Episode 1040 – CC – First Round Table

Jaimee hosts an all female round table to discuss women going off-road in their Jeeps. Questions, answers and advice from a woman’s perspective.

Are you ready? It’s the Jeep Dog Show, Chick Chat.

 

Hi, I’m Jamie. I’ll be your host for tonight’s episode. Welcome to Chick Chat, your passport to Jeep Adventures, the podcast for style meets substance and the conversation revolves all around things Jeep from a distinctly feminine perspective. Join us as we rev our engines and dive deep into the world of off-roading Jeep culture and everything in between. Grab your favorite pair of sunglasses, buckle up and get ready to hit the trails with Chick Chat because when it comes to Jeeps, the journey is just as fabulous as a destination. Guys, I am so happy that you’re all here for this first episode of Empower Hour. This is going to be the first of many, I’m hoping. So let’s do this. Let’s introduce ourselves and where we’re from so that everybody who’s watching has an idea of how far this reaches and they’ll want to get involved going forward. So I obviously am Jamie. I’m in Coal Township, Pennsylvania and we’ll hand it off to someone else. Take it, introduce yourselves ladies. Okay, can you hear me? I can hear you. Hi, I’m Lisa, co-founder with Jamie, a girls play off-road. I’m in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.

 

Yeah, I’ve been wheeling for about 10 years.

 

I’m Natalie from Cincinnati, Ohio. Natalie Shaboni and I’m with High Lift Off-Road. We’re a shop in Cincinnati and I’ve been wheeling now out of Jeep since I was 16. I’m not going to tell you how old I am right now, but I’ll come later. I have been wheeling for quite some time and very excited to be a part of TIC CHOP today. I’m Kelly. I’m Kim. Sorry, that’s okay. Go ahead, Kelly. No, you’re fine. Go ahead.

 

Okay, I’m Kim. I live in Denver, Pennsylvania. I’ve been wheeling for about four years. I’m Kelly from Lornberg, North Carolina and I’ve been wheeling for about 35 years, I guess now. I had a bunch of CJ’s and a scrambler and now I have a gladiator that I’m just currently in the middle of a build or rebuilding, but down here in the old burg.

 

Hi, I’m Debbie. I’m from Long Island, New York and let’s see, Jeep Community for I don’t know how long. I’m wheeling before I even had a Jeep and someone else was Jeep, but I’m one of Jamie’s besties before this whole thing came about and I’m so proud to be here. Thank you, Jamie. Thanks for being here. Yeah.

 

Anyway, we got four more people. Come on. I can jump in. I’m Abby from Kennet Square area in Pennsylvania. I’m fairly new. I’ve had my Jeep for almost three years, wheeling for two of them.

 

Wait, I have to tell you who Abby is.

 

This is the powerhouse. She’s the champion Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter. Hi. Yeah, like you would have no idea if she doesn’t have her mohawk up. They don’t recognize her. It’s like me with my pink sunglasses, but had no idea. So, okay. Just had to put that out there because I had it’s like the coolest thing. Everybody. So, Kelly used to be a rodeo person, barrel racer.

 

We’ve got like amazing, Lisa retired army.

 

So, Cassie, you want to introduce yourself? I’m going to put you on the spot.

 

Sure. So, I’m Cassie Bell. I’m slightly less interesting in my health insurance job. It’s a little bit hard to follow up with MMA fight, like fighting and all that. I’ve been thrilled to be in the Jeep community. Gosh, I got my grand Cherokee in 2020 and I bought another one last year that I plan on making my dedicated off-road vehicle. And just super happy to have Jamie to be able to ask questions to. And thrilled to have found this whole group. You guys all are just great to be around.

 

I think I was with you on your first ride.

 

Yes, you were. That was my first ever ride because my car had a button that said mud, sand, rock and snow. And if I had a button that said it could do it, I’m going to do it. So, I came out with you guys and that was the most terrifying yet best decision I made. I can’t wait to come out again.

 

And okay, we’ve got Sherry. Sherry’s there. Yeah, can you hear me? I can hear you. Okay, so I met Miss Jamie last year in Carlisle at the Hawe Breeze. I had my Jeeps in 2018. I wanted to start wheeling way earlier than I did, but I’m a newbie. So, I get to learn from these beautiful lovely ladies. So, I’m very green, but I’m glad to be a part of this group.

 

And we have that delayed. I have not met you yet.

 

My name is Ashley Kimika. I’m from Parnhurst, North Carolina. Kelly,

 

Owen turned me on to the group. I hadn’t really been wheeling because I never really had anyone I could trust to show me. But now I have Kelly in my life. I’m sure she will. But I’ve had my Jeep since 18. I love it. And yeah, so hopefully I can learn how to like not tear my Jeep up, but actually have some fun with it. I am a veteran also. Awesome. And then we have our last person. We have Jackie.

 

Hi, my name is Jackie. My name is daughter. I’ve been a wheeling officer since she started.

 

Yeah.

 

She’s up for moral support. So, the way I started was taking a class in Jack. I was newly single. And Jack, you want to try something new? And so we did this and it’s it took for me. She goes along with it for me. So, okay. So, we’re going to answer the class, ask the questions that people don’t want to ask online because they’re just going to get beat up in Facebook groups. And, you know, they’re afraid to ask because they think that it’s not a good question or it’s a dumb question. So, Lisa can attest being my partner in girls play off-road that potty humor is to me the best. And it has to do with going to the bathroom. It’s funny. I’m like a 12 year old. So, I was trying to be a little more mature. So, we all have different ideas of what to do when we’re on the trails. And I’ve been asked so many times, what do you do if I have to go to the bathroom and I’m on the trails?

