Sunshine, sand, mud, roots, and plenty of challenges. Florida trails have a personality all their own. When people think about off-roading, they often picture towering rock formations, steep mountain climbs, deep ravines, and rocky switchbacks. But here in Florida, we play by a different set of rules. Florida may not have mountains, but don’t let the flat landscape fool you. Our trails can challenge even experienced off-roaders, and the combination of sand, sugar sand, mud, w

The Commitment, Leadership & Community Behind Florida Trail Stompers Nearly 25,000 members. Countless adventures. Thousands of hours behind the scenes. There's a lot more to running an off-road organization than most people ever see. When people think about Florida Trail Stompers, they think about trail rides, Jeeps, trucks, and SUVs tackling obstacles, camping, exploring Florida's back roads, meeting new people, and making memories. And that's exactly what we want them to ex

So you bought a Jeep. You been off-roading here in Florida. Gone to Ocala National Forest. Rode through some scenic areas of Citrus WMA. You may even went and drove through Richloam WMA and wondered where all the water and mud came from. Have you gone out of state yet? Windrock Off-Road Park? River Rock? Stony Lonesome? Jeep Badge of Honor app Our friends over at Jeep have a program that can take the off-roader nationwide. It's called "Jeep Badge of Honor." It's a free pro

Catherine Bach as "Daisy Duke" on the set of CBS's "The Dukes of Hazzard." So you've seen those vehicles called JEEP on the road? You just had to have one. Your friends have one. You remember Daisy Duke having one when you were a kid watching the Dukes of Hazzard on TV. The Army had them during World War II, The Korean War, even the Vietnam War. Again, you just had to go out and get one. Did you foresee all the problems that would come with Jeeps? You call it a Money Pit. JE

In January of 2001, I took those famous words, "go west, young man" to heart. Horace Greeley, an American author is sometimes credited as having said that. I had moved from Tampa, Florida to Los Angeles, CA. I did it in a 1995 Honda Civic. But this is where 20 years later, the story is jaw dropping. I had previously owned a 2000 Jeep Wrangler Sahara and sold it for the car. I had vowed driving across this great nation of ours in a Jeep would be a stupid idea. Boy, what

In Florida we have the Wildlife Management Areas, National Forests and then there are a hand full of private off-road parks. Where do you like to ride? I personally am close to Citrus WMA and it has become a popular spot, not with just FTS, but other off-roading clubs. There are times you go out and it can be empty, then there are times you go out and it feels like you are driving down a street in New York City. But what is outside of Florida? I've only been to a couple place

Some call them a boxed kite, especially when driving them in high winds, heck, even a light breeze the Jeep can be all over the road. But us Jeep owners, we really baby these things. Well most of us. You hear a noise and the radio gets shut off. You silence everyone. Quietly listening for that noise... I'm on my third Jeep. My first one was a 2000 Sahara Wrangler. In 1999, I was a first time Jeep owner. I didn't know what a TJ was with a "straight six." It was all white. It

You bought the Jeep. You did a few upgrades maybe a lift and new tires. You planned an adventure with Florida Trail Stompers and now it’s time to hit the trail. How do you capture all the great memories? Really the options are endless. Whether you have a GoPro camera, a smartphone camera, tablet or a traditional camera, you are ready to acquire unlimited breath taking still shots or videos. Before you embark on documenting your trail ride, there are few tips that can be in

One of the best parts of owning a Jeep is that it opens the door to the great outdoors in ways others never get to experience. Exploring Mother Nature is not only relaxing and fun, it comes with great responsibility. Jeep owners since 1941 have often been thought of as carefree while off-roading yet we are very considerate to others and the environment. When trail stompin' there are always a few tips to remember to ensure that we continue to protect the environment, stay safe