09/17/2026
CONGRATS to our Wheeler of the Month Brenda Hays-Friedmann. Brenda is a local Jeeper who we have been wheeling with for YEARS. She is commonly found on the hard trails wearing a hat that NO ONE wants to see!! HAHA. Here is a little bit about Brenda in her own words:
1. A little about you and what lead you to getting a 4x4.
My first car was a 1989 Ford Tempo that my dad put larger tires on for "Better Gas Mileage". I thought that meant it was an offroad vehicle and treated it as such, including the "$1,000 road trip" in college... it was the "fun way" to the party that came with a big ticket if you got stuck... I just kept my foot on the skinny pedal. Next was the '89 Comanche that left me stranded on the side of 35 more times than I can count, but I still regret getting rid of that one. I've had 2 '98 Sports and my 2017. Being from OKC, we used to take breaks from country dancing and run down to the river to do night mudd'n. OKC has ruined that spot and I learned the hard way that mud is bad. BAD! BAD! BAD!! I used to swap my Ford for my buddy's wrangler when he was going out of town... He made me drive that one through the car wash after a couple of long weekends... Always clean muddy borrowed naked Jeeps before returning them to their rightful owner!
2. Your 4x4 details. Year, Make , Model, Modifications, etc.
My trailer princess is the Dirty W***e, a 2017 JKUR. My ex-husband said, "you don't need anything more than a Rubicon, because you'll never..." Well, she still has the Rubicon back seat and transfer case. Custom roll cage, tons, 40's, ORIs, B pillar delete, custom rock sliders and bumpers (the rear is my favorite, but the little flair is covered by my spare)... they did so much fab work on her... they were building two 17's at once, so there was a lot of "I want what he/she's getting!", so the Dirty W***e has a fraternal twin. The other one is red. Since then I've upgraded the front seats and hydro-assist. Don't ask me specifics. I can't remember. If you're really curious, I have no problem with you looking up her skirt. Brenda's Beaver is my 2nd '98 Sport. I think she's got menopause. She's having hot flashes and spouts of low energy (low oil pressure). I'll get her on the road soon. She's so much fun on Newbie runs, because she's a stick (it's 2026, she can identify as a female if she wants!) and no lockers. She had never been in 4WD or off the pavement when I got her. She was my clean little beaver until I got my hands on her!
3. A little info about your trips and adventures in your 4x4.
My first non-mud wheeling was with a Baldy's Newbie run in... 2018/19. Trey's old Jeep was a little hard to hop in/out of with a recently broken ankle! The Dirty W***e was stock at the time and there were tons of jokes every time I turtled and someone got to tug on her when I went out with the built Jeeps in the afternoon. I haven't done nearly as much as I'd like and wasn't "allowed" to take my Rubicon trip this summer. I've wheeled most places in Texas, a bit of Oklahoma, and a few mountain passes in Colorado back in the 90's. I love Hot Springs as well! I think I'm most famous for my selfies. IYKYK. My home for the next couple of years will be a crawler hauler so that I can finally do what I want, when I want, which will include taking my Starlink (have to pay the bills somehow) all over the country to finally do the wheeling I've always wanted to. I'll be north in the summers and south in the winters, so if anyone has any trips you don't mind me tagging along for, I'll map my routes appropriately. In fact, people were told there was no way I could pull a 32' trailer. I learned to pull it on a Wednesday and hauled 2 Jeeps to Hot Springs the next day. So, SUCK IT! I don't like being told I can't do something... She's more capable than I am, but she gives me a tremendous amount of confidence. I've graduated to wheeling with my buggy friends with limited spotting. I'm doing things I NEVER thought I could do now!
4. What you love about this 4x4 and the off-road community.
I've built my dream Jeep. Her name is a reminder (that I need to start paying attention to) to stop letting people use you... your belongings... money... etc. She's the best relationship I've had in many years, even though her love language is gifts! I remember my first time at Hot Springs some dude didn't know I was a chick and said to a buddy, "I want to take his line." Dude, that's a girl. "Has she been wheeling her whole life?" Nope. This is her 3rd or 4th time. LOVED that! I've met some amazing friends in the off-road community. Here, my OK Jeep family, and all over. I'm looking forward to getting out, going everywhere, and meeting everyone! I've learned that *most* Jeep owners will stop and help you out if you have problems, much like the motorcycle community. I have the confidence to go out on my own, hop in with groups for the hard stuff, and know that no matter where I go, I'm going to find some friends that have my back!
Thank you Brenda and congrats on Wheeler of the Month!!
If you know someone who should be nominated for Wheeler of the Month, please send those to [email protected]. They will get a $100 Gift Card to Baldy's 4x4, their story featured on our page and one pic for our cover photo for the month.
