Question on badge etiquette

[kah.mun.rah]

IMO they stay with the driver but I would not put them on a new Jeep unless the new Jeep was just as built/capable as the one driven when the badge was earned.

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[RubiSc0tt]

My $.02.
You use a tool to get that badge. They belong to you and the tool. If the pair are unseparated, display them with pride. If they separate, take them off as the tool did not accomplish it without you. Therefore, they shouldnt go on a new tool as you did not use it to get that badge.

In the end, your badges, your Jeep. Do as you please.

This has always been my take. You display this stuff on your vehicle to show you, as the driver, have earned them, and the vehicle has proven itself. However, if the Jeep changes hands... it starts over. It's like unlocking items in a video game.

 

[gek]

It's a BOH trail, many of which could be run in a Subaru. Stolen valor? Prominence like championship rings? It's a participation trophy. I personally wouldn't transfer badges or own a Jeep with someone else's badges on it, but it's really not that special. If someone wanted to have every badge for every trail THEY have run on their current Jeep I say go for it. Now if you slap your Pritchett Canyon badge on your new renegade we will all just assume you never actually did the trail. Hell the app doesn't even track you through the trail, you could literally drive around to trailhead heads in your prius and "earn" every badge.

I will agree that the badge is not the same as a championship trophy. Personally, if I don't complete the trail, I don't request the badge, but I know there are some out there that do. But that is also being disingenuous.
I guess my biggest issue with putting a badge on a Jeep that didn't run the trails is this: say someone has a rig that was capable of running Pritchett and does. If they get rid of that rig and get a new sport to build and put that badge on it, someone, who doesn't know any better, might see that and think they can do it in their stock sport. In the attempt, they end up hurting themselves or others on the trail, either by their actions, or merely in the recovery of their vehicle. At minimum they might ruin someone's attempt to run the trail. I'm sure we can all agree that that person would be an idiot for not doing research and verifying, but sadly the world is full of idiots.

 

[Hard Rock Jeep]

I have 33 badges. Initially, I thought they belonged to the Jeep. If I were Jeep, I would make that so. Seems they would want us to go out and "use up" our equipment, and get another one. Once I realized that they allow us to put in different VIN's for different Jeeps, but only give one badge regardless, I started changing my opinion. I tried to set up second apps so that the badges could be vehicle specific, but without some skill I do not have, I could not do this. I think it is clear that the badges belong to the driver.

Perhaps this is the correct answer in the broadest perspective. We know that some of these trails are fluff but some are truly great accomplishments that we will retain in memory forever regardless of some "sticker". Let's be honest, it is enjoyable having the badges as talking points with other Jeepers.

All the while, we know that there are those the disregard the "honor" in Badge of Honer and will cheat. But still, perhaps the greatest cheater is one that misrepresents their role in running a Jeep with badges for trails they did not run. There is a big difference in being able to share the story of a particular experience vs. saying yeah, I guess this Jeep could do that. I was not there.

I vote for the driver.

 

[Zandcwhite]

I will agree that the badge is not the same as a championship trophy. Personally, if I don't complete the trail, I don't request the badge, but I know there are some out there that do. But that is also being disingenuous.
I guess my biggest issue with putting a badge on a Jeep that didn't run the trails is this: say someone has a rig that was capable of running Pritchett and does. If they get rid of that rig and get a new sport to build and put that badge on it, someone, who doesn't know any better, might see that and think they can do it in their stock sport. In the attempt, they end up hurting themselves or others on the trail, either by their actions, or merely in the recovery of their vehicle. At minimum they might ruin someone's attempt to run the trail. I'm sure we can all agree that that person would be an idiot for not doing research and verifying, but sadly the world is full of idiots.

I don't think I've ever seen anyone actually do that though. My time of keeping rigs stock gets shorter every time. Our 2019 jlur we wheeled stock for over a year and put 34k miles on the stock 33s. Our 2022 jlur with the xr 35s got lift spacers and lcas in the 1st 3k miles. Kept the 35s for 22k miles while doing other mods. Riding on 39s fir the last year and a half. My 2023 JT mojave got lifted and 37s by 1200 miles. Even if I but a new one, making it capable is more priority than badges. Personally only put the badges on that we've done in that particular Jeep but having done the rubicon over a dozen times in a half dozen rigs I wouldn't have an issue putting that badge on anything I own.

 

[Operative73]

My 2 cents, You earned them, presumable you were the driver, so they are your badges. To me, don't care if they are on the jeep you drove the trail on or your new jeep, as long as they are on your jeep.

