Rust Removal How To

Each year it seems the rust on my front and rear bumpers keeps getting worse and worse. It doesn't help that I drag them over rocks from time to time. And all that salt dumped on our roads each winter makes the rust grow quicker. 

So I reached out to my fellow Jeepers to ask what product they use to get the rust off their Jeeps.

Top 5 Rust Removal Items Suggested by Jeepers  

Permatex Rust Treatment

Rustoleom Rust Remover

Oshpo

Corroseal

Rust and paint stripper wheel

With each of the liquid products you must prepare the metal. Remove all flaking paint and rust dust. Rinse with water. Then the liquid products can be painted on. I also sanded the bumper as best I could. 

The product I found to work the best is Corroseal and Ospho coming in second.  

Go With The Flow

When I first heard Jeep added a new trail in Virginia to the Badge of Honor App Trail list, I began planning my first Jeep Momma Trail Ride.  Myself and some of my Jeep friends were ready to wheel the Peters Mill Trail just 
outside Edinburg, Virgina. 

This trail typically takes about one to two hours. To get the most out of our day, we planned for the group to wheel another trail, as well, called Flagpole. Flagpole is about 40 minutes south of Peters Mill Run just outside of Harrisonburg. 



The trail is in the George Washington National Forest and I am told has a spectacular view of Virginia and West Virginia when you reach the top.

So we headed up the mountain. Along the way one of the Jeeps had mechanical issues. We tried our best to get him back up to speed, but no such luck. 





One of "rules" of off-roading is never wheel alone, so one of the Jeepers in our group escorted him back down the mountain. Then we headed back up to the top.




Unfortunately another wrench was thrown into our plans. There was a controlled burn going on by the forestry department right in the middle of the trail. We did not find this out until we reached the "road block" about 30 minutes into the trail.
While regrouping and coming up with a new plan, two other Jeepers came to the same road block. We invited them to join us as we headed to Peters Mill Run. 



Peters Mill Run is part of a trail system that requires a permit. So we stopped at one of the local gas stations to pick up our permits, $5 per day. This was the perfect time for our lunch stop. Originally the plan was to eat at the top of the Flagpole trail and take in the spectacular view, but we adapted. 


Lunch was on me for this trail ride. I was testing out cooking in the engine. At the start of the trail we placed the sammie in between the 
intake manifold & battery.




After cooking for a little over four hours we opened up the ham and cheese sammie. I was pleasantly surprised as it turned out very yummy. Check out my YouTube Channel on Sunday for a video on Trail Food. 

Now it was time to go earn our badge on Peters Mill Run, then off to Taskers Gap, another trail, to end day. Peters Mill Run is an old mining road on Powell Mountain. It's a very bumpy trail winding around the mountain. Once again our plans were thwarted. 







As we were nearing the end of Peters Mill Run we came across one lone Gecko stuck in the mud. A Gecko colored Jeep. Another off-road no-no, never wheel alone. 

Of course as Jeepers we would never leave a man behind. So we broke out the recovery gear and winched out the Gecko. 

He was really bogged down in the mud so it took us quite awhile to pull him out. That meant it was too late to hit the last trail.

But we made the best of it and checked out the Woodstock fire tower. Of course I only made it up one flight of the stairs before I had to come down.





Over the past several years I have been working on my flexibility, my ability to go with the flow. This day needed quite a bit of flexibility. Being a Jeep owner who loves the adventure and off roading you learn quickly it's not always about the destination by the journey. 

This journey was a great one as I meet two new Jeepers, learned a little more about recovery and had a great time out on the trails with some pretty amazing people.       

   

Don't Let Your Fears Stop You

Every year I do a Sister's Weekend Away. Last year would have been the 3rd annual trip, but my sister couldn't make it. The plan was to head to Utah for some hiking and wheeling. 




I decided to go anyway since Jeeping was involved. It was a little intimidating going on vacation by myself, but it was the best trip I've ever had.

My Moab Adventure Blog Post

Click Here

I spent hours by myself hiking in the national parks around Moab. I ate at restaurants by myself. I drove scenic roads by myself. However, I didn't need to spend time in the Jeep I rented, by myself. 

I booked a guided trail guide ride for a whole day and one sunset ride. Of course you never have to worry about wheeling alone in Moab. It was truly an amazing experience wheeling on the red rocks. 






I met the most awesome trail guide from the Red Rock 4 Wheelers, and a fellow Off-Roader joined me on my first trail, Hell's Revenge. 

Hell's Revenge Blog Post

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Hell's Revenge is one of the most intense trail rides I have ever encountered. It tested my limits, my limits of my fear of heights. I shared that experience on YouTube with my video from inside the Jeep as I slowly crawled up the entrance of the trail.

A fellow Jeep girl watched that video recently. She was planning on wheeling that same trail just a couple of days after she watched my video. She decided she didn't think she could wheel the trail as she was freaked out just watching my video.



However, I convinced her to push thru her fears and just do

it. She ended up wheeling Hell's Revenge with her husband and was pleased she did. However, she shared with me she would never ever do it again. I said, "Give it a few months! I felt the same way when I was on the trail, but now I'm itching to go back."

