JDS Blog

Where's Mrs. Sasquatch? In Search of the Female Bigfoot
Everybody pictures Bigfoot as a guy. The most famous footage ever shot of one may show a female, and the older stories never described a loner. Read more...
How to Use a Jeep's Four-Wheel Drive: 2H, 4H, 4L, and When to Use Each
What 2H, 4H, N, and 4L do on a Wrangler or Gladiator, the owner's manual shifting procedure and speed limits, why part-time 4WD binds on dry pavement, how Command-Trac, Rock-Trac,... Read more...
The Thin Blue Line Flag: What It Means, Where It Came From, and Why It Is Controversial
The thin blue line flag is a black-and-white American flag with one blue stripe, designed in 2014 to honor law enforcement. Where the phrase came from, who made the flag,... Read more...
10 Jeep Wrangler Features Every New Owner Should Know How to Use
A ten-step walk-through of the 2018 and newer Wrangler JL's signature hardware, from the removable doors and fold-down windshield to the transfer case, sway bar disconnect, Tru-Lok lockers, Off-Road+, TrailCam,... Read more...
The Jeep Era Is Over? How the Wrangler Lost Its Lead to the Bronco and Toyota
Wrangler sales fell 37 percent from a 2018 record of 240,032 to 151,163 in 2024, while the Ford Bronco and Toyota's 4Runner, Land Cruiser, and GX took the share. The... Read more...
Jeep Model Codes Explained: Every Letter Code From MB to WL, and What They Actually Mean
Every Jeep model code from the 1941 Willys MA to the WL Grand Cherokee, with US model years checked against Jeep's own history pages and EPA records, which codes overlap,... Read more...
Hot Wheels Put the Wrangler 392 in Boulevard, and It Is the Only New Casting
The 2027 Boulevard Mix 2 has one brand-new casting: a Hella Yella Wrangler 392 Rubicon with a removable roof. Read more...
Back the Blue Jeep Rallies: The 2026 Evansville Run and How to Find One Near You
A police-escorted Jeep convoy, a festival at the end, and the money going to a local charity. Here is the 2026 Evansville run and how the format works everywhere else. Read more...
Why Your Lifted Jeep Drives Badly (and What a Good Shop Fixes First)
A Jeep shop that spends its days correcting other shops' lifts says a modified Wrangler or Gladiator should drive better than stock, not worse. Here are the eight things EPIC... Read more...
Red Diesel and Your EcoDiesel Jeep: What the October 5 Order Means for Wrangler and Gladiator Owners
Red diesel is temporarily legal on public roads through December 31, 2026. What the order does, what it does not, whether the dye hurts a 3.0 EcoDiesel, and the one... Read more...
Where's Bigfoot? Tracking the 2026 Sightings From Ohio to Maine
Bigfoot had a busy 2026 on the eastern side of the map: a cluster of March reports in Portage County, Ohio, a viral drive-by in the Virginia mountains, a Connecticut... Read more...
Is the Jeep Wrangler TJ Still Worth Buying for Off-Road?
The last Wrangler TJ was built in July 2006, and they are still on the hard trails in numbers that make no sense for a vehicle that old. Why the... Read more...
There Is a $1 Million Bounty on Bigfoot. The Fine Print Says Nobody Wins It.
Hard Mountain Dew put a $1 million bounty on proof that Bigfoot exists, and the official rules say the prize is satirical and not intended to be awarded. The same... Read more...
Is It Legal to Drive a Jeep Without Doors? What the Rules Actually Say
Doors off is usually legal, but driving without the mirrors your state requires is not, and on a Wrangler or Gladiator those happen at the same moment. What three state... Read more...
American Flag Etiquette: What the Flag Code Says (and How to Retire a Worn Flag)
The U.S. Flag Code is federal law, it is short, and almost nobody has read it. What it says about flying, displaying, half-staffing and retiring the flag, including exactly where... Read more...
Group Trail Ride Rules: 12 Convoy Habits That Keep a Jeep Run Together
Twelve convoy habits that keep a group trail ride together, moving, and welcome on the trail: mirrors, turns, spacing, radio discipline, hand signals, and gates. Plus how a club cleanup... Read more...
Willys vs Rubicon: Which Jeep Wrangler Should You Actually Buy?
