Jeep wave has become a really iconic gesture in the Jeep community (Wranglers to be precise) it has a rich history and stood the test of time, even today, new wrangler owners are fond of the wave.
In this article, you will learn more about it.
History
In 1945, when Willy’s decided to bring CJ or the Civilian Jeep, the gesture came along with the soldier coming back home. As Jeep had a special place among the soldiers they wanted to own one at home.
This slowly became a trend among the WWII soldiers and the wave became a way to acknowledge each other. Today, after 90 years, the Jeep wave has evolved in a gesture that signifies kindship among Jeep owners.
It is a necessary action in the Jeep Community that shows respect and honor towards each other and the people who fought in the war for the country’s freedom.
Well, even though the trend remained, the method sure has changed. To do a gesture today, there are various ways to go about, all of which depend on the area you live or the Jeep you drive.
How to Do the Jeep Wave
The classic way of doing a Jeep Wave would be by simply lifting two-finger (the pointer and the middle finger) making a peace sign with the same hand on the steering wheel. You can see it in the picture above.
In case you have a Top-off, you can do so by raising your hand and waving “Hi”. You can also do the Jeep Wave by literally waving “Hi” through your window or inside your Jeep.
Jeep Wave Rules
While there are several ways to do the Jeep Wave, there are certain rules that should be followed when initiating a wave.
- A Jeep Wave is generally practiced by the owners of CJ, TJ, JK, YK, JL, and Gladiator. However, all Jeep owners are required to follow the tradition.
- In the beginning, this was strictly for Wranglers but now Jeepers are required to wave back to even if the other Jeep is a Grand Cherokee, Compass, or any other Jeep model.
- Waving back to Hummers and FJs are forbidden.
- The one initiating the wave should be the one with a lower-scoring Jeep or Jeep lower in the hierarchy. This shows the respect to the Jeep of an earlier age.
- The Jeep wave can be ignored in case the other Jeeper leaves negative print or is not worth scoring.
- When unsure of the hierarchy or the score of the other Jeep, the Jeep Wave should be initiated as quickly as possible.
Is the Jeep Wave Only for Wranglers?
Initially, the Jeep wave was strickly for Jeep wrangler. Any Jeep Wrangler would qualify to do the wave and other Jeep models like Cherokee were forbidden to do the wave but things have changed over time and most Jeeps now do the wave.
Can Anyone Do the Jeep Wave?
Forward-thinking Jeep enthusiasts recommend performing the Jeep wave for any Jeep vehicle. From the Wrangler 4xe to the Ford GPW, Wagoneers to war relics, Scramblers, Commandos, Cherokees, and Compasses—all should receive a wave.
This includes rentals. Jeep owners traveling in rented non-Jeep vehicles might mistakenly wave to other Jeeps, leading to both entertainment and confusion.
Do people still do the Jeep Wave?
Yes, this old but famous gesture is still used. Newer Jeep owners may not know about the history about the wave but enjoy performing it. If you meet with another Jeep owner who waved you, feel free to recommend this article to him.
Jeep Wave Program
The Jeep wave has gotten so famous among the Jeep owners that Jeep literally offers a special customer care package to the Jeep owners called Jeep Wave Program.
Under which the Jeep owner enjoys specific benefits over any ordinary customer. A Jeep Wave membership gets you dedicated 24/7 customer support regarding any questions, issues, or scheduling services.
You also get free oil changes for the first three-time, 36 months of tire rotation service, and 24/7 roadside assistance for 5 years.
A Jeep Wave member also enjoys VIP treatment at any Jeep Brand events across the country and access to their exclusive events.
Other Gestures in the Car and Motor World
Vehicle owners enjoy showing respect to fellow enthusiasts. There are various well-known gestures, excluding the infamous inappropriate one.
The motorcycle wave dates back to the 1950s, a time when motorcycles were less common and riding was part of the counterculture. This gesture involves dropping the left arm toward the road with two fingers extended.
There’s also the Corvette Wave and the Porsche Wave, which drivers use to acknowledge others who have invested at least $ 60,000 in a new luxury car that isn’t suited for off-roading
Additionally, there’s the MX5 Miata Flip, where Miata owners pop up their distinctive flip-up headlamps in greeting. While other car brands like Subaru, VW Beetle, Honda Civics, Mini Coopers, and Hummers claim to have their own waves, they are merely imitations of the iconic Jeep wave.
We don’t want to forget the Jeep Ducks. We covered this story in this article.
Conclusion on the Jeep Wave
Over the years, Jeep had become more than a brand. The Jeep wave holds way more emotions than just a simple tradition. With the younger generation getting more interested in buying cool looking Jeep, it is our job to introduce them to the tradition, and teach the core values behind them.
