Unofficial East Coast Jeep wave survey

[John in the Woods]

I’ve put on a little more than 4,500 miles since May 1, mainly on a run from OK4WD in Jersey to Florida’s treasure coast via the Blue Ridge Mountains, then back up to Long Island and Upstate NY by way of I95, with a side trip to Southern Pines NC.

Leaving aside the big interstates and any other divided highways, I made a point of waiving at every Gladiator or Wrangler I saw coming the other way. I tracked results in pretty close to real time, and here’s what I got for waves back …

Florida (mostly Vero Beach) — 8 for 54
South Carolina — 12 for 16
North Carolina (both Blue Ridge coming down and Southern Pines region heading up) — 28 for 31
Western NJ — 0 for 8
NY (Long Island, Nassau and Suffolk) — 4 for 59
NY (Finger Lakes and Rochester) — 15 for 41

Add to these highly scientific findings the fact that a dude at a Dunkin’ Donuts outside of Statesville NC called me “my brother” and comped me on breakfast at the drive thru, and I’ve got to say the Carolinas rocked this thing. I’ll definitely be looking for more wheeling trips there. I’d think about relocating, but I’m guessing the nicest thing a New Yorker can do for folks down there is not move in!

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[Mister Lamb]

Queens, NY: 0 for 87

 

[Green_Gladiator]

Cool road trip! Daytona Beach FL 70% ...

 

[Lunentucker]

There are numerous ways to tell where friendly hospitable people live in this country. That's just one of them.
Florida may have a higher rental rate than other states.

 

[Sparty]

You're way off on NY. They wave all the time - it's just usually with only 1 finger

 

[NC_Overland]

NC doesn’t surprise me. Almost every wrangler or gladiator I see waves.

 

[Rahkmalla]

i live in western jersey. waves are way over 50%. To be honest I wish they were lower. I don't want to have to wave at people. When I got my first gladiator i told myself I would only wave back, not initiate. But some people wave soooo late I felt like I didn't have enough time to process and react before they were gone and I was the asshole. So i just started waving at everyone. I have noticed a weird differences in waves by gender and vehicle though. Women in wranglers rarely wave. Women in gladiators always wave. Men in wranglers usually wave. Men in gladiators are 50/50.

 

[Lunentucker]

No Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, West Virginia?

 

[alpineovernappa]

I’ve been jeepin for 20 years (LJ and JT currently). Unfortunately I’ve resorted to only initiating waves to TJs and older unless the JK/JL waves first due to consistent disappointment from the plastic Jeep owners (insert angry responses here!) Jeep corporate turned the jeep wave into an oil change and tire rotation plan. They should put a little sticker on the visor with the other warnings that reminds people to wave. That would be a neat Easter egg

 

[John in the Woods]

i live in western jersey. waves are way over 50%. To be honest I wish they were lower. I don't want to have to wave at people. When I got my first gladiator i told myself I would only wave back, not initiate. But some people wave soooo late I felt like I didn't have enough time to process and react before they were gone and I was the asshole. So i just started waving at everyone. I have noticed a weird differences in waves by gender and vehicle though. Women in wranglers rarely wave. Women in gladiators always wave. Men in wranglers usually wave. Men in gladiators are 50/50.

I had a feeling I caught Jersey on a bad day. I’ll be back. Thinking about that trans-NJ trail. I’ll update with some fresh stats when I do.

 

[John in the Woods]

No Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, West Virginia?

Didn’t hit Kentucky and Tennessee, although both are on the must-do list so I’ll be back. Virginia, West Virginia and Georgia were all interstate. Next time through, I’m doing local roads way more. I need to find much better barbecue than I got at Buckees.

 

[4xjeepr]

Didn’t hit Kentucky and Tennessee, although both are on the must-do list so I’ll be back. Virginia, West Virginia and Georgia were all interstate. Next time through, I’m doing local roads way more. I need to find much better barbecue than I got at Buckees.

Gotta stop in Lexington NC for great BBQ!! Best in the land!

 

[Lunentucker]

Didn’t hit Kentucky and Tennessee, although both are on the must-do list so I’ll be back. Virginia, West Virginia and Georgia were all interstate. Next time through, I’m doing local roads way more. I need to find much better barbecue than I got at Buckees.

If you could get your timing right and catch my buddy Robert Bondurant finishing up some butts on his smoker at Bondurant Brothers Distillery in Chase City, VA that itch would be properly scratched.

I need to get by there for an update on that barrel of bourbon he's been aging for a few years now. Every time I get a sample it just gets better and better.

Risin' Smoke in South Hill, VA on old US Rt 1 ain't bad either.

 

[Joe Dillard]

I'm in southern Maryland near where the Potomac, Chesapeake, and Patuxent River all meet, in St Mary's county. The wave is quite popular here.

If I'm in my Gladiator ~70% wave

If I'm in my YJ ~90% jaws drop & drool runs out

 

[IanNubbit]

Jersey 0-8??. Sounds about right. South Jersey is aliitle better. But only in winter and fall

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