John Quick at pyop at Milan Dragway this past weekend. Amanda Products is a proud sponsor!
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‘WHY TJ IS THE BEST CLASSIC JEEP WRANGLER OF THEM ALL!'
8-minute YouTube Video by TFL Classics
‘This is the best Jeep offroad vehicle that you could possibly buy.’
It came out in 1997 and Brendan is here to walk us through ‘why TJ is the most loved Jeep and has the best value.’
POPULAR FEATURES INCLUDE:
• Round headlights – “Jeep fans were elated because they all hated those square headlights that came on the YJ! These hearken back to that original CJ Jeep.”
• “This was the last vehicle made with AMC parts.”
• The hood can be rested against the roof – ‘an iconic Jeep thing.’
• The reliable 4L inline 6-cylinder engine – “Believe it or not, this was an AMC engine and that is what makes this part so special; these four liters are so iconic and so known for reliability… this is the engine you want.”
• “This was the first Jeep to have independent shocks on all four corners.”
• “Rides pretty good… feels modern” – suitable on road and off.
• “The values are reasonable, usually for less than $10,000.” Alex – behind the camera - paid $7,000 for this Jeep.
• The interior is super basic with “decently comfortable seats.”
• The controls “couldn’t be any simpler or easier to use.’
• The Jeep he’s showing has “the coveted manual 5 speed transmission. Trust me, this is the one you want.’
• The aftermarket community has “great support and tons of parts that are readily available and cheap.”
• “These things will do fantastic off-road and they’re really reliable. I think it’s just like the best Jeep you can really get for the money.”
ON THE DOWNSIDE
There’s not much storage space, but the rear seat can be folded forward. (He notes the rear seat needs love.)
HOW TO PROCEED
“If you just want to get a good off-roader, get one that's got some paint issues, get one that's got a few dents and dings on it, some that's got high mileage because these will last and they will be a great off-roader and a fun vehicle for you to have for a long time.”
READ THE COMMENTS!
For subscriber remarks on what they have, the history of their vehicles, what their experience has been and what kind of improvements they’ve made.
youtu.be/qY_biv-SrpM?si=Oh0rCxFXGwtFJM2d
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JEEP BEACH WEEK KICKS OFF!
Runs through Sunday, April 28
(See jeepbeach.com for the full schedule)
News 6 reported “Thousands of jeeps are rolling into Daytona Beach for the annual event.”
Molly Reed interviewed Charlene Greer, CEO of Jeep Beach. She’s ecstatic. “This is unbelievable – so our 21st year, over 25,000+ vehicles in Daytona Beach, over 200,000 people in Daytona Beach!”
“IT’S BIG FUN FOR A GOOD CAUSE”
They have a full lineup of events through next week.
Greer says, “Over the last ten years we’ve raised 4.3 million dollars for central Florida charities.”
NOTE NEW RULES ON THE BEACH
Find out what the Sheriff’s Office has zero tolerance for this year. But mostly, they say “Here on the beach, the biggest issue is mainly the kids, the visibility.”
Molly Reed says, “Otherwise the more TRICKED OUT AND DUCKED OUT the better – and always welcome!”
#jeepbeach2024
#jeepbeachdaytona
youtu.be/GO8oQcg-e6U?si=jHsqIQJPQ7iFLJyw
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Throwback Thursday; taking our independent suspension concept to SEMA in November 2015 🙂
Amanda Products is a proud member of the Deshler Group - a family of successful companies that does it all, from manufacturing, assembly, packaging, and logistics to information technology.
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CARPENTER TRAVELS NEW ZEALAND IN THE VAN HE BUILT FOR AN AMAZING JOURNEY
Inspiring 19-minute video by Living Big In A Tiny House
“When you build out a van and turn it into a house, you're not only building yourself a home, you're also crafting a way of life.”
Floyd is living that life.
It began when he was started his carpentry apprenticeship. He wanted to get it done and get on the road. Then he got a dog “and I was like ‘I'm going to be tied to New Zealand now.’” Altogether it took six years.
A qualified carpenter, he bought a 1998 Ford Transit van in 2020.
“I was lucky enough to pick up for relatively cheap, stripped it all, ripped the carpets out and then I had specifications ‘no plywood, no framing timber. I don't want to see any pine.” Which was “pretty much awesome” and then he hit the road.
Building is a skill you can take anywhere in the world, so “It’s been pretty awesome ever since.”
Floyd says, “building and van life just go hand in hand provided you have the tools and gear.” (He’s set up for wood turning and wood burning, which he finds “pretty therapeutic.”)
ABOUT WOOD TURNING
“Wood turning is my calm place… I was super lucky to find that when I'm just chucking chunks out, my brain is completely focused on that piece. You know what is going to happen next you know how that knot's going to work with the piece I'm turning. So with me need to keep my hands busy, decided wood turning would be coming with me on this journey.”
He loved the artistic freedom he had. He even helped build his sister’s tiny house.
CREATIVE FREEDOM = UNANTICIPATED INCOME
After lockdown he started promoting his wood turning pieces on an Instagram page he named ‘Floyds.woods’. “I had like 30-40 pieces made by the end of lockdown and lots of people keen on buying them from me too;” which came as a surprise because he was enjoyed the work so much, he just wanted to share it. He made ‘art drops.’
Money was not the motivation. But then, ‘suddenly’ he was able to charge for his art. And help local mental health charities. “I just try to reek positivity every day.”
THE VAN’S INTERIOR IS A HIDDEN GEM
“I built this from scratch …. Like this is a timber version of me… Having this space to see and share with people, I think that’s an awesome part.”
“There were a lot of supplies left over from jobs. Design came on the fly” with use of native timbers, carvings, gifts from artist friends.
“I actually drove about 3 hours south to pick up this beautiful slab of Redwood and I just I felt like I did it justice when I cleaned it up and polyurethaned it.”
He gets interior electric from one solar panel.
Fishing rounds out his groceries.
He has zero expenses.
He budgets $300/week for travel, not including jobs.
The interviewer adds “Floyd, this is just such an amazing place you've created here. It’s filled with art and the promise of Adventure…
"I love that by downsizing into this van you've been able to create such a perfect situation for yourself where you can live comfortably, where you can travel, where you can follow your passions and also afford life.”
youtu.be/gN6IROwin4w?si=EHZGunZevOL6JFoX
#floydswoods
#vanlife
#vanliving
#vanlifestyle
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