Jeep Rally, Florida

We went Jeepin’ With Judd!

Our great friends John & Suzy joined us on Saturday February 25, 2023 and we took off from North Port Florida to Bartow for the Annual family friendly, Jeep Only, Jeepin’ with Judd Rally at Clear Springs Ranch. This is the largest Jeep event, about 2,000 Jeeps, we’ve attended and it was extremely well organized. Tickets to drive the trails, with trail guides, and obstacle courses sell out very quickly so this year we participated as spectators and will consider riding the trails next year. https://jeepinwithjudd.com/

Love All Jeeps

Old or New, they all have great personalities! I wonder about some of the names.

Clear Springs Ranch, is 1,200 Acres in Bartow, FL, midway between Tampa and Orlando, 100 miles from Cape Canaveral. Events have included the Tough Mudder and the Muddy Princess as well as numerous Dirt Bike races.

Sheriff Grady Judd was excited to meet me. (No Handcuffs)

The Charity

Officially formed in December of 2006, Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. provides monetary support to members facing significant unexpected tragic events in their lives. The charity also supports economically challenged children of Polk County by providing Christmas gifts and youth team Sports jerseys. Victims of domestic violence receive support as well as the agency’s K-9 unit for the replacement of their beloved K-9 partners. They organize a variety of events including a 5K Run called the Judd Jog that benefits the United Way in Winter Haven and “Bustin’ Clays with Sheriff Grady Judd at Tenoroc Sporting Clays in Lakeland.

Events occur out on the trails. Our friend here appears to have broken his front axle. It’s all fun.

GREAT GEAR

6Monkeys

There were a ton of excellent vendors with all kinds of merchandise, equipment and accessories. We met Dan Chaffee of https://6monkeys.net/. His family has built its own Made In USA business, Mulberry, FL, fabricating accessory parts with a focus on Jeep Cherokees. 6Monkeys is a family of EIGHT with their SIX children! They make a lot of necessary off-road parts as well as interior accessories. Check them out!

EZ Trunk

I was very excited to meet https://eztrunk.net/ and check out all of their outstanding quality products for Jeep Wranglers. They really make equipment that makes Jeeping easier, so, more fun! They make flip tops for your hard tops, tubular doors, security trunks and others. This equipment solves problems for us at reasonable prices.

RucRak

Hey Jason! Get Carried Away with your new RucRack!

I met Jason Morgan with RucRak, https://www.rucrak.com/, he and Ron Morrison have designed, developed and produced and amazing adaptable cargo rack for Jeeps, Broncos and Trucks that can carry Cargo, Bikes, Tailgater Table, Flag Pole/Fishing Rods and any thing else you can conjure! Yes! It’s all made right here in the USA, Ft. Worth, TX, Nashville, TN and Youngsville, NC. This rack is SPECTACULAR! You have to see it!

It’s fabulous! Guess who wants one? My birthday is June!

The Day, Adventure and Experience

We spent the whole day, ate at the food trucks, lemonade, had our own picnic and enjoyed Jeeple watching, especially the kids!

Duck Hunter Rollin’ in 4H

Jeepin’ With Judd is a four day event that includes Thursday and Friday and the last weekend of February. You’ll see thousands of Jeeps, many pretty ordinary like ours and a few hundred Amazing Builds. The weather is usually very nice compared to the rest of the country, warm, dry and it can be dusty. We recommend taking a cooler, arrive early, take your time and spend the whole day unless…you’re camping. Tent and RV camping is available and campers usually arrive on Thursday, early check in is typically noon to 4:30 pm. Check the website as well as the Facebook page for the details. You will have a BLAST! https://jeepinwithjudd.com/.