Do you need magnetic badges for an event you have coming up?  —-> drop us a line

Have any of you seen TripCast by Jeep© yet?  I friend of mine, who knows I love to wheel, asked me on FaceBook this morning if I had seen it.  If you haven’t checked it out, you should.  Thanks Kim for the info.

Hit the road with the free iPhone app that tracks the progress of your driving adventures and lets your friends follow along and enjoy your photos, videos and notes in real time.

The user can also use it as a mapping software.  TripCast will put things on your map for you, like Beaches, Camping Areas, Hike and Bike Trails, Off-road trails, and many other points of interest.

Once you get your friends using the app there are some more great features.  It will even notify you when a friend is in your vicinity.  Great for a meet up and maybe even a last minute wheeling trip.

Enjoy your tunes while still mapping your trip.  The ipod overlay feature lets you listen and control music right inside the app.

Our user ID is TrailDriven, of course.  Friend us up.  We would love to see your wheeling trips.

This comes off the news that the site was redesigned also.  It now incorporates all old LUVMYJP.com content also.  Maintaining both with fresh content was a PITA.  Ok not really that much of a PITA.  I didn’t actually do it most of the time.

Welcome to TrailDriven.com

The plate was lost while on a trail in Moab Utah in 2004.  He’s been traveling the world since then.

Facebook page with all the pictures

The NAXJA Forum that started the whole thing

Direct link to pictures

UPDATE: Link to the Story

Here is a link to the pictures from Friday. In there you’ll find a video of a sweet sounding BMW. Another video that’ll tease you with a movie from my new car mounted camera. That’s gonna be a toy I’ll be using a lot.

I saw some more celebs, some more booth babes and some epic cars.

– “Very Steve McQueen” db

Other than being hung, Thursday was pretty awesome.  I spent the day with the guys from White Roof Radio.  We saw new products, Minis, old friends, new friends, and of course booth babes.  If you don’t know about White Roof Radio click on over to iTunes.  In the podcast catagory “Automobile”…their show is consistently top 10 in the US.  Todd and db(Don Burnside) are great down to earth dudes.

The three of us spent the day meandered our way through North Hall, Central Hall, and Wheels and Tires.  <placing tongue in cheek> The booth babes were clamoring Todd all day.  “Todd can I have a picture with you?”  Todd was a good guy about it, but I could tell by the end of the day it was wearing on him.  Folks, celebrity status is not all it cracked up to be.  db on the other hand did a nice job of “dressing himself down”.  A few recognized him, and he was gracious to those fans.

Seriously fellas thanks for hangin with me.  I feel like I made some life long friends yesterday.

I am uploading some more pictures now. Some of the photos are a buddy who has a podcast about Mini Coopers called “White Roof Radio”. Consistently in the top 10 in the Auto category in iTunes. He has a thing about pictures with the booth babes. You guys don’t mind, right?

I’ll be reviewing a new product just released this week called GoPro. Full 1080P resolution sport camera. LINK There are some pictures in my photo galleries. That thing is almost as cool as boobies.

I rolled out of Denver about 4:30 am and arrived in Las Vegas about 3:00 pm. Before checking in the hotel I stopped at the show. I wanted to get my Press Pass before the rush in the morning. Parking is a nightmare. While trying to get some information a nice, female, security guard said I could leave my car parked back by the dock area while I ran in and picked up my badge. She agreed to keep an eye on the Mini. I think she wanted me to leave her the keys so she could take it for a spin.

Weaving in about of shuttle buses I made my way to the Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Suddenly my phone rings. It’s Matt Adir from Master-Pull. Matt and I spent a few days in Moab wheeling a few year ago. After that Matt and I have kept in touch via Facebook. It being my first SEMA I had a ton of questions and Matt agreed to help. We chatted while he showed me where to pick up my Press Pass. There is no way I would found it by myself. Hey thanks Matt. So with Press Pass in hand I got my car and headed to the hotel.

Another special thanks goes out to the Grandview at Las Vegas. This hotel is amazing. It’s very hard to find a non-casino hotel in Vegas these days. The Grandview hooked us up with three nights. You’ll need to be a member of a vacation club to get in. If you are, choose the Grandview at Las Vegas next time you’re here. The rooms have recently been remolded and are stunning. Here are a few photos.

Would the auto manufacturer that received a bailout from the government please stop with the capitalist advertising slogan?

During the beginning of 2009 General Motors was one of the largest recipients of the government auto bailout. This bailout saved GM from certain bankruptcy. They explained to us how an out of control, ever expanding dealer base was draining the car company. GM told us how many UAW workers would laid off if the company was left to fail. They worried us with the thought of an “American Icon” closing it doors.

The past few weeks have seen General Motors vehicles advertised on TV under the slogan “May the Best Car Win”™. How ironic? A slogan that asks for competition. It asks for a fair fight. The TV ads pit GM cars against imports from Toyota, Honda, even Mini. More ironic is the fact that these manufactures did not take or even need any of the bailout money. Why did they not need bail out money? They were already winning.

The key to capitalism is competition. The product that most people judge as the best will “win”. If we had let “the Best Car Win” eight months ago General Motors would have lost.

Tonight I’m prepping the blog and some photo galleries for next weeks SEMA show coverage. Many of you know, I was the owner of an internet based off road parts company. During those 8 years I could never find the time to make it to SEMA. This year is different. I want to make sure I save every memory.

Lucky for you I’ll be sharing my coverage with you right here on my blog. Before I leave for Las Vegas I am turning on the feed from my Twitter ID to post here. This will post everything I Tweet about right here on the blog. During the day I’ll be blogging and uploading pictures to these four main galleries. So bookmark them.