 

So, what’s your answer? And do you have a funny story to go with it? That’s a two part. Okay. So, go around the room. I’ll continue mine. So, retired military, I can go anywhere. But as of recently, so going anywhere, doing a number one is easy cheesy peasy. But when you have to do that number two, you like freak out because you’re just kind of like, can the guy see my butt? Can anybody see my butt? This, that, that, and the other. When I go out to the woods, I have wipes, I have a bag. And if I don’t have wipes, I have a roll of toilet paper. So, I take out what I took in with me. But you do what you got to do. And it was probably two wheeling events ago was my most embarrassing. We were navigating through an obstacle. Jamie was in the lead. Somehow I had gotten about third vehicle behind her. I’m usually her gunner. And I had to go. Number two.

 

I was, it was knocking. Jamie, I thought I could, nobody could see me, but I had on a bright neon yellow sweatshirt. So, everybody could see me if we were out on the trail. Well, knuckleheaded me, bright neon shirt in green in pine trees. Yeah. I’ve never had to pinch and move in the squat position so fast. Because I had my walking on me. Jamie’s like, Lisa, I think I see you. And I’m like, no, you don’t. And I turned. And it was like, she had a clear shot of my backside. I pulled my sweatshirt down and I duck waddled over to like a tree that was probably about this big. I’m six foot tall. So, getting to this big trying to poop in the woods. So, covered it up with the leaves and debris and grabbed up my stuff and took it back to the Jeep. And I’m walking back like this. And it’s just like, Lisa, what were you doing? I had to use the bathroom. I’m good. I’m good. So, yeah, that’s my funny story.

 

I had an old rodeo friend of mine that told me one time. I was just starting out on rodeo. And one of the old timers told me, everybody shits their pants one time. You know, some time. And so, you just got to kind of like, you just got to let it go. That’s it.

 

Oh, my. So, my embarrassing story is, so I always say, I have to go to the bathroom, going behind my Jeep, evolved in war, and do not come back here. However, when you’re in Moab and there’s nothing to cover you, you go to the bathroom and then you look up and up above, there’s a cliff and then there’s a whole bunch of Jeeps sitting up there. I may or may not be on some videos or cameras or who knows.

 

Well, I have a funny one. And this is going back to, I think about 2014, 2015. It was my first time at Roush. I didn’t have my Jeep at that point. I was riding with friends. And I don’t know if any of you know, if you’re out, a lot of us keep Solo cups in our car now, in our Jeeps, because they’re a perfect size and aim. Okay. Well, I know that now. Didn’t know it then. I was told, “Bring some plastic cups so we can throw it in the Jeep.” So, I did. Didn’t know what it was for.

 

Yeah, I showed up with Dixie cups. They’re not easy to pan. And they really do not protect the spray. So, you know, you try going. I had spray marks on my pan. It wasn’t a good book, but now I know Solo cups. Thanks for hearing all these kind of channels. What is that? I didn’t hear you. What does Natalie have? She always uses the trails. Okay. Natalie’s muted.

 

I couldn’t hear you. I’m so sorry. Say it again. It’s your turn. You’re on the trails just as much as I am. You know, from horses and rodeo to doing the Jeeping. So, I was just in San Hollow, actually, so I could definitely relate to the Moab situation. So, you know, you can’t really cover it because you’re on the slick rock. And it’s like, “Oh, okay. That’s fun.” And there’s always someone somewhere. So, definitely the announcement of last Jeep is the bathroom Jeep every time. No matter who you are, who it belongs to, you make that announcement. You get it done. And I also carry now a little bag with me for everybody because you just never know when something will happen. You never know. Oh, funny. I don’t have any off-roading mishaps like that, but I do drive a big truck for a living. And as a female driving an 18-wheeler or a dump truck down the road, guess what? There isn’t. You know, I can’t just stop on the side of the road and pee like the guys do. And when I used to haul dump truck and haul asphalt up north, I would climb into the bed with the asphalt to pee and or poop. Well, guess what they don’t tell you? You know, that asphalt’s 300 and something degrees. And when you’re dumping the bed into the… Yeah, it comes out and is literally steaming shit. Sorry. So, note to self. That is one lesson I learned that everybody will know on the job site that you pooped in the bed of your truck because it will smell for the next two hours. So, yep, that’s me, hi. That’s just Eric. You know, my first date with Bets,

 

right? Everybody knows I’m in recovery. I’m only drunk that cannot pee out because I will pee all over myself. So, I usually always keep a cup in my Jeep. So, someone had told me, I think it was Mary Margaret Mulligan who had told me about the Shee Wee. No, Go Girl. So, I got a Go Girl. Tried it on the beach once with Debbie. It was a star shower. It worked. I was like, this is great. John and I have our first date. I’m wearing a giraffe onesie because, you know, who doesn’t wear a giraffe onesie on their first date? I was known as Giraffe Girl. And so, I go to pee using this Go Girl. And I literally pee all over myself. So, now I’m in tears. I’m like, he’s like, what’s up? I just peed all over my, I saved my coffee. He saved his coffee cup for me. And so, at that point, I knew that he was a keeper. So, I did do the solo cups. They do crack if you keep them in the Jeep long enough. Starbucks cups, Dunkin Donuts cups, they all crack. Yeah, ruined a pair of ugs straight down into my ugs. So, now, a friend of ours, someone from Girls Play Off Road who works at Walmart had bought me the color changing hard plastic cups tumblers. And so, Lisa was at the house one day and she’s like, why don’t you use this? It’s not going to break. So, my cup stays underneath my seat. And I’ve had people that jump in my, I have a cup. Yeah, you’re now holding my toilet. Thank you very much. Yeah. So, Lisa, yeah, you are you are clean shitter on the trails.

