To Debadge or Not To Debadge

[desertkj]

Well, since I have a month off and the weather is getting nice in AZ, I can actually start to detail the Jeep again. However, this has me thinking. Should I debadge the Jeep or not? Personally, I can't decide.

 

[Atrus]

I like the debadged look, I think it looks much more rugged. That's one of the first things I did on mine, it had less than 1k miles when I ripped them off.

 

[2003KJ]

leave it alone!!!!

 

[JeepJeepster]

I like the Jeep and liberty badge on the side. I also like the Trail rated badge since mine looks more rugged than a stock Jeep.

I hope youve removed the dealer tag. If not, get that thing off there. Taking everything off the back and leaving just the 3.7 badge would probably look good.

 

[valvestem]

Debadge, as they will peel and fade anyway.

 

[tommudd]

take em off take them all off make it naked!!!! I debadged mine the first few months I had it, took off the hood first, then rear and finally sides, The ones on the hood make the most difference I think so much better and sets them off from all the others!

 

[Dave]

Desert.....I voted to leave it alone.

What I did was take the dealer decal off as soon as I got it home in the driveway. The other stuff is still there. I also took off the licence plate frames with the dealer advertisement off and replaced them. I won't mess with the decals unless they fade or peel or otherwise "get funky".........So far they are ok on mine.

Just my .02

You need to do whatever you think/like best.

Dave

 

[desertkj]

Well, I decided to debadge and I am done with 3/4 of the Jeep. The metal started to get cold, so the decals were becoming stubborn. Also, my fingers are blistered and bleeding from the fishing line, so decided to call it a day. However, it looks spectacular already. I am removing every decal and badge on the thing and detailing it tomorrow, maybe even Zainoing it.
It looks like new and looks more like a truck now.

 

[BillyBones]

I'm proud it's a jeep, I leave the info on. But then again, I'm crazy.

 

[a4dp]

I'm proud it's a jeep, I leave the info on. But then again, I'm crazy.

I'm the same way, I've never understood debadging. I think it makes cars look generic.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Debadging? For what? I'd like people to know what I'm driving, and if that was the case, I'd have ordered a Jeep without badges and saved a dollar or so.

 

[tommudd]

debadging makes a vehicle more personal I think, people have been doing this as a way of cheap customizing for 40/50 years. Why pull in to a parking lot with 50 other KJs all looking the same? I have gotten a lot of compliments on mine with some thinking it was some sort of one off build or something and they were driving a KJ If you dont know what kind of car/ whatever is beside you in traffic without the badging then youre just a driver not a car nut !

 

[AlexKJ]

In my country we have a lot of people who professionally dedicates their entire lives to debadge cars for free... Even more, they performs the debadging service while you are away so they work don't bother you! Still, there are 2 things that I found really weird:

1.- If a policeman sees a debage professional doing his work, the policeman yells, the professional run and if the policeman caught him, the professional goes to jail...

2.- When the owner comes back to his vehicle and see it completely debadged they typically seems so pissed off...

The only explanation that I found is because they -the policeman and the owner- probably have higher standards for debaging techniques

*Sigh...* If only I could understand them...

 

[Welsh Dragon]

The jeep badge on the hood (bonet where I come from) on my cherokee (liberty) has started to peel needs to be removed. Should I replace it or leave it off - not sure? I have however found a specialist badge in the same lettering as the cherokee on on the side doors (maybe that's a little more individual). Either way whats the best method of removing badges without damaging the paint work?

 

[Marlon_JB2]

I say get rid of it and replace it with the version they used starting with the 2005s.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Here's a twist!
I'd like to remove the Liberty badging and replace it with the European Cherokee badging.
Kind of like the VW guys who own late model Jettas and swap out their badging for the Euro Bora insignia.
I think that would make out KJ stand out more.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

I've been wanting Cherokee badges for years.

 

[csukoh78]

Take them off....looks a lot more rugged without them

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[Atrus]

Debadging? For what? I'd like people to know what I'm driving, and if that was the case, I'd have ordered a Jeep without badges and saved a dollar or so.

I don't really care if people know what I am driving. Sorry, but if you're dumb enough that you can't recognize a Liberty when there's almost always at least one other in sight of me most of the time, then I don't really care what you think

Easier to clean, looks much smoother, and in my opinion it looks more rugged without them.

What does aTrail Rated badge prove? That I have 4 wheel drive? Oh, yeah, like the other 90% of them that never leave the pavement? I don't care - let someone get snooty and look down on mine because they think it's "base" or not trail rated. I'll gladly prove them wrong.

I removed all badging on my prix as well, and simply stuck a black reflective vinyl "GT" on the front fenders. Looked sleek IMO. The rear of the KJ looks more smooth without them, and as I said, I think the front looks more tough.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

I don't really care if people know what I am driving. Sorry, but if you're dumb enough that you can't recognize a Liberty when there's almost always at least one other in sight of me most of the time, then I don't really care what you think

Easier to clean, looks much smoother, and in my opinion it looks more rugged without them.

What does aTrail Rated badge prove? That I have 4 wheel drive? Oh, yeah, like the other 90% of them that never leave the pavement? I don't care - let someone get snooty and look down on mine because they think it's "base" or not trail rated. I'll gladly prove them wrong.

I removed all badging on my prix as well, and simply stuck a black reflective vinyl "GT" on the front fenders. Looked sleek IMO. The rear of the KJ looks more smooth without them, and as I said, I think the front looks more tough.

Trail Rated badge proves what Jeep says it does... not that you have 4 wheel drive.

(And FYI: Some people at my work can't even tell what a car is even by looking at the badges.) As enthusiasts we're an extreme minority: Case in point, some of my valet tickets:

1. Mitsubishi Crossfire
2. Chrysler Town Car
3. Dodge Majestic (Conversion van manufacturer)
4. Lincoln Varsity (Dealership name)
5. Chrysler Durango
6. Jeep 4x4 (USUALLY a Liberty, you should know this ****** me off )
7. Ford Neon
8. Mercury Taurus
9. Chevrolet Yukon
10. Cadillac Town Car
11. Jeep Laredo
12. Pontiac Lumina
13. Ford Truck (You don't know what an F-150 is?)
14. Mazda Truck (Hello? B-Series anyone?)
15. Buick Ultra