What Is Jeep® Ducking?

Have you ever driven around Janesville and seen a Jeep® vehicle with one or more rubber ducks on the dashboard? If so, you’re not alone. This trend, simply known as “Ducking” or “Duck Duck Jeep,” has been gaining popularity over the last several years. How did it start, and why do people do it? We cover the unique Jeep ducking history and the reasons behind it below.

After seeing Jeep ducks explained in more detail, be sure to visit Russ Darrow Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Madison to explore our current Jeep inventory and see which of our available models you’d like to take for a test drive!

Jeep Ducks Explained

When you see rubber ducks left on the dashboard of a Jeep vehicle, it’s not just a random assortment. This is usually a collection of “gifts” left by other Jeep drivers. When Jeep drivers see another Jeep vehicle, they’ll typically leave a rubber duck on the driver’s side mirror. The original driver of that Jeep vehicle sees the rubber duck on their driver’s side mirror and usually ends up placing the duck on their dashboard.

If the Jeep driver has more than one rubber duck on their dashboard, it means they’ve been left multiple “gift” ducks, usually by several other Jeep drivers or Jeep fans.

Jeep Ducking Trends

The rubber ducks are the most noticeable aspect of this practice, but there are some other specific Jeep ducking trends that usually take place.

• More often than not, rubber ducks are placed on Jeep® Wrangler vehicles, specifically. In some cases, rubber ducks might be left on other models like a Jeep® Renegade or a Jeep® Compass, but nine times out of ten, it’s Jeep Wrangler models that receive rubber ducks as gifts.
• The rubber ducks are usually left on Jeep Wrangler models by other Jeep drivers. Many people who leave ducks on Jeep Wrangler models claim to be Jeep drivers themselves. However, rubber ducks are sometimes left by Jeep fans who don’t drive Jeep vehicles themselves.
• Rubber ducks are usually left on the driver’s side mirror. This is probably because it’s the most visible to the driver. It’s also the easiest way for the driver to take the rubber duck once they see it. Sometimes, rubber ducks might be placed on the hood, but they’re typically left on the driver’s side mirror.

Jeep Ducking History

When did this all begin? Did it start in Fitchburg or somewhere else? Many people claim that this trend has been around since the 90s, but Jeep ducking started gaining a lot of popularity in 2020. The Jeep ducking trend originated with Allison Parliament, a woman from a small town in Canada.

During the pandemic in 2020, Allison was visiting Canada from the U.S. and encountered an angry driver who claimed Allison was spreading COVID-19 into Canada. This encounter left Allison shaken with emotion for days afterward. While she was visiting a local shop, Allison saw a bag of rubber ducks and originally was going to use them to play a light prank on her friend.

However, when she stepped outside and saw a pristine Jeep vehicle, Allison came up with a slightly different idea. She placed one of the rubber ducks on the driver’s side mirror and wrote “Nice Jeep” on the duck. Allison expressed that the gesture was meant as an act of kindness and a way to spread positivity during the pandemic.

The driver of the Jeep appreciated the gesture so much that they suggested Allison post it on social media. She did just that, and it blew up, with drivers all over the country adopting what’s now a Jeep vehicle tradition.

Find Your Next Jeep Vehicle In Madison!

Now that you’ve seen Jeep ducks explained, you hopefully have a better idea of why this practice has gained so much traction with Jeep drivers. To see why drivers love Jeep ducking and Jeep vehicles, make the trip from Stoughton to our dealership. Explore our current Jeep inventory, and see our current new vehicle specials!