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Power Wagon train: Exploring the Mojave Road

If you're in Vegas with free time and keys to a Power Wagon, taking an interstate home seems pointless when there's a 135-mile desert trail an hour away, an ideal opportunity to live with – and in – this off-roading Ram pickup for three days. So with friends schlepping camping gear to a rendezvous, this test/history lesson was on. The Road The Mojave Road most closely echoes the path 19 th century westbound settlers and eastbound government supply teams followed between the Colorado River near the AZ/CA/NV junction and Barstow en route to Los Angeles. This 35 th parallel route based on Indian trails has also been called the Old Spanish Trail, Old Government Road (how it appears on many navigation system maps), and the Mohave Road. It was preferred for having more temperate weather and reliable water than routes further south. Desert travel particularly was all about water at regular intervals. Much of the Mojave Road is under National Park Service purview in the 1.6-million-acre Mojave National Preserve, encompassing a big chunk of southeastern California. Nestled between two interstates, there are paved access roads to north and south, so you needn't run the entire distance if only a few areas interest you. It is home to geologic formations from mountains to lava beds and tubes, Joshua trees, and after rains like this winter, beautiful wildflower blooms. You'll see old mines and rail lines, and hear the "singing" sand dunes at Kelso (which I'd categorize as more of a monk's chant). We saw birds of prey, wild burros, lizards, and rabbits, and heard or saw evidence of coyotes, cows, and roadrunners. All the while figuring a rattlesnake could be behind any bush. The plan was to enjoy the mesquite scents and make a few stops (the Rock House, Mojave Mailbox) but otherwise make a non-committal east-to-west camping trip of it. Do as much or little as you like, though the NPS does remind you the desert can be an inhospitable place. Cell service is hit-or-miss, and they specifically recommend against relying solely on automotive GPS navigation. Lower elevations average triple-digit highs four months of the year while upper elevations get snow; in February the temperature at our 2,800-foot campsite dropped to freezing while days were sunny and moderate. If the entire road is open, it's about 135 miles from the river to western end, but in February expect portions to be closed, potentially making it many miles longer.

FCA recalling 425,000 Ram 1500, Jeep Compass to fix windshield wipers

Fiat Chrysler is recalling an estimated 425,588 Jeep Compass SUVs and Ram 1500 pickups to fix windshield wipers that may not be adequately secured. The voluntary recall involves Jeep Compass models and Ram 1500 and Ram 1500 Classics from the 2019 and 2020 model years built before March 3 of this year. FCA says it knows of no related injuries or accidents related to the issue, which involves a fastener that is supposed to connect windshield-wiper arms not being secured sufficiently. The new wiper nut was first introduced into production at a Detroit-area plant that builds the Ram 1500 on April 28, 2019. Left unaddressed, it could affect a driver’s visibility and increase the risk of a crash. One owner of a 2019 Compass in Wichita, Kan., filed a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in June 2019 and said the windshield wiper came off during a storm the day the vehicle was purchased. FCA says it will begin contacting affected customers later this month to arrange a free repair. Customers can also contact their dealer if their wipers donÂ’t sufficiently clear their windshield, or if the wiper arms get stuck and donÂ’t return to the rest position when de-activated. Customers can also contact customer service at 1-800-853-1403. The recall also affects an estimated 76,280 vehicles in Canada and 3,280 in Mexico. Recalls Jeep RAM Truck SUV

Chrysler's mysterious limo spotted in trailer for new Wolverine movie

Way back in the warm, sunny days of June, we reported on a rather strange looking Chrysler-badged limousine spotted during filming for the latest installment in the Wolverine saga. Now, with the first trailer for Logan (or Wolverine 3, if you prefer its informal name) hitting the internet, we're getting another look at the odd limo, along with a few other offerings from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. There's a flock of "Federal Police" Rams and a spinning, bluish-green Rebel – we're guessing Wolverine and Professor Xavier stole it from some kind of work crew – judging by the gold-ish decals on the door and the work box in the bed. Our look at the Chrysler limo isn't great, although it does appear in two scenes of the trailer. We're thinking these shots are connected, and here's why. Our first sighting comes in a cemetery, where the hulking limo sits in the background while Wolverine takes a pull from a pint of liquor. This scene ties in neatly with the images from June – we've embedded the tweet that posted the original shots at the bottom – which shows Wolverine wearing the same clothing. Comparing the shape of the limo's mirrors in June with a later scene in the trailer, we can safely say that Wolverine eventually ends up driving the limo, with a worried Professor Xavier in the backseat. While FCA hasn't been shy about wanting to hook up with Hollywood blockbusters, Logan is quite a lot different than Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens, or even Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. The tone of this entire trailer, from Johnny Cash's baleful cover of Nine Inch Nails' Hurt to the dire medical condition of Patrick Stewart's Professor Xavier, is depressing and emotional. That's a far cry from the super-successful superhero blockbusters that roll out of Marvel Studios every year. You can spot the exterior of the limo at 0:17, the interior at 1:03 (the scene is cut to make it look like Logan and Professor X are driving the Ram Rebel that appears at 1:02), and the police Rams at 0:48. Aside from the new FCAs, there's also a lovely first-gen Ford Bronco. Logan hits theaters on March 3, 2017. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Related Video: