We need to talk about the “Jeep Wave”

[#HuckleberryJeep]

I saw someone else ask in another thread “do we still wave at wranglers?”

I want to talk about the Jeep Wave in general.

I’ll start by giving some context: I bought my first jeep in 1995 and it was a 1987 Wangler Laredo. Brown, much like the one in the photo.

Back then, you could go three or four days without seeing a single Wrangler. When you did you really did want to wave at that person; they shared something with you that not everyone understood: an absolute love of something uncompromising, uncomfortable, inconvenient, a singularly focused off road machine. It was a brotherhood. It was really cool.

I only had that Jeep for a few years, it was an absolute shit show mechanically; not a smart vehicle to have for a 19-year-old in college.

Fast forward to 2015, and I bought my second wrangler, a 2015 Rubicon Hard Rock. Copper brown of course.

I quickly noticed something: I practically had to keep my “Jeep Wave“ up for my entire trip. I’d see 15 Wanglers on the way to baseball practice. Wranglers had lost their exclusivity, their coolness. I wasn’t too keen on waving to the soccer mom in her jacked up, mean face Wrangler.

Regrettably I sold it a few years later.

All this is to say as soon as Gobi becomes available for 2021, I will order my Gladiator Mojave.

I’m probably not going to be waving at the 30+ Wranglers I’ll be seeing every day.

You can bet your ass I’ll be throwing it up to the Gladiators...Looking forward to that exclusivity again!

Edit/Update

Rereading this I realize I may have put out the wrong impression...

If I get a wave from a Wrangler I will certainly wave back. I won’t not wave...That’s just weird.

Couldn't agree more. All the crybaby butthurt about the wave has taken the fun out of it. The snowflakes have turned it into an obligation and it's in my nature to rebel against societal obligations & requirements. I wave, and I certainly wave back, but I do so begrudgingly now.

On a side note, that copper hardrock is badass. I understand the regret of letting it go.

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[SuburbanGP88]

I had a Wrangler as my last jeep. I'll wave at wranglers and Gladiators. I'm not waving at Cherokee, patriot, or that little fiat pretending to be a Jeep.

 

[wanderer]

I actually saw that little fiat all dressed up. He had a winch, couldn’t tell what bumper. A lift. And what looked like 31s and lights. It actually looked kinda cool ? I waved. He waved back.
On the way out of town I saw at least 10 jeeps. They all. Waved. Me too. But I think it’s a mtn thing

 

[Echo 6]

I wave at JTs and Wranglers: Most wave back. Years of driving anonymous sedans, SUVs, and CUVs have made me happy to be a part of something that owners seem to enjoy.

Side note: In suburban MN, the waves are few and far-between during the evening commute. (People burned-out from work, driving kids to endless activities, etc...) On the weekends though, it's waves a-plenty. Especially once the doors and tops come off.

 

[arjeeper]

I’ll wave at any Jeep. After all, it’s the “Jeep Wave”, not the “Wrangler Wave”.

That said, in Northwest Arkansas it seems that 15% of the population drives a Jeep, so I usually reserve the wave for when I see a notably cool Jeep, topless/spotless Jeeps, when someone waves at me, or just when I’m in a good mood.

 

[Almost]

I think I get more waves from Wranglers in general with my JT then I did with my JK. I'll wave to at any Wrangler or Gladiator though and I make my wife do the same or else she is not allowed to drive it (that is the rule).

 

[UnforseenWeather]

I wave at Wranglers and Gladiators. I’ve gotten a couple interesting ones though, metal horns and a Wayne’s World “we’re not worthy” bow (not sure how to put it) once.

It’s fun. There are so many other gestures people could be doing, it’s neat to catch the Wave.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Of course I wave at wranglers, but gladiators and Comanches get a thumbs up, as an accessory.

 

[JKJ]

Waved in my JK. Still wave in the JT.
Best part is the look on Jeoples faces when I wave at them, forgetting I’m in my KIA.

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

Yes. Wranglers are generally easy though. Look for a lift and big tires. If you don’t see one or both, it’s probably not going to be an enthusiast driving, you’re likely not going to get a wave back, so you can just not expend the effort to wave (unless you’re waved at first).

If someone waves (regardless of what they’re driving), wave back. I.e. Had someone in a Liberty wave and a BMW driver honk and give a thumbs-up.

People aren’t obligated to wave though, so I wouldn’t take it personally if they don’t.

 

[endurojeep]

My wife makes fun of me, we will be walking down the street she will see a jeep and tell me to wave there is a jeep as she chuckles so yes I wave

 

[Fundamental Jeepster]

I have a jeep and wave at all jeeps. I have a Corvette and wave at all Corvettes. Some folks wave, some don't in both cases. Those that wave, make me smile. Those that don't, I hope it's just their nature and not a bad day.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes. Wranglers are generally easy though. Look for a lift and big tires. If you don’t see one or both, it’s probably not going to be an enthusiast driving, you’re likely not going to get a wave back, so you can just not expend the effort to wave (unless you’re waved at first).

If someone waves (regardless of what they’re driving), wave back. I.e. Had someone in a Liberty wave and a BMW driver honk and give a thumbs-up.

People aren’t obligated to wave though, so I wouldn’t take it personally if they don’t.

Most Wranglers around central Iowa aren't lifted with huge tires. Other than showing off, there's no reason here. They may have mud tires, A/T tires because of the river flats and the snow in winter, but the Wrangler drivers that have waved our direction are stock to mildly modded.

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

Most Wranglers around central Iowa aren't lifted with huge tires. Other than showing off, there's no reason here. They may have mud tires, A/T tires because of the river flats and the snow in winter, but the Wrangler drivers that have waved our direction are stock to mildly modded.

For Wranglers… there’s big and then there’s huge. Much over 35” tires on Wranglers in my area are generally reserved for cool guys that likely have a penchant for body waxing and admiring themselves in the mirror at the gym after every set.

They’re typically rolling on dubs, their Jeeps are so clean that you could eat off them, and the most action their vehicle has seen is the 100’ gravel or dirt road to the VRBO/AirBNB that they rented one time with their fraternity brothers.

 

[JET_83]

They’re basically the same thing so why not…

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