History of Jeep Off-Roading
Jeep vehicles are built with special attention paid to their off-road capabilities. Ever since Jeep has been building vehicles for civilian use, off-roading has been a growing recreation for American drivers. Today organized events and Jeep trails are available to anyone who enjoys taking her Jeep off pavement and testing its true capabilities.
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Origins
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The first regular-production Jeeps were sold in the mid-1940s. They were based on the reputation that Jeep vehicles earned during World War II, and many veterans became Jeep owners themselves. Based on their military counterparts, the early civilian Jeeps, known as CJs, came from the factory ready to be used in off-road conditions. To do this, they featured high ground clearance, four-wheel drive and low gearing. Since many Americans still lived in rural areas, there was ample nearby space for recreational off-roading.
Jeep Clubs
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Shortly after Jeep vehicles went on sale to the public, Jeep clubs began to form in many regions. These local groups were typically loosely organized and included members with a variety of technical and driving knowledge. Jeep clubs organized rides on local trails as well as excursions to nationally renowned Jeep trails such as the Moab Trail in Utah and the Rubicon Trail in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Today many Jeep clubs have an online presence with users exchanging technical information and sharing images of their Jeep off-road excursions.
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Jeep Jamboree
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Jeep Jamborees are an ongoing series of off-road excursions started in 1982. The Jeep Jamboree was originally independent but has since set up a formal relationship with the Jeep brand. Jeep Jamborees are dedicated to off-road driving and happen at various regional trail sites throughout North America. Many drivers attend the Jeep Jamboree annually to test out new equipment on their vehicle or see what modifications other Jeep drivers are using.
Camp Jeep
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Camp Jeep is an annual national event sponsored by Jeep since 1995. Held in different notable outdoor locations each year, Camp Jeep is an overnight event intended for Jeep enthusiasts and their families. Events include trail rides on some of the country's most challenging Jeep trails as well as informative lectures, tech seminars and vendor displays. New models and aftermarket equipment are also often shown to the public as part of Camp Jeep. In 2000, Jeep hosted the first annual European version of Camp Jeep for off-roaders across the Atlantic.
Trail Rated
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Jeep officially certifies many of its vehicles for off-road use by including a Trail Rated certification in the form of emblems on the side of the body. A Trail Rated Jeep meets or exceeds Jeep's specifications in several categories useful for off-roading. These vehicles are tested for traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, articulation and water fording. For many years all Jeep 4x4s were Trail Rated, but newer models, such as the Compass, are intended solely for on-road use and lack Trail Rated badging.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ufukozkan/wikimedia.org