 

Had no idea. Whoosh. Okay, let’s go to another topic. What got you into off roading? What made you decide to take these expensive vehicles? I still wonder every time I’m doing a blue or a black, I’m like, why am I taking this and driving over rock? So, what got you to decide that you wanted to take your Jeep off roading? Mine was that button. And it’s just as a human being when there is a button in front of you, if you have the willpower to not press that button, I admire you. I’m not that human. It was my buying the vehicle. I literally looked at it and said, you know, I’m allowed to make one bad decision in my life because I didn’t need a new car at that time at all.

 

I love it. I kind of fist bump it every day. And I don’t know, I like, I love the feeling of taking it off road, going up that first hill, and just seeing the hood of it. And the power that like it felt like it had I felt like I could do anything doing it and it just that adrenaline rush was fantastic. And so much so that to your point of why do we take these expensive vehicles off road? Well, that one had to come off road because I knew if I break anything on it, it’s just cheaper to buy an old one. So that’s exactly what I did. I’m that grand Cherokee person of the group. And I now two of them. And that second one is I need my lift and to put my hooks on that I just got and I want to see just how far I could go. So it’s not just about Mengele’s all Jeeps. So I started off three weeks after I got my Jeep, I decided to take the course

 

and hearing all the scrapes and bumps because it was completely stock.

 

Not for me. Ended up trying a front park and then to my rear bumper at that point. I was like, nope, I’m going to be strictly back roads on that doing this. And then I met up with some people that were going to take the time to show me how to properly off road. And I did that and trusted them. And then I got addicted. It was kind of like you were saying, like, how much can I push myself? And then I had somebody in my life that was telling me that I couldn’t do it. And I was like, oh, we’ll hold my beer and watch this. I’m going to do this. So now I’m constantly trying to push myself and do the harder things. And it kind of got it.

 

So what was the first park that you went to? AOA.

 

Tried that first. And then I heard that Roush was a different animal, which it is.

 

And yeah, then in my rear bumper going off of a rock again, I was completely stock. I had nothing

 

modified on it at that point. And it kind of scared me. So I was like, nope, stick into dirt roads. I’m good. But I’m so glad that I met up with some people that were willing to take the time and show me and the rest is history. I think it’s really important what you just said about the people that you trusted and that helped you gain your confidence, because that’s what really helps take us off the pavement are those people that will lead us, that will show us. And they stand next to you, not behind you, not in front of you, man or woman. And I think that’s really, really important. So that’s what something I just took out from what you just said, because that’s what was special to me when I first went off road was the people that took their time with me and actually showed me what at that time my sport could do and my little build that I did. And I appreciate those people that took the time. It’s all about taking your time with the newbies, because they are the next step in what we’re going to be doing.

 

Who’s next? Kelly, how did you start?

 

I started mostly because my dad had old Willys that he used to plow with at the gas stations. And so one of the first vehicles I drove besides that Willys was a stock car. So like, and his and because he was that’s what he was, he was a crew chief for now famous, very famous NASCAR person. But um, yeah, so I got to drive the Willys and that was my like reward and what I got to do helping around the gas station and stuff. So I got to drive the Willys. And then after that, I was like, what can this do? And then I grew up my dad was military, I grew up in a very military family. And he said girls don’t drive trucks.

 

So here I am, very old now. I have had a class A CDL for 30 years, I’ve driven every piece of equipment, heavy equipment that they’re pretty much is except for maybe two and drive 18 Willys. And this is probably this Jeep is my let’s see, had an 80 and 81. It 81 was a scrambler had to sorry, a 79 and 80 and then 81 scrambler. Then I had an Azuzu Amigo that I lifted, and put 35 is on and put about 300,000 miles on that little bitch with a four cylinder and took it everywhere. And nobody thought it could do anything. But it had the wheelbase of a little wrangler, a little two door wrangler. So I took it everywhere. But my dad said, you can’t drive trucks, can’t drive a Jeep can’t drive truck girls don’t do that. So that’s how I got the Amigo. And then after that, it was just downhill after that, because I got a CDL and all that after that. And now I have a wrangler. I mean, I have the gladiator, because to me, it was another challenge, like, you say girls don’t drive trucks, I’m going to drive an 18 wheeler, you say girls don’t operate heavy equipment, I’m going to operate every damn one. And that’s just, he raised me to be that way. So like, even though he said, don’t do this, he really meant do everything that you can, you know, and so now I have this gladiator and I try to do everything that I did in my little CJ with the gladiator, you know, it’s longer, it’s a wheel longer wheelbase and everything. So it’s just a challenge. But that’s how I got started from somebody saying you can’t do this because you’re a girl. Have you ever thought about bobbing the bed? Is that something you’ve thought about? No, I didn’t buy it to Bob it. You know what I mean? Like, I bought it because I can do a truck, you know, and so I’m gonna agree. If you can’t drive the vehicle you got, why are you going to take the bed off? I should have just bought a Wrangler. Yeah, you know, guys out there and they’re they’re building them. Here’s the thing, you can change the angle of that. Like I just put a four and a half inch lift on it, rock crawler lift, and it was a two inch lift before. Now it’s got a four and a half inch, I’m going to a high rise bumper in the back, that’s going to give me an extra five inches of clearance. If I can’t get through the obstacles that I’m going through with that, by my navigation skills alone, I shouldn’t be doing it anyway. I’m just gonna I’m just gonna tear up the underneath of it. Yep. So I mean, if I just I literally just sunk like 15 grand in the last two weeks, and you know, into the suspension. So yeah, I’m not taking it out to tear it up. I’m taking it out to drive it and have fun. Yep. So nice. But I mean, Bob the bed, they’ve been cutting the bed off. So from behind the back tire on the gladiator to the tailgate, what they’ve been doing is taking out like an extra foot of that and then putting the tailgate back up against it. motorbilt actually makes a Bob bed that you can buy the whole bed and just like take yours off and put the new one on. But so it’s only a five foot long bed anyway. A real truck has anywhere from a six foot to an eight foot bed. So you’re already shorter than that. And there’s people out on the trails in into comas and everything else that have a longer bed. So if they’re making it through these trails, why the heck couldn’t I make it through the trail with a five foot bed? And if I can’t, that’s my driving skills that’s not working. You know, like, like, don’t get me wrong, there are some turns like when we were in Tennessee that you were going up in your Jeep, James, when we were riding with you that were just hairpin turns, the gladiator would have had a hard time, not because it’s not built right, but it is longer. So it would have drug like on the side or something. But there’s things you can do. Like I got different tail lights that are close, closer fitting, they’re not going to, you know, I’m not going to nail the tail light that hangs off the side. And there’s there’s there’s other ways to go around that. But the bobbing the bed, I feel like is kind of the easy way out personally, we’ve been doing a lot more of those lately. So I was wondering how you thought about it, but they’ve been coming in more and more the bobbing of the bed. So at that point, I was wondering, you know, why do people even get gladiators anymore if you’re going to bob the bed off? So yeah, enjoy your school bus, you know, right? Like it’s I mean, it’s it’s a fad, I think everybody thinks it looks cool, because it looks different. It looks like the brute. But you can tell them like the or the day. Yeah, yeah, you can buy a brute kit. And there’s only what like 30 of them or so in the country that you can get but that’s what they’re doing there. And you can just go get a TJ and put it put a brute kit on it. And it’s a little longer than the scrambler, but shorter than the gladiator and it’s only a two seater. So again, are you doing it just for the looks? I’m not sure. I don’t know. I mean, I see some of them out there really crawling like on, you know, on big stuff with the bobbed and that’s great. But

