Sponsored

Jeep Wave Etiquette

mciaio

Well-Known Member
First Name
Michael
Joined
Nov 25, 2023
Threads
10
Messages
96
Reaction score
147
Location
Clinton, CT
Vehicle(s)
2020 JLU Sahara
I'm no stranger to Jeeps. My first Jeep was a '89 YJ which I bought in '95. There were a lot less Jeeps on the road back then and everyone waved. Now I drive a 20 JLU Sahara pavement princess. Seems like everyone has a Jeep now and more than 50% don't wave. I kinda get upset that I don't get waves back. So, is there a hierarchy that you guys and girls have employed to who you wave to? Does a Compass or Renegade get a wave? How about a new Grand Wagoneer? Is it just Wranglers? I gotta say I shy away from waving to anything that's not a Wrangler and anything that is bone stock because those drivers just don't understand. Am I crazy?

Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Wave Etiquette 1000014934


1989 Wrangler, with an engine from a 1996 4.0 liter with fuel injection; a Ford 9 inch rear axle from a 1979 Lincoln Versailles with disc brakes, Detroit locker and 31 spline axles; Dana 30 front axle with axle disconnect eliminator shafts, bigger u-joints, ARB air locker and hub kits; a NV4500 transmission from a 1997 GMC pickup; a 4:1 transfer case modification; spring over axle conversion with 4" lift springs and 35 x 14.5 Boggers. All built by hand by me!
Sponsored

 

Ang1Sgt

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Aug 27, 2022
Threads
16
Messages
491
Reaction score
1,068
Location
Rochester, New York
Vehicle(s)
2020 Willys 2 door, 2024 Subaru Outback,
Occupation
Retired X2
Vehicle Showcase
1
Man! That must have been a great Jeep for you! I really loved the late straight 6 Fuel injected Jeeps Engines. I would love to have had a CJ-8 with one of those in there.

On the WAVE….
I do only Wranglers. Some days it’s 50-50, other days its can be 75-100 percent. Not sure what it is. So many new Jeep owners, many with no clue about Jeep Heritage. Shoot de they even know when the first Jeeps were produced?

I try and not let that bother me. My family (extended) were in Jeeps from WWII, Korea, Vietnam….
My Aunt was at Aberdeen Proving Grounds testing the First Jeeps. He soon to be husband drove those in Europe, Korea, and Vietnam. My Uncle that just passed had one on top of a Hill in Korea at a Radio Outpost. My first was in 1975, a CJ5.
 

rickinAZ

Well-Known Member
First Name
Rick
Joined
Jan 2, 2020
Threads
304
Messages
4,116
Reaction score
6,083
Location
Phoenix
Vehicle(s)
2026 MOAB 392
Occupation
Retired CFO. Mayo Clinic volunteer.
I've evolved into a non-waver. I've been a Wrangler owner for over 20 years. It's not the "club" it used to be - too many Wranglers out there. I wouldn't sweat it.
 
Last edited:

Old Jeeper

Banned
Banned
Banned
First Name
Don
Joined
Jul 7, 2022
Threads
43
Messages
2,841
Reaction score
4,211
Location
Port Charlotte, FL, Naples Fl, 17 Oaks Ranch, Tex
Vehicle(s)
2024 JLR-X 2023 JLR, 2021 JTR. 20 F 450 KR,
Occupation
US Army Infantry, IT Engineer
I'm no stranger to Jeeps. My first Jeep was a '89 YJ which I bought in '95. There were a lot less Jeeps on the road back then and everyone waved. Now I drive a 20 JLU Sahara pavement princess. Seems like everyone has a Jeep now and more than 50% don't wave. I kinda get upset that I don't get waves back. So, is there a hierarchy that you guys and girls have employed to who you wave to? Does a Compass or Renegade get a wave? How about a new Grand Wagoneer? Is it just Wranglers? I gotta say I shy away from waving to anything that's not a Wrangler and anything that is bone stock because those drivers just don't understand. Am I crazy?

1000014934.jpg


1989 Wrangler, with an engine from a 1996 4.0 liter with fuel injection; a Ford 9 inch rear axle from a 1979 Lincoln Versailles with disc brakes, Detroit locker and 31 spline axles; Dana 30 front axle with axle disconnect eliminator shafts, bigger u-joints, ARB air locker and hub kits; a NV4500 transmission from a 1997 GMC pickup; a 4:1 transfer case modification; spring over axle conversion with 4" lift springs and 35 x 14.5 Boggers. All built by hand by me!
I have noticed down here in Florida that is more about the city you live in. We lived in Naples and then later moved up north to Port Charlotte (about 90 mi away)

In Naples they don't wave.

Port Charlotte they do.

As we drive around Florida I have noticed the more rural you go the more waves you get,

Have noticed the more Ducks they have the more they wave!

Back in Texas, you get a lot of waves unless you are in the big cities like Dallas, Houston etc. As you get further out of the cities they wave.
 

Sponsored

autotragic

Banned
Banned
Banned
Joined
Nov 29, 2023
Threads
7
Messages
3,199
Reaction score
6,516
Location
the cornbelt
Vehicle(s)
'21 JLR 6MT
As somebody that has another car where "save the wave" is a common refrain on the forums..I'm not waving at all the other Wranglers. Sorry, it's bad enough with my other car I'm not doing it for both of them.
 

Obviousbicycleco

Well-Known Member
First Name
Zach
Joined
Dec 22, 2023
Threads
1
Messages
159
Reaction score
349
Location
Minnesota
Vehicle(s)
2018 Jeep Sahara JL
I’m new to the Wrangler club (Last April). I would say most days it’s about 75% of the people that wave. I personally get caught up in music or talking and then get told by my passengers that I missed a wave and then feel guilty. Enter this product available on Amazon: The Lazy Waver. Now I will never have to feel bad again. Let the hilarity commence.

