The Jeep Thing is having to explain every noise your Jeep makes to your passengers so they don't freak out.

 

Great answers guys! With many being very similar I'll probably be lumping them all in together and giving credit at the end of the article. Keep it coming!

 

The "Jeep Thing" is when it's owners and rigs all have different personalities and attitudes, but it all does not matter. It's a respect to all other owners and its like a feeling of being in a club. You are excepted no matter what kind of Jeep you drive. You are waved at by other Jeepers. Whether you are new to it or not, we always help each out and we understand the pros and cons of that "Jeep Thing". Dalton Acosta

 

The jeep thing: Break, fix, repeat.

 

It's offroading for the first time in your friends Jeep, and realize you need one! Then you purchase one, put your heart into it, whether detailing it, or modifying it to meet your needs. either you cruising down the street, or bashing some rocks up hill, you know you were able to cuz of you

 

It's when the douche driving a 2012 4 door wrangler says your XJ isn't a real JEEP and you politely explain that JEEP was bought out by the Chrysler corp in 1988 so he is in fact driving a overpriced Plymouth.

 

I was going to say exactly this. When you're in the trails or on the street and your buddy hears the wobbling of your control arm bushings and looks at you with the look that it's going to fall apart, and you laugh and say "It's a Jeep thing."

 

Being an out-of-country Jeep guy, I'm a swede living in the north of Sweden, I have to say that the Jeep thing is about the Jeeps.
I have very few friends who owns Jeeps and really don't understand my love for my XJ's! We all know, I think, that there are better vehicles out there but since none of them are Jeeps, why bother?

Knowing that the old XJ on the yard with all its faults, rattles, squeaks and so forth, will take me where few people can go, that's the Jeep thing to me.

Luckily we have our own Swedish forum for our kind and se all understand

 

For me it's about the simplicity. They weren't designed with computers, none of the draftsmen had a french curve in their tool drawer, they were designed by men with rulers. The simplicity isn't limited to design, either. Even the most inept can find something to fix or improve then take it on the trail and feel like a hero. For me, that is the essence of the Jeep Thing.

 

the jeep thing?
to have only money left for my pets after filling up my fueltank of my old XJ
or hunting rabbits on the field with the jeep, and then try to escape because the Hunter with his rifle and the farmer with his traktor comings after you

LIKE THE JEEP

 

The Jeep Thing for me is getting into your Jeep and knowing that where-ever you want to go, you're going to get there come Hell or high water. OK, you might need to break out some tools along the way, but you'll still get there.

 

Lmao!

 

Haha, I can see that by the numerous other responses!

Damn, guess my laziness killed me again. Oh well! Looks like the rest of the members have it well handled!

 

If we have to explain it you wont understand it.

 

I have a more cynical view. Fortunately this sentiment isn't shared by every Jeep owner:

The Jeep thing is the arrogant, unproven idea that Jeeps are the only true off-road vehicles and that Jeep owners are somehow superior to drivers if other vehicles. It's a way to build a clique and exclude wheelers with other vehicles.

I have a lot of wrench time on a number of vehicles. I've never seen anyone more stuck up over a Jeep than a guy who's paid a shop to build it for him. When you're on a creeper looking up at parts, it's clear there's nothing exclusive or superior about a Jeep. I've put in far more dirt time driving different and arguably more reliable 4x4s than I have with my XJ.

As a Jeep owner now I feel substantially hypocritical about involvement with most Jeep clubs. Fortunately my club has always welcomed my friends with other vehicles as my guests. Seeing first-hand the capabilities of S-10s and Xtetras absolutely shocks the people with noses in the air over their Jeep thing.

My XJ has been a POS but it's been fun learning and building it and it's certainly the most capable off-road rig I've ever owned. I try to think of it as a hot rod: the increase in performance must be paralleled by an increase in maintenance. I like Jeeps of all types as I am a gearhead and car geek. I just don't do the "Jeep thing."