A rant? Lots of TERRIBLE advice in the "In real life" Jeep Community.

[TheDerb]

This is sort of a rant, sort of a gripe, but I think it's appropriate to put it here because I feel that what I am about to bitch about generally does NOT happen here. Or at least I don't think I have seen it. And if it does, STOP IT.

Any time I upgrade anything on my Gladiator, or the Wranglers I had before it, I sell the takeoffs for dirt cheap because I think it's good for the world to do people a solid. The goal is if somebody new to the Jeep Community who is in need of 33's or this panel or that fender liner needs it, they get it cheap and they had a good experience with somebody who has been in this community for a while. It's a good way to create acquaintances as well. Or if it's somebody that has had 15 Wranglers, I get a new acquaintance.

I'm also a "let's have a 30 minute conversation in the Home Depot parking lot because you walked over and complimented my truck" type. Call it the Southerner in me.

The last couple of people I have conversed with, both out in town and from my sales, have really had disappointing experiences with the Jeep community as of late.

One guy bought a Jeep Gladiator Sport and is already going to trade it in because his neighbor told him that a Gladiator Sport would only need about $2k in upgrades to be exactly the same as a Rubicon. Literally told him that an LSD in the back would be a game changer and he could do anything. Imagine his surprise when he went out with that neighbor and they both got stuck in a situation that "getting stuck" shouldn't have happened.

Another guy said that he was about to pull the trigger on a regear so that he could get 33s on his gladiator which he uses specifically for driving around town and, by his own words, "Mall crawling". He was going to do this because the guys at a local branch of a nationwide 4 wheel vehicle parts company that had a booth at a Jeep meeting told him he needed it. And everybody standing around agreed. These are 33's folks. The reason he DIDN'T get it is because one of the guys from a dealership (imagine that!) overheard and pulled him to the side and told him not to.

The thing is, a Jeep is a tool, and everyone has different needs for this tool. Some people are happy to mall crawl. Some people are happy to destroy their rig weekly because it makes them happy. Some of these suggestions these people are getting are equivalent to either suggesting a Snap-On Rotary Screw Air Compressor and matching 1/2 inch Drive impact wrench when somebody says they want to rotate their own tires in their garage, or just suggesting a tire iron that came with a Ford Focus. One is way too much, one is not enough.

It isn't really my elephant or my circus, but just something I felt the need to bitch about.

Thanks for listening to my TED talk.

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[Reddout99]

I totally agree. Don't forget getting looked down on for not buying high-end suspension components even if their JT is just a DD like mine is

 

[Jefe1018]

People spend too much time effort thinking about what other people think. Some people might take their rig in for an oil change, someone will say no one is qualified anywhere for any reason to do an oil change as a paid service, while at the same time saying any person with a decent set of tools can do it.

It is your damn truck, do or don’t what you want. I can start sending you my bills if you want your opinion to count so much.

 

[Hootbro]

Not enough time in the day to protect the naïve from the stupid. Generally the smart naïve learns a lesson once and does their due diligence the next time. If they do not, then they move into the stupid category.

 

[Max-t]

Some people buy cars. Some people buy trucks. Some people buy barbie dolls. Most people buy barbie jeeps. No reason to measure ducks with a Barbie’s dream car owner.
Some want to make their truck so unreliable that they always get to buy new stuff. And the ultimate rare individual that needs to do a particular “job” that requires mods.
it’s like the Harley community in more ways than not.

 

[NachoRuby]

I'm also a "let's have a 30 minute conversation in the Home Depot parking lot because you walked over and complimented my truck" type. Call it the Southerner in me.

If we weren't so far apart, I'd say chances would be good that we've probably conversed in a Home Depot parking lot. I'm that guy too. And I think it takes people by surprise, especially when I compliment a small Japanese sports car or an Audi and talk to their owners about them. I'm a gearhead, through and through. But your whole post was well stated.

 

[Kevin_D]

<snip> it’s like the Harley community in more ways than not.

But at least our Jeeps are (mostly) reliable...

Kevin

 

[jjdustr340]

I would contribute all of this to the increased popularity of Jeeps to some extent.
More new owners, who haven’t been jeepers long themselves, regurgitating what their buddy who has owned a Jeep 1 year longer told them. Not that it’s all the fault of new owners, or that new owners don’t know better, it’s just with the sheer number on the road now, seems the odds of a “no knowledge expert” have greatly increased.
Hell, just back in 2010 when I was working at the prison, I had the only Jeep out of nearly 400 employees. I used to go for days without seeing another jeeper to wave to (much to my son’s disappointment). Now I drive half a mile and see 1 or more.
In fact, there are 3 in my driveway and 2 more on my small street. At least 12 more in my housing community.

