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eWillys Not Going Offline; Has Changed Owners; Stay Tuned!

November 6, 2024 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE II: If you want to email me directly, feel free to use d@deilers.com (not d@ewillys.com, which hasn’t worked for a few years).

UPDATES: I greatly appreciate all the kind words. I see there are some questions, so let me answer them…

  1. I am not shutting the site down due to financial issues. We are in fine shape. The site has never made much money, but it has made enough to pay for the basics costs, plus the purchase of brochures, a few toys, etc.
  2. Someone has reached out about taking over the site. If I can make that happen, then maybe the site goes forward in some form. If I can’t find someone, I plan on condensing the most important info into static HTML pages (similar to the CJ-3B page) that can be more easily be saved and republished for posterity.
  3. I don’t have any specific plans for the future, except reducing my time demands, so I can focus on finishing the Tour Jeep, traveling a little more without having to do updates on the road, and tackling more property tasks. 
  4. As I have described to a couple folks, if you remember the scene when Forest Gump stops running in the middle of Monument Valley, realizing he’s done, that’s the way I feel. I feel like I’m just done. 

I hope that additional info helps!!

===================

I have decided to shut down eWillys. At this time, I don’t plan to do any more updates.

Thanks to everyone who were able to use it, read it, all those who commented, and the many domestic and international friends Ann and I have made over the past 17 years.

The site will remain up until the end of the 2024 year. I hope to figure out a way to republish some of the unique information the site has on it in a different, less expensive manor.

Best wishes all. It’s been a good run.

ewillys_logo_20x30_poster

 

88 Comments on “eWillys Not Going Offline; Has Changed Owners; Stay Tuned!”

  1. Ward

    Thank you Dave for all the years of enjoyable reading. Not just Jeeps, but with Ann, literature, your books, adventures, your family life and the new ranch. It has truly been enjoyable following along. EWillys personally helped me with buying and selling a few things. We will miss your morning updates. Praying for the future for you and Ann. Thank You again.

  2. Greg

    Wow! I’m really going to miss EWillys. Every morning I took a look with my coffee. What’ll IO do now?

  5. Jerry

    I’m deeply saddened, definitely one the best 4 wheeler sites.
    thank you for all your years of hard work.

  6. Steve

    Thank you for the effort you put into ewillys. It has always been a great place to visit. I will miss it. Best wishes to you. Steve

  7. David Eilers Post author

    Thanks all … Sorry for the delay in my response. It’s been a busy few days with more property stuff. I’ve updated this post with some notes and more info.

    – Dave

  8. willy s. wagon

    Dave,
    You and your entire family have provided me with countless hours of entertainment and JEEP
    knowledge through this site. It’s hard for me to imagine the hours involved in the daily grind
    of producing it and living your life. Ewillys will be missed, but life goes on.
    I thank you and wish you all well in every future endeavor.
    Willy

  9. John Fredyma

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! I would certainly not begrudge you your plans to “retire” from the Website, but your efforts have been long appreciated and will be greatly missed.

    I formally retired 3 1/2 years ago and have not had any problem with finding things to do. I worried about it before I retired, but my wife told me I’d be just fine. I am. I also wonder how I ever managed to get things done when I was working full-time.

    Again, thank you thank you, thank you.

  10. John Fredyma

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! I would certainly not begrudge you your plans to “retire” from the Website, but your efforts have been long appreciated and will be greatly missed.

    I formally retired 3 1/2 years ago and have not had any problem with finding things to do. I worried about it before I retired, but my wife told me I’d be just fine. I am. I also wonder how I ever managed to get things done when I was working full-time.

    Again, thank you.

  11. Mike

    Dave, still interested, lets kick this around, just maybe the EWILLYS spirit is still alive. Contact me at the email address listed below. Mike Finegan

  12. Illinois Larry

    Dave, I sure hate to see the site shut down, but I understand. I’ve enjoyed your posts, and appreciate all your help. You have my contact information, if you and Ann are passing through Illinois, you’ve got a place to stay.
    Illinois Larry

  13. Dinesh Singh Chauhan

    Hi Dave
    I will miss ewillys a lot. The same I felt when Chris Mckay shut shop, willys dispatcher site went off line and now it’s you.
    The extent of knowledge and information shared here would be surely missed.
    Hope someone with a similar interest take over and continues the effort.
    We will surely be in touch as usual and hope all goes well at your end.
    Regards and best wishes.
    Dinesh

  14. Mike

    Dinesh,
    One of the main reasons for no longer maintaining a “host” web site is the cost, with so many social media web sites such as Facebook Market Place, why bother with a web page. Cost benefit ratio analysis, that’s all it is.

