Confessions of a Mall Crawler

[xtnqx]

Factory tires and lift. 33” tires 2” lift.

I was praying this was the case! Awesome! In Australia so looking at keeping the tyres in the flare and law is only 75mm overall extra height. Getting a 2 inch lift plus changing up to your 285/70/17's will bring me in just under the limit. Delivered Rubicons here only get the 255/75/17's ugh. Looks great! Thank you so much.

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[StrikeZ]

Nice write up. As a middle age desk jockey, I know what you are talking about. I enjoy the feeling of cruising with the top down and doors off. I may only see a few rock piles, but it is connected to the thousands of Jeeps that ran impossible trails. I just know the Wrangler is the vehicle that matches my personality.

I think I kinda understand the whole bike culture. The difference is bikers need biker costumes and our Jeep is our costume.

 

[3kiddos]

What a fine post this was, thoroughly enjoyed this read....

My oldest turned 16 in February. We celebrated by handing him my Accord and getting dad (me) a JLU Sahara seven months ago. Turning 46 this year.. wife and I feel like kids again out riding every weekend.. top down.. doors off..ice cream.. pizza.. whatever, we just find reasons to hit it! Never too late to have fun..soon we will hit the dirt trails!

 

[Tjbrlecic1]

I was praying this was the case! Awesome! In Australia so looking at keeping the tyres in the flare and law is only 75mm overall extra height. Getting a 2 inch lift plus changing up to your 285/70/17's will bring me in just under the limit. Delivered Rubicons here only get the 255/75/17's ugh. Looks great! Thank you so much.

We have bumper height rules here in the USA. However, most law enforcement don’t know or care to enforce the rules.

 

[Roubaix19]

Sir, I am looking in a mirror. Extremely well done. Thank you.

Ditto!

 

[Rural Applachia]

Welcome to the world of jeepism. Yu will never leave

 

[rkj__]

What I’ve learned from this forum, is that if a family wants to go to the beach, then grab ice cream, there is no better vehicle than the Wrangler.

Is there even a runner up? Are there any convertibles with comfortable seating for four, and room for cargo, that a middle class family might be able to afford?

 

[Al13]

I am a middle-aged office professional from a middle-sized city in the middle of America. Last fall I was due to trade in my Bland Crossover SUV-wagon Thing (tm) and was looking at replacements. You know, Volkswagen Atlas, Ford Edge, that kind of thing. I was bored. For months I postponed test drives of New Bland Crossovers, and was paging through the auto section of the Saturday paper when I saw it: A Black Wrangler. The music swelled, my heart raced, I grabbed the Mrs. and we went for a test drive of an 18 JLU Sport.

The salesman was pointing out the different trim levels and the off-road-iness of each. The missus pointed out that I am a middle-aged office professional and a dedicated indoorsman, and I really had no business with Gigantor All-Terrain Rock Eater 9000 tires and a preposterous recovery jack across the hood. We might, now and then, travel a gravel road to visit a winery to attend a wedding but that was as gnarly as I would predictably get. This was a persuasive argument. We would not be looking at Sahara or Rubicon.

I made a deal for the Sport and drove it home. I put it, bone stock, on instagram and was immediately jeered for my midlife crisis. I found this forum, found some vendors you found reputable, and put some side steps on the thing that made it look a little more finished. I loved driving it - it's even by Sport standards, fairly light on options, but it was less expensive than the Blands I had been looking at, and it said "utility" in a way that the Blands could only whisper.

As it was the fall, I got the freedom panels off a couple of times and thought that was just nifty. A brutal middle of America winter came and my JLU was a stouthearted ally in the piles of snow. I remembered, from my dad's old Grand Wagoneers (wish I had one of those now!) the difference between 4WD and AWD, particularly when I made a tight turn on cleared pavement.

I found myself longing for spring, wondering what it would be like to get the whole lid off. I admit the eight bolts and two ready disconnects were a bit daunting, and the Missus and I do not communicate well when we are carrying something heavy like a $3000 hard top. Daughter, a budding engineer, found YouTube videos of a ratchet strap system from which to suspend the top, and my life changed.

We go for ice cream on balmy summer nights when the warm air turns the sunset sky to cotton candy.
I found myself making little mods. Door sill protectors, upgrading the stock speakers. My son, who works in a Tire Emporium, offered me the friends-and-family on a set of Gigantors, but I demurred long enough that he bought me a set of LED halo headlights for Father's Day and we installed them together.

The wife suggested a soft top so we could vacation and range without worry of the weather. I, a long way from being cowed by eight bolts and two disconnects, assembled it with a minimum of cussing.

I'm a dedicated Jeep Wave guy. Two off the wheel when the Jeep is dressed, down and away when the doors are off. Bone stock, rad Mud Eater build, you are me and I am you and something about you resonates in me. Some of you must think I'm exactly what I am - an aging Dad trying to wring the last little bit of testosterone out of middle age. Nearly all of you smile and return the salute if you didn't wave first. You're a welcoming sort.

I scared myself half to death on a rutted county road an hour outside of town, but got to the end and laughed my ass off.

I get to the end of my air-conditioned office day and find my new friend waiting for me and I'm legitimately thrilled I get to drive this thing home in the summer sun. Even as I suspect the more adventurous of you are giving me a patient, slightly patronizing smile from behind your mud-spattered windshields, the other Office Dads driving their Blands seem to envy me. I am stuck in traffic same as them, the summer sun fighting an epic battle with the jet-engine powered A/C, and I'm grinning like a kid.

You will not see me on the rocky trails of Utah, or the volcanic slopes of Kuai, in my Jeep. You'll see me messing up my beautiful wife's hair in the summer sun in town, or on a sunset cruise with an ice cream cone. And maybe we'll wind up at the same gravel road winery wedding. I know that I am at the mild end of this fraternity, but my only regret is that I did not join it sooner.

