Posted 10.23.26 in Tips & Instructions
The pre-runner look, a row of small lights marching across the top of the grille, is one of the most recognizable styling cues in off-road. It comes from desert race trucks, and it reads instantly even on a stock Jeep. The classic version is a set of amber marker lights, and they do exactly one thing: glow amber.
XKGLOW's XKmax pre-runner style grille light kit gives you that same grille-spanning look and then opens it all the way up. Instead of a fixed amber, each pod runs addressable RGBW with color chasing, controlled from an app. You can still run a clean amber or white for the classic look, or send a color chase flowing across the whole front of the Jeep.
What "Pre-Runner Style" Means on a Grille
Pre-runner grille lights are a line of small LED pods set across the grille, usually just under the hood line. The style is meant to look purposeful and a little aggressive, like a truck built to run the desert, without adding a giant light bar to the roof or bumper.
XKGLOW's kit builds that line out of universal-fit pods that mount to the grille with the included zip ties, so there is no drilling and no cutting. Because the pods are universal rather than molded to one specific grille, you size the kit to your Jeep instead of matching a part number to a year.
Color and Control, Not Just a Static Amber
This is the difference between the XKmax kit and a traditional pre-runner set. A standard grille light kit is a fixed color, usually amber, wired to your parking lights. The XKmax pods are addressable RGBW, which means each pod can run any color and chase or flow patterns across the row rather than just switching on.
You still get the classic look if you want it. Set the pods to a steady amber or a clean white and it reads exactly like a traditional pre-runner grille. The difference is you are not locked into that one color for the life of the kit. It runs 28 or more pre-built chasing themes, a DIY pattern builder, and Music and Speed Sync that reacts to your stereo or your driving.
Control runs through the XKmax app over Bluetooth, the same app as the rest of the XKmax line, plus an optional 4-button key fob. A single controller runs up to 10 lighting zones, there is a turn signal sensor wire so the grille can react to your signals, and a programmable startup mode sets what the lights do when you first power on.
Sizing the Kit to Your Grille
The kit is sold by pod count, so you match it to how wide your grille is and how dense you want the row to look:
- 3-pod kit: $109.99
- 4-pod kit: $119.99
- 5-pod kit: $129.99
- 6-pod kit: $139.99
- 7-pod kit: $149.99
A narrower or more spaced-out look takes fewer pods; a full, evenly packed row across a wider grille takes more. On a Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator grille, most builds land in the middle of that range.
Install
XKGLOW rates the install at 1 to 2 hours, and the pods mount with the included zip ties rather than hardware through the grille, so it stays reversible if you ever change the front end. The kit runs on a standard 11 to 14 volt vehicle system, and the controller handles up to 5 amps per channel over Bluetooth 4.0. Most of the install time is routing the wiring back to the controller and tapping the turn signal sensor wire, not mounting the pods.
Where It Fits in the Whole Jeep
The grille kit is one of the cheapest ways to add a genuinely custom touch to the front of the Jeep, and it is a natural match for XKGLOW's other front-end lighting like the fender vents and headlights. Because it runs the same XKmax app, the grille shares a color and a chase with the rest of the build. It carries XKGLOW's Limited Lifetime Warranty on eligible products once you register it.
If you are still mapping out the build, the guide to choosing LED lights for your Jeep covers where each piece fits, from the grille to the rock lights to the tailgate. Build yours today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do pre-runner grille lights require drilling?
Not with this kit. XKGLOW's pre-runner pods are universal-fit and mount to the grille with the included zip ties, so there is no drilling or cutting. That also means the install is reversible if you swap the front end later.
Can I run the grille lights as a single color like a normal pre-runner kit?
Yes. The pods are RGBW, so you can set them to a steady amber or white for the classic pre-runner look, or run full color and chasing patterns. You are not locked into one color the way you are with a traditional fixed-amber kit.
How many pods do I need for a Jeep grille?
The kit comes in 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7-pod sizes, and you match the count to your grille width and how dense you want the row. A more spaced look takes fewer pods; a full, evenly packed row across a wider Wrangler or Gladiator grille takes more.
Are grille lights legal to run on the road?
The pods are accent lighting, and color rules vary by state, with red and blue commonly restricted for moving vehicles while amber and white are more widely accepted. Check your local vehicle code before running colors on the street, and use the classic amber or white setting to stay conservative.
Can I control the grille lights with the same app as my other XKGLOW lights?
Yes. The grille kit runs on the XKmax app, the same app that controls XKGLOW's rock lights, fender vents, and other XKmax gear, so the grille shares a color and a chase pattern with the rest of the build. An optional 4-button key fob is available if you would rather not use your phone.