  15. Robert Loeffler

    Dave, there’s nothing I can add after reading all of the glowing comments except thank you for all you’ve done to keep the old Jeep family alive and well. We’re an interesting bunch and you’ve provided so much knowledge and insight over the years. Have a blast with your retirement and all of your new adventures.
    May the future keep you healthy and vibrant!
    BobL aka Tralehead

  16. Tom in RI

    Dave,
    Thank you for all your hard work done through the years. EWillys has been my morning newspaper for a long time and your information and creativity will be missed.
    But, congratulations on taking the step to remove that hundred million billion pound workload from your shoulders. You’ll enjoy it immensely!

  17. Oscar Skold

    Thank you David. It’s been a great ride browsing ewillys.com for over a decade. Good luck, enjoy life and maybe our paths will cross some day.
    Best, Oscar

  18. Barry Link

    Dave –
    Thanks for an excellent site with no BS… was my only daily “Go To” on the web. Understand that you do need to stop and smell the roses. As John Muir said.. “we all have but one destination in this life, but it is our choice as to how fast we get there.

  19. Kurt in Wenatchee

    Dave I have really enjoyed your site over the years. Learning from you along with reply’s from others.
    I get the stop and move on to other things you enjoy more. I’m trying.

  20. Nick in Shipshewana

    Thank you so much for all you’ve done for the community! The first Willys I ever purchased was found on this website, and 10 years later I still checked the site for more treasures. Good luck with your future endeavors and enjoy the extra free time!

  21. Lawrence

    Sad news. Although no one could argue against moving on, ewillys has been THE site for Willys fans across the country. I’ve conversed with several fellow WillysWonkers over the years due to this site. I hope someone has the ware withal to take on this treasured resource.
    Thank you for the years you’ve catered to us and best luck on the future endeavors.

  24. David Eilers Post author

    Frank, I can attest that no AI was harmed or involved with anything related to eWillys. But, then, an AI algorithm might say that?

  26. Minnesota Chris

    Hi Dave. I knew ewillys couldn’t last forever but it sure has been a joy to read your content and find jeeps to save. Wishing you and the family all the best. Let me know if you ever need anything.

  29. Rick Farquhar

    As the saying goes “ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO A END”. Thanks Dave for everything you have done. We will miss eWillys.

  30. Marla.the.v35

    Thank you for the years of providing not only quality content, but also being a valuable resource for finding jeeps. I wish you all the best of luck in finding more time for yourselves. Godspeed!

    p.s. pretty sure I follow all of your available social channels. See you on the trails (virtual or otherwise)!

  31. JW

    Dave,
    Thank you for investing so much of your time and effort into ewillys. Like so many others here I have enjoyed it immensely. Ewillys led me to my first flat fender and to many other aspects of vintage Jeep culture. The knowledge and love for vintage Jeeps that ewillys reinforced will be with me for a long time. I hope the site lives on in some form, but all good things must come to an end. That’s why they’re called good things, otherwise they’re just ordinary. I wish you the best in your future endeavors and hope to hear about your Jeep adventures via other forums.

  32. Lew

    Dave,
    This site was for years a daily coffee stop. Through your efforts I learned so much, found so much, acquired a few things likely not to have been found otherwise. On this site I stumbled upon a restored CJ2A Farm Jeep near enough and at a decent price, that we now use it as a primary farm vehicle. My own schedule hasnt allowed much interaction in the last couple years but this was always my encyclopedia of knowledge of the type and where I went when time allowed. Good luck in your future endeavors. Like losing a good friend, I will miss it.
    Lew

  33. Earl Kooperkamp

    Thanks so much for your efforts on this site! I just found it a year ago, but it lead me to the ’49 truck I just bought to restore as a retirement project! Deeply appreciate your time and work, and wishing you the best as you move on to new places, being done here. Well done!
    Peace, Earl

  34. JEFF J BENTON

    This site has always been a joy to read and learn….

    I tip my hat to your past efforts and wish you the best into your future Dave! Hooah

    PS. Hope you’re able to find someone who can continue the mission here with this content

  35. David Eilers Post author

    Hi all,

    Thanks again for the kind comments. I am glad I could create something valuable for the community.

    We are in the process of readying the site for the new owner. If site appears down over the next week or so, it means the domain name is being redirected to the new IP location, which will take up to 48 hours to property resolve the new IP worldwide.

    Thanks for your patience!

    – Dave

  36. Brandon

    Coming in a little late to the conversation. Like many have stated opening up the latest post from eWillys was how I started my day over the last few years that I have been following. Dave, thanks for your commitment and dedication to the site. I am glad to hear that it seems like it will continue on. As someone who dreams of owning a Willys one day the information on this site is invaluable. Best of luck Dave to everything you do in the future.

  37. David Eilers Post author

    Again, I have to thank everyone for the kind words. I couldn’t have done what I did without everyone’s support.

    The new owner of the site and I have signed the transfer of ownership paperwork as of today, Dec 16th. The new owner will make an announcement once he’s ready. We are awaiting one change on my web host’s side then the site will move to the new webhost. There may be downtime of a couple days, so don’t worry if eWillys is offline for a couple days.

    Merry Christmas everyone!

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