Tag Archives: jeep

Jeep, Off Roading

Congratulations to the 2020 Jeep Gladiator for being awarded North American Truck of the Year!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

In the year of its debut, the Jeep Gladiator has been awarded the prestigious Truck of the Year by a panel of automotive experts.

The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (“NACTOY”) Awards were created in 1994 by Christopher Jensen. Every year since then production vehicles are selected and judged by a panel of about 50 professional automotive journalists who work for various magazines, television, radio, newspapers and industry websites. The NATCOY awards are unique in that they’re the longest-running awards program that is not associated with any single, specific company, publication, website, radio or television station.

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Activities, Adventures, Offroading - General

CA 4WD Association’s Sierra Trek 2015 – August 6-9

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

California Four Wheel Drive Association, Inc. is holding their annual Sierra Trek this August. It’s a great adventure!

Sierra Trek registration closes July 24, so get head over to the website today!

From Cal4Wheel:

The 48th annual Sierra Trek is a Cal4Wheel event which is located in California’s beautiful Tahoe National Forest. This family oriented event is geared toward stock 4x4s on guided historic and slightly challenging tours, toward mildly modified vehicles on the Saturday Outer Limits run and off-road enthusiast on the extremely challenging Fordyce Trail.

Stock vehicles should consider signing up for the Wednesday/Thursday Overnight, the Saturday Historic Run and the Saturday Outer Limits Run.

Moderately modified vehicles will love the beauty and the challenge of the Bear Valley Loop on the Saturday Outer Limits Run.

We welcome the ATV/UTV community for a day run out of Meadow Lake on Saturday morning. Continue reading →

Jeep

Q: What is the best year/model of Jeep that a Jeep Wrangler fanatic would recommend?

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

A: Depends on what you want from your Jeep.

The CJ5 is a fantastic vehicle, and it’s ridiculously inexpensive. The best years for that, again, depend on what you want. The 72-75s have a Dana 44 rear and a V8 option. The 76 and newer have a more robust chassis, but a smaller engine bay. The 77-79s had a boxed frame and disc brakes. Finding 76 and newer parts is still fairly easy to do. Earlier ones … well, you’ll do a lot of searching.

The CJ6 is a strange little Jeep. I wouldn’t get one unless you’re a collector. It’s, basically, a long wheelbase CJ5.

The CJ7 was a really robust replacement for the CJ5. I liked the longer doors on mine, and the hardtop & hard doors were useable. Getting a post 1982 one won’t get you the heavy-duty parts that came on the earlier rigs, but you’ll get wider axles, Dana 300 transfer case, and it’s not that difficult to find one that came with a Dana 44 rear end. I’d recommend the straight 6 over the V8; same torque, better MPG (although MPG isn’t the reason you buy a Jeep).

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Activities, Jeep

Remembering Mark A. Smith, founder of Jeep Jamboree

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

On June 9, 2014 a legend passed away.  It is fitting that Mark Smith was eulogized on the Jeep.com website, as the man had contributed so much to Jeep culture over the years.

From the Jeep blog:

There are certain types of people who only come around once in a lifetime. They are the kind of people who regularly inspire everyone around them and bring out the best in others. Mark A. Smith, founder of Jeep® Jamboree USA, was one of those once-in-a-lifetime people. Today, we’d like to take a moment to remember Mark, who passed away at the age of 87 on June 9, 2014.

We recently spoke with Pearse Umlauf, Vice President of Jeep Jamboree USA, about his experience working with Mark and some of his favorite memories.

When did you first meet Mark?

I met Mark in 1996 at the second annual Camp Jeep event in Camp Hale, CO. Mark had been asked by Chrysler to build the off-road test track and staff them with experienced guides. Camp Jeep participants had the opportunity to test drive a variety of Jeep brand vehicles over the off-road course. It was a huge success. I remember being told back then that Mark was an off-road icon. He was sitting on the back of a pick-up truck wearing his trademark white cowboy hat next to his one-eyed dog named “Jeep.” Continue reading →

Jeep

Jeep and Mopar Brands Reveal Six New Concept Vehicles for 48th Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Jeep and Mopar brands have once again teamed to develop a variety of vehicles that will debut at the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, April 12-20. Now in its 48th year, the Easter Jeep Safari will be attended by thousands of die-hard off-road enthusiasts looking to enjoy a week of serious off-roading on some of the country’s most renowned trails.

“We head to Moab and the Easter Jeep Safari with six new vehicles we know Jeep enthusiasts will truly appreciate – including our first two new Jeep Cherokee models built specifically for this important event,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “We look forward to putting these new Jeep vehicles in their proper environment and receiving important feedback from our most loyal customers at their favorite annual off-road gathering.”

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