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

[Caspien]

*chuckling*

You sure you're not actually my wife? We literally just had this conversation 5 days ago.

Called my normal local dealership, asked pricing for the Mopar CAI and snorkel, they gave me the price and let me know they didn't have it on stock. Recommended if I want it sooner, to grab it from another local dealership.

So instead of calling, I swung by there, and was proceeded to be made fun of, because I was 'planning on going diving', because I asked about the snorkel... From the parts department guys and I guess one of their regulars, who made it a point to tell everyone around that he was an expert on jeeps.

Decided to do no business with that dealership.


Fun fact: I'm grabbing the cai for sound (gonna use stock filter, none of this 'high flow', due to the reason for the snorkel)

Snorkel is being purchased to get my air intake higher up.

Been doing a lot of dirt/small gravel roads for fun this summer, and due to the heat and lack of rain, the dust has been great at clogging the filters. Wouldn't trust a 'high flow' for that very reason... But sure.. I say snorkel, and I'm apparently going swimming.


Wife got to experience the encounter, and we've talked about the amount of 'experts' we've ran into, since getting the JTR.

Probably a 70/30 ratio of idiots to helpful folks, IRL. Here, it seems more like a 10/90 ratio, since the idiots seem to disappear relatively quickly.



~ Casp

Sponsored

 

[Mister Lamb]

My Gladi is a baby carrier and the most off-road I've been is at the drive-on beach. I couldn't give less of a sh*t what some dorks think.

Hell, my Willys is completely stock and I still think it looks better than some of the modded Gladis I run into

 

[BAT]

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

Haha yep man i lost count how many times when bought mine back in 2020 everywhere I went it was you need to lift that thing and when are you going to lift that truck and go to bigger tires. I was like um never on the lift but I went to 33's on the tire

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

My Gladi is a baby carrier and the most off-road I've been is at the drive-on beach. I couldn't give less of a sh*t what some dorks think.

Hell, my Willys is completely stock and I still think it looks better than some of the modded Gladis I run into

It is interesting that some Jeep people seem to discover the 4WP or Quadratec catalog and feel obligated to keep a steady stream of random parts coming in. Those do seem to be the rigs that get the most ducks though. ?

 

[Hootbro]

It is interesting that some Jeep people seem to discover the 4WP or Quadratec catalog and feel obligated to keep a steady stream of random parts coming in. Those do seem to be the rigs that get the most ducks though. ?

Got a coworker that has a Wrangler that looks like the Quadratec catalog barffed all over it. He lives to bring in the paper copy Quadratec catalogs and reads it cover to cover on break.

But your right, some people just bought a Jeep because it gives them an outlet to tinker and put shit on it. I have called it a grown mans Barbie Doll for some.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

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

Lol, my favorite.
"So what makes brand X so much better than brand Y? Better bushings? Metallurgy? Manufacturing process? Welding?"
"Well just look at it. It just looks better."
Too many folks' self-identity is wrapped up in their names of their aftermarket parts, and it shows.

I've had the opposite advice on my 73 Javelin. It's got an old-school Offy dual quad intake and 2 Edelbrock carbs.

God bless Offenhauser. Only MFR to make a decent intake for my big block Ford.

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.

You can tell the difference the way the bottom end power drops out with a dual quad manifold but it sure does get the looks!

I did a little street racing back in the day and thought I'd get big gains with a Weiand(?) tunnel ram and 2 600 Holleys instead of the factory CJ manifold, 2" open spacer, and perfectly tuned 850 double pumper.

Uh yeah, no. No bottom end. Would rev to the moon though!

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

But your right, some people just bought a Jeep because it gives them an outlet to tinker and put shit on it.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

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.

Similar situation, I have an '83 Z28 with a nice small block, topped with a holley 750 DP. When I go to the local Cars & Coffee evvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvverything else domestic (and some of the imports) is rocking an LS swap. Even saw a 1st gen firebird with a 6.0 LS last time. I get all the same arguments about it being the same power (or more) with easier drivability, etc. I'm sure it is, it's modern EFI after all. It's just not for me ?‍

LS used to be the "new hotness" and a rarity at shows with carbs being the norm. Now it's reversed lol.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Similar situation, I have an '83 Z28 with a nice small block, topped with a holley 750 DP. When I go to the local Cars & Coffee evvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvverything else domestic (and some of the imports) is rocking an LS swap. Even saw a 1st gen firebird with a 6.0 LS last time. I get all the same arguments about it being the same power (or more) with easier drivability, etc. I'm sure it is, it's modern EFI after all. It's just not for me ?‍

LS used to be the "new hotness" and a rarity at shows with carbs being the norm. Now it's reversed lol.

