Very curious about the typical forum member - why all the modifications?

[redrider]

Jeeps are great all rounders. Tow, haul or hooligan crawl. Want more capability? Mods. Want to be seen? Mods. All bases covered. Lifelong Ford Guy here but love my Jeeps for their "persona" and "part of me, strapped on" feel. (Jokes begin here) The only segment I have no use for is the poser. The best example for that? I stopped at C Gear one day, dressed out in my riding clothes(MSF Instructor) on the V11. A fellow comes in dressed in his "Style"-Vest with patches, chain wallet, sculptured facial hair. He asked me about my bike because he "had never heard of a Moto Guzzie" . Noob. Being polite and such, I asked him what he rode. "Oh, nothing, I don't own a bike". Please, do not ask me about OCC and the like.

No offence, You asked a valid question. No fur rubbed the wrong way. Cheers.

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[brianinca]

The population of your state is that of the largest city near my town, about 650,000. Statistically valid sample size but irrelevant in vehicle the market overall.

SO MANY people took their brand new Jeeps and added VERY expensive aftermarket systems, specifically heavier duty axle assemblies with selective locking differential systems, that Jeep finally responded to the MARKET and combined a lot of those desirable features into a package called Rubicon. That was what, 16 years ago? Lots of people have no need for the Rubicon package, but Chrysler/Jeep and now FCA/Jeep responded to the market AND captured money from customers that would otherwise have been spent in the aftermarket (departing from stock configuration).

Many people think Jeep should have offered a 35" tire size for the Rubicon and Mojave trim levels. Ford paid attention to this, and the Sasquatch package for the new Bronco has that exact configuration. Responding to the market is a good way to sell more vehicles.

Jeep will have to respond to competition like that.

And nobody really gives two $hits about some bureaucratic definition of "truck". Likewise, if you like your 1911 or AR stock from the factory, good on you, but lots of people don't.

I'm just curious, not judging at all. Here, one in five vehicles on the road except pickups is a Jeep product, half of them are Wranglers. Of those, maybe one of 20 is not pure stock, maybe one of 100 has any modification except mild tire/wheel upgrades. I have not seen a Gladiator "in the wild" except purely stock Sports and Sport S. Jeeps are just another vehicle here. Granted the state's roads are 95% unpaved, and we have 24 towns over 20,000 population, but a stock Jeep is just a common source of transportation.

I stumbled on this site trying to figure out a solution for mudflaps, since I can't get to my shop without slinging mud all over the sides, but I've hung out for over a month trying to understand the love and infatuation expressed by the posters here.

By the way, here a truck is over 32,000# gvw. So, tell me about your environment so I can grasp this fan base.

 

[JTBurns]

1. Don't be sorry for asking
2. Believe it or not, there are a few forum members keeping their JT stock, but not many; I believe there is 1 thread about it.

There are plenty of modified wranglers and gladiators out there and it's all personal, whether mods are functional, just for looks, or a combination of both.

I think percentage-wise, there may be even more gladiator owners modifying they're vehicle than wrangler owners at this point, because the wrangler is becoming so mainstream, but who knows?

Either way this is why Jeep is building their own customization facility, because they must have finally realized they're letting countless dollars go to off road shops than in their own pocket. I'm really interested to see how they price things there, if they'll use Mopar only parts, etc. I don't know if there is a more customizable vehicle out there. I know the Bronco is coming but it'll take a while to build up aftermarket options like Jeep has, oh and it's release gets delayed everytime you turn around

 

[aldo98229]

This is my 11th Jeep: 2 Grand Cherokees and 9 Wranglers.

I have owned 30 vehicles in my lifetime. The reason I stuck with Wranglers is because it is the most versatile vehicle on the market, period. They can get me to the grocery store just as easily as to the top of a mountain ridge. I don’t buy them for the customer service...

The fact that they are easy to customize and hold their value so well are icing on the cake.

 

[Terry]

This is my fourth Jeep.....I get it.

This is my first Jeep and I love it, and I get it.....

 

[InvertedLogic]

I didn't mean to make everyone defensive. I thought the question was clear: why all the modifications? We use them in their stock form, use them every day, feel no need to express ourselves through them. They are simply an every day, common tool here. I assumed there was something different about our surroundings that caused that.