 

I mean, I don’t even know if you tried it with the regular one. Nemesis does make a really great hitch plate. Now that will go in your kitchen at the skid plate. And I’ve seen such incredible things happen with that. Like it’s been amazing. It saves you when you have the full length that I’d rather see that than bobbing it. So right, right, right. Like really, are you familiar with savvy off road? I am. Yeah. So so savvy, I have a front bumper for them. And I’ll be actually getting one of the first JT rear bumpers that comes off the line. So the first one that is right now on a rock crawler JT that they’re using that they were using to promote the savvy bumper and then mine’s going to be the next one that comes off the line. Which I’m excited about because it is a high rise and it works with my hitch, which is important. But I do, I was looking into that Nemesis slider for that purpose. Exactly.

 

I can’t recommend them enough. And I will say I do have them in stock just in case you may shift one to you. I will say I mean, just being in San Hollow last week, and I had I had four gladiators with us one with the bobbed three without the one I was driving was a full length bed and I was very grateful for that slider. Extremely grateful. Oh yeah, I’m sure. Yeah, I’m sure.

 

Do that into it. What put this to take that purple beast off road?

 

Hold on. You’re talking to me. I’m sorry. I missed the beginning of that.

 

So what made you take that purple Jeep off road?

 

I just wanted to know what, you know, I got a Jeep. I might as well figure out what it’s.

 

Uh oh, she froze.

 

Ruh roh. Jamie froze. You want to finish? There you go, you’re back. And again, the capo. Oh, these in and out.

 

Natalie, how did you get into this? Because you are so deep in.

 

Natalie. Oh, my dear. So I think there’s a big delay is when you’ve said my name. I haven’t heard you the whole time, so I apologize. I’m so sorry. I was like, you’re Ali and I was like me.

 

You know, I got into it. I so I got a Jeep when I was 16, a little two door 2000. Didn’t realize the club I was joining when I got this Jeep, to be honest, when I got my first deep wave, it was one of the highlights of my life. I still remember it. Let’s be honest. I think we all do a little bit. Um, but I really didn’t get into off-roading until I got my second one back in 2018. And I did my first build. I was able to, I was like, you know, I have an extra couple thousand dollars. What can I do with this? I knew I wanted black wheels. That’s all I knew. But I know it doesn’t sound very educated, but you know, sometimes we go off a look sometimes. That’s okay.

 

And so when I met my first shop, they were very welcoming to women, which I think was very important. Um, I didn’t, I felt very safe there. They got me on the right path. They took my budget and made it work with what I had. And then they told me I needed to call a certain friend and they said, they’re going to take you off road and teach you everything about what you just did. And I was like, well, what I just even do, I don’t even know. Like I knew I lifted it. I put black wheels on it, got new tires, the Nitto Ridge Grapplers, because it was my daily driver at the time. And I didn’t even understand the difference between the Ridge Grappler, the Trail Grappler. Didn’t even know there was a difference. Now I do. Um, but it took certain people and as someone else was just saying a little bit ago, you know, you have those people that took the time and that’s how I got hooked, because someone took the time with me on my first ride and they couldn’t get rid of me. It was called Trail Team Off Road Adventures and becoming a guide with them. Um, and then Hilah ended up becoming a major sponsor with them. And then we all became one group together. So, um, and now they really can’t get rid of me because now here I am. Um, and my Hilah blew every day and I bleed blue every day. So, uh, we, you know, we’re doing courses, uh, about once a month I have a track that I get to use, uh, with a Jeep dealership here. And then you go through that program and you get to go on the trail. Um, and it just takes that special person to be able to take the time. So I think, and that’s what we all do, right? We all take the time with everybody. I think that’s really important. Okay, so Abby, we’re going to give you a shot again since your audio like froze or glitched. So would you mind taking over and telling us how you got started?