There is no single Willys. Jeep has sold several versions, some in the same model year, and they are not the same vehicle. How to tell them apart on a... Read more...
How to Use a Winch: Rigging, Technique, and What Actually Fails
A winch is rated at its first layer of rope, and most people never hear that. What the layer math costs you, how to rig single line, snatch block, and... Read more...
Off-Road Terms Glossary: 107 Words Every Jeep and Bronco Owner Should Know
OHV, MVUM, off-camber, breakover angle, snatch block, GVWR. A plain-English glossary of 107 off-road and overlanding terms, grouped by where you actually hear them. Read more...
Jeep Is Now the Official 4x4 of Moab. Here Is What the Deal Includes.
Moab City Council voted 4 to 0 to make Jeep the Official 4x4 of Moab: $125,000 a year, five loaned vehicles, and four sponsored events a year. Here is what... Read more...
Jeep Name Decals: 4 Ways to Put Your Jeep's Name on Your Rig
You named your Jeep. Now make it official. Compare the four best spots for a Jeep name decal, from classic hood lettering to a custom spare tire cover. Read more...
Jeep Twelve 4 Twelve Drop 11: The 2027 Wrangler JL-2A
Jeep revealed Drop 11 on September 12: the 2027 Wrangler JL-2A, a tribute to the 1945 Willys CJ-2A, on the Rubicon platform for a $4,995 package. Here is the reveal,... Read more...
Why Jeeps Carry the Spare on the Tailgate
The rear-mounted spare is Jeep's signature. Here is where it came from, from the Willys MB through CJ, YJ, TJ, JK, JL, and why the Gladiator broke the rule. Read more...
Jeep and the U.S. Mail: How the Right-Hand-Drive Jeep Was Born
The Post Office chose the Jeep over the three-wheeled Mailster because the Mailster couldn't handle snow. That decision produced the right-hand-drive Jeep, and a version of it is still built... Read more...
Side-by-Side or Jeep? An Honest Answer From the Jeep Side
We sell Jeep graphics and we will still tell you a side-by-side often wins on pure trail capability. Here is what each one is actually better at. Read more...
Jeep Trunk or Treat Ideas: 10 Themes That Win Halloween 2026
10 Jeep trunk or treat theme ideas ranked by effort and budget, from skeleton crews to dino dig sites, with the reusable tire covers and vinyl decals that pull each... Read more...
Two "Mini Bigfoot" Sightings Reported in Pennsylvania
Two "mini Bigfoot" sightings were reported in western Pennsylvania on Aug. 18 and 19, 2026. What witnesses described, and what the record actually shows. Read more...
How Many Jeep Badge of Honor Trails Are There? (105 in 2026)
As of August 2026 the Jeep Badge of Honor app lists 105 trails, up from 68 in October 2023. Here is the current count, why other articles say 68, and... Read more...
Jeep Off-Roading 101: A Beginner's Guide to Tackling the Road Less Traveled
A real beginner's guide to off-roading in a Jeep or Bronco: airing down properly, recovery basics, trail etiquette, and the habits that keep a first trail run from becoming a... Read more...
Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion 2026: Dates, Tickets, and What to Expect
The 14th Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion runs August 20-22, 2026 in Pigeon Forge, and this year it doubles as the live reveal of Jeep's tenth Twelve4Twelve Wrangler. Dates, real... Read more...
Where Is Overlanding Legal? BLM Land, National Forests, and the Rules You Need to Know
Overlanding is generally legal on BLM land and in National Forests if you stay on designated routes, but off road driving is prohibited in national parks and Wilderness Areas. Here... Read more...
The History of the "4 Wheel Drive" Tailgate Stencil on Vintage Jeeps
Two different "4 WHEEL DRIVE" tailgate stencils ran from 1947 into the 1970s. What the factory drawings and the 1960 Kaiser chart actually document, and what researchers still debate. Read more...
Free Topo Maps for Jeep Trip Planning: USGS, National Geographic, and the Apps
Where to get real, free USGS topographic maps for Jeep trip planning, whether National Geographic still runs a free topo tool, how to read contour lines and cross-reference BLM and... Read more...