 

[High Alextude]

I will say from off road, trail experience with clubs, I’ve been nothing but grateful to meet so many amazing people. Yes, there is bashing all in good fun, but a lot of knowledge too. That part of the Jeep community is awesome. I’ve gone bone stock in a few Jeeps with people telling me what I need to buy, but advice is only advice, not forcing you to do anything. Those same people helped guide me over obstacles.

Does simply owning a Jeep make you part of the community? I honestly don’t know. I think participating in events and getting to know people is what a community does. People telling you to buy something or vendors trying to make a sale is a whole other industry.

I am not bashing “mall crawlers”, but I have a feeling they would be a lot happier getting their rig a little dirty once in a while in good company ?‍, or at least being shotgun with someone else.

This heat lately has been killer though, so don’t go out without some AC ?

 

[Max-t]

But at least our Jeeps are (mostly) reliable...

Kevin

Eh? I don’t have a TJ.

 

[Chief_jeep]

I understand your complaint however there should be some self accountability as well. There is endless information to be had on the internet both good and bad. There are tons of great off-road shops that are happy to share their knowledge and point you in the right direction. I think people need to take some time to do some research before they open their wallet and then bitch about it later because “some guy told you to buy it”.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Well, I've been told (here) that I should do a suspension upgrade while I'm swapping shocks.... ...why? See, it's an opinion, not a fact. Define "upgrade" for my use

You only "need" what's necessary to do the job you bought your vehicle to do. The rest is want.

Most of the time when someone tells you that you "need" to do something or swap tires or lift or whatever is because they would prefer if you made yours more appealing to them.

Sad when "Jeep people" give bad advice or make suggestions at times to get you to make YOUR vehicle more appealing to THEM.

If I decide I want to do something with one of our Jeeps that is out of my comfort zone as far as which way to go on specific parts - there are those here who have advice I totally 150% trust so I'll ask, but I know there will be a lot of mud thrown at the wall to see what sticks, too.

It's social media in general.

Fakebook is the worst place in the world to get solid advice from people who actually know stuff.

I laughed when I saw the bit about regearing for 33s. I've run 33s on my Overland - hardly noticed any difference but then the Overland comes with 32.2" tires and the 33s are actually 32.8" so there's a whopping .6" difference in static diameter.

 

[ChrisNLA]

You can't protect people from themselves or the bad advice of others. Some folks don't even know they are giving bad advice. Some just give advice based on what they want, not what the person they are talking to needs.

Case in point, I am often encouraged to put skid plates, a lift, and 35's on my truck. That is about $6,000 worth of things I simply can't justify right now, and maybe ever - but I am smart enough to realize that on my own. My truck takes me lots of great places with 33's, a level, and swaybar disconnects. I have learned this from six years, 88,000 miles, and $12K dumped into my previous 2016 JK Wrangler.

My 2015 SS Camaro is another one. I have car friends that badger me relentlessly to put a cam in it, or a supercharger, or fancy wheels and tires, or headers and a tune (or all of the above). And I'm like why guys? I drive the car less than 5,000 miles a year. I like that its a classy, nearly stock, fully loaded car to take out on nice days. I don't go to the track, etc. But its what THEY want or think its best for ME, lol.

Some folks just gotta know their own desires (and have some smarts to get second or third opinions).

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Who cares, move on!!! Plenty of bad advice in every community. It's been going on for years in the Jeep, Mustang and BMW forums I'm in and by local people also. People think they are right and you are wrong all the time. A general search online will get you all the info you need most of the time. That's why I listen to people who have been in the game for 30 to 50 years and we'll respected.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My 2015 SS Camaro is another one. I have car friends that badger me relentlessly to put a cam in it, or a supercharger, or fancy wheels and tires, or headers and a tune (or all of the above). And I'm like why guys? I drive the car less than 5,000 miles a year. I like that its a classy, nearly stock, fully loaded car to take out on nice days. I don't go to the track, etc. But its what THEY want or think its best for ME, lol.

ironically, I've had the opposite advice on my 73 Javelin. It's got an old-school Offy dual quad intake and 2 Edelbrock carbs.
At least 3 people have said I should ditch the Offy dual quad and go with a Torker - and keep the same power but improve bumming around drivability.
And ya know what - I'm sure they are right.
But the comments and looks and the "cools" I get at shows and such....... you just don't get that with an ordinary performance intake and 1 carb.
I have thought it would be cool to ditch the carbs for 2 quad throttle body injector systems but that's a heck of a lot of money and work. I could get a Torker for 1/4 the price and not have to install an electric fuel pump and electronics.
But I'd get crazy comments with dual throttle bodies, too.
Damn, more decisions!

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