 

Really? I just, you know, I bought a Wrangler. I wanted to see what it was capable of. My driveway is an off road adventure in itself. Um, every day it works. Somebody asked me, oh, where you’ve been? I’ll just down my driveway. My Jeep’s constantly covered in mud. Um, so I kind of, I want to learn more about the, you know, being able to winch people out of places. I had to winch the, um,

 

the Amazon driver out of my driveway a couple months ago. Yeah, it’s, uh, it’s an adventure just in my driveway. So that’s why I have a Jeep and I was like, well, let’s, let’s see what, what this, this thing can really do. So pretty much, you know, why, why get a Jeep if you’re not going to know how to use it? I’m coming to play at your house. She’s going to wait four dogs. Yeah. Four giant dogs between the Great Danes and the Mastiff and the Mastiff is massive and they’re beautiful. Her white Great Dane gets dressed up, wears two twos and is a service dog and wears goggles and is the most fabulous thing you’ve ever seen. Um, 600 pounds of dog. It’s wild. Debbie, how’d you get started with Columbia over there? Oh, I actually started doing the off-roading thing before I even had Columbia. Um, when I was a kid, I used to do the ATVs and with my brother and my dad. So being the only girl had to do all the boy things, but I fell in love with it back then. Um, then my husband got a Jeep in 2013 and right around that time he started getting involved in some of the Long Island, you know, Jeep clubs, which were, hate to say it, majority mall, you know, mall crawlers. Um, a group of them would go to Roush and I started becoming friends with them and I was going to Roush as basically

 

someone’s in the Jeep as a, you know, as a passenger enjoying the trails. And then I got my Jeep in 2016 and that’s when I started taking Columbia, uh, you know, to some of the parks and I don’t get to go as often as I want. It’s, I really wish we had something here on Long Island that wasn’t, you know, the, the drive having to go there. Um, because it takes a lot and was hard, as you know, with the kids and they grow up and now they’re gone. I could start trying to do a little bit more, but it’s not always easy. Be great if you go like right down the block.

 

You’re busting more often. I know, right? I know it was closer, but I’m, I’m, I’m loving this and I, um, I don’t mean to interrupt what you were just going to say, Jimmy, but I think this is such a wonderful platform and it’s gotten to this point and it’s a long time coming, but I’m very, very proud of everything and you guys are all wonderful. Thank you. So I started, um, I was newly single and we heard from Debbie and our group of friends, people were going off-roading. They were going to Roush Creek. I’m like, like, what the hell is off-roading? Like, what is like, so I have received my Jeep as a birthday present from my godfather and I did not, you know, he’s like, I’m going to buy you Jeep. Nope. I don’t want to know anything about this. And so this beautiful silver 2014 Polar Edition is brought home. He had put bigger tires on it. So I had 33s and my black, uh, Rhino wheels were put in the whole thing. It was a dream come true. He had asked me one day, you can have any car. What would you want? So I said, you know, I would, it was the 14, the four doors had come out. I was like, I would love that. So I got a Jeep. I now no longer had a cabana at a beach club. So I needed to do something else. I’m dating some guy said, Oh, why don’t you drive your Jeep on the beach? What do you mean drive my Jeep on the beach? Talk to me about this. She’s going off-roading at Roush and I’m hearing all about it. So I decided to take a class because before I, um, start taking this thing on the, uh, you know, I need to do some research. So I took a class, fell in love with it. It was the most empowering thing I have ever done in my life and got bit by the bug. Uh, did a, I did a New Year’s Eve event up at Roush Creek. It was an at Roush one day, AOA the next day. And, um, um, and the first day Roush Creek, that was a disaster slid down, like way too far was like, that’s a pee myself. Jackie was fantastic. She had 10 years old, new to pull the emergency break, blah, blah, blah. And she’s like, ah, I’m done. We’re not doing this. So we’ve talked her into going the next day to AOA. Everyone said that you’ll love AOA. But we did that. Yeah. And that was, that was the beginning of it. So girls play off road started as a play day at AOA, because there was at that point, only two women’s, there was one women’s willing day a year at Roush Creek. So I felt that there needed to be a bigger presence for women on the trails. And so it started out as play day at AOA. And then through that, it just kind of grew into this thing of a group of empowering women. So that first ride, there were 13 people that came at least 13 people 18. I think there were 18 13 new people, 18 people all together, Lisa, that’s a Lisa and I met, was she decided to trust me with her life. And follow me around the park. And I have made some of my best friends from this, but girls play off road was to give away give what I have learned and what I loved. And that was something that was so important. So for me, guiding and watching people in their passing in their driver’s seat, like shitting themselves as they’re about to hit an obstacle for the first time, and the smiles was amazing. Watching them splash through a puddle. Yeah, Kim, I know you hate puddles. Um, you know, and it like there was one trail at AOA that go dubbed as girls play at AOA girls play off road splash mountain because you just come flying down this bumpy bumpy hill. And it was like going to it was like being on a Waterloo ride at a park and water just straight over your shopping what and people who can I do that again. And so it just became a thing of empowering women showing that there’s nothing that you can’t do. I’m a divorced mom, I am nine years sober. I off road, I have work on Wall Street, you know, like I there, I’ve conquered everything that you know, I thought all these obstacles that most people you know, would hope to be able to. And I attribute a lot of it to my first experience off roading was because I learned that there’s nothing I can’t do. Going up a trail called pucker Ridge, where literally, it’s pucker Ridge. So to have women from all over the country is just amazing. That although we’re so different in geographical locations, but so many experiences are the same.

 

So let’s come up with someone else. I’m going to have someone else pick the next question. What would you love? We’re going to go with Cassie because Cassie drives the Grand Cherokee, and she’s new. And her first ride was at the girls playoff road from 22, which was at famous Reading Outdoors. And Lisa, you were with us, Debbie, were you know, Debbie was selling raffle tickets at that it was a. So Cassie, you’re in charge. Ask the next question, please.

