Rubber Ducks and Secret Waves: Why Everyone Wants to Own a Jeep

Key Takeaways

• More than one in five Jeep owners participate in ducking.
• The average Jeep owner’s “duck pond” boasts six rubber ducks.
• Nearly half of Jeep owners have made friends from ducking.
• Close to 1 in 7 non-Jeep owners are envious of the Jeep community and culture.
• 36% of non-Jeep owners would consider a Jeep Wrangler for their next car.
• 47% of Tesla owners are interested in adopting a Jeep-like culture, and nearly 1 in 4 would consider a Jeep Wrangler for their next vehicle.

It’s a Jeep Thing

A lot of drivers appreciate their vehicles and enjoy showing them off, but no one is more proud than a Jeep owner. When you own a Jeep, you become part of a passionate community with unspoken bonds of friendship. You also enter a unique culture with hierarchies, secret waves, and rubber ducks. (Yes, we said rubber ducks.)

To learn more about Jeep culture and community, we surveyed 398 Jeep owners about Jeep traditions, participation in Jeep events, and personal Jeep preferences. We also surveyed 755 non-Jeep owners about how they view Jeep culture and community.

Now let’s get started and find out what this whole rubber duck thing is about.

What’s with the Jeeps and the ducks?

The newest craze in the Jeep community is ducking: leaving a rubber duck on another driver’s Jeep. Sound random? It is. The phenomenon began in 2020 when Allison Parliament, wanting to spread a little kindness, spontaneously left a rubber duck on a stranger’s Jeep with the note, “Nice Jeep.” She posted the “ducking” on social media and, to her great surprise, it went viral and started a rubber duck gifting movement. Let’s take a look at this ducking trend and see just how far the fad has spread.

Jeep owners worldwide are ducking one another to spread a little kindness. More than 1 in 5 Jeepers said they participate in ducking, with an average of three duckings per month. In return, most Jeepers got ducked twice each month.

In the very unofficial rules of Duck, Duck, Jeep, owners who get ducked can keep the duck or pay it forward and use it in their next ducking. Jeepers were pretty split in their post-ducking decisions: 57% paid it forward, and 43% kept their ducks.

Jeepers who keep their ducks are asked to display them on their dashboard, now nicknamed the “duck pond.” On average, Jeep owners had six rubber ducks proudly wading in their duck ponds; millennials had the most ducks at an average of eight, while Gen Z only had four.

As duckers add to their duck ponds, they have some preferences for the ducks they collect. The classic yellow rubber duck was the most popular; one-third of participants said it was the best duck to get. Another 26% loved getting movie or TV character ducks, and 25% preferred a custom or personalized duckie made just for them.

Whatever style of rubber duck people used, 47% made sure they were that perfect shade of rubber duck yellow. Glow-in-the-dark (27%) was the second most popular color, followed by multicolor (19%), black (17%), and blue (16%).

But the best thing about ducking isn’t the bath toys—it’s putting a smile on someone’s face. One Jeep Wrangler owner described her feelings after being ducked:

It may seem silly that a plastic duck can bring someone that much joy, but we all love feeling special now and then. The happy feelings from ducking are so positive that nearly half of Jeep owners have made friends from it. Besides, the world could always use a little more kindness, so we’re all about it. Bring on the ducks!

The First Rule of the Jeep Wave Is Always Return the Jeep Wave

Ducking is just one example of the strong community within Jeep culture. Another is the Jeep Wave: a secret signal Jeepers give each other as a sign of camaraderie. With multiple signals and a hierarchy of who waves first, the Jeep Wave is far more than a simple “What’s up?” Let’s learn more and see if we can crack the Jeep Wave code.

Not all Jeeps are created equal, and while Jeep owners appreciate all of the brand’s models, there is an unspoken hierarchy among the Jeep ranks that pays respect to the company’s history. The cream of the crop are Jeep CJs, the OG model, followed in release order by YJs, TJs, and JKs. But it’s not just about the Jeep itself—modifications and appearance also come into play.

Jeeps equipped for actual off-roading have more clout than fresh-off-the-lot models. Big wheels, lift kits, off-road bumpers, and winches will earn you respect from other Jeepers. In addition, the dirtier your Jeep, the better. Got a CJ with oversized wheels and body armor caked in mud? Congratulations, my friend—you’ve earned your place as the king or queen of Jeepers.

What does this hierarchy have to do with the Jeep wave? In the Jeep Wave tradition, owners of newer, cleaner, or less modified Jeeps are expected to initiate the Wave as a sign of respect. Higher-ranked Jeep owners reciprocate the Wave once proper credit is given.

