You've all seen them on the road. They're one of the most popular and fastest growing companies in the U.S.: Jeep. From the style, to the performance and off-road capability, Jeeps are becoming more and more popular every day. It's not just the newest models, either. The avid wheeler cannot deny that an old Jeep is one of the best vehicles for trailing, rock climbing and just having fun off-road in. But even if you're not into the whole mud and dust scene, there are many ways that owning a Jeep or being in a relationship with someone who owns one can enhance your relationship with that other person.
1. It teaches you patience.
Working on a Jeep is a daunting task. While the majority of the work needed done on a Jeep is fully capable by someone who doesn't have a degree in auto mechanics, there can still be a lot of challenges. Also, especially when doing electrical or motor work, you need to take your time so that nothing gets messed up and you accidentally melt your wires or put in a part backwards (both have happened). You learn by doing this work to take your time and make sure you do it right the first time. Plus, parts aren't always cheap, so you need to have patience when rebuilding these things so you don't go broke in the matter of a few hours from buying every single part needed online or in stores. In order to make anything in life better, you need to have patience.
2. It teaches you about teamwork.
A great majority of the time, you don't work on a Jeep alone. Parts can be very big and extremely heavy, especially for one person. Your significant other might need help, and this is a great way for the two of you to learn how to accomplish tasks together. That means putting on some old clothes and getting your hands covered in grease (it washes off), with the occasional chipping of a nail. It also means learning how to best work with your loved one to finish a project that can throw a lot of curve balls. The simple task of repainting the seat mounts in what would be less than an hour can turn into having to cut out a hole in the subframe because a bolt broke off, taking the entire day to complete. Setbacks like that can happen, but by working together you can come up with a solution to fix the new problem and the original problem. Plus, it's always nice to have someone else there to keep you company and fetch you the right tool because why would all the bolts be the same size?
3. You learn how to appreciate the little things.
As someone who is in a relationship with a Jeep owner, I can say that there is a never ending list of projects to complete on the Jeep. A new fuel pump, air filter, radiator, exhaust, headliner, speakers, you name it -- work is constantly needing to be done to keep these things running at peak performance. But it's those times in between changing the spark plugs and putting in a new starter that make you appreciate all the work that has in fact been done. It also makes me appreciate the fact that I don't own a Jeep and I don't have to spend all the money on parts to fix everything that goes wrong. So when you're cruising down the road hearing the engine tick and for the first time don't experience the death wobble from going just over 50 mph, you come to appreciate all the little jobs, like changing the fuel injectors and replacing the U-joints, and where they have gotten the Jeep today. Also, those brief moments when the check engine light isn't shining right in your face makes you feel like you can do anything...until it comes back on five minutes after going out. It happens, but you definitely appreciate the times when it's out.
4.0 The amount of fun to be had and the memories to make is endless.
Just like the list of parts to buy, the list of fun times is just as long, if not longer. Owning a Jeep is like being a member of a club, of a family. Other Jeepers are constantly getting together to go trailing, mudding, rock crawling, or just camping because their vehicles can do it. Taking the top and doors off, feeling the wind whip through and knot your hair and driving through sheets of rain all in the matter of a day is something you'll never forget. Heck, you can even drive across the country in one and crawl into the tent strapped onto your roof when you get tired. Needless to say, the memories you can make and the fun you can have in one of these beautiful machines will go on forever because the engine will go on forever. 200,000+ miles? No problem for a Jeep. That's just 200,000+ miles of fun, memories and moments you'll never forget, with plenty more to come.
Even if you don't own a Jeep or your significant other doesn't own one either, you can still have fun and better your relationship by working on any vehicle. You don't even need to work on a vehicle, but doing something that tests your patience, makes you work together, makes you appreciate the little things and allows you to have endless amounts of fun will give you the same effect. By doing that, I can almost guarantee that your relationship will be stronger, more fun and it will last for a very long time.
