I finally understand why people hate mall crawlers

[Arterius2]

meh... I'm fine with people using their money and time the way that they want. I'm not gonna hate on anyone for how they use it. But the mall crawler thing makes very little sense to me. A Jeep is a compromised vehicle on road. Everything about it is aimed toward off road capability. If you're not going to use it for that, why make those compromises? I expect many mall crawlers will be trading in their Jeeps for the Bronco. Getting rid of the solid axle will make the on road handling and ride so much better, but they still will retain a look that is similar to Jeep (a classic offroad toughness look). That look is the only thing I can think of to explain why someone picked a 4 door wrangler over a 4Runner if they're not going to go offroad or take the top/doors off.

To be fair, what you have to understand about the mall-crawler crowd mentality is that they put “image” above all else.

And there is a huge gap between that and the next thing on their list.

With that in mind, it’s probably a lot easier to understand them. It’s like understanding Women - they don’t got to pick the best tool for the job, just have to be the best looking one.

Fortunately and unfortunately, a Wrangler is the best tool and the best looking tool for two different crowds.

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[Carolina Jeeper]

Ok so some people don't do the typical Jeep stuff as prescribed by you?

Hold on and back your wagon up. When I go offroading I'm not worried about who never does. However I am paying attention to the very aspect of leaving where I've been unharmed and as intact as before I arrived for others to enjoy after I'm gone.

Don't you see how tearing up the land for the enjoyment of your little mudslinging event is detrimental to trails or other lands? It's a very common misconception that this is what offroading means. It isnt, and this inconsiderate self serving attitude is why you see trails or lands closed.

Go purchase a piece of land so you can turn it into a private mudslinging sh**hole if you have to. Just leave public trails and lands out of it

BTW, I'm not a "tree hugger", I'm just a man with a considerate attitude.

 

[SleepEatJeepRepeat]

I’m indifferent. The people that strike a nerve with me are those that drive their jeeps or big SUV’s, trucks like sports cars.

since I got my rock krawler lift I feel like I am driving a sports car

 

[west tex]

Mall crawling?

Not my thing.

But, if it's yours, I'm not gonna get all wrapped around the axle over it. What other folks do with their Jeeps is their business.

As others have already mentioned, those of us who offroad need to be mindful and do it with minimal impact to the terrain. What chaps my cheeks is to find trash left behind on trails that had been clean for years before slobs with a 4WD messed things up.

 

[Reinen]

The thing with mall crawlers that I find distasteful has nothing to do with the Jeep. It's the people who live their life making emotional decisions based on image and not functional substance. Lets get real here, if you never go off road a Jeep is a horrible vehicle choice. Almost anything else would be a wiser choice. At least get a Bronco with IFS, then there would be at least a shred of rational thought in the emotional image based decision.

Yes, mall crawlers are the last people I'd want to see off road. For a laundry list of reasons.

But mall crawlers do have some benefits:
I know they are likely not a person I'd ever call a friend due to their life choices.
They provide a supply of low cost, depreciated, lightly used off road vehicles for those who need that.

 

[Blue 179]

First of all I hate malls! I don’t like people that much. I have modified every vehicle I have owned for 30 years,which includes my 2003 TJ. My 2 door JL is my daily driver and I absolutely love being able to take the top down. I love the aftermarket support for Jeep’s and they are also very easy to work on. I only camp with mine and I really have no desire to take it off road. I always like knowing that I have the capability if needed.

 

[LostSoul]

Mall crawlers are essential as their purchases help keep prices lower.

OP's off road activities, as noted by others, may help create fewer off road opportunities. If you want to go sling mud and destroy the ground, please go to one of the private off road parks and pay for the privilege. Do not destroy what we all share. Tread lightly, and maybe stay in Canada.

 

[NewJLU2019]

Just to clarify, i fully respect them. I love shiny nice expensive things.

i had no intention of ever going off pavement with these mickey thompsons, but man i couldnt resist. I finally realize now just how fun it is to go do burnouts and donuts on prairie grass, hit the mud, and tear up some new trails in the hills. If these tires only last 20k kms then im gonna use them for what theyre made for.

My plan was 20x12s up to 24 inch wheels to have something flashy. But man theres nothing like going through mud and widening the ruts out while throwing hundreds of mud chunks the size of your head all over the roof. The 40 minute car wash was definitely worth the fun. Too bad theres not actually anywhere to offroad within 10 hours. Its risky tearing up city grass ?

That's next on the list. Looks fun but will have to get dressed first. Got her naked first time today.

 

[Guelerct]

I guess it depends where you live and what you want. I like having an around town convertible that isn't a sports car. it drives like a toy and that is fun to me. Invested in a good stereo, made some minor upgrades, pop the top off and cruise around having fun. Who goes to malls anymore anyway?

