News, beaters, and brutal lessons—with details you can use. We hit the week’s biggest off‑road stories (Stellantis earnings pain, ongoing 4xe overheating chatter, and Banks’ Cummins grid‑heater fix), then stack an under‑$5K beater build list with real‑world pros/cons: axle strength, IFS vs. solid‑axle tradeoffs, gearing, cooling, parts costs, and where rust hides. You’ll also get a practical day‑one upgrade checklist—tires, fluids, brakes, recovery points, and a $300 “don’t‑get‑stuck” kit. Finally, we pause the fail clips and break down exactly what went wrong—bad rigging, unsafe anchors, no spotter, and throttle panic—and show the quick habits that keep you wheeling instead of wrenching.

📍Trails and Destinations

• Hell’s Revenge, Moab, Utah

• Fins and Things, Moab, Utah

• Black Bear Pass, Colorado

• Gemini Bridges, Moab, Utah

• Sand Hollow State Park, Utah

🛠️ Gear and Tools

• Banks Monster-Ram Intake

• Jeep Wrangler 4xe

• Steer Smarts YETI Steering

🚙 Community Shoutouts

• Bryan: Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox

• Calvin & Jennifer: SRG Offroad

• Cletus McFarlane

• Dan Grec: The Road Chose Me

• JD: MeAndMyYellowJK

• Matt (Modern Offroad)

• Mike: JKTrlFnder

• Nathan the unpaid intern aka MudhornGladiator

• Steer Smarts

🌎 Advocacy & Conservation

• Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA)

• BlueRibbon Coalition

📰 News Topics

• Stellantis posts $2.7 billion H1 2025 loss; Jeep & Ram the lone bright spots 🔥

• Jeep 4xe overheating woes & Moab charging-station debate

• Cummins 8-speed upgrade & Banks Monster-Ram grid-heater fix

• SEMA 2026 build plans + Black Crows & Queens of the Stone Age announced for 2025 show

📅 Events and Resources

• Trail Hero 2025

• Overland Expo West 2025

• SEMA Show 2025

📞 Get involved!

• Leave us a voicemail! Call 719-408-0132 to be featured on the show.

• Write a review! Help push us past 30 reviews on Apple Podcasts.

• Follow us on Instagram! @thetrailheadpodcast

• Visit the Site: www.thetrailheadnetwork.com

• Trailhead Gear (Shirts & More): https://thetrailheadnetwork.com/shop/

• Discounts for Trailheads!

  • Tyri Off-Road Lights — Use code TRAILHEAD15 for 15 % off