I found my Jeep CJ on a dealer’s lot. The price was right. 

My best friend had a 1980 CJ5, metallic brown with a tan soft top.  After riding with him a few times, I had to have one of these snarling little go-anywhere machines.  It wasn’t long before I was on the hunt. 

I got a good deal because the exhaust was leaking badly and oil was pooling under the engine.  I gave it a good looking over and took a chance that I could handle the repairs.  After writing the check for $3,500 I took her home.

If you own a Jeep, then it's a good idea to think about joining a Jeep club.

Some Jeep clubs are well-structured and have membership rules (and possibly even fees which go toward group events). Others are loosely structured and have a "come and go as you please" attitude.

Here's why it makes sense to become familiar with the Jeep club(s) in your area, and why you should consider joining one soon -- if you haven't already...

One of my all-time favorite sites to go to for ordering Jeep stuff online is All Things Jeep.

Check it out. You won't be disappointed. Jean and Norman have a great selection of unique supplies for Jeep owners, including a terrific collection gift ideas for the Jeep lover.

I like their site better than a lot of the other Jeep sites out there because they have a lot of "retro" looking stuff, as well as classic (and classy) modern day gear and attire. Lots of unique stuff, that's for sure!

Here are my personal favorite gift ideas for the Jeeper in your life...

Jim put this video together awhile ago and posted it on Google Videos.

I thought I'd share it for our Jeepin' readers here...

Enjoy!

I know Lynnette often kids about me taking the roads less traveled. Lord knows I don't mind spending time lost. She always seems to enjoy when I tell her that I'm not lost since I've been lost here before with my brother.

Have you ever passed a dirt trail and wondered, “Where does that road go?”

With the growing popularity of offroading, more and more people are seeking the answer to that question -- which means the need for off-highway safety and etiquette training is more important than ever. Especially for Jeep owners who sometimes push the limits a bit more than most when they're off-road.

Although many people use their Jeeps as a daily driver for on-road transportation,each and every day new Jeep owners are tempted to brave the occasional dirt road or even try some rock-crawling. But most people don’t realize that even driving on a smooth dirt road will require different techniques than driving on pavement. To top it all off, more intense offroading requires an entirely new set of skills that you simply can’t learn by watching a video.

Now there is an accessible, convenient and affordable provider for off-highway driving instruction: Sedona Jeep School.  If you live near Sedona, Arizona (or you're looking for a reason to take a vacation), I'd encourage you to get some insider tips and 4x4 driving instruction from the pro's at Sedona Jeep School. Lynnette and I did.

Much to my dismay, we can't ride around in the Jeep with the top down all of the time. Because here in Franklin, Tennessee it gets pretty chilly from October through March each year.

Still, we couldn't be happier with our Jeep(s), and we've had a lot of great times -- top up and top down -- in both... our 1990 Jeep Wrangler YJ... and our 2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited TJ.

Here's a run-down of all of the things you need to consider if your Jeep has a soft top...