ORR Jeep Blog

Shirley, MA — October 24, 2007 - There are those of us who love our car. And then there are those of us who love our Jeep. As the saying goes, “It’s a Jeep Thing… You wouldn’t Understand” But this holiday season, even if you don’t understand, you can fake it with the 2007 Jeep Gift Buyers Guide from www.allthingsjeep.com. For the 5th year in a row, the company has compiled a list of this year’s 10 most unique Jeep gift ideas. If you can’t afford to put a new 2008 Jeep under the tree, you can put any one of these items there and still make your Jeep fan very happy.

TOP 10 BEST JEEP HOLIDAY GIFTS

1. Our Cookie Cutters for the Jeep enthusiast - What better gift for your favorite Jeeper than a plate of yummy Jeep inspired cookies. These handmade copper cookie cutters make both a front view and a side view of our favorite vehicle. The decoration is up to you! ($19.99)

2. Just Arrived! A full line of Jeep Clip Watches, Pocket Watches and Multi-Tools - You need to know the time but hate wearing a watch? These handsome Jeep clip, carabineer & pocket watches do the trick. There are over a dozen to choose from, all sporting the rugged Jeep logo. (Starting at $39.99)

3. Jeep® Polar Fleece Vests - Brrrrrr. The weather outside is getting nippy and these warm polar fleece vests sporting the Jeep logo are just the layer you need to keep you toasty. We’ve got 4 colors and 4 sizes. Enjoy! ($29.99)

4. Holiday cards / greeting cards for Jeep lovers - Purchase these early enough and share the Jeep spirit with everyone you know. We have 6 different designs available, all original artwork. There’s something magical about these cards. ($12/set)

5. For Girls who love feminine pink and tough Jeeps, we bring you the “Pink Jeep” line! From pink Jeep hats to pink Jeep tees to pink Jeep license plates, who says Jeep girls need to look tough? ($7.99 and up)

6. Jeep 2007 Wall Calendars - Count down the days to the next trail run with a Jeep calendar for your wall. It sure beats the one you get from the oil company every year. And there’s a few to choose from. Starting at $9.99.

7. Jeep-The Trail Never Ends Wall Sign - Here’s an inexpensive gift that truly epitomizes the feelings any Jeep owner has for their beloved vehicle. Finding this Jeep wall sign under the tree on Christmas morning will delight any Jeep owner. $10.99

8. The Jeep Mountain Bank & Coin Sorter - For the Jeeper who thinks they have everything-surprise! Bet they won’t have this! Put your pocket change in the back of the Jeeps, flip the switch and let the Jeeps do the work of carrying your money up the mountain and depositing it into the coin sorter at the top. Great novelty item! $29.99

9. The Handiest Jeep Accessory on the list - You’ll always have light with this super sturdy Jeep Dynamo Crank Flashlight. A couple of cranks of the handle and you’ll have bright light whenever you need it. No batteries required. It’s a perfect accessory for the Jeep, boat or home. (And it can power your cell phone also.) $29.99

10. Choose from over 200 Jeep-licensed apparel items including t-shirts, sweatshirts, & jackets for men, women, children & babies. No, this isn’t just one item. But with so many new Jeep apparel items, it was hard to choose our best pick. We’ll leave this one for you. ($10 and up)

About All Things JP LLC
All Things JP LLC is one of the largest providers of gifts, accessories and memorabilia to the Jeep® and off-road market. Through outstanding service, product variety and quality, All Things JP LLC delights Jeep® owners with items that enhance their adventurous lifestyles. Visit www.allthingsjeep.com for the perfect gift for Jeep® lovers including clothing, decals, tire covers, watches, bikes, jewelry, videos and more.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2007 – Thousands of servicemembers get care packages with surprises in them every day, thanks to caring folks back home. Some of the surprises, however, are bigger than others.
Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit troop-support group, celebrated the packing of its 250,000th care package by teaming with Tri-State Jeep Dealers Association to put Army Spc. Alfonso Sanchez in the driver’s seat of a 2007 Jeep Patriot Limited.

“We were thrilled to give a Jeep Patriot to a true American patriot,” said Carolyn Blashek, Operation Gratitude’s founder. “It is an honor to be able to recognize him and, through him, all servicemembers in uniform.”

Operation Gratitude is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

Sanchez, who received the package containing keys to the Jeep on July 24, is assigned to the 16th Military Police Brigade, which is serving in Iraq. He will receive the actual vehicle upon his redeployment to the states, hopefully by the end of the year, Blashek said.

Not expecting any packages, Sanchez didn’t initially respond when his name was called.

“When they called my name, I was shocked, stunned, and I froze for a second, double-checking that my last name was Sanchez,” he said. “The first thing I saw when I opened the box was a Jeep brochure, but they give those at the post exchange.

“I expected anything else but this vehicle,” he said. “I don’t have enough words, but with all my heart, thank you (Operation Gratitude) for all you do.”

The package also contained a letter from Blashek explaining how her group was able to provide such a special “goodie” in their milestone package.

Sanchez won’t be the only one who will receive a Jeep Patriot vehicle, however. Jeep, Major League Baseball’s New York Mets and a New York television station launched a letter-writing campaign July 15. Letters of support for the troops will be accepted until Sept. 17, when one lucky letter writer letter will be randomly chosen to receive a Jeep Patriot. That person’s letter will then be sent to Sanchez, as well. The winner of the letter-writing campaign will be announced during a Sept. 30 pre-game ceremony at Shea Stadium in Queens, N.Y., Blashek said.

