The Jeep Experience, Part 6: The Wave (unfinished draft)

"Just Jeepin'" (macintux)
11/11/2020 at 09:25 • Filed to: None

(Like many of us, I have a few drafts I never finished . !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )

Taken at the inaugural Toledo Jeep Fest, August 13, 2016. To be absolutely clear: this is not my usual Jeep Wave. This was encouraged by the woman taking the photo; for all I know I’ve now been drafted into a roving gang of outlaw Jeepers. (Notice the Comanche in the background? As far as I can tell, that’s one of maybe fifty left in the country.)

The Jeep Wave is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Wrangler owners are often confused or even annoyed by it. One owner reportedly named the Wave as a contributing factor to his decision to sell his Jeep; another returns all Waves with his middle finger. The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is over 9000 posts.

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First, to forestall the complaints: yes, I know there are other wave traditions.

Motorcyclists seem to be the best at reliably waving to each other, perhaps because you don’t generally accidentally end up riding a bike, whereas there are no small number of Jeep Wrangler owners who just bought a cool SUV, and don’t know they’ve entered a community with its own rules.

Jeep Wrangler owners: always wave, always park next to each other. Not so hard, but dealerships are too busy to properly educate new buyers.

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The question of which Jeep owners should be waving to each other contributes to the angst surrounding this longstanding tradition. H ere are my personal guidelines: always wave to a CJ or Wrangler. Always wave to an XJ Cherokee. Usually wave to the WJ and ZJ Grand Cherokees. Absolutely, definitively wave to any pre-XJ Jeep, if you recognize them (harder than it sounds).

And I’m fond of waving to any classic ragtop 4x4, although there’s always the risk that the FJ40 owner is laughing at me for thinking it’s a Jeep.

Harder than who to wave to, however, is the logistical question of how/when to do it.

There are variations on the Wave guidelines, including the idea that the newer Jeep should wave first, but to that I say bollocks. The Wave needs to be shared with new owners, so by all means wave no matter whose vehicle is newer.

Besides which, the increasing number of tinted windows means you often have no idea whether you’re getting a wave back. Or maybe my eyes are just getting old.

Returning to the logistics of when to wave: the simplest scenario is two Wranglers passing on a 2-lane highway. As soon as you’re within about 50 yards, go for it.

When you’re on a wider road, especially on an interstate highway, things get more complicated. You’re less likely to spot them until they’re pretty close, and unless you’re both waving outside the Jeep (or the doors are off) you’re probably not going to know whether your wave was returned.

So, just wave as prominently as you can without feeling/looking too foolish, and know that you’ve done your good deed for the moment.

More problematic is when you’re approaching someone parked at a light on a perpendicular heading. Odds are they’re not watching the traffic going your way, so they won’t see you.

Still, wave, especially as you pass directly in front of them. If your window is down/door is off, you’ve got a shot at getting their attention. (Just don’t turn your head to try to catch the return wave, lest you rear end someone and have to explain your distraction.)

Things get really complex when you’re traveling the same direction. How many times do you have to wave? You’d think just once, but what’s important is that they see you wave once, and determining whether someone saw you is quite hard under most circumstances.

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DISCUSSION (7)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin'
11/11/2020 at 10:09

The only Jeep I’ve ever ridden in was an old XJ Cherokee that I think was 2wd plus that one lifted newer 2wd that I decided I didn’t want to buy. The first time, the headliner had become detached directly in front of me so I couldn’t actually see anything. The second time, well, I’m very glad I ran away from that as fast as possible.

So basically I have never experienced the Jeep wave. Seems to me you shouldn’t be too caught up trying to wave to people behind or in front of you considering they will in all likelihood not see it.

Noodles > Just Jeepin'
11/11/2020 at 10:25

I had a Wrangler 20 years ago and enjoyed the wave. Now I have a motorcycle and the wave annoys me. Weird

Just Jeepin' > Noodles
11/11/2020 at 10:30

Motorcycle waves seem like they’re more work. I can just lift my fingers if I’m not in the mood.

Wacko > Just Jeepin'
11/11/2020 at 10:34

When I had my Tjs I would only do the wave to 2 door Jeeps. Unless the 4 door was lifted and modified then yes they are a waver

Brickman > Just Jeepin'
11/11/2020 at 10:53

I get the Jeep wave sometimes when driving the Chevy ZR2.

OhCrikeyTheRozzers > Just Jeepin'
11/11/2020 at 11:38

Great post—had Jeeps for a long time and never considered things like who waves first but have always loved the sense of community from the wave. It is comical though when you go on a Jamboree or something and will pass 40 Jeeps in a row coming the other way—you basically just hang your hand out the window for two minutes.

Sub-observation: I’ve noticed a lot of geographical disparity on who waves. In Chicago maybe 1 in 10 would wave but in Michigan it’s nearly everyone. I’m a fan of the raised fingers from the top of the steering wheel myself and that seems common.

Interestingly the wave is the exact opposite on motorcycles in my experience—nearly everyone in Chicago would wave to me on my Triumph because Harleys were fairly rare (and the waver would often be riding a non-Harley ). In Michigan, where Harleys are the vast majority (and generally only wave to other Harleys, because “grar I’m a dentist biker”) I rarely get a wave.

Saw you on D-T; very sorry to see this site go but look forward to more Jeep content over there.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Just Jeepin'
11/11/2020 at 11:43

Now imagine 2 Jeeps finding each other at a stop sign in Portlandia.

Does anyone leave the intersection alive, or do they keep waving at each other until they pass to the other side?

p.s. nice write-up. When I had my E30 and my S2000 people would wave to each other somewhat frequently, but not nearly the camaraderie as the Jeep gang.