KJ's and Jeep Jamborees

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2005 2:25 pm

Adam! My hat off to you. That was a most excellent video to watch and really good editing. I liked that one where you made it up but others couldn't. I hope those other KJ's were or are now memebrs of LOST. Did you promote LOST to those that weren't members?

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2005 9:54 pm

Thanks for the kind words on the video. I spent a lot of time learning how to do it and the wife thinks i'm nuts for making it. I knew you all would like it! ;-)

Anyway, you asked if I promoted LOST? I'm insulted that you had to ask!

I also was promoting www.jeeptales.com. I think this is an awesome idea. You go off roading and wind up taking pics of other jeeps but it's hard to drive and tape yourself at the same time. So if you post your pics of others on the same site that htey're posting pics of you, everyone gets to admire themselves! (c'mon, you know you like to look at yourself)

Anyway, I was dissapointed at how few people posted. I gave out business cards to everyone on my trail ride. He1l, I posted pics of them! Anyway, maybe it'll get better next time. I suggested to the owner that he have a sign up sheet and COLLECT people's email addresses to get pics.

So check out that site if you do a Jam. email Greg and he'll post your pics or videos.

I get nothing out of this promotion of Jamboree or jeeptales by the way. I just enjoyed them and wanted to share those experiences with others.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:29 pm

So, um, GO HERE AND SIGN UP!

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=753

vjdjkj · **Joined:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:45 am **Posts:** 7

NHLiberty wrote:

All you JJ veterans - tell me how it works

Would you take a totally stock Rene on one? Cuz I have no extra money for mods at the moment!

I took my stock 04 Black Lib Renegade to the JJamboree in Eveleth last Sept. 3 months old and she was crawling like a pro. I was the only liberty there. Initially got a few snickers and jeers from many of the wrangler folks, but by the end of the weekend I had many coming around to check her out.

Can't wait to go back with my 3" lift and bigger tires (all together I'll have 4.5" more clearance than last year.

We hit the medium level trail. Definitely wasn't a breeze, hit about 90% of the runs, even did some that some of the other lifted wranglers backed away from. If you don't mind using the skid plates for what they are meant for, you'll have a blast .... in comfort and style.

NHLiberty · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:09 am

So it sounds like even with a stock Libby there are trails you can have fun on without trashing her? My concern is that we pay the $500 and have a 1/2 hour, 1/2 day ride cuz we're not ready to tackle the difficult trails. How many different trail options are there? And if there are difficult spots on a trail it sounds like there are options to go around them if necessary? I do have stock armor on her so I'd be somewhat protected....

I really wanna do this d a m n i t

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:07 am

Oh, no! You won't be turning back for home after 1/2 hour!

there are different levels. There's even Jeep 101 on the first day, which is designed to teach total beginners how to off road. They take you on trails and stuff that are very easy. They teach you how to wheel, etc.

I personally didn't do this because I went a few times before my first Jam. But also, I wanted to do some real trails for my money.

When I did my first Jam, I wasn't lifted and had stock tires. I was on the skid plates all day, (I had full armor!), but I kept up and did mostly everything. The rubicon I was following on day two complimented me. It seems there was a stock KJ on day 1 that kept getting stuck and he was sure day 2 would be a dray for him with me in his rearview mirror. After a few hours, he came over and not only complimented me, but apologized for thinking all KJ's stink off road!

And like most places, there's always (usually) a by-pass around the really tuff stuff.

If you'd like to do it -- DO IT! Do not let fears like your skills or your KJ's abilities hold you back. You'll be fine. Just listen to your guide and don't sign up for a trail beyond your ability. (And make sure you have rock rails!)

by the way, on my home page, there's links to video clips from my first Jamboree. When I was following that Rubi going down a mountain, I got stock on my tranny skid with all 4 wheels off the ground! Here's the link to that:
http://www.carolina-lost.com/gallery/de ... age_id=174

The guy narrating, is the Rubi driver

The clip where I "climb" a tree, this was early on in the day. I helped a lifted TJ get unstuck from that fallen tree, then wehn it came time for me to go over it, I got a standing ovation from the crowd! KJ'S RULE!

vjdjkj · **Joined:** Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:45 am **Posts:** 7

I can't really speak to the conditions of the trails out east (I'm in MN) but I would imagine the organizers would generally have similar range of runs.

On our JJ there was one "easy" run, 2 "medium" runs, and one "hard" run. The easy one was literally gravel road, and I think they ended up cancelling it cuz no one was gonna pay 250 for that, LOL. The hard run was called Money Talks, and it was just that, rigs that had a lot of money sunk in to them for big rock crawling and stuff.

The medium runs were fun. Hard enough to make it exciting but not too extreme. Honestly i would have faired better with a bit of a lift, but that would just mean i wouldn't have the war wounds on my rock rails. My wife made a few intersting faces as we SCREECHED the bottom over a few boulders but hey thats what the skids plates are for right? On our run every "obstacle" had a bypass.