I asked all the off road shops within 100 miles, then I came here. It was just a question; I am sincerely sorry I asked.

Because for a lot of people - especially people are first time Jeep owners - their Jeep is their personality instead of a fun tool. My strategy, like yours, is to only modify with a purpose in mind. A lot of this is just gear-porn to have the appearance of a certain lifestyle.

 

[jurfie]

For me, I love the outdoors. I live relatively close to trails that will take me many kilometres into the wild. When one lives close to the mountains, the ocean, lakes, forest, whatever, one can tend to forget how blessed they are.

Every time I get in my Jeep, even if just running errands, it reminds me to get out and explore what I so easily take for granted. My Audi doesn’t do that.

It is kind of like how owning a dog forces you to get outside for a walk.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This is my 11th Jeep: 2 Grand Cherokees and 9 Wranglers.

I have owned 30 vehicles in my lifetime. The reason I stuck with Wranglers is because it is the most versatile vehicle on the market, period. They can get me to the grocery store just as easily as to the top of a mountain ridge. I don’t buy them for the customer service...

The fact that they are easy to customize and hold their value so well are icing on the cake.

I have lost track - I'll have to go through some of my old records. We've had so many Grand Cherokees over the years.......... first Jeep was a Comanche SporTruck (it was spelled that way on the side) shortbox, fully outfitted with all of the dealer options and a few I bought elsewhere. It sold me on Jeeps. Then a Cherokee, then up from there. My wife loves Grand Cherokees and when we've looked around, she keeps going back to the GC. I've always wanted a Wranger myself - and when we were in a dealership getting her GC serviced, I saw a JT in the showroom and decided "I want one". That was that.
My brother has been a Jeep fan since he was a teen - he's in his late 50s now. I think his first was a CJ7 project Jeep. He's had Wranglers of various types old and new. He just had one trucked in from Maine I think he said.......... can't recall the year but it's not new as it has the 4.0 in it.
Currently we have 3 Jeeps and 4 vehicles with Jeep engines. 2 with the 3.6 and 2 with the 4.0

I'm generally speaking not a fan of bolt-on bling. I walk right past vehicles at car shows with catalog chrome any idiot can buy and bolt on. Example a 2010 Mustang with racing seats, roll bar, Knight Rider type LEDs on the front, and an engine bay loaded with chromed braces, reservoir caps and lids and BS like that. Any idiot can order parts and bolt them on.
What impresses me are the ones with THOUGHT and purpose behind them.
In the Jeep world, that means things like what Mark and others have done - he's got purpose.
But order a 4" lift and put 37's on it and call it cool? Hell, I can do that, not impressive to me personally. When my kids used to ask about things like that, I'd tell them "a need to impress, or because they can, who knows".
This weekend my wife pointed out a white JT she saw that had quite a nice rack and storage system on the bed - outfitted like a lineman's truck or something. IT was a cool setup. It was impressive, it had purpose.
If it's something I could easily do if I had the money or desire by ordering parts and bolting them on, I may not be impressed. If there's planning and thought going into it - yeah. There's some real skill in here. I've seen some really well thought out add-ons, creativity, and work go into some things. I guess I'm more impressed by the skills of some folks more than bolt on things.
I envy some of the skills here - especially in some of the fabrication and electrical work.

When you see a highly modded vehicle, it's best just to consider a car or truck a canvas, and the result, art.
Sometimes it's art with a purpose (some of the cool steps and handles and lights on these Jeeps - real creative people!) or art for the sake of art.
Why does a person take a brand new Corvette and send it to Karl's Kustoms to be stripped and totally rebuilt into a vintage-looking 'vette?
Why strip a brand new Mustang and replace most of the engine bay area parts with chrome, bling and aircraft type fittings?
Because they can........

 

[ShadowsPapa]

For me, I love the outdoors. I live relatively close to trails that will take me many kilometres into the wild. When one lives close to the mountains, the ocean, lakes, forest, whatever, one can tend to forget how blessed they are.

Every time I get in my Jeep, even if just running errands, it reminds me to get out and explore what I so easily take for granted. My Audi doesn’t do that.

It is kind of like how owning a dog forces you to get outside for a walk.

The freedom to go anywhere - any time.
Not much to do here.............. so Jeeps are mostly winter or bad weather vehicles here, or a freedom thing. They are like a rock, in a way - some see beauty in the rock, some turn them into sculpture.

