- I think we can all agree that there is definitely
a difference in the type of off-road terrain
when we compare the west coast areas of the United States
to the east coast areas.
But when our team traveled to this year's
Great Smokey Mountain Tennessee Jeep Invasion,
it wasn't just the terrains
that were completely different.
There was something else that
really stuck out to us as well.
All right guys, I don't know what makes
all the difference in how we build our rigs,
just because we're in a different part
of the country besides the terrain.
But one thing we can say for certain is that when we went to
king of the hammers with Brian Godfrey method
race wheels and then the Easter Jeep safari
with the boys from icon vehicle dynamics,
we noticed that almost every Jeep was built
with the primary idea in mind to be functional.
Don't get me wrong, most of them looked great as well,
but I think they look great
because they all look like bad-ass rock crawlers.
I mean, we're talking about swapped in one-ton
axles coil over shocks on everything
for linked triangulated suspension setups,
extended wheelbase's, fully built TIG welded DOM tubed
roll cages, minimum of 40 inch tires
wrapped around Beadlock wheels
and the whole works.
Now I know what you're thinking.
Bunch of show offs, right?
Well, yeah, I mean kinda!
Gotta say it made me feel like
I certainly don't get paid even near enough
as what those guys do to try to afford,
to build a rig like that.
On the other hand, the kind of terrain
they have on the west coast
pretty much demands a built up rock crawler
if you really want to conquer the extreme stuff.
I mean you still might pull it off a cliff
but maybe your odds are reduced with a rig built
to conquer those types of trails compared to
something like a daily drive around 35.
And yes, driver's skill and technique are very important,
but even the best driver in a stock vehicle
has their limitations compared to the high dollar
highly capable built rig with an average driver.
Or am I just completely wrong here?
I'd be interested to see what you guys think
so let us know in the comments below
but regardless of skill,
the amount of money spent on a build
or the amount of fabrication done to it,
there is definitely a notable difference in them
between the west coast style of build
and the east coast.
Because once we got to Pigeon Forge Tennessee,
home of the Great Smokey Mountain Jeep Invasion
and went to the Hard Rock Cafe restaurant,
the first night we were there,
immediately we noticed a completely different
tune in how the Jeeps were built.
And we weren't quite "whistling dixie"
yet at this point. So no, not that kind of tune,
but the Jeeps, at least from what we had witnessed
from the four or five days we were there,
were built with a little less hardcore wheeling
in mind and a little bit more, well, let's see,
how do I say this without making it sound like a bad thing?
Well, they were built with more (foreign language),
which in the Chinese translation of (foreign language)
means wind and water, and ultimately, is a good thing.
Besides here at trail built. We liked them all.
In fact, like my buddy used to say
when he was single and on the prowl,
big or small, we like them all.
So instead of a big high dollar rock crawling machine with
40 inch tire on Beadlocks, we still saw some 40 inch tires,
but mostly 35 to 37 or the majority of them wrapped around
fueled wheels,
which definitely made me realize
just how popular fuel wheels are.
And of course we carry them on our website at trail belt,
but I guess I've just never been to one area where almost
every single vehicle there was running fuel wheels.
We also learned of a new to us product that I had no idea
even existed.
Did you guys know that there is an aerodynamic cover that
fastens to your light bar,
an arrow shield or something like that?
It's called it's designed sort of like the front of an
airplane wing and is designed to not only create a way for
the air to seamlessly and effortlessly go over and around
your light bar,
but also protects it from rock chips and stones flying up
from other vehicles in front of you.
I have no idea how long these things have even been out in
the market, but it was definitely a new thing for us.
We learned there are about a thousand different ways to
mount LED lights on a Jeep as well,
and multiple sets of flares in LED whips.
And I'm not sure if some of the south was bleeding up and
into the Eastern side of Tennessee,
but with all the different Jeeps,
running multiple flags hanging off the back of them,
you might've thought you were in the middle of some sort of
Texas showdown or something,
nothing against our Texas brothers and sisters.
We just know that they are some hardcore Patriots and we
love them for that. But nonetheless,
we were trying to figure out how anyone could even maneuver
around in traffic without being able to see around all those
enormous flags flying around and getting back to the
multitude of LED lights. When it got to be night time there,
you could hardly even notice it was night time if it wasn't
for the fact that most of the LED lights that were on were
multicolored and it turned the night into a kaleidoscope of
bright rainbows,
and really would have you wondering what they slipped into
your Mojito at the last bar you came from then you would
never even know it was night time.
One thing is for sure though,
it was still quite an amazing experience. And you know why?,
because even though the Jeeps are built a bit differently
and look a bit different,
there's still one common thread that we all have.
And that's the sense of community and camaraderie.
Yes, the trails are uniquely different
in the east than in the west.
And the Jeeps were tailored to the different terrains
and our own individual styles,
but the people still remained relatively the same in the
fact that everyone has a sense of belonging and helping out
their fellow Jeeper,
no matter what part of the country we traveled to after
meeting and talking to all of you,
the sense of community and the comradery has been second to
none to compare to other automotive communities.
I don't believe you'll find that same sense of belonging at
a car show or at a show truck show.
But when you're out in the trails and you meet others doing
the same thing, you are,
there is often an unsaid understanding and appreciation of
their build. And if you were in trouble of some sort,
they wouldn't hesitate to help you out.
So regardless, if you're in the foothills
of the smoky mountains or
on the mountain tops of the Rockies,
in the Joshua tree national forest on the beach in Florida
at the tip of the Keweenaw in Peninsula
or anywhere else in between, remember,
it's not how we build our vehicles that sets us apart.
It's how we show respect
to the other people's builds that does.
And if you guys are looking to get started with your build,
but just, aren't quite sure where to start.
Well,
that's easy, start by heading over to our website
at trialbuiltoffroad and checking out
all the different wheel and
tire packages, suspension upgrades,
and huge variety of accessories that we carry.
And from there, the rest is easy,
and guys, we also want to hear back from you.
What are your thoughts on the different areas in the
United States of the different wheeling communities?
Do you notice that there's a way that Jeeps are built
differently in one part of the country than in the other?
I know we sure did,
but definitely let us know in the comments below
and guys as always,
we appreciate all of you for watching
and all of your support.
I'm Josh Trialbuilt,
and we'll see you guys out on the trails.