August 2026 Ride of the Month (ROTM) Contest

Who took your favorite photo for the August 2026 ROTM contest?

  • Marklar1983

    Votes: 11 10.6%

  • Byhumba

    Votes: 7 6.7%

  • OldBuzzard

    Votes: 13 12.5%

  • macleanflood

    Votes: 9 8.7%

  • 2006RedLJ

    Votes: 1 1.0%

  • Rickstar321

    Votes: 13 12.5%

  • Mitchrb1

    Votes: 3 2.9%

  • E-Ticket

    Votes: 5 4.8%

  • Unique Username

    Votes: 4 3.8%

  • CMBD

    Votes: 17 16.3%

  • Rut Row

    Votes: 3 2.9%

  • CAGreen

    Votes: 3 2.9%

  • Korelick

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • yellowjacket_tj

    Votes: 2 1.9%

  • bbaldwin237

    Votes: 4 3.8%

  • Redsquatch

    Votes: 3 2.9%

  • driver 06

    Votes: 1 1.0%

  • GregBelleville

    Votes: 5 4.8%
  • Poll closed .
Chris

Chris

Administrator
Original poster
Staff Member
Ride of the Month Winner
Joined
Sep 28, 2015
Messages
79,550
Location
Gillette, WY
How does it work?
  1. From the 10th to the 15th of this month you'll be able to submit the best photo you have of your TJ.
  2. Starting on the 16th of this month photo submissions will no longer be accepted.
  3. Voting will start on the 16th of the month and be done in the form of a poll. Each member may only vote one time.
  4. Voting will end on the very last day of the month at 12 AM midnight MST. Any votes that come in after 12 AM MST will not be counted.

Submission Rules
Please see the Ride of the Month (ROTM) submission rules thread.


Portrait Mode vs. Landscape Mode
ROTM photos must be in landscape mode. If you submit a photo in portrait mode not only will it be removed, you'll also be ridiculed. For an explanation of the difference, see the photo below:

portrait-orientation-photo-vs-landscape-orientation-photo.webp


Why can't I submit a picture to the contest?
In order to participate in this contest you must be a supporting member. I've done this as a means of offering users one more reason to upgrade (and thus support the forum).


Why can't I vote?
In order to vote you need to be a supporting member. This is done to cut down on forum users who might attempt to create dummy accounts just to vote for their own photo.


What do I get if I win?
The winner will receive the following:
  • $300 of Wizard Recovery Gear products (thanks to @mrblaine) or a $150 VISA gift card, or a combination of both (as long as it amounts to $200). If the retail of the product is $250 for example, they get those item(s) plus the rest in money. If they get a $50 item, the max cash is still $150. NOTE: (Blaine reserves the right to withhold the gift card portion of the win if he has you on his ignore list.)
  • 50% off the purchase of a new TCM / PCM or PCM repair service from Wrangler Fix, compliments of Mark (@Wranglerfix).
  • $200 gift card from Tom Wood's Driveshaft, compliments of @Shawn at Tom Wood's.
  • Winning photo in a special "Ride of the Month" forum theme
  • Custom "Ride of the Month" graphic that will be displayed in the members signature
  • "Ride of the Month" avatar banner (featured under the users avatar with each post)
  • A one in eleven chance at winning the year end ROTY (Ride of the Year) contest in which the winner will receive either a free big brake kit from @mrblaine (if he ever gets them back in stock) or a $500 gift card. The winner of the ROTY contest will also receive a free PCM compliments of @Wranglerfix.

If I win, then what happens?
I will reach out to you via a PM and CC all of the ROTM sponsors in the correspondence.


Contestants
Find your favorite photo below and use the poll at the top of the page to cast your vote.

@Marklar1983
IMG_2641.webp

@Byhumba
20250321_171935.webp

@OldBuzzard
OldBuzzard_StJohns.webp

@macleanflood
Mac's TJ - Sand Spray.webp

@2006RedLJ
IMG_0694.webp

@Rickstar321
2026.07.19.01.webp

@Mitchrb1
Jeep121.webp

@E-Ticket
IMG_7134.webp

@Unique Username
IMG_20220213_085041867.webp

@CMBD
c8ddfa54-e834-4b57-b016-62d85539086a.webp

@Rut Row
PW JJ By big rock (tuned).webp

@CAGreen
BigLevels2.webp

@Korelick
IMG_5356.webp

@yellowjacket_tj
IMG_5127 2.webp

@bbaldwin237
PXL_20260619_222644019.webp

@Redsquatch
IMG_20260625_100924.webp

@driver 06
29454.webp

@GregBelleville
PXL_20260725_231120664.webp
 
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Zorba said:
No electioneering within 100 yards... ;)
Click to expand...

