4x4 truck mentality, bizarro!

[Jims5543]

I have poked around what I would guess is the Pelican counterpart for FJ Cruisers.

I cannot take it anymore. They all call their little Toyota FJ's "Rigs" like they own an 18 wheeler.

They call taking their FJ's offroad "wheelin" and if you do not do it and have hundreds of pictures of your truck posed on a rock, your a poseur.

I call them trail snobs. I have never seen anything like this. I have been on sportscar forums for years and NEVER felt like there were track snobs that make you feel like a poseur because you do not race your sportscar.

Is it like this with all the 4x4 sites? I mean are the Hummer and Jeep guys the same way? Its truly bizaar.

I dont get it.

[Rot 911]

Jeep guys mostly spend their time telling stories of pulling Hummers out of places they got stuck. You will find this attitude mostly with the guys that buy the new 4x4 vehicles that really don't have a history behind them. The Jeep guys mostly talk about creative ways to add more parts and tools to their Jeeps or how they used bailing wire and chewing gum to keep the front axle from leaving them stranded 40 miles from civilization.

[Tervuren]

Its a mentality started by eco freaks that people who own SUV's and don't use them for extreme offroading are pigs and slobs.

[Jim Richards]

Originally posted by Kurt V
Jeep guys mostly spend their time telling stories of pulling Hummers out of places they got stuck.

Yep. The fella in the next office who owns a Jeep tells those stories, too. I just smile.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by Tervuren
Its a mentality started by eco freaks that people who own SUV's and don't use them for extreme offroading are pigs and slobs.

I bought mine to get up to my house in NC if and when it snows and I am there.

I also go on and off construction sites from time to time and its handy then too. Otherwise my Dodge 2x4 truck served me well.

I have never called any of my trucks "rigs" and have no desire to "wheel", I have seen the pictures and it looks like a traffic jam in the woods. I'll pass.

[Jeff Higgins]

I just sold my '71 FJ40 after 26 years of ownership. It was my daily driver for 20 of those years, and my hunting/fishing "rig" the whole time. Absolutely dead stock. The guys out "wheelin" in their "rigs" couldn't seem to understand why I kept it that way. Well, for just tooling around in the woods, I never needed anything more. I never seriously "wheeled" it.

The guy I sold it to sits just a couple cubes away here at work. He was going to "fix it up". More like "cut it up". It had some rust he was going to repair and all of that, but now it is transforming into a very serious rock crawling "rig". V8 conversion, spring over conversion, full cage, 4x4x.25" square tubing for the sills, on board air and welder, etc. Kinda hurts just a bit to see that. Sorta like some one cutting up another early 911 that could be saved to make yet another RS or RSR clone.

[gprsh924]

Some of the guys on the Xterra forum I am on are like that, but most dont care as long as you dont act like a jack*ss and ask the same questions over and over again

my xterra is bone stock right now, but I have gone on 4 separate offroading trips with two of my friends who have built up their trucks a little bit. there is just something really exhilarating about it, because with driving fast all the time, you forget that you can still get your heart pumping fast going 3 mph

[austin552]

Bought a Jeep Liberty in 2003. Put some A/T tires on it for the weather. Joined L.O.S.T. Liberty Owners Special Team and started rock crawling. I could only handle the easy stuff so I lifted it. The underside was taking damage so I installed full armor. Then the tires were to small to climb over the big rocks so I added 32"M/Ts. Needed more power and along came a K&N intake and Thrustmaster muffler. Had lots of fun and adventures but retired from rock crawling. Sure some of the CJ guys looked down at us but we surprised many on the trails.
Been thru two hurricanes and when the town flooded we were out helping stranded motorist.
Now the 911 has taken over as the bottomless pit.

[Jims5543]

Jeff, Austin,

Thats cool. Its not like I have a problem with it. I don't, hell, when a friend got his Tacoma 4x4 and lifted it and put huge tires on it I went out trail riding with him in my BroncoII 4x4 that was lifted 4" and had huge tires on it too. I used it for my surveying business and it would go anywhere.

I guess because for years I was on construction sites hoping I would not get stuck in mud, huge ruts and sugar sand I do not seek going off road with my trucks now.

That said I have toyed with heading out to Tellico (sp?) in North Carolina next time up just to see the plains. Wife and kids are keen on it too.

I guess its the attitude the "wheelers" seem to have. I never have gotten that feeling from guys that track their Porsches that anyone who does not is a poseur. I do not understand why a lot of these guys feel the need to make sure everyone knows they "wheel".

I mean there is a thread there right now and a guy in concerned people will look at his truck and think he is a poseur when he is not. So he is asking for suggestions on how to look like the real deal on the street. Please.

[HardDrive]

Don't folks in the Pacific Northwest call all trucks rigs? My mother lives in Salem, Oregon, and she has used the term for years.

[craigster59]

With the older cruisers (FJ40,45,55,60,62), the preference is to call them "trucks" as opposed to sport utilities (and don't ever let them hear you call an FJ Cruiser a LandCruiser). On ih8mud.com or pirate4x4.com you get some of the more extremists, but all in all cruisers are cruisers. I still can't seem to let my fj62 go even though I'm still driving around w/ a 'for sale" sign on the back. I seem to talk every prospective buyer out of a purchase (sucks gas, slow on hills, etc.). I think I'll probably keep her as you get an attachment to them. Kinda like a Porsche.

