(Like many of us, I have a few drafts I never finished; this one I started July of 2018! It’s incomplete, but whatchagonnado. See my Jeep Experience tag for the earlier entries in this series.)
At the risk guarantee of over-generalizing, there are two camps of Jeep enthusiasts. Those for whom the Platonic ideal of Jeep looks like this:
And those who prefer this:
Since this is my Jeep Experience, I have no qualms about expressing my strong preference for the streamlined look, but Jeeps are nearly infinitely customizable, so you can make your own decisions.
Ford recently unveiled the new Bronco, and reportedly part of the motivation was the lure of the thriving aftermarket that Jeeps offer, and that FCA is increasingly monetizing. There’s gold in them thar hills.
So, let’s talk Jeep mods.
We’ll start at the top, literally: cargo racks.
Jeeps are notoriously stingy with internal space. Those wide fenders (something the Bronco is eschewing) make off-roading less expensive (because you’re more likely to rip off a fender when you hit something, less likely to cause real body damage) but make for a narrower cabin.
So if you’re taking a few people on a trip, especially with a shorter wheelbase Wrangler, you can quickly run out of room for gear and luggage.
Cargo racks are good at giving off that overloading vibe that’s popular these days (especially with all that platform for lights!), and certainly they’re useful, but there are some notable downsides.
For me, a cargo rack is particularly problematic because, as I have made clear in this series, I love open air driving, and I love my soft top. If you want a cargo rack that can lift to allow you to remove a soft top, you’ll pay through the nose.
And of course good luck lifting a cargo rack that’s filled with gear.
They also obviously reduce fuel efficiency, although given that you’re driving a box, decent gas mileage is mostly mythical.
The Jeep roof itself is a platform for extensive customization. From the factory, you have several choices: color-matched hard top (DON’T DO IT), black hard top, premium soft top (twill), or regular soft top. Sometimes Jeep offers a tan soft top like the one below, and currently they’re offering mesh tops, which as far as I know are new to their lineup.
Once you start looking at the aftermarket options, the choices are maddeningly complex.
With the JK generation of Wrangler Jeep started adding panels to their hard tops, and some aftermarket hard tops offer similar t-top functionality for previous generations.
Bestop is the OEM for Jeep’s soft tops and offers both the standard factory tops and several other varieties. Some aftermarket soft tops don’t require a frame; they mold to the roll cage. There are bikini tops (just cover the front seats), safari tops (basically a standard soft top without any windows), mesh tops that are great for warding off the intense sun but can be annoying in the rain.
A Jammock is a combination bikini top/hammock: great for drive-in movie theaters, I imagine, but sadly mine sags a bit too much and rubs against my bald head (this problem is exacerbated by my seat lift, yet another aftermarket modification), so I never use it.
So what makes a Jeep such an attractive target for modification?
Boxiness. Makes it easy to add new elements without curves getting in the way.
Round headlights are easy to upgrade.
Bumpers are designed to be replaceable.
The Wrangler has so many different use cases, that fundamental features like tires & wheels are appealing to configure appropriately. My Jeep is the first vehicle I ever researched tires for.
Out of the box configurability. Without ever adding a single aftermarket part, you can:
- remove windows
- remove top
- remove doors
- drop windshield
Off-road. While the Wrangler, particularly the Rubicon, is factory ready for pretty serious off-road conditions, people always want more.
As I mentioned earlier, often placed on the roof (or cargo rack) are lights. Bright lights. Crazy annoying lights. I love what LEDs have done for flashlights, but with great power comes great responsibility.
(There’s a common phrase in the off-roading community: “lockers before lights”. It’s very rare that most people will ever have an opportunity to drive off-road in the dark, but lockers can be useful under a wide range of situations.
But, they don’t show off your off-road creds like lights do.)
I can’t speak much to the lighting aftermarket, but as long as you don’t actually need your lights to work in an emergency situation, as practically no one ever does, you can buy cheap stuff on eBay that will impress your friends appropriately.
Despite my general disdain for lighting as a signaling mechanism (hah!), I do have two modifications on my Jeep: LED headlights (which jumped to the top of my wishlist after driving in a snowstorm and realizing how completely useless the stock TJ lights were) and a circular ring of brake light bulbs that sit behind my spare tire, replacing my CHMSL.
Being aware of the intense interest in aftermarket lighting, Jeep collaborated with Marelli Automotive Lighting to develop The Luminator, a concept vehicle for the 2017 Easter Jeep Safari with an emphasis on lighting (and a drone).
It had one pretty cool hack that I especially appreciated: a lit mast on the rear that changed color based on how fast the Jeep was driving, so when off-roading after dark as part of a group, the Jeeps behind them could have more information as to whether the Jeep was stopped (red), moving slowly (amber), or moving at speed (green).