There's always a sense of camaraderie, even if unspoken and not acted upon, between owners of the same brand, whether it's phones or cars, much like fans of the same music artist will stick together. But few other virtual and physical communities are as tight-knit and awesome as the Jeep community.
At the 2022 Detroit Auto Show, Chrysler pulled what might have seemed the most random PR stunt in the history of the event, putting a giant duck on display right at the entrance. Mama Duck, billed the "world’s biggest rubber duck," was actually a tribute to Jeep ducking, a common behavior with Jeep owners consisting of leaving rubber duckies to each other.
The trend started in 2020 when Allison Parliament saw a Jeep she liked in a parking lot and, wanting to show her appreciation for it, left on the hood a rubber duck she happened to have just bought. The owner caught her red- duck-handed, so she explained her reasoning and then, at his suggestion, posted the "ducking" to social media. The rest was digital history, as they say.
Ducking is still a thing with Jeep owners three years after it blew up on the socials. It's not just a trend anymore; it's a sign of appreciation and a way of spreading the joy. It's the feeling of Christmas morning packaged inside a rubber duckie, preferably yellow, according to a new survey by Extreme Terrain.
Extreme Terrain offers parts, services, and support for Jeep owners, so they had the perfect pool of respondents – and the right questions to ask. They interviewed 398 Jeep owners, 43% of whom owned a Jeep Wrangler, and 755 respondents who didn't own a Jeep (but many wished they would). As it turns out, one in five Jeep owners actively participates in ducking, getting ducked about twice a month and ducking others thrice in that same timeframe.
Photo: Extreme Terrain
Those who take part in this form of spreading the joy have an average of six ducks in their duck pond at all times. It's ok if you're slightly confused about what this might mean: duckers who choose to keep the ducks they get (as opposed to paying it forward) must display them on their dashboard, aka the duck pond. They also start collecting them, choosing only those they like the most.
Speaking of likes, classic yellow rubber ducks are preferred, with a 33% vote. Other duckers prefer to receive a movie or a character duck (26%) or a custom or personalized one (25%). A vast majority (73%) of Jeep owners who duck others post the ducking to social media because this is also a form of spreading the joy.
The survey also looked at other ways in which Jeep owners bond, including by doing the secret (not really) Jeep Wave and verbally showing appreciation for older Jeeps and mods. The Wrangler is the most popular Jeep – the dirtier, the better.
Black is the best color for a Wrangler, 55% of respondents said, bringing a hint of a smile on Wednesday Addams' face. Preferred modifications include upgraded wheels and tires (38%), LED lights (26%), lift kit or roof racks (24%), and speaker system (20%).
Jeep envy is also a real thing, according to this survey. 47% of Tesla owners said they'd like to build a similar community, but it was Chevrolet owners who fessed up to considering a Wrangler for their next vehicle (53%), followed by Ford (43%) and Toyota (34%).
A little yellow rubber duck didn't start the amazing Jeep community, but it sure helps with keeping it this awesome.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News