Next month expect several significant rule changes.

Ride of the Month (ROTM) Rules​

The purpose of Ride of the Month is to recognize Jeeps that are actually used, with an emphasis on trail use, capability, scenery, and the character of the Jeep rather than simply photographic quality.

Submission Rules​

  1. One photo submission per member.
  2. The photo must feature your Jeep Wrangler TJ or LJ.
  3. Photos must be submitted in landscape orientation. Portrait/vertical photos will not be accepted.
  4. The Jeep should be shown on an East Coast trail, at an East Coast off-road destination, or in an East Coast outdoor setting associated with Jeep use. Driveway, parking-lot, car-show, and posed pavement photographs are not permitted unless the photo was take on the East Coast.
  5. East Coast trail environments are specifically encouraged, including:
    • Rock gardens
    • Mud
    • Roots
    • Forest trails
    • Creek crossings
    • Ledges
    • Tight technical trails
    • Appalachian terrain
    • Wet-weather wheeling
  6. Photo editing may be used for normal photographic enhancement such as exposure, cropping, contrast, color correction, and removal of minor distractions. Editing may not materially alter the Jeep, obstacle, terrain, or circumstances depicted.
  7. Forum staff may not enter.
  8. Entrants must be supporting members of the forum and reside on the East Coast.
  9. A ROTM winner is ineligible to enter another ROTM contest for 12 months.

Voting​

Each member receives one vote.

Votes cannot be changed once submitted.

Vote totals remain hidden until voting closes at midnight on the final day of the contest.

Members are encouraged to judge the Jeep and what it is doing, not simply which entrant has the best camera.

ROTM Scoring​

The monthly winner will be determined using a combination of member voting and Trail Merit points.

Member Vote — 60%​

Forum voting accounts for 60% of the final score.

Trail Merit — 40%​

The remaining 40% will be scored using the following criteria:

CategoryPoints
Jeep actively being used off-road0–10
Difficulty/character of terrain0–10
Jeep capability/build appropriate to terrain0–5
Authenticity of the photograph and situation0–5
East Coast technical trail characteristics0–10
Total Trail Merit40

East Coast Technical Trail Characteristics​

The final 10 points specifically recognize terrain traditionally associated with Eastern wheeling.

Examples include:

  • Rocks combined with mud or loose soil
  • Roots and exposed rock
  • Dense woods
  • Narrow trails
  • Steep climbs or descents
  • Wet rock
  • Creek crossings
  • Rock ledges
  • Tight maneuvering between trees
  • Appalachian-style technical terrain

What ROTM Is Intended to Reward​

ROTM should favor:

A muddy TJ working through a Pennsylvania rock garden over a spotless TJ sitting in a parking lot.

A Jeep crawling a wooded West Virginia trail over one posed at a scenic western overlook.

A relatively stock TJ being skillfully driven through difficult terrain over a highly modified Jeep that never leaves pavement.

A professionally photographed Jeep can certainly win, but photographic polish alone should not determine Ride of the Month.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Dan The Video Man, 1o1proof, Kiwi TJ and 3 others
Rut Row said:
Next month expect several significant rule changes.

Ride of the Month (ROTM) Rules​

The purpose of Ride of the Month is to recognize Jeeps that are actually used, with an emphasis on trail use, capability, scenery, and the character of the Jeep rather than simply photographic quality.

Submission Rules​

  1. One photo submission per member.
  2. The photo must feature your Jeep Wrangler TJ or LJ.
  3. Photos must be submitted in landscape orientation. Portrait/vertical photos will not be accepted.
  4. The Jeep should be shown on an East Coast trail, at an East Coast off-road destination, or in an East Coast outdoor setting associated with Jeep use. Driveway, parking-lot, car-show, and posed pavement photographs are not permitted unless the photo was take on the East Coast.
  5. East Coast trail environments are specifically encouraged, including:
    • Rock gardens
    • Mud
    • Roots
    • Forest trails
    • Creek crossings
    • Ledges
    • Tight technical trails
    • Appalachian terrain
    • Wet-weather wheeling
  6. Photo editing may be used for normal photographic enhancement such as exposure, cropping, contrast, color correction, and removal of minor distractions. Editing may not materially alter the Jeep, obstacle, terrain, or circumstances depicted.
  7. Forum staff may not enter.
  8. Entrants must be supporting members of the forum and reside on the East Coast.
  9. A ROTM winner is ineligible to enter another ROTM contest for 12 months.

