Is it Just Me, Or.....

[ChrisNLA]

I believe in live and let live, and have never passed judgment on peoples' vehicle choices, habits, etc. I could not care less. But what I will say is that we are currently living in the most consumption based, narcissistic "look at me" society in history. Social media and sites like Instagram, etc. have promoted this.

A very large number of people are showing off online to try to portray an image that may or may not be accurate. Personally speaking, I am barely comfortable even posting pics of my stock Jeep here, and prefer a low profile in life in general, so I don't really "get" that whole scene.

I used to post on my IG account quite a bit. Eventually I considered that nobody was really looking at any of it, and I wasn't really sure what I was trying to get out of it in the first place.

I do post a little on Facebook. Typically once or twice a month - a quickly wrap up on something big we did that month. A room we remodeled or a fun evening we had with the kids. Just something for family to keep tabs on us.

The internet paints so many pictures that aren't real.

I will admit, I've nearly made many purchases or jumped into many other projects / activities from FOMO or seeing it a lot online.

I had half a bedroom of thousands of dollars in parts piled up to turbo by old project truck before I sold it all (well except for the truck itself) to fund more important things for me and my some day wife. I was mostly chasing it because it's what my friends were doing and it looked fun online. I don't really mind that all the parts are gone, and since then I've taken care of so many other things that almost nobody else will ever see - but I benefit from daily.

I traveled and offroaded a lot between 2018-2022 and at one point had a pretty nice and short lived overlanding setup on the Gladiator. I wasn't sure anymore if I was doing it for me, or chasing some picture I could take to show how grand my life was. Maybe it was the latter considering all of that gear is long gone now and I largely feel indifference to it.

I still have a ground tent and some other items. Plenty for the once or twice a year I ACTUALLY go do any of that.

A lot of these things now I put into a shopping list on Amazon to consider deeply later, or I occasionally take notes in my note pad - what things are or are not important to me. What things actually need my time and what things are of the lowest priority.

This could be as little as, does my hand mixer really need to match my Kitchen Aid stand mixer, or as big as, do we really need to add the fourth bedroom to the house.

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[Badunit]

Back when I used to drive a 4x4 that had battle scars and was always covered in mud, I used to scoff at drivers of shiny new 4x4s that appeared to never have been off pavement. Now I am one of them, but I'd feel foolish outfitting my Jeep as an overland vehicle. 4wd is now just for snow and muddy fields, not for trails and bodywork.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Back when I used to drive a 4x4 that had battle scars and was always covered in mud, I used to scoff at drivers of shiny new 4x4s that appeared to never have been off pavement. Now I am one of them, but I'd feel foolish outfitting my Jeep as an overland vehicle. 4wd is now just for snow and muddy fields, not for trails and bodywork.

My step son loves to play in the mud, like any little kid.

He asks me all the time why we don't go mud riding in the Jeep.

I'm like buddy, you got me mixed up if you think I'm cleaning mud out of this thing

Which is hilarious because its a 4x4 truck and in his eyes that's what it's for.

In my eyes its so I can move a heavy trailer in the grass on a wet day and not tear up the yard from being in 2WD

 

[Mud Pie]

My late father-in-law bought a brand new 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler Sahara Unlimited. He freely admitted it was his "toy". It came with a hard and soft top, the soft top hung in his garage, never to be used. Quadratec was his friend. He bought many add-ons, I helped him (and also purchased for him) installing all the little doo-dads. One day he decided to put on larger tires, he called me to come see. He was SO proud of his "toy". 2021 - he got cancer. He was home, bed bound. He asked me to drive his Jeep for a month or so. It had just over 28,000 miles on it. It was in mint condition. Garage kept, still smelled new. It was awesome. My wife and I spend 4 days in Port Aransas/Corpus Christi area tooling on the beach.

2022 - He accepted the fact that his Jeeping days were over, cancer was winning this battle. He gifted the Jeep to one of his grandkids, he had just gotten his drivers license and always adored "Paw-paw's Jeep". To say the kid was appreciative would be an understatement. My father-in-law passed probably 2-3 weeks later.

The very first weekend the kid had it, he sent pics of the Jeep; all 4 doors and top off, him behind the wheel grinning. I thought, "Yes, he's doing it justice.". As we flipped through the pics, the last 4 or 5 I sucked air in through clenched teeth. I was looking at that infamous Angry Birds grill. Already. "NOOOOOOO !!!" I exhaled. I kept repeating to myself, "His Jeep, His Rules....". It still stung seeing that monstrosity mounted on a mint 2007 Jeep. My father-in-law, barely hanging on, looked at all the pics with a smile. When he got to the Angry Birds grill pics, he weakly pointed and said one word, "Why ?". I offered, "Because he's a kid.". He shook his head, "That's a sin.".

I talked to his Dad a month later, I asked about the Jeep. He said, "My Dad is rolling in his grave. So far he's put low profile tires on it, bigger wheels, a massive stereo with WAY too many speakers on it. Ridiculous looking. He's spending his entire paycheck on it.". I offered, "His Jeep, His Rules". He said, "Yeah, I don't buy that.".

 

[MyMojave]

This topic is worthless without a video.

 

[mannym]

This topic is worthless without a video.

Lol! This video references several San Antonio sies and festivities. Being from San Antonio, I feel attacked.

 

[Flyboy2109]

I am essentially stock. I bought my Jeep to do certain jobs and still be fun. I have changed to flush taillights by Oracle to be a little different and changed the lettering on my tailgate for personalizing.

