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Jeep Life

Owning a Jeep isn't something than you keep to yourself. If you drive your Wrangler daily, you'll inevitably be inundated with hand waves from fellow Jeepers, conversations in the supermarket parking lot about what trails you’ve run, and debates about how you like whatever suspension system you may have installed. That's all part of the program, and has been since 1941. Along with these traditions, you'll enjoy a host of other annual Jeep activities, including trail rides with your local Jeep club or one of the many traveling outdoor Jeep galas hosted by jeep itself or private companies such as Jeep Jamboree USA. One thing is for certain: When you own a Jeep Wrangler TJ, you'll never run out of ways to use it. From hitting the trail with friends, reaching a remote camping or fishing spot with your family, or just exploring.

Jeep Jamboree

Jeep Jamboree USA hosted over 32 events in 2007, including a number of its classic adventures and a few new ones introduced this year. The three-day excursions typically include all meals and offer guided trail rides across terrain that varies in difficulty to suit many levels of driving. The organization was established in 1953 with a trek across the Rubicon Trail in California, and now makes stops at many popular 4x4 destinations throughout the United States, including Moab, Utah; Slade, Kentucky; Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Killington, Vermont. These events offer a great introduction to using your Wrangler off-road, with experienced crew members on hand to "spot" your vehicle through difficult obstacles and assist you in making repairs if necessary.

Camp Jeep

Another taste of Jeep life can be explored at Camp Jeep. These are events put on by Jeep to encourage a celebration of its brand. They offer trail rides, but most of the activity seems to take place on the event grounds, including new-vehicle demonstrations and test drives, the Off-Road 101 driving course, where an onboard driving instructor helps you navigate difficult terrain, a multitude of activities for the whole family, and plenty of live music. Also, these events usually provide an opportunity to meet with Jeep engineers and pick their brains about issues you may have with your vehicle or regarding what's on tap for new Jeep models. One of my favorite aspects of these events is seeing all of the cool display vehicles. This often includes unique concept Jeeps that may never see production. After you've seen everything on display, check out the parking lot to see all the classic and modified Jeeps owned by all the other attendees.