Exploring the 4×4 world

Jeep Safari is more than just hitting the spectacular trails in the Moab area.

It is also a chance to meet with top vendors in the 4-wheel drive industry to shop for equipment at the Jeep Expo held all day Thursday and Friday, March 28 and 29 at the Old Spanish Trail Arena on South Hwy 191.

More than 140 vendors will be at the event, featuring anything related to 4-wheel driving: from tires to axels to lockers to winches to lift-kits and more.

“A lot of the vendors donate a good amount of product to pay for the space that they have,” said Ron Brewer, Red Rock 4-wheelers membership chairman. “We raffle off everything the vendors have donated.”

Friday night is the Boy Scout Barbecue and vendor giveaway. The dinner begins at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s their big fundraiser,” said Red Rock 4-Wheeler president Doug McElhaney of the meal. “We don’t start the raffle until dinner is over.”

Every registered participant in the Jeep Safari receives a ticket to the giveaway in their packet.

“There is a pretty good chance of getting something,” McElhaney said. “We should be giving away about $200,000 worth of jeep stuff.”

In order to make the prize drawing move quickly, Red Rock 4-wheelers required that the giveaway prizes be substantial in value.

“But the vendors have been so generous that the drawings usually go on well into the evening,” McElhaney said.

The drawing requires the ticket holder to be in attendance and the drawings have been popular enough to create real traffic jams near the Arena.

“Please be patient with parking and traffic control officials,” McElhaney said.

The Moab edition of the Wrangler will be at the Walker Drug parking lot as part of the Jeep display. It will be one of several concept vehicles available to view.

There will also be Jeeps to test-drive.

Bill Hines, who grew up in Moab and worked for Jeep for 32 years, is working the display that has been held each year in the Walker Drug parking lot.

“I retired four years ago, but they hired me to work the display for the last four years,” Hines said.

“We have a several built-up Wranglers that Mopar has done for us,” Hines said. “We will be rotating them out through the week.”

The concept vehicles will hit the Jeep Safari trails for testing, then return to the parking lot for display.

Those concept vehicles include the Jeep Wrangler Stitch, Sand Trooper II, Flattop and Slim.

Jeep also plans to hand out prizes and swag throughout the event.

“We will have daily drawings every day. We’ll have three drawings every day and a grand prize winner on Friday,” Hines said. “We’ll have patches to give away, decals and hats.”

Anyone who registers for the daily drawings will be entered into the 2013 Chrylser Group National Giveaway for a chance to win $45,000 towards any Chrysler Group vehicle.

The Moab Lion’s Club will provide their annual trail mixer from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday at the display. A free dinner is available to anyone who stops by.

“It’s free and open to the public,” Hines said. “We’ll have remote control jeep contest. People can participate in that. We’ll give away a remote control Jeep at that event.”

Jeep is also sponsoring trail rides at Elephant Hill, Hell’s Revenge, Poison Spider.

Hines said that a Grand Cherokee, Patriot and two Wranglers will be available to test drive throughout the event.

“This is a great opportunity for those looking to get behind the wheel of a new Jeep, or finalize their decision of their next vehicle,” said Arrie Ledley, marketing specialist for Jeep.

Author: Kristin Millis

View all posts