftermarket rear bumper anytime soon. I am pretty happy with the stock bumper right now. However, I was lucky enough to have someone give me a used Trektop NX. It was near the top of my list of soft tops, so when I had the opportunity to get it for free, I jumped at the chance. This gives me the ability to put my money elsewhere rather than needing to put it in a soft top.

Since I got the top and it is getting near "top off" weather, I went ahead and got the Harken Hoister installed.

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

As you can see from the photo above, I can pull my Jeep into the garage, but it is a bit tight. I have raised it a bit since snapping this photo and it gives me a bit more room. My handyman, wanted it to be aligned with the stud on the wall that has the mechanism that hoists it up and down and he centered the screws holding the top in the beams, so he said it was the sturdiest placement for it. I cut a couple pool noodles to use for some cushion if I pull in too far by accident. Anyway, it does the job of holding up the hard top while I run with the soft top until winter and will make it easier to trade out tops when winter comes or when we want the hard top on the Jeep for a trip. The hardest part will be removing the soft top, but that goes with the territory.

Security

As I mentioned on my wishlist, I wanted a way to lock stuff in the back when the top is off or when I am just running with the soft top. I decided on the 299-01 from Tuffy. I was going to get the model that has a top that pops up, but the 299-01 has more room and I wanted the ability to store my Freedom Panels in that area when I am running with the hard top. Below is a picture of the 299-01 installed with my Freedom Panels in their bag:

As you can see in the photo, they fit fine. I also bought a couple inexpensive nets to keep backpacks or anything small I have back there secure (for above and below the unit). Not sure how they will hold up since they were so cheap, but they are working great for right now. My Jeep came without a subwoofer, so I can store some medium to small stuff under the netting in the cubby hole in the floor.

I also got a magnetized LED that comes on when it senses motion, so when I open the tailgate, the light automatically comes on.

The pic above shows what the storage enclosure looks like with the back door shut. It is a perfect fit. That meant it took some maneuvering to get it in, but it is held down with two screws, so it should be somewhat easy to get in and out of the Jeep on the rare occasion that it is necessary.

Trektop NX

I just put the Trektop NX on this morning and it has been raining most of the day, so will have another post with pics later. However, the conversion to soft top has occurred. Below is a stock photo from Amazon:

The Updated List

1. Misch Big Boy Brackets - these are still on my radar
2. Under Seat Security (will get this put in with the brackets above)
3. Backup Camera
4. Cobra 75WXST (will have this put in when I add the backup camera)
5. Smittybilt Winch
6. Teraflex Big Rotot Kit
7. Side steps (it would make it easier for my girlfriend to get in the Jeep)
8. A light bar for my front bumper and a couple cube lights for the windshield pillars (still not sure I want a 50 inch light bar above the windshield, at least while the Jeep is the daily driver.)
9. Smittybilt Trail Jack Mount and Hi Lift Jack
10. Random accessories (there are always odd and ends I like to add to the Jeep, so I put this as a place holder for those types of items).

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

I will eventually add a rear bumper, but it doesn't make sense to put money in that before the items above. All in all, I am pretty happy with the current setup. I do want everything on the list above, but all of the necessities on my original list have been added, so I will add the items above as time and money are available. The first two listed items will probably be next up on the agenda since it will give me more space in the driver seat and extra storage inside the vehicle under the seat for when I have the back windows out. The backup camera would be higher on the list, but it is so expensive for what you get that it is hard for me to pull that trigger right now.

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Bionic Body Compact Under Desk Elliptical Stepper Review

8/6/2017

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Packaging

First off, when I saw the package for the Bionic Body Compact Under Desk Elliptical Stepper on the porch, I was a bit surprised by the large size. Then when I moved it in the house, I discovered how heavy it was. The packaging was fantastic, though. They had bracing on every corner and straps around the package so it was protected from busting open. You typically only see this type of effort on oversized packages

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

Instructions

The instructions for putting the “elliptical stepper” together were straight forward. It is just a matter of connecting the base to the body, the pedals to the base, and a cover to one end of the base. It is 11 bolts and 2 screws. It took less than 10 minutes to get up and running. That being said, the instructions for using the device are practically nonexistent. They have a section in the manual about the “computer”, but I am still not sure how to turn it completely off. It seems to go into a sleep mode on its own after a while, though.