 

Um, so at minimum, with the topic of going to the bathroom when you’re off road, you’re out wheeling and have to get yourself or winch yourself out, like what would you think

 

is minimum you should have on you when you’re going out on the trails? Lisa’s going to say toilet paper. Well, I always have toilet paper and wipes.

 

I have learned. Thank you, bestie and hubs. I’ve got a couple I’ve got a couple ropes. I we willed in you already a couple years ago, and I never knew what a. What’s the what’s the little thing you put on your on the front? Soft shackle? Yes, soft shackle. I never knew what I’m like, What the hell is that? Why do they have like a baseball with a rope on it? When I saw the guys hook it up and pulled out, I was like, Oh, my gracious. So I have a few of those. So I have tow ropes. I have a couple soft shackles. And my tow rope my tow straps. I have one tow rope. I have a couple tow straps. One is like 25 feet and then one is like three or four feet. But each time we go out somewhere, it’s like, Oh, do you have X, Y and Z? And I’m like, No, why do I need that? Well, you never know. So it’s just empty every pocket. It’s either building up your rig or you’re building up your recovery pack, your recovery stuff. So does anyone ever do a bright color? I know for me, mine’s always neon green. Everything is neon green so I can see it. Because you never want to forget it on the trail. That’s always like my go to color and a big red bag. Everything is neon green and the big red bag. So I get it. Good idea. Snacks. I need snacks. Snacks on the trail. Yes, snacks. Oh, snacks of all varieties. Like being trail mix or chocolate chip cookies. Sometimes the chocolate, but then you got to make sure it stays in the cooler. But that should be that should be the one of the next shows Jamie will show everybody how to make her snack a box.

 

I’ll pay no cheetos. Can’t recommend them enough. Fantastic. I never even know. Oh, they’re so good. It’s a problem. They’re addicting. It’s bad.

 

We always have fresh water and snacks because my husband is type one diabetic. So we always want to make sure of that. And then we always have like the recovery gear. It’s good to have like a little first aid kit. Because a lot of people who have never used recovered gear usually get hurt by the recovery year. Something as stupid as a rope burn. You know, I mean, you never know. So just simple stuff like that. A radio. A radio to call out to somebody because we wheel in places that there’s no cell service. So if you don’t have anything, then we’ll get something out there. And, and you always bring a buddy. Don’t wheel alone. It’s not safe. You know, you could be stuck out there for hours. So always bring a buddy. I think that’s one of the most important things to do. And we bring our dogs. Always have the dogs. So another thing. This has been great, you know, but we also need to talk about having an air compressor just in case you need to, you know, for the era. Not all places. We were wheeling last weekend. We were at one of the parts of Famous Riding Outdoors and they don’t have air compressors there. So it was five Jeeps and I was the only one with an air compressor.

 

So that’s something to always keep on hand. They come in different sizes and different prices. Yeah, Jamie, do one you recommend? Because I want to, I’m going to the beach in the summer and I would like to take one with me. So if you have links, the send in the group.

 

Yeah. Not only just. Affordable, but still airs up at a decent time. The ARB, I can’t speak highly enough about ARB. I have the single port that’s in my engine compartment. The best upgrade I did because I do a lot of on the beach wheeling up on the National Seashore in Cape Cod. That’s where I got my start actually going off roading was with my parents and our family friends up in Cape Cod. And we always had to wait in line to air up. And I knew when I did my build, I built it for there and I wanted the on air or onboard air. And that was my favorite upgrade. And it was the best $500 I ever spent. And it’s always with you and it runs up your alternator. So you need your deep running. But it was literally the best $500 I ever spent was on the ARB air compressor. And they do come in a duel as well, which is amazing because they go a bit faster. But the single, the single valve is fantastic. Links, please. Links, please. I will send out don’t worry. I will offer a disc, carry them as well as stock and I can give them to you. I’m not just that’s not a plug, but we are halfway. We’re already halfway to you. So you never know. I don’t have onboard air yet. I do have a couple of different compressors. It’s been a build in process. I’ve got a VIA air. I’ve got an ARB. We’ve got a Smittybilt. We kind of try everything out, you know, and depends on with having several off road vehicles, you know, there’s something in each vehicle. I personally right now am running the Smittybilt 5.65 CMM air compressor. It is available on Amazon. There is also Power Tank, which is a supporter of Jeep Talk Show. I love it. So the Smittybilt goes for $164. So totally affordable plugs right. And me when I first started and didn’t know how to do anything, didn’t have anyone to show me, watch someone do it, connect it up to your battery, lift the hood, connect it, and you just need to have an air gauge with you or check your dashboard if, you know, you’ve got that program.

 

That was an awesome question, Cassie.

 

Good job. Yeah, that was a darn good question, really. A darn good. For those of you, like I know you’d mentioned you liked all green stuff on your Jeep. I got a guy on Etsy. He actually cuts and makes like a four rope, or I should say four hose, detach with the gauge on it, you can get the digital gauge or the regular gauge. It was like 170, maybe 170 bucks or whatever, but he will custom make the hose and everything to match your Jeep if you want the colors like mine are blue. My Jeep is wearing blue. And so then I have like a, I got like a less expensive like Amazon, just because I have a gladiator. So I have room to put crap in, you know what I mean? Like you guys don’t have a lot of room for stuff to go inside. But I just have a regular cheaper,

 

like just regular pump. But yeah, I got the hose and it’s like the real high quality, nice hose, and the fittings and everything were really, really good. But that’s on Etsy. If you just go on there and just kind of search. I’ll find a link if you’re interested.