As for the Wave itself, there are also multiple options to choose from. You can do a full five-finger wave, a two-fingered peace sign wave, or a two-fingered wave while keeping your hand on the steering wheel. If you’re driving a doorless Jeep, you can even stick your bare foot out the door (preferably when your vehicle is at a complete stop).

If you want to learn more about the Jeep wave, you can talk to other Jeepers at Jeep meetups, like Go Topless Day, attended by about one-quarter of owners. You also attend events to learn about Jeep modifications, including how to up your Wrangler’s street cred.

The most classic of the Jeep models, Wrangler’s are revered above all other Jeeps. But if you want to up your Jeep Wave status, you’ll need to add some mods. The most popular mod is a wheel and tire upgrade for serious off-roading. You can also add LED lights, a lift kit, or roof racks to trick out your Wrangler. Gen Z was especially keen on LED lights and was 43% more likely than millennials to want to add them to their Jeep.

Jeepers also prefer their favorite modified Wranglers in certain colors. Black was the undisputed favorite, with 55% of owners preferring the classic color. Red (19%) was the second favorite Wrangler color, followed by blue (18%), white (17%), and the truly authentic army green (16%).

If you’re after the admiration of a specific generation, you’ll want to be extra particular about your Wrangler’s color. Almost one-quarter of Gen Z (23%) preferred a white Wrangler, 10% of millennials liked orange Wranglers, and 25% of baby boomers admired red ones.

Choosing the right color and mods for your Wrangler can help you climb the Jeep Wave ranks. But, wherever you are in the hierarchy, remember that the Jeep Wave isn’t about asserting your superiority; it’s about showing respect for Jeep’s history, giving credit to adventurous owners, and strengthening bonds within the Jeep community.

Everyone Wants To Be a Jeeper

The strength of the Jeep community is extraordinary. Most vehicle owners keep to themselves behind their glass windshields and steering wheels. But Jeep owners have a deep sense of camaraderie and a unique culture—no other vehicle brand has a community like it. How do non-Jeep owners feel on the outside of this culture club? Let’s find out.

Close to 1 in 7 non-Jeep owners felt envious of Jeep culture and community, and 29% wanted to adopt similar customs and traditions within their own vehicle brand communities. Even fancy Tesla owners (47%) wanted Jeep-like culture and started Tesla meetups to try to build a similar community. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked, as Tesla owners led the pack of vehicle brand communities wanting to create a Jeep-like culture.

The most Jeep-culture-envious vehicle owners were the following:

• Tesla (47%)
• Chevrolet (39%)
• Ford (30%)
• Toyota (27%)
• Honda (27%)

Non-Jeep owners were so eager for Jeep’s sense of community that 36% would consider a Jeep Wrangler for their next vehicle. Drawn to their off-road capabilities (54%), resale value and durability (46%), and iconic design (45%), drivers were ready to jump into a Jeep and start waving at every Jeep owner they could find. Even 1 in 4 EV-inclined Tesla owners would consider a Wrangler; even more might be tempted by the upcoming EV Wrangler.

The vehicle owners most interested in considering a Jeep Wrangler for their next vehicle were:

• Chevrolet (53%)
• Ford (43%)
• Toyota (35%)
• Honda (28%)
• Tesla (23%)

It seems no matter how big your truck is or how much gas your EV saves, it’s still not enough to keep up with the Jeep community.

All About That Jeep Life

Jeep owners are part of a strong community. Regardless of where you stand in Jeep hierarchy, owning a Jeep means gaining the immediate friendship of hundreds of thousands of Jeepers. As a Jeeper, you get to participate in supportive and fun traditions, from random rubber duck acts of kindness to secret signals on the road. There truly is no other vehicle community like the Jeep community. So get out there and find yourself a ducking Jeep!

Methodology

To delve into the world of Jeep Culture, we conducted a survey involving 398 Jeep owners, of which 43% owned a Jeep Wrangler. Additionally, we surveyed 755 individuals who do not own a Jeep.

About ExtremeTerrain

At ExtremeTerrain, our goal is to provide you with the most accurate and reliable information for choosing and buying Jeep parts. We can help you build your ultimate Jeep Wrangler with the dependable performance parts and accessories we offer. Not sure what parts you need or mods you want? All of our technical support staff are knowledgeable Jeep enthusiasts who can help you find exactly what you need to make your Jeep stand out.

Fair Use Statement

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