The 2017 Ram Farm Show Tour tallied it’s 5th and final summer show at the SunBelt Ag Show in Moultrie, GA.
This year’s tour recorded stops at:
- World Agriculture Expo, Tulare CA (February 13-17)
- Wisconsin Farm Technology Days – Kewaunee, WI (July 11-13)
- Farm Progress Show – Decatur, IL (August 29-31)
- Husker Harvest Days – Grand Island, NE (September 12-14)
- SunBelt Ag Expo – Moultrie, GA (October 17-19)
Of all 5 farm shows in 2017, there was only 1 day that we were unable to drive due to inclement weather – this must be a record!
With friendly weather and the best light and heavy-duty truck lineup in the market, the Ram ride+drive tracks were busier than ever this year. As the focus has been shifting more towards the towing/hauling capability of these trucks, our courses have changed to accommodate more demand there. We still offer an off-road ride course at all shows, but have also added an experiential towing portion to the drive, where guests can get behind the wheel of a 1500, 2500 or 3500 and actually pull a trailer to feel the power, torque and load -handling. Of course, the crowd favorite is the 3500 6.7L Cummins High Output w/max tow that is pulling 30,000 lbs worth of a Case backhoe on a Big Tex gooseneck trailer. How’s that for real-life experience?
Gordinier Group’s off-road course-building entity, Dirt Designs, headed to Owasso, Oklahoma to design and construct a test drive track at the new Jim Glover Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat Dealership.
Providing a controlled track that specifically demonstrates Trail Rated attributes (such as traction, articulation, maneuverability, and ground clearance) flat-out works for a Jeep dealership. What better sales tool can you ask for, then to be able to take potential buyers out to show them what a Jeep vehicle can actually do? Furthermore, many Jeep customers (and also owners) aren’t familiar with how to engage such features as Hill Descent Control, Electronic-Locking Axles, Sway-Bar Disconnect, Selec Terrain, and Selec Speed. With each course build, Gordinier Group/Dirt Designs bakes in a day of staff training so that we can get the dealership sales crew up to speed on how to properly/safely drive and instruct drivers in an off-road setting.
Dirt Designs typically designs custom dealership courses to accommodate the entire Jeep lineup, including Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Renegade, and Compass. The Jim Glover track has a couple of bonus ‘Rubicon Only’ turn-offs for the guests interested in Wrangler Rubicon (and pushing the limits a bit).
June 5-7
Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles hosted 250 of its top fleet customers and others at its national fleet preview at the Motor City Casino in Detroit.
Attendees listened to a presentation of the lineup and were able to ride along in the vehicles with Gordinier Group drivers. This was a special opportunity – not only was the Camp Jeep mobile off-road course on site (stocked with new Jeep Compass), but there was also a street drive featuring rides in Dodge Hellcat Charger/Challenger, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and the rest of the FCA lineup. It’s not every day that event guests get to take a ride in vehicles boasting 707 horsepower (and 200+ mph top speed)!
Gordinier Group Product Specialists were also on tap to socialize the new Pacifica minivan and PHEV hybrid.
All in all, this was a fun event for both fleet guests and GG drivers alike.
* Images courtesy of FCA Media
Pacifica – FCA Fleet Preview
Alfa Romeo Giulia – FCA Fleet Preview
Pacifica – FCA Fleet Preview
Jeep Compass, staircase – FCA Fleet Preview
Jeep Compass, staircase – FCA Fleet Preview
Jeep Compass, Mtn – FCA Fleet Preview
Jeep Compass, breakover – FCA Fleet Preview
Jeep Compass, Mtn – FCA Fleet Preview
April 14-23
New Compass – 2017 NYIAS
Guests of the 2017 New York International Auto Show Camp Jeep track were treated to a special treat this year, getting the opportunity to ride in the all-new 2017 Jeep Compass before it was available to the public.
The new Compass has been redesigned from the ground up, to combine Jeep’s unsurpassed 4×4 capabilities, with outstanding on-road driving dynamics and fuel-efficient powertrains. The Camp Jeep track featured Trailhawk Compass models, featuring the 2.4L Tigershark engine, mated to Jeep’s 9-speed automatic transmission. The new Compass had no problem conquering the 35-degree climb on the 18′ Jeep Mountain (or any of the other extreme course obstacles for that matter).
The Compass Trailhawks were joined on track at NYIAS by the usual off-road dawgs – Wrangler Rubicon, Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, Cherokee Trailhawk, and Renegade Trailhawk.
As usual, the NYIAS show delivered, setting new attendance records at Camp Jeep.
Another great finale for the end of the 2017 winter auto show season.
