Let’s face it, Jeeps are cool. From their inception before WWII to present day, the rich history they hold, and they reputation they exude, They. Are. Cool. If you are interested in a thorough history of Jeep and the current Duck fascination drivers have, you can read this article published earlier in the year: JEEP, JEEP PEOPLE AND QUIRKY DUCK PART 1
JEEP, JEEP PEOPLE, DUCKS, AND PDR PART 2
Next, let’s go over some brief history of Jeeps.
- Origins in Military Service: The Jeep Grand Cherokee’s lineage can be traced back to the military Willys MB Jeep used during World War II. The civilian Jeep CJ (Civilian Jeep) models were introduced after the war, and the Grand Cherokee is a distant descendant of these iconic vehicles.
- First Luxury SUV: When the Jeep Grand Cherokee was introduced in 1992, it was one of the first SUVs to offer a blend of off-road capability and luxury features, setting a trend that would be followed by many other automakers.
- Quadra-Trac System: Jeep introduced the Quadra-Trac four-wheel-drive system in the Grand Cherokee in 1993. It was one of the first full-time four-wheel-drive systems in the SUV market, offering constant traction without the need for driver intervention.
- First Generation’s Unibody: The first-generation Grand Cherokee (1992-1998) featured a unibody construction, which was a departure from the body-on-frame construction typically used in SUVs at the time. This helped improve ride comfort and handling.
- SRT8 Model: The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 (now known as the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk) is a high-performance version that comes with a 6.4-liter V8 engine producing over 470 horsepower. It’s capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds.
- Trailhawk Edition: In contrast to the high-performance SRT8, the Grand Cherokee also offers a Trailhawk edition. This model is designed for serious off-road enthusiasts and features specialized off-road equipment like air suspension and skid plates.
- EcoDiesel Option: Jeep offered a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine in the Grand Cherokee, providing improved fuel efficiency and torque for off-roading. This option was introduced in 2014 and was quite popular among Grand Cherokee buyers.
- Overland Summit Edition: The Grand Cherokee Overland Summit is a luxury-focused trim level that includes premium features like Natura leather seats, real wood accents, and a suede headliner, making it one of the most luxurious Grand Cherokee models.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee in Movies: The Jeep Grand Cherokee has appeared in several movies and TV shows, including “The Sopranos,” “The Matrix Reloaded,” and “The Peacemaker,” where it was often used for action-packed scenes.
- Global Popularity: The Jeep Grand Cherokee is popular worldwide and has been assembled in various countries, including the United States, Austria, China, and Venezuela. Its global appeal has helped establish the Jeep brand as an international icon.
The 2017 Jeep Cherokee below belongs to one of our repeat customers. His name is John and we’ve on a few vehicles for him. He’s what we’d say is one of our favorite kind of customer. Really nice and Very Particular about the cars he drives. The Jeep belongs to his wife Lorraine. She loves her Jeep to look it’s best just like John does. So, when John dropped a piece of wood he was carrying, onto her hood, they both almost cried. Long story short, we were able to completely repair the hood and in the end, Both Mr. and Mrs. were happy things were back as they should be.
Let’s go a little deeper in the repair side of the story. Hood dents are really tricky and have many aspects to consider when pricing and determining if a paintless dent repair is an option. The first thing we want to know about your hood is WHAT is it made of. Is it steel? Or is it aluminum? While both can be repaired, aluminum is more difficult, takes more time to complete, and therefore, costs more.
Next, where the dent is on your hood will be a key factor in your repair. If your damage is on the front edge, the chances of a repair are slim. The front edge of most hoods is considered a hem flange which is when the metal is folded over the structure of the panel creating 3 layers of metal and a glue seam. Neither glue pulling or our tools can remove a dent from this area that is from the edges of the hood inward about an inch to an inch and a half. Most hoods also have an interior framework that houses the insulator. Our goal is to use the openings available in that bracing to slide a tool through to reach the backside of the dent and massage it back to its original place. If there is no access to the damage through the framework or it is completely obstructed, glue pulling is our next option.
Glue pulling repairs (also known as GPR) are a great option in many cases. You Can Learn More About Glue Pulling Here. GPR is using specialized hot glue and tabs we strategically place in and around the damage. Then we pull either gently for small moves, or more rigorous for larger moves.
When discussing Jeeps and paintless dent repair, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the infamous “Cowl Dent”. Newer Wranglers do not have this issue as Jeep has fixed the problem, but older model owners still need to be diligent when removing the doors so as not to let them swing open and leave a large deep dent on the cowl.
If you have a dent or damage on your vehicle, give us a call! 724-554-1756. We give free estimates and can answer any questions you might have. You can stop at our shop located at 4699 Campbells Run Road Pittsburgh Pa 15205 and see one of our technicians for an inperson inspection and estimate. If you’re not sure paintless dent repair is an option, or our shop is a little further away for you, you can text pictures of your damage to 724-554-1756 along with the year and model of your vehicle and we will put together an estimate and call you! If you’re not sure you can get a good picture, watch the short video below for some pointers.
If you want to do more research on Paintless Dent Repair and Dent Repair Now you can CLICK HERE to go to our Website or CLICK HERE to watch videos on our YouTube Channel.