“We are proud and humbled to contribute to a great organization like Operation Gratitude that does so much good in support of our troops,” Eric Neilsen, president of the New York Dealer Association, said. “The Jeep was originally developed to serve our military, and we are very pleased to be able to continue this tradition in a small way.”

(Army Spc. Beatrice Florescu contributed to this report.)

• Iconic off-roader returns to its storied roots with J8 multipurpose model primarily developed for military use � but also suitable for civilian government applications

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chrysler LLC unveiled the Jeep® J8 multipurpose vehicle at the 2007 Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi) military trade show, making the legendary vehicle available for reenlistment in active military service.

“Jeep vehicles made their original debut in 1941 for military duty, and have built their reputation with more than 65 years as the world�s benchmark for off-road capability and versatility for civilian and military vehicles,” said Thomas Hausch, Vice President – International Sales, Chrysler LLC. “The new Jeep J8 marks the brand’s return to vehicle production for military and civilian government use – the same capability that makes the Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited famous also makes the Jeep J8 a truly multipurpose vehicle.”

With the all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited as the starting point, Jeep engineers increased its capability and versatility. The frame of the Wrangler Unlimited is reinforced for increased ruggedness and to allow greater payloads � up to a maximum of 1,339 kg (2,952 lbs.). Axles, brakes and suspension components are engineered specifically for more demanding military and civilian government use, including utilizing a leaf-spring suspension system in the rear. The J8’s Command-Trac® four-wheel-drive system allows maximum versatility and performance in both on- and off-road conditions.

The Jeep J8 is powered by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 118 kW (158 hp) and 400 N�m (295 lb.-ft.) of torque, providing towing capability of up to 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs.). The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The J8 also features a unique air-intake system with special filtration and a hood-mounted snorkel that enables the J8 to ford water up to 762 mm (30 in.) deep and operate in sandstorm conditions for up to five hours.

The Jeep J8 is available as a two-door with an extended pickup bed for personnel or equipment transport, or a four-door multipurpose vehicle. It may be produced with numerous vehicle-body and seating configurations in either right-hand or left-hand drive.

While not designed for front-line combat operations, the Jeep J8 is fully armour capable and excels in a variety of duties ranging from command vehicle to troop/cargo carrier, ambulance, communications vehicle and other duties – also making it suitable for civilian government applications. Tow eyes and heavy-duty bumpers allow the Jeep J8 to be easily transported by airplane or helicopter.

The Jeep J8 will be produced in a Chrysler LLC joint-venture facility in Cairo, Egypt, and will be available beginning in spring 2008.

Jeep in the Military
In June 1941, the U.S. Army received its first shipments of the Willys MA, the rugged 4×4 vehicle that came to be called the Jeep. This predecessor to today’s Jeep Wrangler would prove so vital to the Allies’ World War II effort that Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower declared that the war could not have been won without the Jeep vehicle.

Jeep vehicles have been produced for various militaries around the world. The Jeep J8 marks the start of Jeep’s renewed commitment to supply the defence community with the highest-quality 4×4 vehicles available anywhere in the world.

If you’re from the great white north and you’re looking for a new or used Jeep, you might want to stop and check out MonsterAuto.ca.

MonsterAuto.ca is probably the largest online database of new and used vehicles for sale in Canada. I did a quick search in the Jeep area and came up with over 10 pages of results for Wranglers, Cherokees, etc.

They’ve got some other good resources that are free to use, including new and used car buying tips, selling tips and pointers on fraud awareness. I skimmed the section on auto-related check fraud and it’s good info. The article talks about everything from counterfeit checks, to overpayment, to ways of reporting fraud.

So next time you’re in the market for a new Jeep check out MonsterAuto.ca.

I finally manned up and bought a trailer for my Jeep last night. I’d been looking casually for a few months, then a neighbor of mine put this one for sale in front of his house. It’s a 20-foot Big Tex with 12,000 lb. axles (nothing like a little overkill, right), brakes, integrated ramps…everything I was looking for essentially.

When you’re in the market for a trailer for your Jeep, here are a few things to look for:

• Length - Obviously you’ll want to purchase a trailer that’s long enough for your rig, but don’t forget about other stuff like tools, camping gear, gas cans, etc. I wanted a trailer big enough so I could bring along a four wheeler or motorcycle with my Jeep.
• Width - I’ve got stock axles on my Jeep and between the side rails of my trailer I’ve got about 6-inches of leeway. If I had full size axles under my Wrangler, I wouldn’t be able to get it on the trailer. Sounds stupid, but make sure your trailer is wide enough to accommodate your Jeep’s axle width. I didn’t think about this before I purchased my trailer. I got away with one this time.
• Load Capacity - Your average Jeep weighs around 5,000 lbs. Make sure you get a trailer that can accommodate that plus a few extra pounds for accessories, gear, fuel, etc.
• Ramps - Look for a trailer with integrated ramps. Some trailers have ramps that fold up perpendicularly to the back of the trailer. Others have the kind that slide into pockets beneath the trailer. Both are good options and much better than carting around separate ramps all the time.
• Brakes - The combined weight of a large trailer and Jeep are enough to make stopping dangerous without an extra set of brakes. Make sure your trailer has brakes on at least one if not both axles.
• Deck - Trailer decks can be anything from diamond plate to wood. Mine came with a wood deck that’s in good shape, but is looking a bit weathered. I’m planning on putting a heavy coat of oil on the wood to protect it. Make sure if your trailer comes with a wood deck, it’s in good shape. Replacing an entire deck can be costly and a lot of work.
• Lights - This is another duh item, but make sure all the lights work. Trailers of every kind are notorious for having lighting/wiring problems.

Hopefully this info will help you when you’re on the lookout for your next Jeep trailer. Happy trails.