What is The Jeep Wave? (How, When, and Why)

What is the Jeep Wave?

The Jeep Wave is a friendly gesture shared between fellow Jeep vehicle owners to show a sign of respect and acknowledgement.

How the Jeep Wave Originated

The origin of the wave isn’t exact, but there are a few different theories to how it started. 

Theory #1: During WWII Jeeps were used as a way of transporting supplies and wounded soldiers on the front line. Soldiers would wave to show that they are an ally and not the enemy. They would also wave as a friendly gesture from one soldier to the next. 

Theory #2: When soldiers returned home from the war they began to purchase Jeeps of their own. They would wave as a sign of acknowledgement of fellow veterans.

Theory #3: Jeeps became more popular for civilians to buy in the 60’s and 70’s as recreational use. Jeepers would then start to wave to acknowledge those who share the same passion as them. 

How to do the Wave

Drivers can achieve the wave by raising their thumb, index, and middle finger off the steering wheel in the direction of another Jeeper. 

Other forms of waving are acceptable and commonly used. Such as raising 2 or 4 fingers or a full hand wave. If Jeepers have the windows down or the top off they may put their hand outside the vehicle as a sign of acknowledgement. Regardless, any sign of acknowledgement will be appreciated by another Jeeper and they will return the gesture more often than not. 

Rules

With every fun game, comes a set of rules, and Jeeps are no different.

Rule #1: Jeep owners must continue the tradition. 

Jeep owners past and present, want to see their friendly gesture carried on to the next generation of Jeepers. 

Rule #2: In the Jeep world, there is a hierarchy, and the inferior Jeep always initiates the first wave.

The Jeep hierarchy is determined by how well your Jeep fits the purpose that Jeeps were originally intended for. This means that age, model, trim level, and accessories all play a role in determining the hierarchy.

Rule #3: Inferior Jeep owners continue waving until acknowledged and superior Jeep owners then return the gesture.  

Is it Only for Wranglers?

When you hear “Jeep”, your first thought is probably of the Wrangler model, but the wave exchanged between jeepers is for all models. This includes:

• Wrangler
• Cherokee
• Grand Cherokee
• Gladiator
• Renegade
• Compass
• Patriot

Jeep Wave Customer Loyalty Program

With Jeep’s secret wave becoming popularized, Jeep decided to name their customer loyalty program after it, the Jeep Wave Customer Care. Included in the program is a 36 month membership where Jeep owners will receive free oil changes, tire rotations, and many other perks.

Posted in Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Compass, Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Jeep Renegade, Jeep Wrangler | No Comments »