The First Things I Bought for My Jeep: Not Glamorous, But Necessary
In college, I drove an old-school Jeep Cherokee. You know, the gloriously boxy kind. It had a forest green exterior, beige interior and enough room to carry my life across the country when I moved to San Diego. I loved that vehicle.
Unfortunately, after a few years in San Diego, I had to retire the keys because it needed more repairs than I could reasonably justify. That began my 19-year purgatory with a Toyota Corolla.
Nothing against Toyota. That car reliably got me from Point A to Point B. It also gave me a decent arm workout every time I rolled down the manual windows. But it was never my dream car.
Anywhoooo…I finally got my dream soft-top Jeep Wrangler at the beginning of this year. It was the vehicle I had been pining for over the last 12 years, and naturally, I immediately started buying things for it.
Were they glamorous? Absolutely not. Were they necessary? Mostly. Here are the first things I bought for my Jeep.
Sidenote: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
As a single person without a garage, I’m glad I chose a soft top. It’s easy to flip open the front section for an afternoon drive or put the full top down for a beach day. The Bestop cleaner and protectant products have helped me keep the soft top clean, protected and looking fresh.
Microfiber Car-Cleaning Cloths
The plastic windows on a soft-top Jeep require special care because they can scratch easily. I only use microfiber cloths when cleaning mine. They’re inexpensive, reusable and something every soft-top owner should keep nearby.
Silicone Car Cup Holder Coasters
Because the cup holders are built into the console, I wanted something at the bottom to catch leaks and spills. These silicone coasters fit perfectly inside the Jeep cup holders, are easy to remove and prevent mystery liquids from collecting at the bottom.
Waterproof Car Cover for a Jeep Wrangler
We don’t get much rain during San Diego summers, but I still wanted a backup for the nights when the top is down and rain unexpectedly enters the forecast. This waterproof cover can be thrown over the Jeep in seconds, which is far easier than wrestling the entire top back into place at the last minute.
Soft-Top Straps for a Jeep Wrangler
When I put the soft top down at half-mast or fully open, I need to secure it so it doesn’t catch the wind and fly me to Mexico. These Velcro straps have a strong hold and keep everything safely in place.
Keeping the interior fresh isn’t optional. It’s a necessity. I’ve always trusted Armor All for my car interiors, and these wipes make it easy to give the dashboard and other surfaces a quick refresh.
Two-Row Custom-Fit Floor Liners
Living in a beach city, I did not want my Jeep to become a rolling sandbox. These floor liners make it much easier to vacuum up the sand, dirt and whatever else follows me home from the beach.
DRIFT Three-Pack Wood Car Air Freshener Starter Kit
I love the nostalgia of those little tree air fresheners from the ’90s, but as an adult, I have graduated to a more sophisticated scent portfolio. The DRIFT wood air fresheners look good, smell good and come in several distinctly grown-up scents.
Bonus: Jeep Full-Zip Hoodie from Abercrombie & Fitch
Is a Jeep sweatshirt technically a vehicle accessory? No. Did I still need one? Obviously.
This hoodie keeps me cozy on cooler nights when I’m driving home with the Jeep topless. I’ve always liked the quality of Abercrombie sweatshirts, and this one felt like an appropriate addition to my new Jeep era.
These may not be the most glamorous Jeep purchases, but each one has made owning a soft top a little easier, cleaner or more fun.
And let’s be honest, this is only the beginning. I waited 12 years for this Jeep, so I’m clearly not finished accessorizing it yet. As I discover more practical, fun and completely unnecessary additions, I’ll keep adding them to my Jeep Life ShopMy collection.