Tan Jeep Names: 60+ Ideas for Your Gobi Edition
Tan Jeeps get a list of their own. Here are 64 name ideas for a tan or Gobi Jeep, sorted classic, badass, funny, and cute, plus the Gobi Edition decals... Read more...
Who Is Eugene the Jeep? The Popeye Character Behind Your Jeep's Name
Eugene the Jeep debuted in Popeye's comic strip in 1936, five years before the Willys MB. Here is the real story behind the name and why the general-purpose theory is... Read more...
Taking Your Dog Along in a Jeep: Safety, Setup, and Keeping the Cab Livable
Jeeps and dogs go together, but an open-air rig raises the stakes. How to restrain your dog safely, get an older dog in and out, protect your seats, and show... Read more...
Cryptids by State: 6 American Legends and the Public Land Where They're Said to Live
Bigfoot, Mothman, the Jersey Devil and more, mapped to the national forests, state forests, and wildlife areas they actually come from, with real access notes for anyone who wheels or... Read more...
The Jeep Car-Camping Guide: Gear, Setup, and Making It Yours
A practical guide to car camping and light overlanding in your Jeep: sleeping setups, power, the camp kitchen, recovery basics, trip prep, and simple ways to make your rig your... Read more...
What Does Molon Labe Mean? The Ancient Spartan Phrase Behind Your Jeep and Bronco Decals
Molon labe means "come and take them," the defiant reply attributed to Sparta's King Leonidas. Here's the real history, honestly sourced, and why Jeep and Bronco owners fly it. Read more...
The Gadsden Flag: Don't Tread on Me Origins and Why It Flies on Every Trailhead
The Gadsden flag dates to 1775 and Charleston delegate Christopher Gadsden. Here's the real history of Don't Tread on Me, the coiled rattlesnake, and why it flies from Jeep and... Read more...
Jeep Trail Rated Badge Explained: The 5 Tests, Placement, Colors, and Replacements
That Trail Rated badge on your Jeep's fender is a certification, not a sticker. Here is what the five tests actually measure, where the badge goes, what the colors mean,... Read more...
5 Jeep Wrangler Interior Decals and Overlays to Personalize Your Cab
You spend more time looking at your Jeep's interior than its hood, yet the cab is usually the last thing owners personalize. Interior decals and overlays are the easiest fix:... Read more...
Fortnite Added a Jeep Wrangler Bundle With a Rubber Duck Decal. Jeep Ducking Just Went Virtual.
Fortnite added a Jeep Wrangler bundle to the Item Shop for 2,000 V-Bucks, complete with a Rubber Duck Decal and a Willys Decal. Here is what is in it, when... Read more...
Jeep Wrangler Colors and Paint Codes by Year: JK, JL, and Gladiator JT Guide
Every Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator paint color with paint codes, swatches, and year notes, from the 2007 JK through today, plus a free tool that matches your factory paint to... Read more...
Spread Joy with Jeep Ducking: A Fun Activity for Jeep Owners
Ever found a rubber duck sitting on a Jeep? "Jeep Ducking" is a charming trend sweeping the community — and it's about more than the game. Learn its origins, how... Read more...
How to Drive Your Jeep on Sand: 10 Tips for Beaches and Dunes
Almost every Jeep stuck on a beach got there the same way: too much air, too little momentum, a hard stop, or a sharp turn. Ten sand driving tips, from... Read more...
JK vs JL Jeep Wrangler: 5 Ways to Tell Which One You Have
The 2018 model year is where it gets confusing: Jeep sold both the outgoing JK and the all-new JL Wrangler side by side. If you are shopping for decals, a... Read more...
How to Decorate Your Jeep for a Wedding: 8 Ideas (and the Easiest One of All)
A Jeep makes an unforgettable wedding ride, whether it is the getaway car, the backdrop for photos, or the star of a trail-country elopement. The good news: you do not... Read more...
Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival 2026 Recap and 2027 Planning Guide
The 2026 Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival marked its 15th anniversary on June 12 to 14, 2026, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of the Jeep. The three day celebration brought... Read more...
Jeeps in Pop Culture: 18 Famous Movie, TV, and Game Jeeps, Ranked
A fun, ranked countdown of the most iconic Jeeps in pop culture, from the Jurassic Park Wrangler and the Barbie Jeep to the original WWII Willys. Disagree with our order?... Read more...