Voting​

Each member receives one vote.

Votes cannot be changed once submitted.

Vote totals remain hidden until voting closes at midnight on the final day of the contest.

Members are encouraged to judge the Jeep and what it is doing, not simply which entrant has the best camera.

ROTM Scoring​

The monthly winner will be determined using a combination of member voting and Trail Merit points.

Member Vote — 60%​

Forum voting accounts for 60% of the final score.

Trail Merit — 40%​

The remaining 40% will be scored using the following criteria:

CategoryPoints
Jeep actively being used off-road0–10
Difficulty/character of terrain0–10
Jeep capability/build appropriate to terrain0–5
Authenticity of the photograph and situation0–5
East Coast technical trail characteristics0–10
Total Trail Merit40

East Coast Technical Trail Characteristics​

The final 10 points specifically recognize terrain traditionally associated with Eastern wheeling.

Examples include:

  • Rocks combined with mud or loose soil
  • Roots and exposed rock
  • Dense woods
  • Narrow trails
  • Steep climbs or descents
  • Wet rock
  • Creek crossings
  • Rock ledges
  • Tight maneuvering between trees
  • Appalachian-style technical terrain

What ROTM Is Intended to Reward​

ROTM should favor:

A muddy TJ working through a Pennsylvania rock garden over a spotless TJ sitting in a parking lot.

A Jeep crawling a wooded West Virginia trail over one posed at a scenic western overlook.

A relatively stock TJ being skillfully driven through difficult terrain over a highly modified Jeep that never leaves pavement.

A professionally photographed Jeep can certainly win, but photographic polish alone should not determine Ride of the Month.
Click to expand...

And an automatic disqualification for any TOTW pictures where the Jeep wasn't BACKED into position!
 
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Dan The Video Man said:
Similar framing and composition across most of these photos, makes it tougher to choose!
Click to expand...

A good looking photo is a good looking photo. But I agree that we've seen some good submissions.

And if this is going to be an honest contest like most of us assume it should be, then comments shouldn't lobby for or against specific submissions. You'd think that would be intuitive. You could make a good argument for removing the "likes" options as well.

Seems simple enough: (1) Submit, (2) then vote, (3) then celebrate the winner.
 
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MikeE024 said:
A good looking photo is a good looking photo. But I agree that we've seen some good submissions.

And if this is going to be an honest contest like most of us assume it should be, then comments shouldn't lobby for or against specific submissions. You'd think that would be intuitive. You could make a good argument for removing the "likes" options as well.

Seems simple enough: (1) Submit, (2) then vote, (3) then celebrate the winner.
Click to expand...

As long as I can still use my mail-in ballot, I'm fine with all this...

😳
 
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MikeE024 said:
A good looking photo is a good looking photo. But I agree that we've seen some good submissions.

And if this is going to be an honest contest like most of us assume it should be, then comments shouldn't lobby for or against specific submissions. You'd think that would be intuitive. You could make a good argument for removing the "likes" options as well.

Seems simple enough: (1) Submit, (2) then vote, (3) then celebrate the winner.
Click to expand...

and stop the post processing. That's like using AI to write your term paper.
 
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Reactions: MikeE024
Color over-saturation is the default on most cell phones and many real cameras. And people are getting so used to it that they think it looks good. There have been several ROTM winners with over-saturated pics. It's sad that people don't realize that they can, and should, turn it down from the '60s psychedelic poster look to something more realistic.
 
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Reactions: GregBelleville
OldBuzzard said:
There have been several ROTM winners with over-saturated pics.
Click to expand...
That's because it's not a photo contest really, it's best picture of a TJ.

I'm not arguing with you either, I agree with your points, but sometimes it's a pic of a sweet TJ in a beautiful place and over saturation be damned it will still win.
 
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Reactions: MikeE024, OldBuzzard and rasband

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