What do you think about when you hear the words Off Roading?
When I first bought my Jeep in 2005, I didn’t know what I was getting into. I imagined picking a rural road, field, or creek and trying out what my new Jeep could do. WRONG! Boy was I naïve, as this is not what off road driving is about. I felt apprehensive, so before I made a really big mistake, I started looking for someone to tell me more about off roading. It took awhile, but I finally was invited to an Off Road club meeting. This is where I realized that off roading is more than a ride in the country.
Join the Family
The off roading community is a group of people who started as strangers, but through common interests, have become a tight knit family. Off Road clubs help educate their members about how to properly drive off road and about the environment. In times of need, you will find them helping wherever they possibly can. Whether it is dealing with a natural disaster or helping a family with their medical needs, don’t be surprised to find an Off Road club member already there. They have fundraisers for school supplies, food, water, clothing and money to help local charities. They visit children in the hospital and the vets in the V.A. They take care of each other and the communities in which they live and wheel in.
Protect the Enviroment
The most important parts of off roading are not damaging the environment and making sure everyone practices safe wheeling rules.
Since our hobby is driving on country trails and county roads, respecting the surrounding communities and taking care of the environment is essential. Yes, the organizations and clubs Easy Off Roading recognize respect the environment, and they strongly encourage their members to follow the Tread Lightly guidelines and environmental rules and laws. Tread Lightly promotes responsible outdoor recreation through stewardship, education and communication.
Learn your Vehicle and Know Your Limitations
Knowing your vehicle is essential to your safety, as is making sure you have the proper recovery gear and then learning how to use it correctly. These are exactly the kinds of things off roading organizations and clubs help with. It is almost inevitable that someone will need to be rescued out of a mud hole, on the trail, or from a ditch, on a country road or in town or after an ice storm, so know your capabilities before you get to that point. This is where off road organizations and clubs are important. In Tennessee we support the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association. SFWDA website has an education section that has important information about recovery gear safety.
Plan Your Vehicle Upgrades
Before upgrading your vehicle, go to an off-road club and ask for advice. Go in knowing that everyone you ask will have a different opinion, but you will, at the least, learn the terminology you will need before going to a 4WD garage. Also, ask for a referral to a qualified garage that works on off-road vehicles. As far as minor repairs, you will find club members willing to help or advise you what to do.
Off roading is a great way to spend time with your family, in nature and away from the pressures of the world. You will meet new people, learn new skills and build confidence in yourself. If you haven’t already, you will start noticing other Jeepers giving you the Jeep wave. Enjoy your vehicle and enjoy nature because Off Roading is more than just crawling on rocks or a drive in the country; it’s a lifestyle.
Our blog welcomes input from off road organizations, clubs and off road enthusiasts.
Your comments or suggestions will be appreciated.
Great article! A buddy and I founded Rock Solid Jeep Club almost 21 years ago have been jeep’n for almost 30 years. We are members or Southern Four Wheel Drive Association and are Trail Guides for the Tennessee Mountains Jeep Jamboree USA based in Oak Ridge. We are also members of Tread Lightly. Our club (and as individuals) have ridden trails in various areas of the country, including the Colorado and Utah. But some of the best riding east of the Mississippi is Windrock Park. We also ride in the Royal Blue area of the Upper Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. Taking care of the land we ride is of extreme importance and we are very active in that aspect. Also, the article captures the need for clubs and the camaraderie’s that are formed quite well. Jeeping and ORV recreation is great sport, but does have to have the respect for the land, the vehicles, your ability, your comrades, and other land users in mind. Nemo Tunnel is a fun place to enjoy. Thanks for providing it
Gary,
I appreciate what you wrote about our post “Why Off Road Clubs are Important for New Jeep Owners”.
I recently started EasyOffRoading.com after my wife and I went to Wooly’s Off Road Park and met a couple that just got married and bought a JKU.
It was the first time taking it off-road and, because he was not with a group or club, he almost rolled it. I told him “they needed to get involved with an Off-Road Club so they could learn from experienced off roaders”.
The wife Very Sternly said ”He will never take it off road again”!
At that moment I told my wife “There has to be an Easier Way” to tell new 4wd owners about off roading.
At that moment I started working on getting Easy Off Roading Trademark. After a year I received the Trademark in May 2018
Your help would be welcomed.
I am looking for likeminded off roaders that would like to tell beginners about their club and what their club is about. Off road clubs can also post articles about their rides, event and helpful tips.
Most Importantly there is no charge for Off Road Clubs posting articles. Don’t worry about how your writing sound because we have writers (ghost writers) that will rewrite anything you send to be posted and optimize for Google search. We posted a description for Mule Town Jeepers and what they initially sent was not what we posted.
Send me information about your club and I will give it to my writers. Lets see what they can do.
Send it to: ed@easyOffRoading.com
Ed Witman,
I totally agree that new Jeep owners should first join a club and take an off road driving course.
Good Article! I have never regretted finding Esprit de Four over 30 years ago. We run a Safety Clinic twice a year, and actively seek out new drivers. Even if they don’t join a club, they at least learn how to wheel safely.
Thank You for your comment.
We write about clubs that are referred to us and meets our requirements.
I have checked out Esprit de Four Club website and we would be interested in writing about them.
Would you like to refer Esprit de Four Club?
If so, send the referral to EasyOffRoading@gmail.com.
ED
Requirements to write about your club/group are:
1) Be willing to help new Jeep owners
2) Tread Lightly and respect the environment
3) Be active in the community
4) Be Family oriented
5) Hold Training Events
6) Interact With Other Off Road Clubs in Your Area
Thank you for a great insight. I belong to the Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association which covers Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The states are broken into regions, clubs and individuals. I have been a member since I was about 5 years old so have been active in the sport for over 50 years. Met my husband, raised our children and now grandchildren within this extended family. We trail run as well as participate in competition events. This family is there for each other in fun times and times of need. The associations competition side is currently raising money to purchase a trak wheelchair for one of our racers who is wheelchair bound so he can get around the races outside of his rig. Time and time again these people are there for each other. Jeeps may have brought us together but friendship keeps us together.
I appreciate your comment.
I started Easy Off Roading after seeing and inexperienced young couple almost roll their new JKU down a ledge.
The only thing that saved them was a tree. After we recovered their Jeep and I found they were newlyweds and just bought it.
That is when I started writing about off road clubs to let new Jeep or 4WD owners know where
to get started so they don’t get hurt or destroy our trails.
In our area we have (SFWDA) Southern Four Wheel Drive Association. https://www.facebook.com/groups/294352885531
Ed