top of page
All Articles
MUDDY RUTTZZ GAZETTE


5 Reasons For Ouray Colorado Travel: The Secret Switzerland Of America
If you're on the hunt for a town that feels like it was plucked right out of the European Alps and dropped smack dab in the middle of the American Rockies, then buckle up, my friend, because you’ve hit the jackpot! Welcome to Ouray, Colorado—the one and only "Switzerland of America"! Seriously, if you squint hard enough, you might just see a yodeler or two. Getting here is half the adventure.
Nov 296 min read


WARNING: Don't Do Your EcoDiesel Oil & Filter Change Until You Read This!
This guide provides the complete, proven maintenance method (all four filters + oil) that ensures peak engine health for your 2020 Jeep Wrangler EcoDiesel (and Gladiator/Ram models). You’ll see exactly what my quick, 6-minute video demonstrates, but here, we dive into the details. As a fellow Jeep owner here in dusty Las Cruces, NM, I’ve refined this process to be fast, efficient, and cost-effective, allowing me to service my truck every 5,000 miles.
Nov 218 min read


Easy DIY: Ecodiesel Main & Auxiliary Battery Replacement Guide (10 Steps)
When it comes to car batteries a 3 year warranty means 3 years and it pays to swap them out before you get left stranded. In this DIY article I will tell you exactly how to swap both batteries and show you with lots of detailed photos to make it easy.
Nov 186 min read


The Ultimate DIY Guide: Building a Gladiator EcoDiesel Overlanding Rig
Welcome to Muddy Ruttzz. I’m done building this Gladiator. It took 3 1/2 years but I think I really found a combination of vehicle and parts that makes this 2022 Gladiator Rubicon Ecodiesel a great daily driver and a very capable off-road vehicle and overlanding rig. In this article I want to show you the parts I installed, tell you why I chose them.
Nov 137 min read


5,000 Mile Review: Are Baja Boss A/T Pizza Cutters the Ultimate Overlanding/Daily Driver Tire?
After pulling my hair out with indecision, I settled on a choice many folks call the "Pizza Cutter" size: the tall and skinny 255/85R17 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T. The general wisdom says bigger is better, but this narrow profile is engineered to be a premium extreme hybrid all-terrain tire with an E-rated sidewall that promised performance, longevity, and a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty. Now that we've clocked 5,000 hard miles, including an eye-opening stint at the Ouray
Nov 16 min read


11 Ouray Jeep Jamboree Tips & My Wife's Road to Off-Road Confidence
What unfolded was an unexpected, wonderful transformation for my wife. By the time we reached the dizzying heights of the Buffalo Boy Mine on day three, my retired school librarian was a bona fide, confident, and skilled off-road driver. I was simply the snack-handing, photo-taking passenger! She didn’t just meet the challenge; she blew right past it. It just goes to show you, the best view comes after the hardest climb.
Oct 279 min read


Bombproof Your Dana Diff: Spicer Performance Differential Cover Installation
There are a lot of great covers out there, but today we’re talking about the Dana/Spicer Advantek Performance Front Differential Cover (Part #10044799). This part fits the Dana 44 M210 axles found on the Jeep Gladiator (JT) and the Jeep JL Wrangler.
I chose the Dana/Spicer Differential Cover for a few simple reasons: it’s reasonably priced, and who knows your axle better than the guys who built it?
Oct 267 min read


How to Bleed Air and Add Fluid to Your Hydraulic Floor Jack for Optimal Performance
A hydraulic floor jack is an essential tool for any home mechanic, but over time, or even right out of the box, air can get trapped inside the system. When this happens, your jack won't perform correctly—it might not lift a load efficiently, or it may slowly drift down after being pumped up.
Oct 246 min read


5,000-Mile Diesel Filter Changes: Value Over the 'Made in USA' Label
The core reason I trust quality Doc's Diesel kits is their quality control assurance. They guarantee their filters meet or exceed OEM specifications, regardless of the country of manufacture. I learned this the hard way after a no-name filter failed on me once—you're paying for the confidence that the filter will perform exactly as your engine was engineered to expect.
Oct 184 min read


How to Plan and Execute Your First Mojave Road Overlanding Trip (Expert-Level Tips)
Following a couple of trial camping trips to test our Jeep/trailer/gear combination, we felt prepared for the Mojave Road.
Aug 13, 202410 min read


Best Spare Tire Bike Rack For Jeeps & SUVs: Malone 3 Bike Rack (The Price Is Right)
The Malone Spare Tire Bike Rack folds compactly, and stows easily. Takes less than a minute to get it out and mount it on the spare tire.
Mar 11, 20245 min read


Conquer Any Terrain: Why You Need an Articulating Hitch for Your Off-Road Trailer
All good off-road trailers have 1 thing in common. They all have a Tri-Axis Articulating Hitch connecting the tow vehicle to the trailer.
Feb 29, 20244 min read


Jeep Purpose-Built for Overlanding And A Everyday Driver
I picked up my Wrangler Ecodiesel back in early 2020, and I’ve just wrapped up outfitting it for some serious overlanding adventures. I’ve really focused on making it purpose-built, which means I’ve taken a good look at every part to ensure it’s all about utility and value—no extra weight or costs that aren’t needed.
Fun fact: the factory version of the Wrangler Ecodiesel is already about 300 to 400 lbs heavier than the gas engine models. So, without any modifications, just
Nov 3, 20225 min read
bottom of page