Half the fun is watching others tackle obstacles. The other half, the look on their faces when you get though in your KJ.

As opinions stated in other posts, the JJ is a little pricy, but you can't beat the atmosphere conjured by hundreds of fellow off-roaders all together for a weekend out on the trail. I met some great follks, and since, have started my own Jeep Club with many of those that came from the area I live in. I may not go many more times (as the club goes out once a month now) but you definitely have to go out with the JJ once or twice.

If you have even half the fun we did it will be worth it.

LimitedLurker · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 7:18 pm **Posts:** 114

You do need to be careful when picking the JJ to go to. When looking at the list of events they include a rating of the trails available at that JJ. Some JJs don't have easy trails and others don't have very difficult trails.

Be aware the trail ratings from one JJ to another can mean very different things, related to the terrain you'll be in. When in rock country the rating says more about the size and length of the rock gardens/stairs. In the midwest it may say more about depth and length of mud holes and tight turns and narrow trails. Also "rocks" can mean very different things. We've all seen the photos from out-west with the big rocks and ledges/stairs. In other areas rocks are worn from water/glacier and they are easier to slide over. Yet other areas have smaller rocks that are very hard and sharp and can open parts of your KJ like a can opener.

It seems like the 101 trail is usually dropped. Sometimes the 101 trail is a special setup they've created other times its just a short trail they have found with good learning areas. I was at a JJ where a Wrangler rolled on the 101 trail.

The guides on easy trails will almost always get out and guide people through the hard sections of the trail. On medium trails they don't do this as often but you can always ask for help.

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:17 pm

LimitedLurker wrote:

I was at a JJ where a Wrangler rolled on the 101 trail.

Is that the part of the tutorial on how NOT to wheel??? :roll:

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 4:24 pm

Just wanted to say thanks for sharing your JJ experiences. Now I'm really looking forward to my first JJ! I plan to pack both a HD video cam & a digital SLR.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 4:35 pm

great!

And don't forget to email Greg your pics at www.jeeptales.com . In fact, contact him via email and he will mail you some business cards that you can pass out to others on your trail. This way, you can get shots of yourself!

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:00 pm

Consider it done.

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:40 pm

Adam, Just watched your movie. Nice job. I especially enjoyed your "Key Grip" end credits! :wink:

I'm a dolly / crane grip in the film industry.

I'll be sure to email Greg for those biz cards.

longarm · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:14 pm

..........

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:45 pm

ah hah! Someone who can actually tell me WHAT A KEY GRIP IS! It's the layman's biggest mistery!

So what is a key grip?! My son asked, and I didn't know!

Oh, and thanks so much for the kind words about my video. I'm very proud of it and getting more proud by the day. Thanks again. :lol:

itsajeepthing · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:04 pm

LimitedLurker wrote:

You do need to be careful when picking the JJ to go to..... Be aware the trail ratings from one JJ to another can mean very different things, related to the terrain you'll be in..... In the midwest it may say more about depth and length of mud holes and tight turns and narrow trails......

Yeah double check the water levels in the area too. When I went, last year, the water levels were REALLY high and turned some of the mud holes into swimming pools. First time I've ever been in thick muddy water up to the top of the headlights!!!! The sound of water lapping against/under/around your truck is freaky!@!!! :shock:

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:12 pm

longarm wrote:

Hammer, imagine that, a Ranger with a bunch of tats!!!! :shock:

Guilty as charged bro. However I only had two while I was in. The first was the Ranger Badge and when I returned to Hunter Airfield after Grenada, I had my combat jump wings with a scroll "Grenada" both on my chest. It wasn't until a few years later I began adding tat's.

Remind me to tell you about the time we got a Huey jockey drunk and tattoo'd. Mind you he was a WO1.

AdamIsAdam wrote:

ah hah! Someone who can actually tell me WHAT A KEY GRIP IS! It's the layman's biggest mistery!

So what is a key grip?! My son asked, and I didn't know!

The "Key Grip" is the foreman (if you will) of the grips. The "Best Boy Grip" is second in command. Then there are "grips". The (camera) dolly, (camera) crane & rigging grips are generally on their own. Sort of like, don't even think of asking me to do something which doesn't fall under my job spec's.

As for the term "Key" in the film industry, it is basically a title to a department head. "Best Boy" is usually the go-between, between the Key & the (general) grips or crew of said department.

Okay, back to our regular scheduled topic.....

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:22 pm

That is so funny! Thank you so much for explaining it! My wife and I just got a chuckle out of this. And now I understand more why you found it so humorous that I made my 5 year old the Key Grip! (It was true though - he was in charge!)

indynewfie · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:16 am

changed handle

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:38 pm

AdamIsAdam wrote:

That is so funny! Thank you so much for explaining it! My wife and I just got a chuckle out of this. And now I understand more why you found it so humorous that I made my 5 year old the Key Grip! (It was true though - he was in charge!)

You're welcome. Your little guy looks like a cool kid.

KJ's and Jeep Jamborees

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