 

[Mcwilldo]

We are not all Mall crawlers, mud flingers or rock hoppers.

I have gone from a 2 door CJ I beat the heck out of, to a sport JKU that was ok fun but basic and switched to a JKUR that I did lots of mods to and it rode on the roads like...you know.

Now I am in my “golden years”. I wanted the best ride and most “luxuries” I could get. I like convertibles, so I got a soft top. I have 4 miles of mud roads to pavement (ok, sometimes it is dirt). And our county plows them last, hence opting for the LSD.

Now, name another vehicle that is as capable as the Jeep on my roads, is a convertible, and has some luxury feel to it, that I can make a 20 mile round trip to town without using a drop of gas.

I think I am just a different type of Jeeper. not an urban Jeeper, not an off road Jeeper. Not a poser. Just someone who loves Jeep’s and purchased it because it was the right fit for me.

 

[sf5211]

I look at it differently, I don't see the need to lift my Jeep and put on giant tires. Mine is stock and I don't ever plan to rock crawl. I do wheel through the woods in upstate N.Y. I have no problem getting around the woods. I read about guys not being happy with the gearing in their transmissions or differentials. My gearing is just fine. So yep mall crawler and gonna stay that way.

 

[LiveToWork]

James,

Couldn't agree with you any more. You are 100% spot on! Here in Colorado, we are always battling the authorities in keeping trails open.

Unfortunately, there seem to be way too many off-road enthusiasts more interested in tossing mud and damaging trails than finding the venues that support such behavior. There are mud whomping areas and then there are nearly pristine forest and mountain passes. Many can't seem to understand the difference.

There are more and more trail closures and restrictions occuring at an alarming rate. Most are due to direct trail damage but some are now based on pure speculative concern of preventative 'environmental impact' decisions which are regrettably resulting from irresponsible off-roaders getting their 'thrills' wherever or whenever they can.

Granted, here in Colorado the vast majority of Jeepers are not the problem, it's the ATVs and Side-by-Sides that seem to do most of the damage. Still, there are some Jeeps that do not honor responsible off-road behavior. This thread highlights this fact pretty well.

I for one don't want to tell anyone how to use their Jeep, but I admire the Mall Crawlers by sticking to the pavement in order to get their 'smoking' the tire thrills. Having a bad-ass off-roader doesn't necessarily give you a license to be a bad 'ass-hole' off road.

Please understand how insanely sensitive DC bureaucrats are becoming in all things 'green'; all under the guise in saving the planet. Don't give them any more ammunition to ruin responsible off-roading for the rest of us.

Please destroy your mud tires at the mall doing burn-outs, rather than having the authorities close down any more of the Pawnee Grasslands (or any of the precious mountain trails) that we are so fond of here.

Mall Crawlers ROCK! At least they aren't hurting anything...

Jay

Im just gonna say i agree with you. However i can assure you when i say where i live where theres nowhere to offroad, i reallly mean theres nowhere. Im not ruining anything for anyone because there isnt a single LEGAL trail around for hours. I live in flatland prairie where theres nothing nice to look at. For some reason the green people like to protect this ugly wild grass which is all you can see. Id never destroy nature. This is all ugly gross grass. and the pictures i took show just how flat and boring it really is here.

 

[Ryder]

I'm a 71 year old female mall crawler. Driven Jeeps most of my adult life because they are FUN to drive. Tried other vehicles but nothing compares to the feel. It took a big chunk out of my income to buy a Jeep and what I want to do with it is my business and my choice. I don't off road but drive the old logging roads in the mountains. Practicality has nothing to do with it - we gravitate toward what makes us happy and driving my Jeep makes me happy. If it makes you sad or angry, sorry but you're not the boss of me.

 

[RubiSc0tt]

We're curious to know if, while you "tear up some new trails" on city grass and elsewhere, you also contemplate whether such behavior contributes to the closing of established trail networks.

Please look up, read, and understand tread lightly. It's usually the mall-crawlers that hit nature not knowing WTF they're doing that end up causing the most harm....both to the land AND our overall image

James,

Couldn't agree with you any more. You are 100% spot on! Here in Colorado, we are always battling the authorities in keeping trails open.

Unfortunately, there seem to be way too many off-road enthusiasts more interested in tossing mud and damaging trails than finding the venues that support such behavior. There are mud whomping areas and then there are nearly pristine forest and mountain passes. Many can't seem to understand the difference.

There are more and more trail closures and restrictions occuring at an alarming rate. Most are due to direct trail damage but some are now based on pure speculative concern of preventative 'environmental impact' decisions which are regrettably resulting from irresponsible off-roaders getting their 'thrills' wherever or whenever they can.