Thanks for having me, and thanks for reading.[/QUOTE

I hear you and agree with your statement.

 

[Rogues Gambit]

Something tells me my families gonna want Jeeps once I get mine and we do some topless driving to (insert destination)

 

[StrikeZ]

Something tells me my families gonna want Jeeps once I get mine and we do some topless driving to (insert destination)

Church? Of course you may want to put your tops on before entering the vestibule

 

[ASMSAS]

Yes and, What a great read!!

 

[wibornz]

Been there before and going again next year as a retirement gift to myself. In a jeep this time and having my son there with me will be pretty cool.

Have fun with your adventure!

My JLUR was my retirement gift to myself. I ordered it 18 day after my retirement. I had about 6 grand worth of stuff in the garage before I even ordered it. My wife is all on board. She wants me to put a hydro assist on and 40s after the 37 are worn out. We were in Tn at Windrock at the end of June, been up north the last two weekends. Heading up to Drummond Island and the U.P. of Michigan for a long weekend, then Silver Lake Sand Dune after that. Then Colorado in September.... Love the Jeep travel.

 

[otter3591]

I am a middle-aged office professional from a middle-sized city in the middle of America. Last fall I was due to trade in my Bland Crossover SUV-wagon Thing (tm) and was looking at replacements. You know, Volkswagen Atlas, Ford Edge, that kind of thing. I was bored. For months I postponed test drives of New Bland Crossovers, and was paging through the auto section of the Saturday paper when I saw it: A Black Wrangler. The music swelled, my heart raced, I grabbed the Mrs. and we went for a test drive of an 18 JLU Sport.

The salesman was pointing out the different trim levels and the off-road-iness of each. The missus pointed out that I am a middle-aged office professional and a dedicated indoorsman, and I really had no business with Gigantor All-Terrain Rock Eater 9000 tires and a preposterous recovery jack across the hood. We might, now and then, travel a gravel road to visit a winery to attend a wedding but that was as gnarly as I would predictably get. This was a persuasive argument. We would not be looking at Sahara or Rubicon.

I made a deal for the Sport and drove it home. I put it, bone stock, on instagram and was immediately jeered for my midlife crisis. I found this forum, found some vendors you found reputable, and put some side steps on the thing that made it look a little more finished. I loved driving it - it's even by Sport standards, fairly light on options, but it was less expensive than the Blands I had been looking at, and it said "utility" in a way that the Blands could only whisper.

As it was the fall, I got the freedom panels off a couple of times and thought that was just nifty. A brutal middle of America winter came and my JLU was a stouthearted ally in the piles of snow. I remembered, from my dad's old Grand Wagoneers (wish I had one of those now!) the difference between 4WD and AWD, particularly when I made a tight turn on cleared pavement.

I found myself longing for spring, wondering what it would be like to get the whole lid off. I admit the eight bolts and two ready disconnects were a bit daunting, and the Missus and I do not communicate well when we are carrying something heavy like a $3000 hard top. Daughter, a budding engineer, found YouTube videos of a ratchet strap system from which to suspend the top, and my life changed.

We go for ice cream on balmy summer nights when the warm air turns the sunset sky to cotton candy.
I found myself making little mods. Door sill protectors, upgrading the stock speakers. My son, who works in a Tire Emporium, offered me the friends-and-family on a set of Gigantors, but I demurred long enough that he bought me a set of LED halo headlights for Father's Day and we installed them together.

The wife suggested a soft top so we could vacation and range without worry of the weather. I, a long way from being cowed by eight bolts and two disconnects, assembled it with a minimum of cussing.

I'm a dedicated Jeep Wave guy. Two off the wheel when the Jeep is dressed, down and away when the doors are off. Bone stock, rad Mud Eater build, you are me and I am you and something about you resonates in me. Some of you must think I'm exactly what I am - an aging Dad trying to wring the last little bit of testosterone out of middle age. Nearly all of you smile and return the salute if you didn't wave first. You're a welcoming sort.

I scared myself half to death on a rutted county road an hour outside of town, but got to the end and laughed my ass off.

I get to the end of my air-conditioned office day and find my new friend waiting for me and I'm legitimately thrilled I get to drive this thing home in the summer sun. Even as I suspect the more adventurous of you are giving me a patient, slightly patronizing smile from behind your mud-spattered windshields, the other Office Dads driving their Blands seem to envy me. I am stuck in traffic same as them, the summer sun fighting an epic battle with the jet-engine powered A/C, and I'm grinning like a kid.

You will not see me on the rocky trails of Utah, or the volcanic slopes of Kuai, in my Jeep. You'll see me messing up my beautiful wife's hair in the summer sun in town, or on a sunset cruise with an ice cream cone. And maybe we'll wind up at the same gravel road winery wedding. I know that I am at the mild end of this fraternity, but my only regret is that I did not join it sooner.

Thanks for having me, and thanks for reading.

Welcome to the Jeep family and really enjoyed your post!

 

[fat_head]

an aging Dad trying to wring the last little bit of testosterone out of middle age.

Talk to your Urologist. T doesn't have to run out. He will fix you up and it works really really well.

Or so I've heard.

 

[Rogues Gambit]

Church? Of course you may want to put your tops on before entering the vestibule

Considering I'm not a morning person, should be happy I made it xD

Talk to your Urologist. T doesn't have to run out. He will fix you up and it works really really well.

Or so I've heard.

Also comes down to diet. Easy to say cut soy, but then pay attention to the ingredients list, you'll see that shits in EVERYTHING.

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