While growing up I loved being in the outdoors, camping, driving my dads truck, riding 4 wheelers or any other reason I could find to go out in the woods. Although we never had a 4 wheel drive vehicle we would take our buggy, or pick-up trucks just about anywhere we wanted to go, often following the 4 wheel drives through the mud and sand. From the time I was old enough to sit on my dads lap and steer I was driving through the woods and by the age of 10, I was able to drive a stick shift by myself.

In 2003, I had the chance to buy a 1979 Jeep CJ-7 from my cousin and didn’t think twice about it. With the exception of the 31” tires, this jeep was completely stock with a 3 speed manual transmission and a V8 engine. This was my first 4 wheel drive and that inspired me to try more things, and drive through places that I would have had to at least think about before. Shortly after buying my jeep I joined The Orlando Jeep Club and started making new friends and putting my jeep to the test. We did all the normal camp outs, trail rides, played in the mud, etc. After my first trip to one of the limestone pits in Ocala, I decided that I wanted to make my jeep capable of going anywhere that I wanted to go. From that point on it has been a never ending cycle of upgrades and repairs.

The original idea was to build it to fit my new 35” Mickey Thompson Baja Claws and be able to take it up in the mountains for some serious rock crawling. Over the next few years my jeep went through many changes. The stock axles were replaced with Dana 44’s and 4.88 gears along with Lock Rite lockers front and rear. Due to the narrow frame on the CJ-7 we had to put a full width kit and shackle reversal on the front in order to use the Dana 44. We replaced the front springs with longer ones from a wagoneer to give the jeep a little bit longer wheel base and more flex. The rear springs were also replaced with stock YJ springs to help with articulation. The stock Dana 20 transfer case and T-150 transmission were replaced with a much stronger Dana 300 transfer case and T-18 transmission with a 6.32 1st gear for a better crawl ratio. I also added twin sticks to the Dana 300 so that I can separate front wheel and rear wheel drive, giving me the options of rear wheel 2 High & 2 Low, front wheel 4 low, and the normal 4 wheel High & Low. Due to my no fear driving style I needed to protect the body from the unlikely event that I may rub against a tree or rock. I added a grill hoop, Poison Spyder tube fenders up front, rocker guards and crusher corner guards with tube fenders in the back. Of course with all this protection for the jeep, I also needed to protect the driver and passenger so I added a full cage that ties into the frame and PRP seats with 4 point harnesses. Although I am very happy with how capable my jeep is at this point, future plans are to stretch the wheelbase a little longer and go up to 37” tires.

In November of 2006 I took my first out of state trip to River Rock ORV Park in Georgia to play on the rocks. I enjoyed it so much that I have been back there 5 more times, Morris Mountain in Alabama 4 times and to Harlan, Kentucky once. Although I prefer the adrenaline of driving up the side of a mountain while challenging your jeep and driving skills beyond what seems possible, I also enjoy all that Florida has to offer and will take my jeep out any chance I get. Luckily for me, my girlfriend Isha enjoys it almost as much as I do and we have had some of the best times together in the jeep. Through The Orlando Jeep Club I have made great friendships and lasting memories over the last 7 years and I look forward to many more.