Tuesday November 3rd

Wednesday November 4th

Thursday November 5th

Friday November 6th

Strap yourselves in it’s going to be a great week. Special thanks goes out to Aaron Storms, Editor of The Weekly Register-Call. I should have a great article for publishing when I get back.

Current Jeep: 2008 Jeep Wrangler JK

• MOPAR: Red Rock, Unlimited, Rubicon, Hard Top, Soft Top
• TeraFlex 2.5” Standard Kit
• TeraFlex 1” Spacer
• Fabtech PreRunner Bumper
• SmittyBuilt 8000lb Winch
• SmittyBuilt Synthetic Winch Cable
• (5) BFG MT KM2 35×12.50R17
• AEV ProCal Module
• ForMatt Fab CO2 Tank
• Warn Winch Plate
• BullDog Tow Strap
• PowerTank Roll Tube Mounts
• (2) Riddler Dif Covers
• Best Top Hard Top Cart
• AEM Silver Air Intake System
• DayStar JK Dash Panel
• Entry Handles
• Fire Extinguisher Holder

[Link]

The kit is the first of its kind.  A 2.5″ Budget Boost?  I remember back when BBs were 2″ and really measured 1.75″ of lift.  These pucks are actually 2.5″.

You will gain enough to clear 35″ tire on your JK Wrangler.  1.25″ spacer are needed to complete the steering clearance.  What Jeep and BB has offered that combination in the past.  35 ” tires? great!

The kit comes very complete.

“The brackets mount in the door hinge and maintain a stock location for the mirrors when the doors are removed. I had a prototype set last year for a little bit before it got cold. The image of my Jeep is with the prototype. The notable difference is the pin design which supports the stock hinge screw bolt for a complete factory look.”

[Info Link] [Retail Link]

The new forum will be under the TrailDriven.com name and badged as such.  This will new format will encompass all things “trail driven”.  The team has been working hard on this concept for over a year now.  We are sure it will be a winning combination.

This blog will continue to live under the plate URL which I have personally come to know and love.  This was my first URL, even before BIGoffroad.  I still own the Colorado plate and my new JK wears it with pride.

For me it was the Grand Wagoneer.  I have never owned one, but boy I have always wanted to.  When I was in High School a would have given my left nut for a Grand Wagoneer.  Any color would have worked…just as long as it had the faux wood paneling.  Dang I love that.

Now that you know some history here is a good link.  Check out these incredibly restored units.  God gosh, if I had cash.

What was your first Jeep love?

[site link]

I was search around a few weeks ago for my brother in law.  I was looking for an inexpensive XJ for my Niece.  I came across a great little site.  The site shows eBay auctions for salvage title and other wrecked automobiles.  What a great place to find a new Trail Builder.  I will be searching there if I ever feel the need to build a Trailer Queen

[site link]

This may have been around a while but it’s still worth posting.  Above is just one photo showing Jeep’s 2007 advertising campain in Denmark.  Click the jump link to see the rest of the photos.  Great idea.

I’m not sure it would fly here in the US.  Too many people would be upset about it.  The above image alone would leave the left front tire in a flower bed.  Inranging the tree hugging community.  What do you think?

[site link]

If you have the 6 disc/DVD radio from Mopar your now in luck.  I have access to the cable you see below.  No more soldering that left over Christmas video cable.  Just buy this production unit. Connect this cable to the back side of your radio.  PIN 6 and PIN 7 slots allow video to be seen via an LCD. It’s that easy.

SPECS:

• 36 inches in length
• semi flush mounting
• mounting screws

They sell for $49.95 and will be shipped free via USPS.  I will have some in stock after the first of the year.

(The later production units will only have a two prong, flat, radio end.  Current unit has a blank third slot.  Only two of the current prongs are live.)

Hopefully this new update will spark some interest and allow some users in.  The forum software has some great tools.  I don’t even run banner ads on it, yet.

Thanks and enjoy the forums.

The bumper came in plain back powder coating.  I was tossing around the idea of coating it in the Jeep’s Red Rock color.  The plan right now is to install it and see how it looks in black.

The other thing I was confused about was the factory fog lamps.  I was not sure what to do with them.  Then I found the picture below.  This guy used some 3″ PVC to make “cans” to hold the factory lights.  Awesome idea!  I sure wish I could find a picture of how he closed off the back of the light.  I will mount my lights a little closer to the front, but I sure love the idea.

EDIT: I found some more links to his build

Here’s a quick tease.  It’s a trail call “Pickle”.

The Fling was started a few years ago, 99 I think. Some guys from the newly formed Colorado-XJ list were heading out to Moab. This happened around the same time some of our Rocky Mountain sharing Utah buddies where there. This was right around the time NAXJA was getting it’s feet wet. We didn’t call it fall fling then though. <If these details are wrong, please comment and set the story straight>

The event form then on was put together by the Intermountian NAXJA Chapter. Today the event has grown to 125+ XJs. This year the event will giveaway a XJ. I lifted, locked, highly modified rig.

I will posting video from our new Kodak Zi6 HD Camcorder. Kodak has given us a unit to test and will do just that. The Moab dust will be tossed around this new camera. We’ll see how it holds up.

Life moves fast. Grab it in HD.

- Take stunning HD videos (720p at 60 fps)
– Easy upload to YouTube™ with built-in USB
– Record hours of video—up to 32 GB worth
– View on any HDTV with the included cables
– Edit and share videos with the included software CD
- Rechargeable batteries and charger included