The Jeep Wave- It's a Real Thing

If you're one of the lucky few who own a Jeep, and even luckier still to own a Wrangler, then you should know about the "Jeep Wave," and more importantly you should participate in a tradition nearly as old as Jeeps themselves. Like Harley riders, who pass one another on the road and wave as they pass, Jeepers do so too. Since getting "Heathen" in January of this year, I've thrown a wave at more Wranglers who have ignored me than I can believe. Has the proliferation of these iconic vehicles been so diluted by the SUV set that the Jeep wave is in danger of extinction? I hope not, because it's one of the simple pleasures of belonging to a select community of individuals who choose to drive a vehicle which traces its lineage back to the Willys MB, the ubiquitous 1/4 ton, four wheel drive general purpose vehicle which helped win World War II. 

Now some folks will tell you the Jeep wave is only for Wranglers, and I'll be honest, if I'm cruising along in our 2010 Wrangler Rubicon I'm only going to wave at an XJ Cherokee if it's been lifted and generally has a hi-lift jack strapped to the side of a roof top safari cage. But if any Jeep throws a wave, I'm returning the salutation. If you're driving a Wrangler though- from a Willys MB to a JK, whether it's a bone stock mall crawler or a Moab ready rock crawling beast, you need to keep the tradition alive and wave. 

The wave should be shared between Jeeps of all makes and models, but some feel there is degree of etiquette you should be aware of. In a nutshell, the newer, less modified Jeep should initiate the wave. It's a respect for the other rig thing. You're acknowledging the rig, not the driver. As you get closer to the oncoming Jeep you should get a quick idea of whether it's more off road capable than yours. If it is, then you initiate the wave. That being said, I don't care who throws the wave first, as long as it's reciprocated. 

As a final note to my fellow Jeepers driving a Compass, Patriot, Renegade, Grand Cherokee, Liberty or any of the crossover all wheel drive, "not intended for off road use" Jeeps, you should always initiate the wave with a Wrangler, no matter how modded it is. Wrangler drivers- wave back, they're one of us- we're all a community of Jeepers.