I love my LS Swaps. If it were practical, I wouldn't own anything that didn't have an LS engine and fuel system in it. I had a carbureted 355 in my '93 Chevy stepside and hated it - though honestly I had no interest in learning to fool with it either. I swapped in an LS 5.3L and haven't had to fuss with it a single bit in years now.

I'm a product of the newer generation I suppose.

I don't push it though. I have friends that love carb's and that's fine by me...

 

[BAT]

Got a coworker that has a Wrangler that looks like the Quadratec catalog barffed all over it. He lives to bring in the paper copy Quadratec catalogs and reads it cover to cover on break.

But your right, some people just bought a Jeep because it gives them an outlet to tinker and put shit on it. I have called it a grown mans Barbie Doll for some.

My wife says its a Lego Truck. I told her I can't afford much more than the official starter pack and discount bonus upgrade pack

 

[Shift Happens]

But your right, some people just bought a Jeep because it gives them an outlet to tinker and put shit on it. I have called it a grown mans Barbie Doll for some.

I always called jeeps grown man's Legos. And I'm guilty of it. I don't get mods that I know I'll never use like a big lift, sway bar disconnects etc because I know I'll probably never go on any of the difficult trails with my new, still making payments on jeep(plus it's just super expensive), but I'll put stuff on that I think looks cool and maybe provides some benefit to make it 'mine'. I like tinkering and I really just enjoy working on cars. My TJ I ripped out the entire cooling system and replaced it with upgraded parts, along with other little things like the alternator, starter, battery. Everything was funcitioning fine but I just wanted to work on something and figured it would be a good long term investment anyway.
I do the same thing with my guns. I can shoot with iron sights, so do I need that scope? No, but it makes it easier for me and I enjoy doing the install, sighting it in, making small adjustments etc. Do I need all the MOE stuff? Also no, but it does make it more comfortable, I guess. Do I need that anti-walk pin? Wait...actually yes, yes I do.

 

[tysongladiator]

One thing I don't do is let what others think or say change what I do and how I do.

I bought my Overland in June 2019. Everyone hated Gladiators. Truck folks, jeep folks, and car folks. All hated it. I was one of a few. I call us the Alphas. Lol. Never cared for anyone else's opinion. Now four years and 148,000 miles later, I've done every single thing that folks have said a Gladiator can't do. Offroading, rockcrawling, towing, and hauling. And still don't care. They're opinions and I respect that.

I've either worked on or built just about everything. Lowriders, race cars, classic hot rods, 4x4s. But, when I need advice on something I talk to a shop that works on and wheels, drives, or race their vehicles. I take what info I get at Jeep events with a grain of salt. I may take your opinion a little more serious if we're having that conversation on the trail or at the racetrack. Hahaha!

BLUF: Be smart enough to do your own research and buy or build for your intended purpose. Not someone else's purpose.

 

[tysongladiator]

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.

EXACTLY!!!???

 

[Cburd61]

I run into folks who ask me about my mine, and I get the same “why don’t you add x, or do y to it”. I tell them it’s set up for my needs and uses. I’ve pretty much set it up the same way I’ve always had my 4x4’s, for the things I expect to encounter, or need to do. As to modifying other cars, I’ve got an ‘88 Cutlass, with the 307, I inherited from my folks. Not my favorite car, but , it has some “old school” potential. If I keep it, I’ve got a 350 Olds I plan on dropping in it. My friends tell me to “do an LS swap”, but I prefer to keep it all Oldsmobile. My ‘46 CJ2 is all original, other than a roll bar, and 12 volt swap. I’ve had people ask me when I’m going to drop a small block in it, and, I’m like why? ( I have entertained dropping an AMC 304 in it, but sometimes you gotta leave things alone).

 

[Jaybre007]

My Gladi is a baby carrier and the most off-road I've been is at the drive-on beach. I couldn't give less of a sh*t what some dorks think.

Hell, my Willys is completely stock and I still think it looks better than some of the modded Gladis I run into

I agree with you. I love my Jeep and my mods are very specific for me. I tow with mine and does everything I need it to do and makes me happy!

Sponsored