Please email info@jeepfoodride.com with any questions you may have.
The Jeep Food Ride is a lighted, evening parade to benefit local area food pantries while fostering fellowship and good cheer between Jeepers.
The Jeep Food Ride takes place in La Crosse, WI, based out of Pischke Motors downtown.
Vehicles must be Jeep or Willys brand vehicles in order to participate.
The price of admission is at least two (2) full grocery bags of non-perishable food per adult in your Jeep. That means if you have three (3) adults in your Jeep, you need to bring at least six (6) full grocery bags of food!
If you are under 18, you are exempt from the two (2) full bag requirement, but we ask that you bring whatever your budget allows, even if it is only a few canned goods.
Absolutely not. There’s a mix of first-timers and veterans – many who have been joining us for years! Everyone is welcome!
All Jeeps should have some form of lighted holiday decorations and all decorations must be family-friendly. We highly recommend LED lighting.
You will need a power inverter as well. The size of the inverter you will need is determined by the amount and type of lighting you have. LED lighting draws significantly less power. If you use LED’s and have a built-in inverter on your Jeep, that may be sufficient.
Whatever you choose, we highly recommend you test all of your decorations and your inverter prior to arrival. You can do this by hooking up your inverter to your Jeep (or using the on-board inverter on newer Jeeps) and hooking all of your decorations to it. Start your Jeep and leave all of your decorations on for at least five minutes. If everything stays running your should be fine.
We also recommend “test decorating” your Jeep ahead of time. By doing so, you’ll see where you may need extra small extension cords and cable ties. If you plan on using cable ties, don’t forget a small cutter to remove your decorations after the parade.
- All vehicles must be street legal and fully insured
- All drivers must possess a valid drivers license
- All drivers must be able to provide proof of insurance
We use GMRS (or FRS) radios to communicate during the Jeep Food Ride. We recommend any GMRS or FRS radio made after October of 2017 as the FCC standardized all channels and frequencies during that time period. Complete details on GMRS are below. If you participate in a Jeep Jamboree or many other off-road events, you’ll find the GMRS is a common requirement.
If You Don’t Have GMRS Radio Yet
Your easiest and best option is to purchase a unit from the preferred Jeep Jamboree Communication Sponsor, Midland. They make a quality product that is easy to understand and use. We recommend either of the following products:
- Handhelds – https://midlandusa.com/collections/x-talker/products/t71vp3
- In-Jeep – https://midlandusa.com/collections/micromobile/products/mxt275vp4-micromobile-two-way-radio-bundle-1
Radio Differences and Frequencies
- In late 2017, the FCC standardized the channel numbers/ frequencies for FRS/GMRS. Any FCC approved radio manufactured after October of 2017 is required to use the standardized channel numbering and corresponding frequencies. This means that Midland, Cobra, Uniden, etc. all work together.
Frequencies and Power (See the reference chart below)
- FRS and GMRS use the exact same channels/frequencies but at different power levels.
- FRS is “Family Radio Service” which runs at a lower power.
- GMRS is “General Mobile Radio Service” and runs at higher power.
- Both FRS and GMRS are only supposed to transmit at .5 watts on Channels 8-14.
Licensing
- FRS is “licensed by rule” by the FCC, meaning that you do not need a license to operate at FRS power.
- The FCC requires a GMRS license as a way to regulate frequencies that are used by two-way radio devices. Before operating a GMRS radio, you must have a valid license. Any radio using the shared FRS/GMRS frequencies that is able to transmit above 2 Watts of power was reclassified as GMRS only after the recent FCC Changes in September 2017. GMRS radios can be handhelds or in-unit mobile radios.
- Licensees must be 18+ and be an individual (not a business).
- There isn’t a test. Just pay $70 and you’re good for 10 years.
- The license covers you and your immediate family (husband, wife, kids, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.).
- You must follow the rules set forth by the FCC.
- Sign-up at https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/licManager/login.jsp
Why GMRS over FRS?
- GMRS has more power, meaning you can transmit farther.
- While FRS handhelds work fine in many cases, the lower transmit power and shorter antennas mean that there are situations where you may be able to hear the trail leader or others on the trail, but they may not hear you.
- If someone is using a GMRS and transmitting, an FRS will usually receive just fine. An FRS has less power so it can’t transmit as far.
- If both parties are using FRS in an obstructed area or are far apart, they may not be able to transmit or receive to each other.
Frequency Chart
