Shannon Eckler
Shannon Eckler
User Name: cherryjeepgirl26
Chat with Shannon
"I am 27 years old, I love being outdoors, I own an RV and I love to camp and hike. I have 2 Great Danes and I live with my boyfriend Chuck in our little house in Port Crane, NY. Binghamton is my hometown, I work at Wilson Memorial Hospital as a Nurse Aide. I am new to wheeling, I have only been in it 2 years. Never owned a 4x4 until my jeep. I bought my 2013 Wrangler without even really planning it out. I took a day trip to one of the Finger Lakes in NY and saw it sitting out front of the dealership and I said: “That’s MINE!!” I traded in my 2014 Kia Soul that day and drove my Jeep home and had it on the trails about a week later. I tell people that I traded my Soul for my Jeep and it was worth it!
Occupation: Nursing Aide
Birthday: December 25
Ladies Offroad Network Events Attended:
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Questions & Answers
About Shannon:
Q: What is your favorite color?
A: "Purple"
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: "Chicken"
Q: Do you have any kids?
A: "Nope!"
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: "I have two Great Danes, Diva (5) and Dakota (8 Months) they are my babies they never want to leave my side...and no they didn’t come with a saddle lol"
Q: Do you take your pets off-roading?
A: "I can take my little one Dakota. Diva is like having a cow in your car. The first week I had her (I rescued her) my boyfriend was going into Lowes and he turned around to my 170lb dane tearing and flopping out the back of my Jeep through the soft top… that I had just purchased by the way lol"
Shannon's Off-Road Facts:
Q: How old were you when you first started wheeling?
A: "25"
Q: Is your whole family into off-roading?
A: "Nope not really, I grew up out in the country on 23 acres and never owned an ATV or anything!"
Q: Are you usually the driver or the co-driver?
A: "We share… my boyfriend does drive first usually but I am a much better driver than a passenger because I freak out less! hahaha"
Q: Do you have any off-road traditions or rituals?
A: "Safety meetings"
Q: How often do you get to go off-roading?
A: "About once a month in the winter and 3 or so each month in the summertime."
Q: How did you get started in the off-road world?
A: "Said "Hey let's buy a Jeep hunny! And off wheeling we went before we even made our first payment."
Q: Where is your favorite place to wheel?
A: "Rausch Creek, but Broome Tioga Motor Sports is my home base. I am comfortable there but Rausch has a lot more surprises."
Q: What is on your off-roading bucket-list? 
A: "I would like to be able to make it to the Rubicon Trail with my Jeep. I want to wheel with this Jeep until it won't go anymore. I love this sport and I hope to keep getting more involved."
Q: How are you active in the off-road world?
A: "I am the media/marketing officer for S.T.O.R.C, I'm also a member of Seven Slot Off-Road NY"
Shannon's Off-Road Stories:
Q: What is your most memorable off-road moment?
A: "My first women's wheeling day at Rausch"
Q: What was your first wheeling trip?
A: "My first real wheeling trip was to Rausch Creek for Women's Wheeling Day"
Q: What was your longest wheeling trip?
A: "I have only been to Rausch so far because that’s 2.5 hours away. We go wheeling all day until dark and then either drive home or camp out."
All About the Ladies:
Q: Who do you look up to in the industry? Why?
A: "Ann Woodward, she's one of my best friends and without her and Don I wouldn’t have made it this far!"
Q: How do you feel as a woman in the offroad industry?
A: "I feel very proud to be a part of this community of women and to have taught a few others through our own ladies day that we held last year. It was a very rewarding experience to meet these people that came from all over the East Coast to our little town to meet us, camp and go out in the woods and have fun!"
Q: What changes have you seen in the off-road industry since becoming involved?
A: "I'm a little new to really comment on the off-road community as a whole. I know that locally for me it has changed more from just ATVs and mud trucks to more of a variety from 4-Runners and Jeeps. Peoples 4x4s they drive on a normal basis, not just custom trucks being trailered in."
Q: Give us a story, about educating, guiding, empowering ladies in the off-road world:
A: "Ann Woodwards’ husband Don has taught me how to be calm and follow instructions on how I need to execute and maneuver. I have taken that and used it to help others out on the trails."
Q: What advice do you have for ladies who want to get started off-roading?
A: "Don’t be afraid. Start at your own pace and get used to your vehicle, get out there and make a couple friends and get stuck. Its ok to get stuck. That is what winches are for."
Shannon's Vehicle:
About Shannon's vehicle: "2013 JKU Jeep Wrangler"
Vehicle Name: Ruby
Q: Is your vehicle a Daily Driver?
A: "Yes"
Q: What is the best modification you have done to your vehicle?
A: "My lift and my custom stinger and rock rails"
Q: Do you work on your own vehicle?
A: "I do sometimes for smaller things like oil changes but all the big installs I'll pass the tools."
Vehicle Information:
Vehicle Type: JKU Jeep Wrangler
Year: 2013
Author: Shannon Eckler
