Jeep Wrangler Easter eggs are a beloved tradition amongst Jeep owners. These hidden gems and inside jokes have been cleverly incorporated into Wranglers for over two decades, waiting to be discovered. Easter eggs in Wranglers add an element of surprise and delight for owners, showcasing the sense of adventure and fun that the Jeep brand embodies.
In this comprehensive guide, we will uncover the wonderful world of Jeep Wrangler Easter eggs year by year. From early beginnings in the late 1990s to the latest 2022 models, we will highlight the most iconic and creative Easter eggs Jeep designers have tucked away throughout Wrangler history.
Whether you’re a current Wrangler owner looking to uncover new surprises or a prospective buyer wanting to learn more about these unique traditions, this guide is for you. Let’s get ready to go off-roading on an adventure to discover the beloved Easter eggs hidden in every Jeep Wrangler.
A Brief History of Jeep Wrangler Easter Eggs
Easter eggs first appeared in the 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ, with designers hiding images of the classic Jeep grille in the cowl area. This kicked off what has now become a cherished tradition of hiding fun surprises throughout Wranglers for owners to find.
As the Wrangler has evolved over the years from the TJ to the JK to the JL, Easter eggs have become more abundant and creatively incorporated throughout the vehicle. What started as simple line drawings has transformed into elaborate images and text hidden in plain sight.
Jeep designers have used Easter eggs to pay homage to Jeep heritage, showcase unique abilities, and bring smiles to owners’ faces. For those in tune with Jeep culture, discovering these Easter eggs for the first time is like embarking on a treasure hunt. Let’s now explore them in detail year by year:
1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ Easter Eggs
The 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ models featured the first Easter eggs, setting the stage for two decades of hidden surprises to come. Here are the Easter eggs owners can find in TJ models:
Seven-Slot Grille
The most recognizable Easter egg is the iconic Jeep seven-slot grille hidden in the cowl area between the hood and windshield. Finding this line-drawn grille is like discovering buried treasure for TJ owners.
Drips and Spiders
Early TJ models featured small spider drawings by the fuel filler as well as green drips near the rear wiper fluid, symbolizing the leaks and creaks characteristic of well-loved and well-used Jeeps.
Lizard and Snake
Inside the tire cover on the rear driver’s side wheel well, owners may find drawings of a lizard and snake. These represent the reptiles sometimes found seeking refuge in Jeeps after off-roading adventures.
Climbing Rocks
On the bottom driver’s side of the windshield, some TJ models had a drawing of a Jeep climbing steep rocks. This Easter egg celebrates the Wrangler’s impressive off-road capabilities.
Unique X’s
Certain TJ models featured an X on each headlight. At first glance, these markings may seem arbitrary, but they actually indicated unique details about those specific vehicles.
2007-2017 Jeep Wrangler JK Easter Eggs
When the JK Wrangler arrived for 2007, Jeep designers continued the Easter egg tradition in some clever and memorable ways:
Jeep Grille Outlines
The iconic seven-slot grille makes an appearance in the windshield bottom left corner, gas cap, taillights, and front bumper. It’s a treat to find the unmistakable Jeep grille watching you wherever you go in the JK.
Wrangler Decals
Peeking out from various spots like the windshield and taillights are small Wrangler profile stickers. It’s fun to discover the iconic Wrangler cut out wherever it may hide.
Spider Web
Inside the fuel tank cap is a spider web, representing how nature and mud find their way into Jeeps during off-roading adventures.
Flip Flops and Starfish
In line with the Wrangler’s beachy vibe, flip flops can be found on the fender bolt heads and a starfish on the underside rear bumper. These Easter eggs evoke carefree days by the ocean.
Lizards
The friendly lizard makes an appearance on the cowl and windshield, celebrating the Jeep’s ability to traverse rocky desert landscapes.
Sasquatch
On the rear window, you just might find the elusive Sasquatch, a nod to the Wrangler’s ability to explore uncharted nature.
Climbing Rocks
Similar to the TJ, the JK features an icon of a Wrangler climbing over rocks on the bottom left windshield corner. It highlights the off-road mastery for which Jeep is known.
Tire Tread Fuel Door
Mimicking the ruggedness of the Wrangler, the gas cap has a tire tread design around its edges.
Trailed Jeep Grille
On select models, the trailed grille appears either on the windshield or top of the dash, showcasing motion and adventure.
Toledo Skyline
As a nod to where Wranglers are assembled, certain models feature the Toledo skyline on a rear trim cover. Wranglers proudly represent their city of origin.
2018-2022 Jeep Wrangler JL Easter Eggs
The latest generation JL Wrangler has continued the tradition in delightful ways fans have come to expect:
Jeep Grille
The iconic seven-slot grille makes appearances all over the exterior, including the side mirror, taillights, grab handle, gas tank skid plate, and of course, the windshield.
Trail Rated Badge
This badge signifying the Wrangler’s off-road readiness can be found imprinted in the windshield and on the fenders, celebrating this mighty four-wheel drive machine.
Flip Flop and Beach Ball
Staying true to the Wrangler’s adventurous lifestyle under sunny skies, a flip flop adorns the windshield while a beach ball is found on the underside rear tailgate.
Footprint and Silhouette
Owners may encounter a Sasquatch footprint on the front windshield paired with a Sasquatch silhouette on the rear window, paying homage to the Wrangler’s spirit of exploration.
Spiders and Snakes
Spiders can be discovered on the windshield and cowl, while snakes slither on the JL’s grab handles. These creatures hint at the habitats the Wrangler can access.
