Reasons why your wife should approve of your next mod...

[WarnerD9]

Since this is a forum who's members intend on doing everything they can think or afford to their vehicles and most of us have to justify, convince, or persuade your spouse to accept or allow your next mod I thought it would be a good idea to share the best and the worst ideas. Because let's face it, sometimes she can be the thing between you and you getting your next mod.

In other words, what did you say or do that got your boss to allow you to or be ok with your next mod?

I have found that the timing, environment and real world examples make a big difference. Here are some of my examples

I wanted to get a rear bumper spare tire carrier, went on a long trip far from home with the wife and kid, sliced the side wall without a spare. - Mod approved

I wanted an aux fuel tank for overlanding and to minimize number of fill ups so I asked my wife to drive my car for a week to see if more guys checked her out in her Jeep or my modded 4Runner. Couldn't stand filling it up so much... Mod approved

Drove up a canyon with lots of deer crossing with my running lights on, almost hit some, suggested that it was unsafe to drive without better lighting. Mod approved, except I took it a little to far.

I wasn't happy with the suspension set up. Took her out on a bumpy trail, overloaded the truck, went too fast. She noticed the truck hitting its bump stops and said the suspension sucked. I agreed and made a proposal. Mod approved.

Less successful but sometimes lucky:

"Remember when we got stuck and..."
"I wouldn't want to risk putting you and the baby at risk, this will eliminate the threat."

Don't try this at home:

"What do you think about?" results in "you already have..."
"Look at that rig, don't you like those..." results in "Don't you like what you've already got?"

What works for you?

 

[GhostRing]

"It's better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission."

 

[WarnerD9]

That is the last resort. The idea is to avoid getting to that point so that you can save those for when you really need em.

 

[LandCruiser]

My wife lets me do whatever I want with the truck and buy guns because it keeps me from bugging her... I just have to buy her nice stuff twice a year and her tastes aren't as expensive as mine.

 

[BucknutBob]

There are times I'm really glad I'm single...and you just mentioned one!

 

[Canazes9]

Boss?

Allow you?

Mod approved?

Bah! Is this the Rosie O'Donnell thread?

WTF?

Hint: Given a choice, women generally prefer a man.

David

 

[WarnerD9]

I'd rather have good company when out and about. The reality is that we all find ways to get it done with or without approval. This about the art of persuasion not escaping prison. Anyone can do whatever they want, this is about doing it well and speeding up the process.
[MENTION=93300]GhostRing[/MENTION], been there done that, as stated earlier, always available as a last resort. [MENTION=92049]LandCruiser[/MENTION], sounds like you got lucky or are really good at picking them. [MENTION=78031]BucknutBob[/MENTION], I would mod your vehicle as much as you can before getting married, its easier that way. [MENTION=96409]Canazes9[/MENTION], obviously you're from TX so I guess laws don't apply to you. Thanks for the hint - a good reminder for the world we live in these days, I totally agree with you. Is your last name O'Donnell? Wouldn't want your wife seeing this either...

 

[Canazes9]

I'd rather have good company when out and about. The reality is that we all find ways to get it done with or without approval. This about the art of persuasion not escaping prison. Anyone can do whatever they want, this is about doing it well and speeding up the process.
@GhostRing, been there done that, as stated earlier, always available as a last resort. @LandCruiser, sounds like you got lucky or are really good at picking them. @BucknutBob, I would mod your vehicle as much as you can before getting married, its easier that way. @Canazes9, obviously you're from TX so I guess laws don't apply to you. Thanks for the hint - a good reminder for the world we live in these days, I totally agree with you. Is your last name O'Donnell? Wouldn't want your wife seeing this either...

'D9

Last attempt at leading you to water....

1) You know whether or not you're being fiscally responsible.

2) You know whether or not you're being a jerk with the play money.

If you answered 1) yes, 2) no then don't ask - tell. If answers are anything else you shouldn't be asking or telling.

Women want to feel secure - one of the quickest ways to undermine that (regardless of how secure financially you actually are) is to make them feel like they're married to a 14yr old boy that would piss away the life savings on cool toys if they weren't there to regulate it. Even women that don't live in Texas have been know to feel that way.....

Get this established and there's nothing to smooth over, nothing to speed up. You'll both be happier that way.