Any person can make changes to please their taste whether it never see dirt or be coated in mud. Don't expect me not to laugh, though, if your mods are funny or grossly overdone. I laugh at racks of ducks or angry eyes cuz I wonder "why?". Somebody will wonder "Why?' I chose the full width tail lights. Go ahead, have a laugh, but I like it; not to mention drivers are not too bright around here and more lighting that gets attention helps.

What I really wonder about is watching YouTube where people purposefully trash their rigs that they obviously like a lot and put a wad of money into. I don't get that at all.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I am essentially stock. I bought my Jeep to do certain jobs and still be fun. I have changed to flush taillights by Oracle to be a little different and changed the lettering on my tailgate for personalizing.

Any person can make changes to please their taste whether it never see dirt or be coated in mud. Don't expect me not to laugh, though, if your mods are funny or grossly overdone. I laugh at racks of ducks or angry eyes cuz I wonder "why?". Somebody will wonder "Why?' I chose the full width tail lights. Go ahead, have a laugh, but I like it; not to mention drivers are not too bright around here and more lighting that gets attention helps.

What I really wonder about is watching YouTube where people purposefully trash their rigs that they obviously like a lot and put a wad of money into. I don't get that at all.

Among other reasons, I feel like this is why I fell out of touch with my Jeep friends locally.

With my previous JK, I wheeled it all over the country with them. I had a lot of money in it.

When I ordered the new truck, I told them I simply could not justify the expense of building this out to be able to wheel it like I did the two door. It wasn't in the cards, but I could go do some more scenic / overland type stuff. I needed to depend on it for everyday life stuff now. They still go do some pretty gnarly stuff as far as I know, and never really scheduled lighter stuff.

Well. That was kinda that.

 

[Janster]

Personally….. I’d rather see a jeep decked out with all the cool shit. And, I’m talking REAL cool shit. The stuff you actually have to install, turn a wrench, do wiring, etc.
VERSUS
Depending on what parts of town you drive in….You’ll see all sorts of ‘stick-on’ mods …pull the paper, and stick. Don’t look too close, or else you’ll see its starting to peel off (of which, the owner has no clue). Stick on spoilers, stick -on wings, stick on chrome parts…….

But whatever…. as long as I don’t get behind one of them and a gust of wind knocks off their spoiler and it hits and breaks my windshield.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Another story.

Close friend of mine has a bass boat. I think it's around 10-11 years old. Bass Tracker. Not extremely expensive, but a nice little boat.

Has a wall of fishing poles as long as the boat.

Behind the boat is a wall that looks like it was pulled from Bass Pro. Fishing baits and gear hanging like he's trying to open shop.

That boat has less than 25 hours I'm told. His wife doesn't like fishing much, and he never goes by himself. He told me the boat stays there in the corner and gets dirty from lack of use - he pulls it outside, shines it like a new penny, and pushes it back in.

Hell maybe he just wants to hold on to that dream that he thought him and his son or his ole lady would go fishing on the weekends, and it never materialized.

Probably $40K in shit that barely touches water.

Follow up.

Messaged this guy an hour ago and told him he better call me next time he wants to go fishing cause I know that boat is rotting into the floor of his shop.

He said BET.

I said gas and snacks on me bro. Heck, we'll tow it with my truck.

Now - I'm not recommending you offer to go camping with african safari guy in his tent.

I mean. If you want to.

It will get used at least

 

[m-l_johnny]

This conversation reminds me of a couple of years ago I was driving home from work and was passed by a Jeep JKU that was all decked out with overlandy stuff all over it; and no spare tire. I made a ridiculing comment on an overland forum and 70% of the comments were criticizing me for my statements about not needing a spare going to the mall. Many said they don't take a spare when they go offroad because they carry a plug kit. Happy for them. Not gonna help when a sharp rock or stump rips a long gash in the sidewall.
I'm a bit surprised your neighbor has TWO spares.. But, as stated, each to their own. I'm too pragmatic to spend hard earned money on stuff I won't use.

 

[Hootbro]

This conversation reminds me of a couple of years ago I was driving home from work and was passed by a Jeep JKU that was all decked out with overlandy stuff all over it; and no spare tire. I made a ridiculing comment on an overland forum and 70% of the comments were criticizing me for my statements about not needing a spare going to the mall. Many said they don't take a spare when they go offroad because they carry a plug kit. Happy for them. Not gonna help when a sharp rock or stump rips a long gash in the sidewall.
I'm a bit surprised your neighbor has TWO spares.. But, as stated, each to their own. I'm too pragmatic to spend hard earned money on stuff I won't use.

Life is full of trade offs and everybody mitigates risk different.

 

[Jteakus]

I've got my JT rigged out for camping and wheeling. My wife and I travel alone with our dogs so I am self sufficient. We both still work so we are only able to take two 2-week trips a year and 3- day weekends when we can. I don't daily drive mine so I keep it ready to go so all we need to do is throw in the fridge food and clothes. I would say build your Jeep as you wish to make yourself happy and don't judge others. Well. except those with angry grills.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...with-sights-and-9-badges-along-the-way.95723/

 

[Supazuk]

Is it just me ??

Nope not just you

 

[Jteakus]

In my office parking lot right now there are,

2 TRX's
1 Raptor
1 Rubicon 4xe
1 Rivian.

None of them have been offroad, in any capacity, ever.

There are at least a dozen more "ordinary" trucks that have clearly never had a hitch in the receiver.

In the summer, multiple Corvettes, CEO drives a M series BMW, a Camaro ZL1.... None go to the track.

This is America, people buy what they like, and do as they wish with it. I have RC trucks I never run, tools I rarely use, guns I never shoot, a cottage I stay in 10 days a year.

All thing someone else probably looks at and goes, man, if I had that, i'd use the hell out of it.

Are you guys hiring? Asking for a friend.

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