Everybody around here knows that old saying, "It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand..." People love Jeeps because they are Jeeps, but I think that the more specific reasons vary. Some people love the off-road performance and easy modification potential that Jeeps provide, while others salivate over the long-term durability and quality factory construction, and even a select few (my father, for example) are drawn to Jeep's extensive and intriguing military background, among many other reasons. So my question to all is this; What is the Jeep thing for you?  

well if this means anything to u. when i go mudding and my dad starts raising hell i just say its a jeep thing and there isnt another word sayed  

      From where I'm sitting, I can see it though the window. Thinking....... Well its been raining for the past day or so. So I know the seats are wet, and cold. Every time I climb in, I wonder if I'll lose another belt loop on the door post. When I start it, the pipe will rattle on the frame for a minute or two, till it warms up some. Then I'll have to tap on my temp gauge, to wake it up, if not, it will just sit there. Then it will come to me, while I'm waiting for it to warm up. I still have to replace the oil pan at some point, thanks to a wet log last summer. And don't forget to fix the back up lights before my state inspection is due. These are some of the things about a Jeep most people don't get. Sometimes I wonder if I do. But I know this. Because of what you give up in a Jeep, is why it does what it does so well. I'd say the best at what it can do, right out of the box. I guess thats what it means from where I'm sitting.  

I maybe alittle crazy but for me it's ALL OF YOU GUYS!!! That's the cool part! There's something about waveing to a fellow jeeper that you never met before! Going to this and other message boards and meeting all the other ppl who own and build jeeps! It's the reputation of them aswell, I mean I bought my grand with over 250+ klicks on it but took a chance anyways(so far so good). I feel like I'm apart of something really cool......like I belong.I would help a jeeper out any time, any how I could! it doesn't matter if it's stock or lifted...if it's a jeep your all right with me!!!  

to me it is about all the little quorks of a jeep.  its about all the new squeeks and knocks you hear right after you fixed the last ones.   its all about having a story for every dent and paint chip.  its about the envy of your friends and how most of them laugh at the jeep wave....but they dont know that the guy i am waving too would stop to help out another jeeper.  your not getting that with a honda.  its about the freedom of having no top and no doors when driving on those clear warm days and nights, and no floor plugs and a dry towel for the rain.  its a jeep thing because there are no two jeeps that are built the same way, and therefore no two jeepers that are the same.    

The main reasons I wheel a Jeep are:

It fits well in tight woods trails and my family of four can fit in it.  The open body and visibility on the trail is great.  The military history is cool too.  Mine was painted olive drab for a while.

I'm not so sure it's about the factory build quality, at least on my old '80 CJ-7.  The only Jeep part left in the drivetrain is the Dana 300.  Otherwise, it's all Chevy.  I had a stock (except for a 3" lift) '98 Cherokee that was great though.  In the few years I had it, it only needed brakes and a starter.

The comaraderie is nice, but it doesn't matter to me what you're wheeling, just what kind of guy (or gal) you are and that your come prepared.

For me it's getting in my XJ and knowing that with a little intelligence there is virtually nowhere I can't go!  2 years ago, when I first bought it, I was stranded due to a burnt through battery cable.  Within 20 minutes there were 3 other jeeps parked with me to see if I was okay.  One guy even followed me home to make sure I made it.  Only other group of people I know like that are bikers.

You guys are funny!! at least the ones who talk about haveing to fix this or that! some are talking about old jeeps! like an 80. do the math! it needs fixed because it's old!! not because it's a jeep. Any older car or truck any make will need fixed as old parts break or wear out. Just a fact of live. I should Know! LOL I've never even had a ride older then 96!! And I just bought that! LOL  

That's true, it's old, but the real reason all the parts have been changed out is because of upgrades done to prevent breakage from doing things it wasn't designed to do.  It was a continuous process when something broke from tough wheeling, it got replaced with something stronger.  Now, it's pretty reliable, and usually only needs general maintenance to stand up to the beating.

The one Jeep drivetrain part I have stuck with is the Dana 300.  I split the original one in half about a year ago, but I figured it was old, had a lot of miles in stock use before I got it, then abused behind a big block for several years of tough wheeling, lubricated by mud at times and generally treated like sh!t.  I replaced it with a used but low mile 300, and it should last a long time.

I just got tired of pickups. last one was a gmc 4x4 "box" with
too pretty paint and too wide to take it anywhere. Now I'm way
upside-down on a 05 and lovin' it. Gettin stuck in the rain with no top and seeing people look at you like your crazy, well probably. Better than the vette for mid life crisis vehicle I say. Impulse and debt you see. You go around once eh  

your right i am thirteen and just bought my first car. guess what it was. a willys truck. me and my mom where driveing around looking for property. i saw it in this guys back yard it was the first one i ever saw. the next day i went to his house and bought it from him not even noing it was for sale. all my friend are just getting there parents car, im not driving a volvo staion wagon, they make fun oi but idont care.  

I am a new Jeeper. A friend took me to camp Jeep in PA this year. He even loaned me his 92 Cherokee to go for a 5 hour offroad ride. Well it may be a jeep thing but I am hooked. I always loved the old military jeeps. Going off road finally pushed me to get one. It is a jeep thing and until you actually try it, you would not understand.  

they won't make fun when you get a part time job and start fixing it up!  

Lets see, after an 86' mj, a 98' xj, my current 00' wj thats giving me headaches, the best one was the mj. not a real jeep you say, drive one, no own one, then talk to me. however like its been said, the comroderie, and military, and rattles, and, and, well, just read the aformentioned replies, its a jeep for christ's sake, the only ones who don't get it are the ones without past registration forms that say jeep somewhere. i still have all of mine  

ok where to start...maybe with the 89 Cheerokee that started it all. What a hunk-o-sh_t it was but it started everyday and could not be stopped, even when I  lost the accuator for 4wd while back deep in the woods pulled out a buddy from the stickey greasy mud had to do it with 2wd only. Or the 97 Grand was just so much fun to wheel just to see everybody see a shiney straight bodied Grand come and going with the best of em and then to be able to throw the kids in the back and drive to Kings Island and back. Or is it about the CJ-5 now? Sitting up on jack stands right now with no brakes, drippin oil, leakin windshield frame I could go on for hours with the list!! But all and all that is what makes it a "Jeep thing". Its is what makes it part of me. I wouldn't trade it for anything I know its old I know its gonna break more stuff but when I go and wheel it will be there when I need it and will love me right back!!!