Alabama

1 Comment Posted on car reviews, Uncategorized

How to Fix a Jeep Wrangler JK 6-Speed That Pops Out of Gear with a B&M 45195 Shifter Lever Kit: Plus, a 7 Hour Off-Road Test Drive Little River Canyon National Reserve!

You no longer have to worry about or wonder why your Jeep Wrangler JK 6 Speed randomly pops out of gear for no reason! And no, it’s not you.

It’s not that you’re accidentally not forcing the shifter all the way into 1st gear. And no, it doesn’t pop out of gear every day.

In fact, I handed over to the keys to my 2010 Jeep Wrangler JK to a local transmission shop, but after a week of the shop owner driving it on a daily basis, he handed the keys back: “I couldn’t find anything wrong with your Jeep.”

Fortunately, I have the answer you have been looking for! I will save you thousands of dollars, and, I will save your from cringing in anticipation every time you shift into first gear, doubting yourself as you wonder if the shifter will pop out of 1st before you can get it into 2nd.

Instead of rebuilding or replacing the transmission, the first (and likely last) place to start is buy purchasing and installing a B&M Precision Sport Shifter (45195), which fits the 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK.

It will cost you a little over $500, plus hiring a mechanic who can install it for you; about 3 hours worth of labor.

It’s this simple: Chrysler didn’t make a strong enough shifter for the Jeep Wrangler JK.

Therefore, it’s pretty common for them to pop of out of 1st gear and to not always go into reverse.

I admit- I questioned whether this new upgrade would actually solve such a seemingly serious and potentially expense issue.

Therefore, after my dad spent about 3 hours installing the B&M Precision Sport Shifter (45195), I took him and my mom on a trial by fire, off-road test drive. Just a few miles down the road from my parents’ house where I grew up on Lookout Mountain in Fort Payne, Alabama, there is a series of dirt roads that are part of the Little River Canyon National Reserve.

The main path is simply called 05; which extends from one end of the trail to the other. At certain points, you can cross Little River to get to another road like 02 or 04.

Keeping my 2010 Jeep Wrangler JK in 4 wheel drive, it was just no issue driving through giant mud puddles that stretched from one side of the road to the other; nor was it any struggle to cross the river itself.

We were gone from 10 AM until 6 PM, only stopping for one hour for lunch at Wildflower Cafe in Mentone, Alabama.

And during that solid 7 hour test drive, not once did it ever pop out of gear!

Not only that, my Jeep simply drives better since the upgrade. It’s as if the beast now has a new master!

Since the big test drive, I have also driven it 3 hours back to my home near Nashville, Tennessee; as well as to work and back a couple of days now.

It just doesn’t pop out of gear anymore. Not once. Problem solved.

I highly recommend the B&M Precision Sport Shifter (45195). Tell ’em I sent ya!

-Nick Shell

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: You are Glad Your Brother is Back, After He was Gone a Week

3 years, 1 month.

Dear Holly,

This weekend your brother returned after a week of summer camp at Nonna’s and Papa’s in Alabama.

It is true I could tell that while he was gone, you didn’t mind having all the attention from Mommy and Daddy. Somewhat ironically is that you were more independent; being able to play by yourself while Mommy and I worked on dinner.

However, by the end of the week, you started mentioning to me that you wanted to see Jack again.

And he definitely felt the same way about you. The two of you are glad to be back together.

 

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on Jeep Wrangler, parenting, Uncategorized

2010 Jeep Wrangler JK Sport with Top Off, Doors Off: Little River Falls in Fort Payne, Alabama

After finishing our 16 mile ride along Little River Canyon Rim Parkway, the journey officially ended when we arrived at the bottom of the mountain at Canyon Mouth Park.

We had planned to enter the park to play in Little River. However, we learned that it now costs $15 per vehicle to enter; whereas I remember it always being free my entire life.

But finding a Plan B didn’t take long at all. We had to drive back up to the top of the mountain anyway, so we simply drive a different route to Little River Falls.

It was a perfect day to play in the river, just a few hundred feet before the river became a waterfall.

So much fun… and totally free to park!

2 Comments Posted on fatherhood, Jeep Wrangler, Uncategorized

2010 Jeep Wrangler JK Sport with Top Off, Doors Off: Family Drive Along Little River Canyon Rim Parkway in Fort Payne, Alabama

For Memorial Day weekend, we started things off right on Saturday morning by refusing to take showers, but instead, throwing on hats and sunglasses and hopping in our Jeep Wrangler.

This made the very first time I took off not only the complete top, but also, the doors too. As you can imagine, it was a great family experience.

It was like going on a roller coaster ride! And yet Little River Canyon Rim Parkway is only 5 miles from my parents’ house, where I grew up in Fort Payne, Alabama.

This 16 mile drive along the canyon and river is a well kept secret, yet the perfect place to take the family in a Jeep Wrangler.

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, Nostalgia, parenting, People, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Creeping Critters are Easy to Find in Alabama

8 years, 4 months.

Dear Jack,

One of your favorite things to do when you stay at Nonna and Papa’s house in Alabama is to go outside and find wildlife.

I’ve noticed it never takes much effort nor time for you to come back from the yard with a collection of bugs and/or lizards.

Granted, some of the bugs end up becoming the dinner of the lizards.

So for a 2 grade boy spending his Spring Break in the mountains of Alabama, what better way to spend hours of daylight then to go out explore nature… and then to bring that nature back with you!

Love,

Daddy