Forum Member’s First Jeep Leads to Roads of Success
‘Jeeps encourage you to get outdoors’ says JK-Forum member Arthur R. Hughes, whose award-winning Wrangler inspired his off-roading lifestyle and launched a popular media endeavor.
We’re still buzzing from the endorphin rush we get just by watching some of the great videos and seeing the original photos shared by fellow JK-Forum members in our forums. And during times like these, the efforts made to keep us all entertained and informed are truly appreciated. We can’t wait to hit the trails again soon and living vicariously through some of these great videos certainly makes the wait more tolerable.
Some of our favorite clips were produced and shared by JK-Forum member Arthur R. Hughes, whose forum handle in the forums is “Dirt Hammer,” and he’s the owner of one of the coolest Jeep Wranglers on the road — one with its own dedicated website. In fact, you may recognize the name and his ride as being the recent winner of our “Ride of the Month” spotlight. Hughes is also an active off-roading influencer with a number of popular socials on YouTube , where he shares off-roading and how-to clips focused on his Wrangler, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, which are filled with incredible photographs and videos, all produced by the talented photographer and active Jeeper.
We eagerly reached out to Hughes to chat about his popular forum contributions and get the backstory on his road-warrior Wrangler, which we learned is his first-ever Jeep purchase and the vehicle that inspired not only his all-weather off-road adventures but also made such an impact that he became a Jeeper for life. Check out his story below and prepare to be inspired to hit the trails as soon as life gets back to normal for all of us.
Your Cherohala Skyway and Bald River Falls adventure video was posted to our forums in early January. How have you been handling your time now that hitting the trails is paused for the time being? Like many Jeep owners, we are always looking for new suggestions on how to replace the endorphin rush that comes with exploring gorgeous new nature spots in person.
I was fortunate that after January we had rain every day for almost a month straight, which kept us off the trails and out of other riding areas. Right as everything was getting shut down due to the coronavirus, I had ordered new gears and lockers for the Jeep. So, with scheduling with the shop and then downtime for repairs, it put us right at the end of March with beautiful Georgia weather. To keep our sanity, we have just been cruising mountain backroads–staying close to home–with the top down.
Your YouTube videos are great. What inspired your channel?
Thank you for taking the time to watch some of our videos. My wife, Stacie, and I love going for Jeep rides, and I fear I created a video monster. She was shy at first but getting more and more comfortable with being in the videos.
Who shot the great images posted in the JK-Forum? Are they all from you?
Yes, I captured those images during some of the outings. Photography is something I wish I could master, but I’m just not disciplined enough to get good at it. Plus, all my extra money goes toward the Jeep, which leaves little for camera gear.
What would you say is the best trip you were able to take in your Wrangler that perhaps a standard car could never take you?
Nemo Tunnel in Wartburg, Tennessee, was an absolute blast. Nemo Tunnel is an old railroad tunnel that’s over 100 years old, and you get to drive through it. We did a video on it as well. What was awesome about this trip was our adult kids could join us. There is standing water and mud inside the tunnel and you could just feel the history.
Did you buy the Jeep new in 2015? Was this your introduction to the Jeep life, or were you previously a Jeep enthusiast and/or owner?
I actually never owned a Jeep until now and I don’t think I’ll ever be without one in the future. We bought the Jeep used in 2018 pretty much stock minus a 2.5-inch suspension lift.
What was the initial intention: to use as a daily driver, or to find a vehicle that would be able to handle tough trails too?
The Jeep was never intended to be a daily driver and has not been since we owned it. We are lucky to be able to own such a vehicle and it sits all week waiting for the weekend. I have always been an off-road enthusiast, 20 plus years riding dirt bikes. The Jeep purchase was intended to be for overland travel but our plans changed for the Jeep. My wife says “let’s just sleep in hotels along the way.” So, I switched gears and starting building the Jeep for exploring but I wanted an old school look as well.
What was the first mod you had to have on the new Wrangler?
Side steps were first as Stacie needed a little help getting in and out of the Jeep.
Were you always very outdoors-oriented before owning a Jeep?
Yes, but the Jeep has allowed us to get outdoors and adventure out to where we have never been before. Jeeps just tend to encourage you to get outdoors.
Did you always plan to heavily personalize your Wrangler with these great mods, or did that happen organically as you became more comfortable with the vehicle?
I had no idea what I was getting into when I bought this Jeep. I didn’t realize that there were so many aftermarket products and how extreme you can go if you have the cash to do so. I grew up in a time when 4x4s had chrome and this is what lead me to build my Jeep the way it sits today. Granted, I don’t have chrome but I do have polished aluminum and stainless-steel parts. The polished parts keep me busy as our mud here in the Southeast stains everything — it’s a price to pay for looking pretty, I guess.
Was an initial budget established or did you add the mods over a random process? Did you ever get to a point where the Jeep was looking so great that you decided to cancel any previously established budgetary limitations and continue?
No budget was ever established and I’m not sure that is even possible with a Jeep. So far, it’s been a random process as I learn what the Jeep needs and what I learn from others on JK-Forum and Facebook groups.
Most artists think their work is never finished. And you mentioned that you have these considered: 4.56 Yukon gearing with lockers, and cold air Intake and diff covers. Do you have any additional mods in mind, or after these additions have you created the perfect Jeep that you set out for when you bought it?
The 4.56 gears with master rebuild kit is done, lockers done, cold air intake and diff covers sitting waiting their turn for install. One item that’s completed with the build is it will not see anything larger than 35-inch tires; reason for the 4.56 gears. I would love to have 37-inch tires but I think I’ll save that for another Jeep build. I’m still on a Dana 30 upfront, so 35-inch tires are perfect. I do plan on trussing and re-enforcing the inner Cs here soon enough.
If cost was not a consideration is there any other fantasy mod you’d want to try out on your Jeep Wrangler? (A-Rod has a cigar humidor in his Jeep.)
If money grew on trees, I’d go for one-ton axles new out of the crate and a 5.7 Hemi swap, 4- to 5-inch lift, and rolling on 40s.
What is the first thing you want to do in your Jeep Wrangler once the world gets back on track and we can enjoy our usual freedoms?
We are going to ride Iron Gap Road, which is a 10-mile long trail that runs from Tennessee and down into Alabama. Plus, we have a few ORV parks nearby we want to try out as well.
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