Posted 10.23.26 in Tips & Instructions
One strip of light changes how a Jeep looks at night. A color chase that runs along the hood and the running boards changes it more. XKGLOW built its XKmax Atomix kit to do exactly that.
These are Jeep LED light strips with a controller, an app, and a key fob behind them. They fit the Wrangler JK, Wrangler JL, and Gladiator JT. They mount on 3M adhesive tape and need no modifications to the Jeep.
Jeep LED Light Strips With Per-LED Chasing
Atomix runs on 5th gen addressable LED technology, and the strips are RGB with 16 million colors. Addressable means the controller can drive the LEDs along a strip individually, so a color travels down the strip instead of the whole strip switching at once. That travel is the chase.
Pick a look from 28-plus pre-built chasing themes, then adjust colors, patterns, speed, and brightness, or build your own in the DIY builder. Music, vehicle speed, and acceleration sync are built in, so the strips can follow your stereo or how hard you accelerate.
Search Jeep hood lights and you will find plenty of hood-mounted light bars and cowl kits built to light the road. Atomix is the other thing: accent lighting that adds color and motion to the Jeep, not a beam down the trail.
Hood, Running Board, or Both
The Jeep Atomix kit ships in three versions, and each one includes a 4-button RF key fob.
| Kit | Strips | Controller | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hood | Two 36-inch | 2-channel | $191.99 |
| Running Board | Two 80-inch | 2-channel | $287.99 |
| Hood + Running Board | Two 36-inch, two 80-inch | 4-channel | $383.99 |
The hood kit is the entry point, and the running board kit gives you two 80-inch strips for the sides of the Jeep. If you want both, the combined kit costs less: $383.99 against $479.98 for the two separate kits, a saving of $95.99. Put another way, the hood strips add only $96.00 to the running board kit. The combined kit also has a 4-channel controller, where each separate kit has a 2-channel one.
Prices are as listed on XKGLOW's store at the time of writing. The Atomix product page also sells extra key fobs at $16.79 each and add-on wires in 3, 6, and 13-foot lengths.
The Atomix page lists the Wrangler JK, the Wrangler JL, and the Gladiator JT. It does not list the TJ, so confirm fit with XKGLOW before you order for an older Wrangler. For other vehicles, XKGLOW builds a universal Atomix kit for cars, trucks, ATVs, and UTVs. Its hood and door panel kit uses two 49-inch strips where the Jeep hood kit uses two 36-inch ones.
Install: 3M Tape and No Modifications
The strips stick on with included 3M adhesive tape, and the kit is listed as no modification required. The listing names the hood and the door body panels as placements, and each strip trims to length, so other spots on the body are open too.
XKGLOW's tool list is short: scissors, a 10mm socket, and cleaning solution. The product page also links mounting instructions and an app guide.
The install video on the product page runs about 20 minutes. Its chapters let you jump to the step you need: hood strips at 2:08, running board strips at 9:11, wiring at 12:46, the controller at 16:03, and app setup at 18:00.
Power, Waterproof Rating, and Warranty
The electrical specs are on the product page:
- Input voltage: 11 to 14 volts
- Controller max load: 5 amps per channel
- Connection: Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy
The kit is rated IP67. On the IEC's ingress protection scale, the 6 means no ingress of dust, and the 7 sits on a liquids scale that runs up to 9.
Check the product page for the kit's warranty terms. XKGLOW's warranty page covers LED failure under normal operating conditions, control module malfunctions, and wiring defects. It asks for proof of purchase, and it excludes deep water submersion and high-speed debris impact.
Control: XKmax App, Key Fob, and Sensor Wires
The XKmax app talks to the controller over Bluetooth. Your phone is the main control, and the key fob is the shortcut: its four buttons are programmable for quick access.
One controller handles up to 10 lighting zones, which means separate parts of the Jeep can run separate looks. Three sensor wires tie the strips into your turn signals, daytime running lights, and courtesy lighting. A programmable startup mode sets the animation the strips play when you power up.
The app also lets you set a default mode and reverse a theme. Video walkthroughs on XKGLOW's app tips page cover syncing the lights to your turn signals, adding an RF key fob, building your own theme, and adding accessory lighting to a controller.
More Strips, and the Rest of the Build
The product page invites you to light up more locations. XKGLOW sells add-on Atomix strips for XKmax-series kits: $47.99 for 36 inches, $59.99 for 49 inches, and $83.99 for 80 inches. That listing describes a flexible silicone rubber housing that adapts to 3D body shapes, plus a connector design upgraded from 10-plus years of customer feedback.
Atomix covers the hood and the sides, and for the front end you can pair it with the pre-runner grille lights, which run on the same XKmax app. For glow down low, bring in rock lights. To see where everything else fits, read the Jeep LED lights guide. Build yours today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to run LED light strips on a Jeep?
It depends on your state, so check yours before you drive with the strips lit. Most states restrict accent lighting by color, flashing, and location, and red and blue are the usual targets. A chase pattern may count as a moving light, so save the show for private property and off-road use.
Can you put LED light strips on a Jeep hood?
Yes. XKGLOW's Atomix kit is built for the hood and door body panels of the Wrangler JK, Wrangler JL, and Gladiator JT. The strips mount on included 3M adhesive tape, the kit is listed as no modification required, and each strip trims to length.
How long does it take to install Jeep LED light strips?
Check the product page for the listed install time. XKGLOW's tool list is scissors, a 10mm socket, and cleaning solution. The install video on the product page runs about 20 minutes and covers the hood strips, the running board strips, the wiring, the controller, and the app setup.
What separates a good Jeep LED light strip from a cheap one?
Check four specs: addressable LEDs, a rated waterproof number like IP67, a controller load per channel, and a written warranty term. The Atomix kit's product page lists all four: addressable RGB, IP67, 5 amps per channel, and its warranty terms.
Can you add more strips to an Atomix kit?
Yes. XKGLOW sells Atomix add-on strips in 36, 49, and 80-inch lengths for XKmax-series kits, starting at $47.99 each. Each length comes in left and right versions that differ in where the double-sided tape sits, so match the version to your original strips.