 

We totally want that because I would love a hot pink. You can start with an inexpensive, inexpensive portable air compressor. It always makes for a good backup anyway, you know, they have them for around $100. Let’s see. So who’s gonna? Sherry. Sherry had yet to take her Jeep off route to Sherry and someone who has yet to wheel. What’s a question that you have for people that are more experienced that we could talk tell you about? Okay, so I mean, I was kind of thinking of like, is there like a checklist of what you should and shouldn’t have for your Jeep? But then here’s another question I was thinking about too. You know, you’re out there and you’re going to different places and different trails and stuff like that. And since I haven’t been out there yet,

 

there are a rule of thumb regarding fuel.

 

Like, you know, going up and down trails however long they are, not really sure how that works out. But I’m sure you somebody’s got the experience of how to calculate fuel or maybe extra cans or stuff like that. Just a thought. Typically recommend that you have close to a full tank because you never know how long we’re going to be out. Ran into a mistake two weeks ago when we were down in Virginia. We’re at the gas station. I’m pumping I said it so that it would, you know, pump by itself without me holding it. Went inside did the bathroom got whatever I needed came out figured I was done didn’t look blonde moment or this moment whatever didn’t look at the tank and got it closed everything up got back that we got into Peter’s Mills and I saw that I had a quarter of a tank. It started to trail with so I got there three hours. And by the time we were leaving, I didn’t think we were ever getting out of there. Most people tend to go down the trail we went up the trail. So it took us longer than I was expecting. And so the panic ensued of Oh my god, I’m going to run out of gas. What are we going to do like, we need to just go. So after that, I will say you want to have as close to a full tank, not three quarters of a tank because you never know how long we’re going to be out there for. Right. And there’s usually gas stations that are not too far. Thank you, Jamie. So let’s go with this question because since we’re talking about basics, do you air down when you are off roading? Yes, do now. Yes. To preserve the trail. Definitely. And to preserve your butt. I feel like it gives a much softer ride.

 

So right. Absolutely. That to me, that was definitely winner, winner, winner chicken dinner. That is the right answer. I went out with some people from New York, they came out to AOA. And it was amazing to see how many people were not airing down. And then would complain about the terrain. You know, and we’re terrified. Well, guess what? If you air down your jeep’s going to be a whole lot softer, it’s going to be an easier, smoother ride. You know, we’re not going down the trails in a pair of stilettos, you’d rather be in a pair of like snow shoes. So air down and you know, leave the libutans at home and put your snow shoes on and you know, and yes, it is definitely way better for the trails. We all promote tread lightly. If there’s a chance that you can’t air down, I suppose, but typically you should absolutely. That’s the dog.

 

Maybe a problem when you guys said, all right, air down and disconnect. My husband and I looked at each other and we were like, all right, we got air down like that. Totally. Like, what do I just connect on this 2017 Grand Cherokee? And so we googled it and literally Google said, you do not disconnect things on that car. You have doctor practice tomorrow.

 

So but what we can disconnect is our fear. So I’m not going to take credit for that one. Someone just piped that into me. The scenes came up with the good line. But yeah, so Cassie was amazing her first time out. She was terrified. And we hugged it out on the trails and she got brave. And she knew when she could tap out, you know, and it was okay. You know, we got her off the trails. But the fact that it’s been amazing watching so many people start with me and where it goes that now she’s buying another Jeep and I’m seeing her Jeep adventures, you know, and it’s this amazing club that we all join. It’s this whole other world of empowering that we get to push ourselves to do something that most people would never think of doing. My dad was out here for Christmas and I took him off roading. This is a guy who skied. He rode motorcycles, horseback riding, you know, all these things. And he was, you know, Mike, well, let me show you what I do.

 

And he was like a little kid going up mountains and there’s another thing. Yeah.

 

Another thing, it’s six hours or however long you’re gone for that you’re not thinking about the real world. You’re kind of stepping away like whatever is going on politically wise, financially wise, whatever’s going on in the real world, you’re not thinking about it when you’re out there for however long you’re out there. You’re thinking about you and your car and enjoying life and enjoying nature. And these are the beauty things in the world.

 

Any puppies.

 

So would you ride your wheel with no one in your vehicle and just be with a group of people or would you rather have someone sitting shotgun with you? Oh, I’ll take that one. I’ll take that one first. And I will say this, Jackie, I love you to pieces. The first couple of times Jackie was my shotgun. And it was great because I got to talk to Jackie and I got to know Jackie.

 

But some of the stuff that she was talking about, it’s just like,

 

huh? Okay, I need to concentrate.

 

Jackie, I love you to the moon and back girl. But it’s just be not having girls and having a young girl in my passenger seat just talking about what kids talk about now. It’s just kind of like, holy crap. So it’s got me into looking at stuff that she and I had talked about that I kind of did a little research on my own, but nine times out of 10, I want to be by myself because where moms, spouses, partners, whatever.

 

My seat time, that’s me time. So I can just, like Abby said, cut everything else off. You’re just focusing on the aerodynamic brick that we’re riding in and just having a great time in the radio chatter. So yeah, definitely I would choose solo nine times out of 10.

 

Well, I’m a yapper because of my mother. Let’s remember where. I remember that. Let’s remember that the apple don’t fall too far. Doesn’t fall too far from the tree. That’s for sure. Love you both. So I like to go solo for the most part because I’ve had passengers with me that end up freaking me out more than anything. There are certain people that I enjoy having as my passenger because they know they get it. They know just be quiet or help me like look at the passenger side. But can you just muted? Sorry about that. It depends who it is. I don’t know that I want anybody that’s never been on the trails to actually ride with me because I’ve had too many people like get jumpy and then it freaks me out. And I can’t have that. You’re on that trail doing blue and blue. I’m like, “Oh, I’m going to have to go solo.”

 

But if it’s somebody that’s been on the trails before, by all means jump in passenger seat. Cool. That’s just my opinion though.