 

[Blue Bear]

I put Velcro on the back of mine, and they live on my headliner, so my wife and I see them. Plus, they are easy to remove. For me, it's about the "been there, done that." They serve as a reminder of the fun I've had. I will move them over to whatever new Jeep I get and keep collecting.

 

[Husky Man]

I haven’t earned any badges, not likely to any time soon, but I understand many of the points of view offered here.

My personal take is that the badges are awarded to the driver, not the vehicle, but if the vehicle is sold, I would personally keep the badges, and display them in some way off vehicle, especially if the new vehicle isn’t capable of completing the trail the badge represents

As to buying a badged vehicle, the badges would be taken off right away, “My” Jeep may have done said trail, but it wasn’t “Mine” and I wasn’t driving it at the time it completed the trail

In the not common but happens situation where someone has completed a challenging trail like the Rubicon multiple times, in multiple vehicles, I would say that they have proven themselves, even if they haven’t yet done that trail in THAT Jeep, I would allow that, but again the vehicle should be capable of completing the trail

Tough question, those are My thoughts, YMMV


Doug

 

[Ratbert]

With a new email address, just changing the vehicle info won't reset the app and it will not give you the option to receive a new badge.

I'm pretty sure I was using the same email with my previous Wrangler, but maybe not?

Changing emails is pretty damn simple though. With gmail it's as easy as putting another dot somewhere in it. [email protected] is the same address as [email protected], but most apps see it as being different.

 

[RicRecon]

I chose to mount each badge on a canvas photo I took at each trail instead of mounting in my Jeep. I wanted to retain the memories and recognition of completing the trails. I also get decals of the different trails and mount on my rear hardtop windows and patches for the inside. It’s more about me, my travels, and my stories more than anything else for me.

 

[Ratbert]

I will agree that the badge is not the same as a championship trophy. Personally, if I don't complete the trail, I don't request the badge, but I know there are some out there that do. But that is also being disingenuous.
I guess my biggest issue with putting a badge on a Jeep that didn't run the trails is this: say someone has a rig that was capable of running Pritchett and does. If they get rid of that rig and get a new sport to build and put that badge on it, someone, who doesn't know any better, might see that and think they can do it in their stock sport. In the attempt, they end up hurting themselves or others on the trail, either by their actions, or merely in the recovery of their vehicle. At minimum they might ruin someone's attempt to run the trail. I'm sure we can all agree that that person would be an idiot for not doing research and verifying, but sadly the world is full of idiots.

I try to not base my actions on how they might impact an idiot, but maybe we have to start thinking that way now?

 

[Zandcwhite]

My 2 cents, You earned them, presumable you were the driver, so they are your badges. To me, don't care if they are on the jeep you drove the trail on or your new jeep, as long as they are on your jeep.

Whole other can of worms... what if my wife drives part of the trail? What if I drive but we are in her Jeep? Do I need to start getting % decals made to put next to the badges?

 

[3TV]

I chose to mount each badge on a canvas photo I took at each trail instead of mounting in my Jeep. I wanted to retain the memories and recognition of completing the trails.

Best idea I've seen in this thread. I like that.

 

[gek]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone actually do that though. My time of keeping rigs stock gets shorter every time. Our 2019 jlur we wheeled stock for over a year and put 34k miles on the stock 33s. Our 2022 jlur with the xr 35s got lift spacers and lcas in the 1st 3k miles. Kept the 35s for 22k miles while doing other mods. Riding on 39s fir the last year and a half. My 2023 JT mojave got lifted and 37s by 1200 miles. Even if I but a new one, making it capable is more priority than badges. Personally only put the badges on that we've done in that particular Jeep but having done the rubicon over a dozen times in a half dozen rigs I wouldn't have an issue putting that badge on anything I own.

The badges are definitely not a priority for me, but there are those that really seem to care. I use the boh as a starting point for trails in the area. My badges are all sitting in a pile on my dresser, never to be mounted on a Jeep. I may build a thing to display them on my garage wall one day but I doubt it, I have parts to install. I still prefer if you choose to mount them on the Jeep that the Jeep did the trail or at least it can.

While other can of worms... what if my wife drives part of the trail? What if I drive but we are in her Jeep? Do I need to start getting % decals made to put next to the badges?

You gotta get her her own Jeep, solves all your problems.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Hello all,

I am curious to see what everyone thinks about the follow issue I have. I visited and completed several trails between my two JK jeeps. I order the badges after completing the trails but it was some time before they came in. Then as it always happens, life got busy and I ended up selling my last jeep. Fast forward to now and I have another jeep, do you think the badges belong to the driver who hit the trail or on the jeep that went on the trail. Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this matter.

They are yours to do with what you want. Nobody knows one way or another. Do what makes you feel good.

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