Jeep Badge
For a fun hidden design, the JL has Jeep grilles replacing some letters in the JEEP hood badge lettering.
Toledo Skyline
As in the JK, select JL models feature the Toledo city skyline silhouette either on the rear quarter windows or windshield, signaling the JL’s proud roots.
Oscar Mike
“Oscar Mike” appears on the windshield, a military term meaning “on the move” that signals the Wrangler’s powerful forward momentum and capability.
Easter Eggs By Model Year
To summarize Jeep Wrangler Easter eggs discovered so far, here they are organized by model year:
Year | Easter Egg | Location |
---|---|---|
1997-2002 | Seven-slot grille | Cowl |
1997-2004 | Drips and spider | Near rear wiper and fuel filler |
2002-2006 | Lizard and snake | Rear driver’s wheel well |
2004-2006 | Climbing rocks | Bottom driver’s windshield |
2005-2006 | X markings on headlights | Headlights |
2007-2017 | Jeep grille outlines | Gas cap, taillights, windshield |
2007-2017 | Wrangler decals | Windshield, taillights |
2007-2018 | Spider web | Fuel tank cap |
2007-2018 | Flip flops and starfish | Fender bolts, rear bumper |
2011-2017 | Lizards | Cowl, windshield |
2007-2017 | Sasquatch | Rear window |
2007-2018 | Climbing rocks | Bottom left windshield |
2011-2018 | Tire tread fuel door | Gas cap |
2005-2006, 2015-2018 | Trailed Jeep grille | Windshield, dash |
2012-2018 | Toledo skyline | Rear trim cover |
2018-2022 | Jeep grille | Mirror, taillights, handles, windshield |
2018-2022 | Trail Rated badge | Windshield, fenders |
2018-2022 | Flip flop and beach ball | Windshield, rear tailgate |
2018-2022 | Footprint and silhouette | Front and rear windshields |
2018-2022 | Spiders and snakes | Windshield, handles |
2020-2022 | Jeep grille badge | Hood |
2018-2022 | Toledo skyline | Rear windows, windshield |
2021-2022 | Oscar Mike | Windshield |
How to Find Jeep Wrangler Easter Eggs
Now that you know where to look, here are some tips for finding Jeep Easter eggs in your Wrangler:
Learn your model year
Knowing your Jeep’s model year will help you pinpoint which Easter eggs it may feature. Certain Easter eggs only appeared during specific generations like the TJ, JK, or JL.
Search thoroughly
Don’t just glance quickly! Easter eggs are purposefully hidden, so you may have to search thoroughly around the exterior and interior to spot them.
Use a flashlight
To spot small or faint Easter eggs, using a flashlight can help illuminate the images and words tucked away in dim areas.
Grab an inspection mirror
An extendable inspection mirror lets you access hard-to-reach spots where Easter eggs may lurk behind or underneath surfaces.
Join online Jeep communities
Fellow Jeep owners can provide tips on where they’ve located Easter eggs in their models. Online forums are full of useful crowdsourced information.
Have fun exploring!
Half the excitement of Easter eggs is stumbling upon them naturally after inspecting every nook and cranny. Enjoy the hunt!
What the Easter Eggs Mean for Jeep
These hidden gems found in Wranglers over the past 25 years may seem small on the surface, but they represent something greater about the Jeep brand ethos. Namely:
Adventure
Easter eggs like the Sasquatch and climbing rocks celebrate the adventurous, off-road spirit embodied by Jeep and Wrangler owners.
Fun
Whimsical Easter eggs like lizards, spiders, and flip flops showcase the playful, fun side of the Jeep brand.
Ownership
The Easter eggs make owning a Jeep Wrangler engaging and interactive. Discovering them brings joy and excitement.
Community
Sharing Easter egg experiences with fellow Jeep owners creates a sense of community and camaraderie.
Heritage
Nods to the original WWII Jeep like the seven-slot grille pays respect to the long-running brand legacy.
Future Jeep Easter Eggs to Come
If the past 25 years are any indication, Jeep designers will continue hiding Easter eggs for owners to find in future Wrangler models. Here are some predictions:
Nessie the Loch Ness Monster
What better mythical creature to represent exploration of uncharted waters? Keep watch for Scotland’s famous lake monster.
Climbing a waterfall
Waterfalls present the ultimate challenge to ascend in a vehicle. A Wrangler climbing a waterfall would showcase intense off-roading capabilities.
Wrangler on Mars
With the Perseverance Rover, Jeeps have already made it to Mars in spirit. A Wrangler on the red planet would symbolize interstellar adventure.
Climbing Mount Everest
As the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest represents the most extreme peak Wrangler performance could aspire to reach.
Swimming seahorse
To show off the Wrangler’s prowess as an amphibious vehicle, an Easter egg with a swimming seahorse or scuba gear could lie ahead.
Conclusion
For over two decades, devoted Jeep designers have treated Wrangler owners to delightful Easter eggs hidden throughout their vehicles. As we’ve discovered, these Easter eggs reflect the Jeep spirit of adventure, capability, and fun. They transform Wranglers into treasured artifacts with mysteries to uncover for their lucky owners.
This guide has uncovered the most iconic Jeep Wrangler Easter eggs across all model years, from the original seven-slot grille to flip flops and Sasquatch silhouettes. As Jeep writes future chapters in Wrangler history, there will certainly be more Easter eggs to come. Owners and fans eagerly await to see what fun surprises they have in store.
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