David

 

[slowpoke99]

"It's better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission."

Haha,I learned that from my dad. Which is exactly why my wife won't know about my "lefty" dual case setup I'm ordering from marlin until after it shows up!
Aside from that, I usually don't get crap from her about the little things. She's into everything outdoors but her work hours suck cuz she's a comm officer for 911. she doesn't get mad that I go wheel, hunt, fish, shoot, etc. she gets mad that she "can't" go with me!

 

[WarnerD9]

'D9

Last attempt at leading you to water....

1) You know whether or not you're being fiscally responsible.

2) You know whether or not you're being a jerk with the play money.

If you answered 1) yes, 2) no then don't ask - tell. If answers are anything else you shouldn't be asking or telling.

Women want to feel secure - one of the quickest ways to undermine that (regardless of how secure financially you actually are) is to make them feel like they're married to a 14yr old boy that would piss away the life savings on cool toys if they weren't there to regulate it. Even women that don't live in Texas have been know to feel that way.....

Get this established and there's nothing to smooth over, nothing to speed up. You'll both be happier that way.

David

Now we're talking. Why didn't you say that the first time? Its like you're a different person. I was never proposing that you ask for mods that you can't afford, that's the best way to never. I completely agree with the need to be established and maintain fiscal security at home for a happy relationship. The reality is that we don't "need" 90% or more of what we have if you really think about it.

It takes hard work and discipline to become established and once achieved I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to reward yourself with some perks that are somewhat justifiable. As David said, you know when you can afford it and when you're being a jerk.

The point is to tactfully push the envelope to make the vehicles more capable so that we can enjoy them. I did tell some of my ideas but I am also interested in hearing what works for others, which is why I posed the question on a forum. I sincerely agree with and appreciate your last response. Couldn't have said it better myself. I had just figured that was out of the way already seeing that we're modifying already great and expensive vehicles.

 

[KidVermicious]

A happy wife is a happy life.

Last time my wife came wheeling, she watched a buddy winch himself out of a tight spot. Later that night, completely out of the blue: "Baby, I want you to have a winch".

Uh, okay!

 

[WarnerD9]

[MENTION=49649]KidVermicious[/MENTION], great example. I need to find someone with a classic that has a three and a four link set up. That may be the only way to help her see how superior they are the the leaf set ups on e classics.

 

[RiFF RaFF]

I've found the best way is to take her along on a blue or black trail run, and drop comments like:

"I wouldn't be beating the crap out of (fill in part) with a lift/armor...etc."

"I wouldn't be using so much thin pedal with the proper tires/rims."

and now with her starting to drive mine off road she actually said "I'm glad you did (such and such) to the Badger. How come the shocks feel so squishy? Is there anything we can do to fix it?"

(YES! Bilsteins or Fox!!!)

:happy: :laugh:

 

[kenski]

My wife has no problems with my next mod since the sliders come with a matching Gucci purse.

 

[Red]

My wife has no problems with my next mod since the sliders come with a matching Gucci purse.

Ha, I'm not married....yet. but that's how I keep the GF happy. She doesn't complain about anything I buy, I'm usually pretty reserved as you can tell by my 4Runner. but when I do buy something a little ridiculous, I usually get her a little something just to keep it fair.

so Icon suspension = Louis vuitton

 

[SCRunner12]

GhostRing pretty much summed up my mods for my 4runner. We don't have a lot of money as I'm the only one that works and she is going to school. So when I do buy something it's either with some kind of holiday money, or I'm selling a part to pay for it. She wouldn't understand and it's not worth the trouble trying to convince her. I do tell her about some of the smaller stuff, but how can you explain the need for a supercharger??? haha

She spends plenty of money on herself, so she can't argue usually. I hate hiding it, but she never notices anything I do to the 4runner and I don't spend money on anything else that I don't need (i.e. video games, guns, clothes, ect.). I do talk her into some stuff, but she HATES 4wheeling and me working on my car so it's kind of a pointless battle. She says she can't understand my fascination with it. I can't understand her fascination with going out to the bars and spending $100 in a night and not even remembering it the next day. That usually shuts her up pretty quick. haha

 

[thebrandon]

I never thought about having to ask for permission before. My situation is usually more of, "hey look what I got."

 

[MT4X4]

No wife/girlfriend = no approval necessary :guitar2: