You probably remember the old Cody Crone. The guy with the suspenders, the vintage axe, and the calming Pacific Northwest backdrop. Back in 2010, Wranglerstar was the gold standard for "homestead porn." It was peaceful. It was educational. He taught us how to sharpen a chainsaw, how to build a timber-frame workshop, and how to live a life that felt—well, honest.
But if you’ve clicked on a video lately, you might have felt like you stumbled into a completely different channel. Or maybe you noticed he hasn't been posting the same way. People are constantly asking: what happened to Wranglerstar? Did he get banned? Did he lose his mind? Is he even still a homesteader?
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The reality is a messy mix of platform burnout, a massive shift in personal philosophy, and a very deliberate decision to stop playing the "nice guy" for the YouTube algorithm.
The Pivot From "How-To" to "Proho" Culture
For years, Cody was the ultimate mentor. He was the guy who could explain the difference between a felling axe and a splitting maul without making you feel like an idiot. But something shifted around 2021 and 2022. The content got sharper. The tone got more aggressive.
Honestly, the "homesteading" part of the channel started taking a backseat to what Cody calls the "Professional Homeowner" (Proho) movement.
It wasn't just about gardening anymore. It became about "the coming struggle." He started talking about radio communications, body armor, and how to deal with "unpleasant" urban situations. A lot of long-time fans felt left behind. They didn't want to know about tactical gear; they just wanted to know how to fix a leaky faucet. This pivot wasn't an accident. Cody has been very vocal about the fact that he’s bored with the old "how-to" format. He’s said that after a decade of making the same videos, he’s ready to talk about what actually matters to him: family legacy, self-defense, and traditional masculinity.
The 90% Purge: The Swedish Death Clean
In mid-2025, Cody shocked his audience by releasing a video titled I Got Rid of 90% of Everything I Own.
If you haven't seen it, it's a trip. After his mother entered hospice, Cody had a bit of a midlife reckoning. He realized he was surrounded by "ghosts"—tools for projects he was never going to finish and gear for a version of himself that didn't exist anymore. He called it a Swedish Death Clean.
He didn't just sell a few things on eBay. He cleared out the shop. He got rid of the clutter that defined the Wranglerstar brand for fifteen years. It was a "mission reset." For those wondering what happened to Wranglerstar in terms of his lifestyle, this was the answer. He’s moving toward a much more minimalist, "ready for anything" posture.
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Recent Changes in 2026
- The Weight Loss: Cody recently dropped 11kg (about 24 pounds) in 46 days. He did it without a trainer, using AI to build a diet and workout plan. He's 56 now and looks leaner than he did ten years ago.
- The Family Shift: His son, Jack, headed off to college in late 2025. This hit Cody hard. He’s been posting more about building a family "Warband" and why the modern education system fails young men.
- The "Struggle" Streams: He’s moved a lot of his engagement to live streams. They’re often titled "Struggle Streams" or "Knife and Cigar" chats. They are raw, often politically charged, and definitely not the family-friendly homesteading content of 2014.
Did Wranglerstar Get Banned?
There’s a persistent rumor that Cody was kicked off YouTube. This probably comes from the fact that he’s had several run-ins with the platform's "Safety Guidelines."
He once posted a video about how to create a certain type of "device" involving oil and balloons to deal with hypothetical robot dogs. YouTube didn't find it funny. They pulled the video, and Cody was in the "YouTube doghouse" for a while. He’s also had videos flagged for discussing "antisocial behavior," though he usually adds a disclaimer that his content is "satirical."
He isn't banned. He’s still there. But he is definitely shadowbanned in the minds of many old-school subscribers who just don't get his new vibe.
The Forest Service Fallout
To understand why Cody is so cynical about the government today, you have to look at his history with the U.S. Forest Service. This is a core part of the Wranglerstar lore.
Cody used to work as a wildland firefighter/contractor. He was eventually let go—allegedly because his son, Jack, wore official Forest Service gear in a YouTube video. Cody saw this as a massive overreach and "BS" bureaucracy. That event seems to be the origin story for his "anti-establishment" turn. If you think he’s gone "off the deep end" lately, Cody would probably tell you he just finally woke up to how the world works.
Why the Fans are Divided
The comments section of a Wranglerstar video is a battlefield. You’ve got the "Day Ones" who are mourning the loss of the guy who reviewed axes. Then you’ve got the new crowd who loves the "Proho" survivalist talk.
The "Old School" Perspective
- "He used to be about the work. Now it's just about the gear."
- "He's chasing the algorithm by being controversial."
- "I miss the peaceful shop videos."
The "New School" Perspective
- "Cody is one of the few men telling the truth today."
- "The family legacy stuff is exactly what we need."
- "The Proho movement saved my house."
What’s Next for Wranglerstar?
Cody has openly toyed with the idea of quitting YouTube. He’s frustrated with the "beast" of the algorithm. However, with over 2.5 million subscribers and a massive affiliate marketing engine (selling everything from boots to body armor), he isn't going anywhere soon.
He’s currently focused on finishing his cabin and building a "family compound" mentality. He’s less concerned with being a "teacher" and more focused on being a "leader" for a specific type of modern man.
If you’re looking for the old Wranglerstar, he’s gone. He’s been replaced by a guy who is leaner, more opinionated, and much more focused on survival than shingles. Whether that's a good thing depends entirely on why you started watching in the first place.
Practical Next Steps for Fans:
If you want the old-school homesteading tips, go to his "Playlists" and sort by "Oldest." The 2012–2018 era is still a masterclass in rural living. If you want his current philosophy, his "Shorts" and "Live" tabs are where the real action (and controversy) is happening right now in 2026.