 

I’ve had somebody who’s been a passenger in my Jeep. Lisa’s been a passenger. I’m like, “Oh, I’m going to have to go solo.” And I’m like, “Oh, I’m going to have to go solo.” And I’m like, “Oh, I’m going to have to go solo.” And I’m like, “Oh, I’m going to have to go solo.” Lisa’s been a passenger.

 

Debbie’s been a passenger. Jackie has. I enjoy it.

 

Definitely a rock concert the entire time. It’s a karaoke. This is total parkour karaoke on the trails.

 

What do y’all listen to?

 

So we have actually, if you’re a Spotify person, Girls Play On The Road has a whole bunch of different playlists. I am still that geeky kid from the 80s that needs to make playlists. So as I’m working, I tend to make playlists. So we now have, for all of the proms, we have a playlist. We have a holiday music playlist.

 

We have old school rap.

 

90s and 2000s, you know, pop rock. Just a whole bunch of stuff. But it depends on the mood. If I am doing something more technical, the louder the music gets,

 

so that I can concentrate. But I find that, even if I’m wheeling by myself, the chatter on our radios. You know, I’ve learned so many crazy things, you know, as we’re on the trails. And you get to know people, because it’s amazing. You don’t have to talk. You don’t have to be in front of each other. And the things that people come up and talk about.

 

I have learned sexual stuff. I have learned work stuff. I have learned calming techniques, food preferences, relationship issues.

 

It’s always something, you know, it’s always something interesting. We’re always laughing. You know, you got to have a sense of humor. It’s really…

 

So what do we take with us? One of the most important things to take off-roading with you is your sense of humor.

 

Because it’s always going to be a good time.

 

Let’s see.

 

Kelly, you’ve got a question before… One more question to go around the group. [Silence]

 

Ah, I’m trying to come up with one. Hold on.

 

Oh man, I don’t even know if I’ll be able to come up with one.

 

All right, what’s the one thing that you all… Like, for the people that are new to Wheeling, and even if you’re not new, what’s the one thing you’re afraid of happening on the trail? Like, how can we maybe help you with that fear of overcoming that fear?

 

I don’t want to break my jeep because my husband would kill me.

 

Yeah, I feel that. I mean, I feel that. He hates me and he already tells me it’s a money pit. And if I come home and it’s broken, and he’s just going to be like, “I told you to sell.”

 

Well, I think overall that’s… I think that’s a scary thing, not just as a newbie, just as someone who’s, you know, been

 

Wheeling over the years. That’s my daily. And also living the four hours away, what happens if something happens to my jeep? How the hell am I going to get home? What am I going to do for work? So that’s one thing that goes in your mind. And I think that is a scary thing for someone who’s first getting into this. If it is their only vehicle, they don’t have that backup and it’s not just, you know, a hobby. You know what I mean? That was exactly me. We were almost trails.

 

My co-pilot was my husband and he was…

 

I’d much prefer to be in the car by myself because he was just as terrified as I was. And that was what he was communicating to me. And that quiet is just kind of nice. That when I’ve gone out other times, it’s like you just have your own head. And then if you have that radio with you, then you’re talking on the radio and you’re kind of building each other up. And so it’s quiet in my car. I’m like thinking and my knuckles are white on that steering wheel, like just waiting. What’s going to happen?

 

Why? Because you’re listening to the sounds that your jeep is making. Would you prefer to hear…

 

Of it. That is something, for sure. And if it’s making a new noise, I want to know just because I’d rather fix it when I first hear it versus turning off the radio and letting it get worse and turn into a $5,000 issue when it could have just been a $50 issue. So that goes back to one of the other questions. One of the most important things that you can have on the trail then is that radio. Because if you’re out there on your own and your biggest fear is breaking down and that you’re like with me, it’s my daily. So I drive my jeep back and forth to work. I drive it everywhere. So if I’m out somewhere two hours away or something and I have no way to get home, at least I have a radio, that’s also why I don’t go by myself. So I always have some kind of a backup plan. So you have tow ropes. You have things to get you out of there and possibly pull you home or at least get you to where you can get towed. So that radio thing, that’s an important thing to have with you. And that should help you. It will never take that fear away because there’s always going to be that fear. That’s why we love to do it, right? The adrenaline of going out on the trail is nine part, you know, nine out of 10 of it, like trying something new, conquering something new. So you’re always going to have that adrenaline. But at least this way, you have your like Boy Scout little pack, you know, to keep you safe or to make you feel a little more comfortable that you’re not going to get like just left out on the trail somewhere. So but I think your answer was great because I think everybody feels the same way. It doesn’t matter if you just started or if you’ve been doing it 35 years, you know, you still feel the same way. You built that baby. That’s your baby, you know, and you want to do more things to it. You don’t want to ruin it.

 

Always go out with a buddy. Two jeeps.

 

Because this way something happens, there’s always a backup.

 

Okay, ladies, this was awesome. Thank you so, so, so much for our first empower hour.

 

I want you all y’all have a homework assignment. A, start thinking of some questions for in two weeks. And B, invite some other ladies to join us. Let’s get some more opinions out here. So I’d like to thank you all for joining us on this episode of Chick Chat, your passport to Jeep adventures. We hope you enjoyed our journey through the world of Jeeps from a women’s perspective. As we close out, I just want to thank each and every one of you. And of course, big shout out to all of our listeners. Without you Jeep talk show, Chick Chat wouldn’t be possible. Thank you for all that are watching us live as we went through this. And for all that are going to be watching in the days going forward. We hope that you found today’s episode informative, entertaining and empowering. Don’t forget to tune in next time for more exciting adventures, captivating stories, invaluable insights from the world of Jeeps. Until then, stay stylish, stay adventurous and keep on jeeping. This is Jamie signing off from Chick Chat. See you on the trails. You’re my friend. You’re my new friend.