Granted, here in Colorado the vast majority of Jeepers are not the problem, it's the ATVs and Side-by-Sides that seem to do most of the damage. Still, there are some Jeeps that do not honor responsible off-road behavior. This thread highlights this fact pretty well.

I for one don't want to tell anyone how to use their Jeep, but I admire the Mall Crawlers by sticking to the pavement in order to get their 'smoking' the tire thrills. Having a bad-ass off-roader doesn't necessarily give you a license to be a bad 'ass-hole' off road.

Please understand how insanely sensitive DC bureaucrats are becoming in all things 'green'; all under the guise in saving the planet. Don't give them any more ammunition to ruin responsible off-roading for the rest of us.

Please destroy your mud tires at the mall doing burn-outs, rather than having the authorities close down any more of the Pawnee Grasslands (or any of the precious mountain trails) that we are so fond of here.

Mall Crawlers ROCK! At least they aren't hurting anything...

Jay

However I am paying attention to the very aspect of leaving where I've been unharmed and as intact as before I arrived for others to enjoy after I'm gone.

Don't you see how tearing up the land for the enjoyment of your little mudslinging event is detrimental to trails or other lands? It's a very common misconception that this is what offroading means. It isnt, and this inconsiderate self serving attitude is why you see trails or lands closed.

Go purchase a piece of land so you can turn it into a private mudslinging sh**hole if you have to. Just leave public trails and lands out of it

BTW, I'm not a "tree hugger", I'm just a man with a considerate attitude.

I'd say I'm calling out the OP, but the rest of you already did. Mall crawlers are far less dangerous and detrimental than people with such cavalier attitudes toward open land/ trails and lack understanding about what kind of detriment this kind of behavior has on EVERYONE.
My club had a slogan when we basically showed up to a public discussion about Motorized use trails in upstate NY:
USE
RESPECT
PROTECT
We are NYS OHV Users.

this has been the rallying cry for a long time. This is why it's agreed in multiple circles of established clubs and groups- We do not discuss trail locations in public forums. We don't want jackasses going there and "tearing up some trails"". You want to do full throttle burnouts in 4WD? Go build an Ulta4 car and get on the race course, or keep it to the mall.

Of course, we lost that battle for public trails, because BOTH parties have been lobbied and locked out by Anti- Access groups with DEEP pockets, plus the Adirondack Park Agency. And unfortunately, it's becoming more common. I've had good friends and mentors sit on the NYS Trails council. Work side by side with DEC to try to establish a network of OHV trails, or at least keep forest roads open. Several times, representatives from Anti-Access groups grabbed posts (like the OP's) and used it as ammunition to get trails and forest roads closed down, or otherwise damage the relationship that was forming with DEC. This is the reason that so many I've known have just thrown their hands up and quit. Deny it all you want, list it as someone else's problem "HURR HURR HURR IT'S A CITY THING ITS ONLY IN THEM NY/ CA AREAS" but i can assure you, it isn't isolated and it is going to become a problem with the mass expansion of suburban sprawl and the rapidly increasing population in the US.
Likewise, I'm pretty sure most people who support these groups and their "Forever Wild" efforts Do not understand the actual, legal designation for "Forever Wild" land- it means hikers aren't welcome either. Which is why it is CRITICAL to educate everyone who will listen. So, the "F them Tree hugger" attitudes should probably get checked, as well.. as frustrating as it can be.

If all of my other posts here have gone ignored- pay attention to this one: I urge everyone to get involved in their localities. Join clubs that clean, protect, and self regulate/ police public trails. Support private off road parks that are well run and welcome us. At the very least, read up on land use issues in your area. Get familiar with Tread Lightly and it's principles. Support organizations that keep trails open and public land public. Act accordingly and be considerate. We can't afford this kind of shit to cost us trails. Just because land is "open", doesn't mean it's free use, and unless you've got expressed written permission from the land owner- you're probably wheeling illegally- and it doesn't matter how far away trails are- there's no excuse for that.

 

[Deleted member 53226]

I own motorcycle that they tell me is designed for a race track. I don't race motorcycles.
I own a watch they tell me is designed for fighter pilots. I am not a fighter pilot.
I have sneakers they tell me are designed for basketball players. I don't play basketball.
I have an oven they tell me is designed for a professional chef. I am not a professional chef.
I have fishing pole they tell me is designed for tournament fishing. I don't tournament fish.
I have a Jeep they tell me is designed to go off road. I drive on the streets only.

We all are marketed to buy crap that is above our pay grade. That way they can charge more for it. That's why your Jeep is over $50K now. They say it can do all this crap off road and it makes us want to buy it, so we can say it can do all this crap off road.

Buy the thing because you like it, and use it as you damn well please. If you want to pay $50K plus for a Jeep and take it to the mall. Good on ya. If you want to bring it into the woods and get it all dirty, scratched, and dented, go for it. Nothing wrong with either.

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