(Credit for the image goes to Octamog.com - see link below)

Isn’t that just the coolest thing with locking diffs? What’s this got to do with Jeeps? Well, let’s see if I can make the connection:

~ The Octamog has four Dana 60 axles
~ I knew a guy once who had one Dana 60 rear axle under his Jeep

Now, for truly entertaining reading, check out these specs for the Octamog:

* Esarco SS-300 (Stewart & Stevenson) 8×8 with front and rear steering axles
* Isuzu/GMC Medium Duty cab
* Cummins 6-cylinder inline turbodiesel with intercooler
* Displacement 5.9L (359 cu.in.)
* Performance (projected) 250-300 hp.
* Max. torque (projected) 500-600 lb.-ft.
* Eaton/Fuller FS-4005 5-speed manual gearbox with crawler gear
* (2) Fairfield 2 speed transfer cases with street (1:1) and cross country (2.21:1) ratios
* 8×4 or 8×8 drive, engagable
* Heavy-duty Dana 60 Axles with 3.54:1 final drive ratio
* ARB Air locking differential on all axles with Warn locking hubs on axles 1 & 4
* Interco Irok Radial Tires (39.5×13.50R17LT)
* USA6X6 Wheels 17×11in. modular steel with stainless-steel rock-rings
* Recirculating ball hydraulic assist steering
* Chassis battery capacity (t.b.d.)
* (2) 32 U.S. gallon fuel tanks (64 gallon total)
* Fuel prefilter with water seperator
* Recaro seats with air suspension
* Additional seat for 3rd person
* Garmin Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation system
* Integrated air-conditioning
* Additional safety locks for drivers cab
* Roof rack with branch guard
* winch for loading of spare tires
* Truck horns
* Off-road lights (t.b.d)
* Milemarker 12,000 lb. electric winches front and rear

Full details on the Octamog available here.

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If you haven’t been keeping up lately, Motorola has been launching creative phones with lots of style. First we had the RAZR. Next came SLVR. Now meet PEBL.

The thing looks great if you’re a flip-phone fan and given the bugs have been sorted with the nifty design features pioneered with the RAZR, it should be a handy, small, unit.

Can’t wait for the fall when it’s time to upgrade!

The folks over at eCoustics have a review…

Read the full article after the jump.

The Chevy Trailblazer SS is the next best thing to the Grand Cherokee SRT-8.

And at almost 7 large LESS than the Jeep, it’s hard to argue that, even for brand-loyalists like us.

PLUS, it’ll tow more…

Well, be all that as it may, it’s still not a Jeep, now, is it?

Nope. It’s really just a very well put together collection of parts-bin items. It’s one of the few things the General seems to do right these days, too.

Stuff in the V8 from the Corvette, back it with a bulletproof 4 speed auto, lower it, strap on 20’s and enjoy! …and you know they make a TON of money on these “specials”.

James Healey at USA Today had this to say in a recent review: “To be clear: SS is not just a big-engine TrailBlazer or a mild makeover. SS is the standard-wheelbase TrailBlazer fitted with a Corvette-derived V-8 engine, 20-inch-diameter wheels, stiffened and lowered suspension, big brakes, different interior and exterior trim. If you’re looking for a conventional SUV that happens to be quick, SS is more than you want. It’s more appropriate if you want a full-bore sporting machine that happens to be an SUV.”

While it sounds like a great rig, it’ll never have the cache of the Jeep brand name…but, then again, no SRT-8 will ever go offroad (someone please prove me wrong… ) and live up to that name, either…

Neither truck is what you’d call efficient - the Trailblazer SS only managed around 11 mpg during the test drive.

To be truthful, though, economy is NOT why you buy one of these - you buy one because it’ll do it all: tow the boat, haul the family AND haul ass.

Read the full article after the jump.
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