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All images courtesy Truck Hero Inc.
The fact that you are reading this article likely means one of a few different things. In an ideal world, you are a brand new Jeep owner and are slowly finding out what it's like to own one of the most personally fulfilling vehicles on the planet. If so, welcome to the Jeep family!
On the other hand, there's a good chance many of you fall into another class of readers - ones who haven't yet taken the plunge into Jeep ownership. You've seen the Jeep commercials, and you think to yourself, "That thing looks cool. I could see myself throwing the top down and letting the wind blow through my hair after a rough day at the office. Heck, I might even consider camping or something if I had a Jeep." This article might be the push you need to park a Jeep in your garage.
Whether you've already purchased a Jeep or are in the market for one, you must be honest with yourself about what kind of "Jeeper" you want to be.
Figuring out what you ultimately want from your Jeep before you buy helps you plan the journey, do you start with a basic model and upgrade to take it over hill and dale or do you kit it out at the beginning and just love what you got? So, in the Jeep owners lexicon, who are you?
The first type of Jeep owner is the Boulevard Cruiser. For this person, the showroom floor Jeep is, essentially, perfect without any changes. The Cruiser has every intention of daily-driving their Jeep, so preserving the Jeep's fuel economy and overall efficiency is imperative.
The Boulevard Cruiser tends to steer towards a Sahara trim level. The visual appeal of color-matched flares and nicely furnished interiors make the Sahara a fitting basis for their dream Jeep build.
The second type of Jeep owner we refer to as the Mall Crawler. While the term "mall crawler" has been slung around for years and has developed negative connotations in the Jeep community, the fact is that there is nothing wrong at all with the concept.
The Mall Crawler is all about atmosphere - relaying a rugged appearance. The liberating sense of freedom that they feel when behind the wheel of their Jeep is addictive, and this is easily the largest segment of Jeep owners today. Characterized by the desire to look like they can go anywhere and conquer every obstacle, there is little likelihood that they will ever actually leave the pavement.
The Mall Crawler is likely to lean towards the purchase of a Sport model when buying a new Jeep, as it has a more manageable purchase price and serves as a blank canvas for whatever Jeep they decide to build. It's also important to recognize that the Mall Crawler segment of Jeep owners is a clearly-established gateway to our final sector of Jeep owners.
The Rock Krawler is unapologetically the most severely-afflicted group of Jeep owners. They live, breathe, and even sleep Jeeps. The Rock Krawler is focused almost entirely on enhancing the capabilities and dependability of their vehicle. They modify their Jeep to make the mechanical aspects virtually bulletproof, the body batter-proof and the drivetrain unstoppable.
The Rock Krawler will often opt for the Rubicon package on a new Jeep purchase, justifying the cost as being well worth the benefits gained. The Rock Krawler is quick to admit that the build of their Jeep is never really finished. There is always something recently broken to repair or another component in line for an upgrade. They drive their Jeeps hard and tend to have another primary ride, using the Jeep as a leisure vehicle. But don't think that the Rock Krawler won't daily-drive their rigs to the office too. They tend not to let anything get in their way... ever.
In our next installment, we'll focus on the The Boulevard Cruiser, and help identify some of the most appealing modifications to consider for your Jeep. We hope to see you then!
