We all have that list, in one way or another, the list of things we want to do or accomplish in our lifetimes. Well, some items on the list are long term and have deeper meaning, things like seeing your children grow-up healthy and happy. Others with lesser levels of complexity, but also with meaning – items like parachuting out of a plane, bungee jumping from great heights, visiting Paris, hiking the Grand Canyon, and the list goes on.
[Not a valid template]There are also categories of things that we tend to group as a set of activities that we want to associate our lives with; camping, boating, sight seeing, or any activity type that aligns ourselves with a certain lifestyle or activity level.
This is where my interest in Jeeps comes in. I own and work (with friends) on a few Jeeps that are designed to get me outside as frequently as I can manage with my busy family and work schedules. I keep adding items to my own list of things to do that are almost always aligned with the use of a Jeep. My list has grown to signify or reflect an active and outdoorsy side for both myself and my family.
Our Jeeps will take us camping to remote areas, rock crawling on difficult trails, trail riding on beautiful sceneries, and sometimes the most basic of outings such as family drives to the local ice cream shop on Sundays.
I try organizing a simple and short term “Get Out There” list based on seasons, work and family schedules that usually read something like this:
– The Rubicon trail (at least twice a year)
– Fordyce Trail during summer
– Moab trails in the springtime
– Sierra Nevada Trails (at least 4 times a year)
– Snow run
Sometimes I get many more trips in the schedule, sometimes I miss months at a time. The only constant activity, no matter how much I get out, is that there is always something to do on the Jeeps.
When I am able to get to most of my “Get Out There” list, I end up creating a whole other separate “Jeep todo” list made up of upgrades and fixes required to keep the Jeeps in good shape. The list goes like this:
– Fix leaking air line
– Upgrade front sway bar
– Replace rear ring and pinion
– Replace/fix bent tie rod
– Build full cage and hood loop
– Fix everything else discovered while working on previous items…
Both lists require time and devotion only understood by those that own Jeeps and enjoy being outside whenever possible. This gets me to my third list, combining my interests in Jeeps and being outside. We all need to support organization that help keep 4×4 trail open, here are a few to check out:
– United Four Wheel Drive Association
– California Association of 4 Wheel Drive
– BlueRibbon Coalition
– TreadLightly!
Special thanks to Saulo Bomfim for his contribution of photos and editorial for this article
* Published by JPFreek Adventure Magazine – The leader in Jeep and adventure enthusiast publications.