The instructions talk about stretching, warming up, and cooling down, but there is very little information about actually using the device. However, use seems pretty straight forward. There is a lever you use to adjust the resistance and it goes from easy to difficult by sliding it up. In the photos, they show the model using this device standing up. I don’t think the elliptical motion has enough range (the circular pattern is too small) for it to be useful when standing up. I can’t stand up, use the device and use the resistance bands at the same time. It feels very awkward. I am 6’5, so I have a longer stride than most, but I can’t see this as being very good exercise for most people. I had a 5 foot 7 inch person test it and they had the same issues I had while standing. The instructions say this should be placed 24 inches from walls or other objects, but if you go that route, you won’t have anything to grab onto if you lose your balance. I tested it next to a heavy bookshelf and it made it easier to get and stay upright.

Sitting Exercise

Since I will never use it standing up, I put it next to my work chair and tried it sitting down. I find it to be much more useful when sitting. It is a bit bulky for putting under a desk, but I can push my chair back so my knees aren’t under the desk and use a wireless keyboard and mouse to make it easy to still get work done. You can’t rest the keyboard on your lap, since your legs are going up and down, so if you plan to use it while working, you may need to figure out how you will manage that. I have a small Apple keyboard that I can hold with my left hand while typing with my right. I am using the elliptical stepper at home, so work productivity isn’t a major concern.

One other thing to consider is the weight. The stepper weighs 37 pounds, so if you put it under a desk, you may not want to move it out when you aren’t using it. That means you will be giving up a lot of leg and feet room when you aren’t using the device. While the manual recommends that you utilize two people to move it, I found it manageable to move by myself because it has a handle built into the top of the unit. However, I still wish they had included rollers on one end so you could just lift up one end and roll it from pace to place.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

Things I Like

The things I like about the product is that I can burn calories while working at my desk, watching TV, or just sitting around. I wear size 14 shoes and my feet fit into the pedals without an issue. I found its compact design convenient in my small home office. I also like the fact that you can rotate the pedals in either direction, so you can work different muscles. The ability to adjust the resistance is a great feature, too. The ease of setup was also very nice, my standard sized elliptical machine took almost 3 hours to put together. (As a side note, I could barely move the pedals when I first used it. I found out that you have to have some momentum to get over the top of the circular pattern. It helps to have one pedal just on the other side of the peak of the circle when you begin, so you will have momentum when the other foot approaches the peak of the circle.)

Things I Don't Like

The things I don’t like is that they have so many photos with the model using this standing up. I can’t imagine that very many people will find it useful for that type of use. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone planning to use it that way. One thing I thought was strange is that the Amazon page says this is for people that weight 250 pounds and under. However, the warning sticker says 300 pounds is the max. Also, if you use it while sitting, I doubt that body weight comes into play because most of your weight is in the chair. My other main concern is the noise that it makes. In the video I posted, you can hear how it makes noise with every rotation. The video shows me using it on carpet, but I have tested it on hardwood and the sound is still there, if not as loud as it is on carpet. If you want to use this in a work environment, it is probably okay for office use, but if you are in a room with others, it could bother your coworkers. I have used it while watching TV and it isn’t so loud that it was a problem.

Resistance Bands

The resistance bands that came with the device are somewhat useful if you are using the machine to exercise while sitting. You can do bicep curls and other arm exercises, but it would have been nice if they had included some suggested exercises in the manual.

Quick Wrap Up

So, I will happily be using the Bionic Body Compact Under Desk Elliptical Stepper with Magnetic Resistance Tubes NS-1009 under my desk at home and next to my desk at home. I won’t be using it for standing because I feel that it isn’t a worthwhile use of the stepper.

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Cab Curtain and Cargo Cover for Jeep

Jeep Wrangler thoughts

Review of Belkin 5,000mAh Durable Ultra Slim Portable Charger

Trektop NX

Grab Bars

67 Designs Phone Holder

The Wrap Up

Some new updates for the Jeepster

Security

Trektop NX

The Updated List

Bionic Body Compact Under Desk Elliptical Stepper Review

Packaging

Instructions

Sitting Exercise

Things I Like

Things I Don't Like

Resistance Bands

Quick Wrap Up

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