A brief history of the Jeep ducking trend and how you can join this community of Jeep drivers by playing the lighthearted game
Jeep is one of those brands that has a dedicated base of consumers who seem to be tethered to one another through a shared passion for Wranglers, Cherokees and … ducks? Yep, you heard that right. Over the past few years, the social-media-driven Jeep ducking trend has unified Jeep owners, whether they are on road trips or just running errands around town. It’s similar to the way cruise ducks have bonded cruise ship voyagers together with an inside secret.
Jeep ducks are not car gadgets that make driving safer. They are, quite literally, ducks—rubber ones, to be exact. They’re part of a catchy movement that can make driving your Jeep even more fun than it already is. You may even make a few new friends along the way!
Read on to learn what the Jeep ducking trend really is and how you can hop on it.
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Why do people put rubber ducks on Jeeps?
At the heart of the Jeep ducking trend is a desire to put a smile on someone’s face. Jeep owners leave rubber duckies on other Jeeps to surprise the owner. It’s an inside joke and a random act of kindness among fans of this beloved auto brand.
A custom that started after one Jeep owner felt unsafe and unwelcome, Jeep ducking is all about the opposite: making strangers and travelers feel like they are part of something bigger and kinder.
How did the Jeep ducking trend start?
According to ShunAuto, the movement now known as Jeep ducking began in 2020 in Ontario, Canada. After an ugly spat in a gas station parking lot, a Jeep owner named Allison Parliament needed to rely on a friend for a much-needed pit stop to calm down before continuing on the road.
To thank her friend, Parliament bought a bag of rubber duckies and hid them around his house as a joke before road tripping farther north into Canada to reach her family’s home. Before those ducks were scattered around an unsuspecting friend’s home, however, Parliament put a single yellow duck on a stranger’s Jeep in the store’s parking lot, with a simple, sweet note saying “nice Jeep.”
The owner of that Jeep saw her and laughed and then suggested that she post about it on social media. She did, and that was the birth of a movement that now has more than 79,000 fans (and growing) on Facebook. Parliament’s social media group is now the official Jeep Duck account recognized by Jeep itself!
What should you do if you find a Jeep duck?
When you’re surprised by a duck on your Jeep, take a picture and post it on your social media channels with the #duckduckjeep hashtag. That way, other members of the Jeep duck community can find it, like it and comment on your post.
Then, put that duck on your dashboard as a badge of honor, and keep on waving to other Jeep owners you pass on the road. You may choose to keep the duck you were given or opt to pass that duck along to another Jeep driver.
What are the rules for Jeep ducking?
The Jeep ducking trend might seem like a lot to get right—but it’s actually super simple. Here are the only fun “rules” you need to know to join in.
- Be kind: The only real rule of Jeep ducking is kindness. You can buy rubber duckies to keep in your Jeep, then randomly put them on other people’s Jeeps as you see fit. You can also regift one that was left for you.
- Placement of the duck: Most commonly, Jeep ducks are placed just outside the driver’s side window, near the windshield wiper or in front of the inspection stickers, so the driver will easily see it before driving away. Maybe you will choose to leave a duck on a Wrangler because you like the color or on a Grand Cherokee because it’s the exact same model as the one you drive. The choice for placing ducks is all yours, although some people who are into Jeep ducking like to color coordinate the duck to the Jeep or use seasonal ducks to match an upcoming holiday. In short, there are no concrete rules.
Jeep ducking is simple and sweet. Unlike spotting a boot on a fence (which can be a lot more perplexing than seeing a rubber ducky on your Jeep), the Jeep duck trend has one simple goal: spreading joy.
Are Jeep ducks only for Wranglers?
The trend definitely started out as a Wrangler thing, but Jeep ducking is no longer exclusive to that Jeep model. In fact, today, Jeep ducks might be found sitting atop Cherokees, Liberties, Compasses and every other model of vehicle bearing the Jeep logo.
Drivers of other car brands are co-opting the duck trend as they place them on vehicles all over the globe too. The idea is that any extra smiles are welcome, whether they come via a Jeep Cherokee or a Toyota Corolla.
Should you leave a note when Jeep ducking?
If you want to, absolutely! That very first Jeep duck that Parliament left for an unsuspecting car owner had a tiny note, and it quickly became one of the most popular and uplifting stories of neighbors connecting during 2020. But you don’t need to affix any message to rubber ducks while Jeep ducking.
If you do decide to write something, you may choose to briefly describe Jeep ducking to share this new tradition and grow the community. Or you can compliment the person’s Jeep or their funny bumper stickers, make a Jeep- or duck-related pun or simply leave a note of positivity along with the #duckduckjeep hashtag.
What kinds of rubber ducks can you use when Jeep ducking?
Traditional 2-inch rubber ducks that are perfect for bathtub playtime are the preferred choice of Jeep owners looking to leave little surprises in parking lots around the world. You can opt for the classic yellow, get silly with a glittery Jeep duck or leave ducks dressed up as pirates, princesses, pets or superheroes. Basically, whichever duck quacks to you!
The Jeep company itself got in on the act at the 2022 North American International Auto Show. The company’s 8,000-pound, six-story-tall yellow duck was a big hit in Detroit, but the rubber ducks you can use to play Duck, Duck, Jeep are quite a bit smaller!
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Sources:
- Cape Coral CDJR: “The Jeep Wave Explained: Both Honor and Program”
- ShunAuto: “The Mystery Of The Duck Jeep: Unraveling The Dash Ornament’s History”
- MotorBiscuit: “Jeep Hosts the World’s Largest Duck at the Detroit Auto Show”
- Facebook: “Official Ducking Jeep Est2020”