[Tervuren]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro


I guess its the attitude the "wheelers" seem to have. I never have gotten that feeling from guys that track their Porsches that anyone who does not is a poseur. I do not understand why a lot of these guys feel the need to make sure everyone knows they "wheel".

I mean there is a thread there right now and a guy in concerned people will look at his truck and think he is a poseur when he is not. So he is asking for suggestions on how to look like the real deal on the street. Please.

I dissagree - its called people who love to use the term "ricer". Anyone trying to make an ordinary car look racier, epsecialy if its a Japanese car, gets nailed by a lot of people, even on this forum. But my car gets away with it because its a Porsche...

Most Ricers are trying to imiatete the look of an exotic or race car. Wings, pop up doors, headlights, sideskirts, big air vents, loud exaust, etc...

[Jims5543]

My point was guys that track their Porsche do not go through this forum calling the street cars a waste.

But, the FJ crowd does, they seem to go out of their way to make sure you know they are part of a "trail team" or that they are "wheelers" and if you are not offroading your FJ you should have bought an Element. I have seen this quite a bit n there, after being told to cut it out the comments ar emore subtle but still there.

[TWork]

I say to each their own. While not prevalent in this forum, I have seen a number that do have the mentality that 'if you're not tracking your car, you're wasting it....' Whatever keeps people interested in the hobby is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

[vash]

huh? ricers? not crazy about the term, but who the heck am i. ?

who really cares about car folks. different strokes for different folks. i cant really handle poseurs of most "hobbies".

jacked up diesel F350's running huge tires on 20" wheels with 18" drop reciever hitches towing matching ski boats. guys running around with roof racks, with whatever toy on top that doenst get used. bikes, canoes, kayaks, skis, snowboards. sitting ontop. japanese cars with cold air intakes and loud effen canister muffs. sportbike guys riding straight down the freeway all croutched down, (or worse) with their feet on the passenger pegs. the list goes on and on.

use the toy. correctly. i have met some crazy 4x4 guys. some of them are insane.

[oldE]

Perhaps it is because Porsches (as well as many other sports cars) can actually serve as reasonable daily transportation and are fun on the track. No matter where a Porsche is, it is great to look at. Driving a Porsche anywhere is a good thing to do for your fellow man.

Most Jeeps, however will fill your ears with the sound of wind and tire roar while trying to use them as highway transportation. In addition, they look like the box they came in, so Jeep owners are doing us a public service by hiding the things deep in the woods or covering them with mud.
'Serious Off-Roaders'? I thank them!

Les

[MichiganMat]

Get a Land Rover.

The owners are usually too busy fixing them to argue and talk smack.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Used to own a 4x4 truck. Never again.

Big, bland, dumb, unnecessary. Especially here. Not to mention environmentally/socially irresponsible and completely impractical in an urban setting.

I grew up in New England and saw plenty of snowy winters and managed just fine without 4x4. People that claim they "need" it are kidding themselves. I never once got stuck and drove plenty of RWD clunkers in my younger days. It's called "driving ability".

Similarly I find this notion to "need" to haul around a bass boat, two jet skis, snowmobiles, construction materials for your third vacation home or the like kinda' questionable to say the least. . .

How exactly does personal overconsumption create "needs" exactly? Answer: it doesn't. It creates more "want" or desire for ADDITIONAL consumption. Look, don't get me wrong - your money, your choices. Whatever thrills ya'. Just don't confuse "wants" with "needs". People can rationalize damn near anything. If having a tricked out 4x4 with 22" chrome bling-bling wheels and a lowering kit and never take it off-road or into a situation that MIGHT possibly justify it is your thing - more power to ya'. This is America and you have the right to make yourself look as stupid as you want.

And some people excel at it.

[legion]

Ya know, with a little tweaking, it strongly resembles things some people have said about Porsches:

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile--edited by Legion
Small, flashy, impractical, unnecessary. Especially here. Not to mention environmentally/socially irresponsible and completely impractical in an urban or rural setting.

I grew up in New England and saw plenty of nice summers and managed just fine without Porsche. People that claim they "need" it are kidding themselves. I never once had to go at triple digit speeds my younger days.

Similarly I find this notion to "need" to drive fast kinda' questionable to say the least. . .

How exactly does personal overconsumption create "needs" exactly? Answer: it doesn't. It creates more "want" or desire for ADDITIONAL consumption. Look, don't get me wrong - your money, your choices. Whatever thrills ya'. Just don't confuse "wants" with "needs". People can rationalize damn near anything. If having a tricked out Porsche with Fuchs wheels and a lowering kit and never take it to the track or into a situation that MIGHT possibly justify it is your thing - more power to ya'. This is America and you have the right to make yourself look as stupid as you want.

And some people excel at it.

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

my first rig was a 1946 willys cj2A, traded a shotgun for it, had loads of fun, hunting, hauling water, with the dog on the hood, with the windshield folded down, attracted lots of chicks at the park.

next, 1978 ford bronco, 4wd, 400. what fun!! and pulled like a mule.

1986 bronco, 351, couldnt pull itself, much less a load, brought the '78 out of retirement.

1988 cherokee, bought with 60k, drove to 160k, sold for more than i paid for it.

1978 samauri, last year, i just leave it at the hunting ground.