Through the years, we’ve found that our customers often fall into one of two categories: the Jeepers and the non-Jeepers. We love them both dearly, but there are vast differences between the two. The first category ranges from those who eat, sleep, and breathe Jeep to those who just acquired their first 4 x 4. Some know their Wrangler inside and out, from the tips of their front tow hooks to the bottom of their back bumper. Others are just learning how to lower their soft top. Either way, it’s not long before they’ve got a folder of Jeep parts and accessories saved on their internet browser that only seems to grow. It’s a Jeep thing, and they understand.
The second category of customer is the non-Jeeper, bless their hearts. They may not own a Jeep themselves, but somebody that they love does! The non-Jeeper is clever enough to realize that this makes the perfect gift-giving opportunity. They may have started small with a Jeep shirt, hat, or mug so that their Jeeper could showcase their pride. This is wonderful! Every Jeep owner appreciates Jeep themed gifts! Eventually, the non-Jeeper may grow more ambitious, realizing that a Jeeper’s favorite thing to dress up is their vehicle itself. Often, this is where confusion sets in. “What’s a YJ? Jeep tires come in more than one size? What do you mean 'the doors come off?'” The non-Jeeper is so close to achieving Ultimate Gift Giver status, but their lack of Jeep knowledge threatens to send them high-tailing it back to the apparel section of the site. After all, it’s far easier to guess a Jeeper’s shirt size than their tire size. But, wait! We can help! Equipped with some basic knowledge, the non-Jeeper can buy even greater gifts that will not only delight a Jeeper, but also fit their vehicle perfectly!
1. What Year Is It?
The first, and possibly the easiest, piece of information to gather is what year the Jeep is. Almost all accessories that are not universal fit are designed for a specific year range of Wrangler, referred to as YJ (years 1987-1995), TJ (years 1997-2006), and JK (2007-2014). We also have a variety of accessories for the classic Jeep CJ models. Figuring out a Jeep’s year is most easily accomplished with a simple “What year is it?” directed towards the owner. An innocent and convincing “Just wondering!” should divert any suspicions regarding the non-Jeeper’s intentions.
2. How many doors?
For those Jeepers who have a 2007 or later Wrangler, another pivotal piece of information is how many doors the Jeep has. Wranglers with 4 doors will, obviously, have a much longer overall vehicle length. This affects the fit of tops, certain storage solutions, seat covers, floor liners, and other accessories. Non-Jeepers will want to make sure they know how many doors their Jeeper's JK has before shopping for accessories.
3. Top Set Up
Another easy to establish Jeep stat is what kind of top set up currently exists. Hard tops and soft tops require different car and cab covers. Jeeps with soft tops qualify for a variety of top specific accessories, including window storage solutions, noise reduction systems, and replacement windows. Jeeps with hard tops can use noise deadening insulators, or storage carts. The thing a Jeep with a hard top needs most though, is a soft top!
4. Tire Size
This is the information that is hardest to obtain while maintaining a covert gift-giver profile – enlisting the help of someone who often sees the Jeep in question may be necessary! Our tire covers come in very specific sizes and in order to make sure that the cover fits perfectly, we need to match the cover size with the number found on the sidewall of the tire. This number is usually in the format of P255/75R17. Once a non-Jeeper has the tire number, the only other thing they need to get a great gift is an idea of the Jeeper’s taste for the cover itself!
With these pieces of information and the help of the gang at All Things Jeep, even the most auto-unaware of the non-Jeepers can find a wonderful gift for the Jeeper in their life!