 

[SwampNut]

I'm just curious, not judging at all. Here, one in five vehicles on the road except pickups is a Jeep product, half of them are Wranglers. Of those, maybe one of 20 is not pure stock, maybe one of 100 has any modification except mild tire/wheel upgrades. I have not seen a Gladiator "in the wild" except purely stock Sports and Sport S. Jeeps are just another vehicle here. Granted the state's roads are 95% unpaved, and we have 24 towns over 20,000 population, but a stock Jeep is just a common source of transportation.

I stumbled on this site trying to figure out a solution for mudflaps, since I can't get to my shop without slinging mud all over the sides, but I've hung out for over a month trying to understand the love and infatuation expressed by the posters here.

By the way, here a truck is over 32,000# gvw. So, tell me about your environment so I can grasp this fan base.

I think base stock Gladiators are hideous and look very weird. Our state is littered with rocky trails that need more clearance than a base model, but I have a Rubicon that is "stock" except for some add-ons like a winch. And I've used my winches over the years quite a few times. I put on long-range lights because I sometimes run on speedy trails and washes at night. Not one of those clown car light bars on top, just a couple of extremely bright spots on the bumper. Compressor because I air down for off-roading.

Infatuation? I did the things that make a big difference in how I use it.

 

[PyrPatriot]

Granted the state's roads are 95% unpaved, and we have 24 towns over 20,000 population, but a stock Jeep is just a common source of transportation.

Say what? Only 5% of the roads in the state are paved? Wow. I mean, I could understand that only 5% of driveway type roads are paved but actual government roads? So to answer the question "But without the government, who would pave the roads?" obviously for Oklahoma it doesn't matter

I got larger tires for my JT and a winch for one simple reason: in parts of KY my wife and friends have family/property that to get to can require some very bad county roads/driveways. The mods make it less likely of getting stuck during wet conditions getting to them. My profile pic is one such county road, and though there ARE ways around them with modern paved highways, the detours are usually VERY long and other times they can have this happen

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think base stock Gladiators are hideous and look very weird. Our state is littered with rocky trails that need more clearance than a base model, but I have a Rubicon that is "stock" except for some add-ons like a winch. And I've used my winches over the years quite a few times. I put on long-range lights because I sometimes run on speedy trails and washes at night. Not one of those clown car light bars on top, just a couple of extremely bright spots on the bumper. Compressor because I air down for off-roading.

Infatuation? I did the things that make a big difference in how I use it.

That's the sort of thing I appreciate as much as anything - mods with a purpose for a purpose. Winch because you've been places you needed one, and the lights, absolutely - you need to know what's "out there a ways" so you can plan ahead and not be surprised - oops, too late....
I had my Comanche well-outfitted, especially with lights, as I used it in the fields - late nights harvesting in fields with washouts, ruts, ravines, places to avoid, and if the combine broke down, I'd pull my truck out in front of it, facing it and turned on all the lights I had. It was almost daylight as far as working was concerned.

As far as percentage of roads that are paved - there are exceptions, but almost every road in Polk County is paved or blacktop. In general, every other mile is considered a "farm to market" road and is paved. In some counties you can tell how far you've driven by counting the roads, every other road will be paved, each cross road almost exactly 1 mile from the last one.

 

[CMac]

Not one of those clown car light bars on top......

I dont have a light bar... nor any plans to add one...but this is just more gate keeping, like OP did.

I say add as much $hit as you wanna...even those low rent, low IQ, Angry Bird grills.

Not gonna lie: I did lmao at the "clown car" remark...

 

[#HuckleberryJeep]

Come on brother, I’m in the same state. There are tons of modified Jeeps of all models. Red Dirt Jeep Club has over 4000 members and the vast majority of them are modified, many heavily mod’d. Lots of good wheeling and good Jeep folks in OK.

Okie here too, and I'm confused by the statement that "the state's roads are 95% unpaved." Certainly not the case here in the metro, and while I do daily mine, it's definitely built for the unpaved. As someone above said, the primary purpose is where I go, not where I live.

 

[Mikey_89]

I think I can help here.

It's my jeep and I like it. I drive it to different places to find different environments.

It ain't about where you live, it's about where you go.

As a wise man once told me..."it's not about the destination, but about the journey!"

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