What Is Jeep® Ducking?

"Duck, Duck, Jeep!"

So, what is Jeep Ducking, anyway? This gesture involves classic rubber duckies—yes, the type you played with as a kid in the bathtub. Rather than splashing around in the bath or pool, Jeep Ducking involves placing a rubber duck on another enthusiast's Jeep at a car show, in a parking lot, or any other public place. 

Typically, the rubber duck is accompanied by a kind note or a pleasant message written in permanent marker, something along the lines of "Nice Rig," "Love the Jeep," or "You've been Ducked." At its core, Jeep Ducking is an exercise in kindness that spreads love to fellow Jeepers by extending a friendly gesture.

Where Did Jeep Ducking Originate?

Jeep Ducking originated from a single act of kindness from one stranger to another, which eventually boomed into the craze we know today. 

Allison Parliament, the founder of Jeep Ducking and the #DuckDuckJeep hashtag, found herself the victim of a verbal assault at the hands of a stranger while at a rest stop. After the frightening exchange, she stopped at a general store with bags of rubber ducks for sale. With a bushel of rubber duckies in hand, she strolled to the parking lot, only to see a stylish, modified Jeep parked nearby. 

As a means of healing from her exchange earlier in the day, she attempted to right the wrongdoings of one stranger with a kind deed towards another, placing a rubber duck on the mirror of the stranger's Jeep along with the message, "Nice Jeep, have a great day!" 

After noting the fellow Jeeper's bright-eyed, smiling response, Allison built the one-time action into a movement, posting about the positive exchange on social media and crafting the familiar hashtags. The pages were booming within a night, and thus, Jeep Ducking began.

What Are the Rules of Jeep Ducking?

Jeep Ducking is a simple act—however, there are a few basic rules to ensure a kind exchange. 

According to Allison, the rules are relatively lenient as long as you're perpetuating kindness in a friendly and non-invasive manner. Along those lines, some basic guidelines are: 

• No expletives, obscenity, or profanity: Keep the ducks and attached notes clean and friendly. 

• Place the duck on your target's exterior: Avoid any placements that may feel like an invasion of privacy, like tossing the duck through an open window or a gap in the soft top.

• Place the duck in immediately visible areas: The point here isn't to play hide and seek. Instead, place the duck in an area where it'll be immediately found, like the hood, fender, front bumper, or against the windshield. 

• Duck Jeeps and Jeep-like vehicles: While there aren't any rules explicitly against ducking other vehicles, we recommend restricting ducking to Jeeps and Jeep-like rigs, such as Ford Broncos, Suzuki Samurais, Toyota FJs, and Land Cruisers. 

Follow these simple rules, and you'll be ducking in no time.

Personalizations

While using a standard yellow rubber duck is respectable, you can always go the extra mile with personalized ducks. Whether you're writing kind messages and common hashtags or going all-out with glitter, sequins, custom patterns, and paint jobs, a custom duck only adds to the fun. Plus, you can track your duck as it passes from Jeep to Jeep.

Building Your Duck Pond

If you collect enough ducks, build yourself a duck pond. This term refers to stashing several Jeeps on your rig's dashboard, showcasing how many times fellow Jeepers have ducked your rig.

Jeep Ducking and Jeep Culture

Jeepers are a close-knit community. Sports car enthusiasts, classic car nuts, pickup owners, or any other niche pales in comparison. As such, you take on a certain responsibility when acquiring your first Jeep—don't worry, it's not too demanding. 

When you spot a fellow Jeeper, expect a wave or initiate one. Strike up a conversation with the Wrangler owner at the pump beside you. And when you find a rubber duck on your Jeep's hood, keep it or pass it on to another Jeeper—you never know when such a small action may brighten someone's day.

In Loving Memory: Rest In Peace Allison Parliament—the Mother of Jeep Ducking

On June 22, 2024, Allison Parliament passed away unexpectedly from natural causes. As the mother of Jeep Ducking, her passing radiates beyond immediate family and friends to the entire Jeep and automotive community. 

Her story and unique brand of kindness birthed a movement that reached hundreds of thousands of people, and her impact on the community will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Allison Parliament, from the RealTruck staff and me. 

Allison's passing isn't a cause to let the craze fizzle out—instead, it's a call to action to keep her memory alive. So, the next time you spot a bag of rubber ducks at the local grocery store, toss them to your cart, stash them in the glove box, and now, more than ever, get to ducking.