Jeep Wrangler JL Jeep Wave Etiquette IMG_0489
 

Whaler27

Well-Known Member
First Name
Alex
Joined
Jul 1, 2020
Threads
59
Messages
2,665
Reaction score
5,331
Location
Oregon
Vehicle(s)
2019 JL, 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Altitude Ecodiesel, 2005 Mustang GT, 2018 Ford Raptor, 2018 BMW R1200GSA, 2020 Honda Monkeybikes (2), 1972 Honda CT-70, 1980 Honda CT-70,
Occupation
Saving the world :-)
I’ve been a Jeep CJ/Wrangler owner since 1977. They were rare in 77 and the people who owned them tended to have more than a jeep in common. Now everybody has a jeep and I have nothing in common with 95% of them.

I still wave when I notice the jeep in time, because I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. The world is miserable enough these days, so why not add a little camaraderie and cheer?

I don’t care if I don’t get a wave back. It’s kinda like visiting New York or LA for a few days, where nobody makes eye contact, smiles, or says ”good morning”. Just a different cultural rule set. I don’t make it my problem (but it is discouraging to see the LA/NY/NJ grumpiness overcome my home state... I do prefer living in a place where kindness and manners prevail.)
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
mciaio

mciaio

Well-Known Member
First Name
Michael
Joined
Nov 25, 2023
Threads
10
Messages
96
Reaction score
147
Location
Clinton, CT
Vehicle(s)
2020 JLU Sahara
I've been a Wrangler owner for over 20 years. It's not the "club" it used to be - too many Wranglers out there.
This, but I feel bad letting it go.
 

Stetson

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brian
Joined
Nov 20, 2019
Threads
3
Messages
900
Reaction score
1,811
Location
Salt Lake City
Vehicle(s)
2019 JL Sahara, 2023 392 Rubicon, 2020 GMC 3500 Denali
Occupation
Project Manager
I have noticed down here in Florida that is more about the city you live in. We lived in Naples and then later moved up north to Port Charlotte (about 90 mi away)

In Naples they don't wave.

Port Charlotte they do.

As we drive around Florida I have noticed the more rural you go the more waves you get,

Have noticed the more Ducks they have the more they wave!

Back in Texas, you get a lot of waves unless you are in the big cities like Dallas, Houston etc. As you get further out of the cities they wave.
some people really like the Jeep culture and the wave and the ducks and all that. I know my parents periodically buy a bag of ducks and pass them out to all jeeps. They love it. They also love the wave and all that.

for me, the wave seems to come and go. Some days there are a lot of wavers, some days not. Some days I wave to everyone, some days not…

I am not much for the ducks. Periodically someone will leave one on my Jeep and I ride around with it for a few days and then I give it to someone else.

all in good fun

Stetson
 

Sponsored

jjvincent

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
May 31, 2021
Threads
6
Messages
973
Reaction score
1,411
Location
Bethlehem, PA
Vehicle(s)
2021 Wrangler, 2017 VW Alltrack, 2003 VW Eurovan
Occupation
Mechanical Engineer
I mentioned on another thread, I pass 17-20 Jeeps each way for work. You can't wave at them all.

The best thing to do is put Jeep Girl all over your Jeep. You will get a wave and flashing lights from every one of them. We have a customer that has that all over her Jeep. I had to test drive it and every Jeep went nuts with the waving and one even followed me back to the shop. Only to realize I was not the owner. He sped away while I pulled it into the shop.
 

3TV

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2018
Threads
58
Messages
2,542
Reaction score
5,525
Location
Southwest USA
Vehicle(s)
2022 JLUR 392, 2025 JLR
It seems to me that the more similar someone's build is to yours, the more likely they are to wave. Guys with really built-up Jeeps are stuck up and don't wave. Guys with stock Jeeps don't seem to know they should wave. Overall, about 20% of other Jeepers wave at me in my 392 on 37s. My wife tells me >50% of other Jeepers wave at her in her Lifted Gladiator Mojave on 35s. She is cuter than I am.
 
Last edited:

garykk

Well-Known Member
First Name
Gary
Joined
Feb 12, 2022
Threads
13
Messages
945
Reaction score
940
Location
Southern NM
Vehicle(s)
2022 JLURD
Occupation
Retired
My sister in law lives in FL, near St augustine , she belongs to a local Jeep club and her dash is loaded with Ducks.
Here in southern NM, I never see any ducks and seldom get waves. Most jeeps here are mall crawlers, I do get waves from jeep owners that appear to be setup for some off roading.
 

vetygud

Well-Known Member
First Name
Michael
Joined
Jul 13, 2022
Threads
9
Messages
435
Reaction score
1,104
Location
Nisswa, MN
Vehicle(s)
2022 Jeep Willys 2 door Sarge
Occupation
Retired LEO
....I gotta say I shy away from waving to anything that's not a Wrangler and anything that is bone stock because those drivers just don't understand.
You had me until your last sentence. "I gotta say I shy away from waving to anything that's not a Wrangler and anything that is bone stock because those drivers just don't understand." Sounds snobbish to me. My 2022 Willys, 2 door, looks stock but has a few mods on it. I wave to all Wranglers and Gladiators and I probably get at least 75% in return. I live in the northern part of Minnesota. I guess we are just "Minnesota Nice".

Locally not much "ducking". To many real ducks around.

I've owned many corvettes and that group can be fickle.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
mciaio

mciaio

Well-Known Member
First Name
Michael
Joined
Nov 25, 2023
Threads
10
Messages
96
Reaction score
147
Location
Clinton, CT
Vehicle(s)
2020 JLU Sahara
 







Top