After 8 Years, Jeep Owner Finally Engages 4WD to Clear Massive Speed Bump
Owner confirms this is “exactly what the build was for” after successfully navigating the grocery store exit
TEMECULA—After nearly a decade and thousands in modifications, routine detailing, and unwavering commitment to looking prepared for any terrain, local Jeep owner Brandon Roberts finally engaged his vehicle’s 4WD system this week to safely clear what witnesses described as a “totally aggressive” speed bump outside his neighborhood grocery store.
According to sources, Roberts approached the obstacle slowly before coming to a complete stop, assessing the line with the focus of someone competing in King of the Hammers.
“He didn’t just send it,” said bystander Mark Dutch, who watched from the cart return. “He rolled up, stopped, reversed a little, then rolled forward again at an angle. I stepped in to spot him, but really he had it down the whole time.”
Witnesses reported that Roberts lowered his windows, turned off the music, and placed both hands firmly on the wheel before engaging 4WD High, a feature that had remained untouched since the vehicle left the dealership eight years ago.
“He muttered something like ‘let me line this up’ and just sat there for a second,” Dutch added. “At one point he leaned out the window to check his clearance. He’s a total pro.”
The Jeep, outfitted with oversized all-terrain tires, a roof-mounted light bar, steel bumpers, recovery boards, a bunch of tanks of gas, a ladder, a tent for some reason, and a winch that has been detailed more than used, appeared more than up to the task of handling this monster, though witnesses say the driver paused halfway through the maneuver to make minor steering corrections.
“This is exactly what the build was for,” Roberts said, standing beside the vehicle with way more pride than it warrants. “You spend years putting this thing together, and you just wait for the right opportunity. Today felt right.”
According to Roberts, the decision to engage 4WD was not taken lightly.
“I’ve thought about it before,” he admitted. “But you don’t just throw it into four-wheel drive for no reason. Conditions have to be there. You’ve got to read the terrain. You have to know what you’re doing.”
Experts say the maneuver, while technically completely unnecessary, represents a growing trend among Jeep owners seeking to validate increasingly elaborate builds that never see anything beyond pavement.