That trip made me realize not to let my fears hold me back. Whether it's the fear of traveling alone or my fear of heights. Push through those fears and you will be amazed at what you can do and the extraordinary experience you will have. 

Here's the interchange between myself and this Jeep Girl on YouTube.  

unicornsANDrainbos
I'm supposed to be doing this trail this week (even though I'm scared to death), but after watching your video, I'm really not sure I can do it! It makes me feel sick,  and I almost feel like crying just watching you do it! Awesome that you did it,  but I just don't know if I can!!!

Jeep Momma
You can do it!!! It's not a hard trail at all. I am afraid of heights! I can't even go on a ladder.  You can do it! I know you can. PLEASE! don't let my video stop you. I would do this trail again in a heartbeat!

unicornsANDrainbos
Well, I did it!!!  My husband drove his new ford raptor,  and we made it! My worries had almost made him call  off the trip himself (I put some doubts in his head), even though it was part of the reason we'd come  here.  And while I'm glad we did it because it made him happy,  unlike you,  I won't be doing this again! It was crazy scary, and for me a once in a lifetime experience! Thanks for your encouragement, and keep having great jeep adventures!!!

Jeep Momma
unicornsANDrainbos I’m so glad you did it!!!! It is crazy scary! I said the same thing at the end of the trail! But give it a few months you will want to do it again!

unicornsANDrainbos
I'll take your word for it, but I seriously doubt it!     

Amazing Jeep Community

Being a Jeep owner is more than just owning a Jeep. It's being part of an amazing, supportive community like no other. When I bought my Jeep five years ago, I never in a million years expected it to change my life. 

I never expected to meet so many wonderful, awesome people. My Jeep has been so good for my soul. My soul which was so lost five years ago. Now to be apart of this Jeep community that is so full of caring and acceptance brings so much joy and happiness. I have met so many great friends I would have never met had it not been for my Jeep. 





I am not the only one who has had life changing experiences with being a Jeep owner. My Jeep friend Matt has a wonderful story too.  

When Matt was a young kid he describes himself as a super shy, awkward kid. He was bullied, and by the 7th grade he was contemplating suicide. From school to just about everything in his life was crumbling. 

One day he met his cousins neighbor. He was the coolest guy he had ever met. He was also really great with all the neighborhood kids, and this guy had a Jeep. 

Matt started thinking he could be cool like this guy. So he decided when he turned 16 he would get a Jeep. His focus became saving for a Jeep.  

He was still shy when he became a Jeep owner, but quickly realized how friendly other Jeepers were. His new Jeep friends were all ages from 20 to 70. He realized he had worth, and it didn't matter what all the bullies or anyone thought. It was then he became more confident and outgoing. That moment changed school for him, as well as life. 

Now 30 years later he is still driving a Jeep and not caring what others think. He doesn't have to because he is part of this awesome, amazing Jeep community that has his back. 

Top 5 Must Do Topless Tips

As Jeep owners there is at least one time you have to tell someone “It’s a Jeep Thing”. Non-Jeep owners just don’t get it. It goes a little deeper for us Wrangler owners, well most of us anyway. It’s that one thing that sets the Wranglers apart from all the other Jeeps. 

"The Topless Mode" 

It’s the reason I bought my Wrangler. That first summer was absolutely the best thing for my soul. The wind in my hair and sun in my face was so amazing.







When you have a Jeep Wrangler you just can’t put your top down, hop in and hit the road. You need to do be prepared for those topless days.






My Top 5 Must Do Topless Tips 

1. When you are going 60 to  65 mph down the interstate, 
and you have long hair, I suggest you tie it back, or put on a hat. There is a high potential you could be rendered blind momentarily, and crash. 

2. Leave No Trace is definitely a principal you should use for the inside of your Jeep.  You don't want that "litter fine" when trash goes sailing out the top of your Wrangler.  Anything you want to keep in your Jeep make sure it's secure. 

3. When you have kids you will want to have a blanket for each of them.  Even when it's warm outside the back seats tend to get a little chilly for the little ones.

4. Spray your floor mats with bug spray.  Some say spiders like to spin their web inside your Jeep.  Fingers Crossed -- I haven't had this issue yet.  

5. When it's sunny out, keep sunscreen handy or better yet get a purple sun shade like me. 

Searching for Easter Eggs

When I heard about the small tributes in my Jeep Wrangler I started searching. These tributes are to the Willy's Jeep that started this Jeep craze. The Chrysler desinger's call these tributes Easter Eggs. So the Egg Hunt begins. So far I have found eight.

The first is the most obvious. We constantly look at it when we check out our rear view mirror. It’s a silhouette of the seven slot grille logo.

On the passenger seat grab bar are the embossed letters
Jeep - Since 1941

The silhouette of a Jeep climbing a rocky hillside is on the passenger side windshield.

The Sahara's and Rubicon's rims have the Willy's Jeep.

The front seat cup holder is embossed with the Seven Slot Grille.

The wiper cowl has seven slots like the front grille as does the air dam.

The center console control panel is designed somewhat like the seven slot grille.

How about you, what Jeep Easter Eggs have you found?