Posted 10.23.26 in Tips & Instructions
Jeep whip lights do something almost no other accent light does: they stand up out of the Jeep's outline. That makes a whip the first light a stranger reads and the first one a cheap kit gives away. Two things expose a cheap whip: visible LED dots and a base that gives up on the first branch. Done right, a whip is also the light that gets you asked what kit that is.
XKGLOW's XKmax RGBW LED whip lights go after both, starting at $299.99 for one 48-inch whip. A COB LED strip gives one continuous glow, a spring-loaded base takes the hits, and addressable RGBW runs 28-plus chasing themes from the XKmax app. XKGLOW titles the kit "For ATV, UTV & Truck" and calls it universally compatible. It also lists the kit in its Jeep LED Lights category, but the product page names no Jeep model or year.
What Sets These Jeep Whip Lights Apart
Start with the strip. XKGLOW built the COB LED strip to remove the visible dots of a standard LED strip, so the whip reads as one continuous line of light. Behind it sits XKmax's 5th-gen addressable LED technology, with 16 million RGB colors and a dedicated pure white LED. XKGLOW's page rates the LEDs up to 40% brighter than competitors.
The base is the other half. It detaches, it is spring-loaded, and XKGLOW rates the design impact-resistant and easy to transport. The kit carries an IP67 waterproof rating, which XKGLOW says makes it trail-ready in any weather, and the page lists updated waterproof connectors.
The three standalone kits each list a 12V DC input, a 2-channel controller, Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, and one remote key fob. A 48-inch whip is rated at 45W and a 32-inch whip at 27.6W, so two 48-inch whips total 90W, about 7.5 amps at 12V.
Pick Your Kit: Sizes and Prices
| Kit (SKU) | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1pc 48in (MX-WHIPB-STA) | One 48-inch whip, controller, key fob | $299.99 |
| 2pc 32in (MX-WHIPC-ADV) | Two 32-inch whips, controller, key fob | $443.99 |
| 2pc 48in (MX-WHIPB-ADV) | Two 48-inch whips, controller, key fob | $479.99 |
| Hitch combo 32in (MX-HITCH-WHIPC) | Two 32-inch whips plus hitch mount plate | $659.98 |
| Hitch combo 48in (MX-HITCH-WHIPB) | Two 48-inch whips plus hitch mount plate | $695.98 |
| Add-on 32in (MX-WHIPC) | One 32-inch whip for an existing XKmax kit | $227.99 |
| Add-on 48in (MX-WHIPB) | One 48-inch whip for an existing XKmax kit | $263.99 |
Prices are from XKGLOW's product pages at the time of writing.
If two whips are in your plan, buy the pair up front. The jump from one 48-inch whip to two costs $180 inside the kit, while a standalone 48-inch add-on whip costs $263.99. The 1-piece kit plus a 48-inch add-on therefore runs $83.99 more than the 2-piece kit.
Length is a $36 decision. The 48-inch pair costs $36 more than the 32-inch pair and adds 16 inches to each whip.
Check the app named in the product title before you order. XKGLOW also lists older XKchrome whips that run the XKchrome app, and the add-on whip works only with XKmax products. The XKmax whip kit's page lists a 5-year warranty, and XKGLOW has you register products to activate coverage.
Mounting Jeep Whip Lights With the Hitch Step
XKGLOW's whip pages point to one mount: its hitch receiver step, designed and manufactured in house. It has three pin holes for universal fitment with 2-inch receivers, a locking hitch pin, and five 1/2-inch accessory mounting holes. Removable plates let you color-match it to the Jeep, and it carries a one-year coating warranty plus a limited lifetime structural warranty. XKGLOW pitches the step for taking off a soft top or loading a roof rack, two jobs a Wrangler owner knows.
The hitch step combo bundles two XKmax whips with the step, and XKGLOW rates that install at under an hour. The step also sells alone at $215.99, so the combo costs exactly what the 2-piece kit and the step cost separately.
The standalone kit rates 2 to 3 hours, and its page offers a hitch mount and tow plug wire as a $214.48 upgrade. The step itself is built for 2-inch receivers. Without one, the whip pages list no Jeep-specific bracket, so you find your own mount and read the kit's mounting instructions against your Jeep first.
Control: The XKmax App, Key Fob, and Sensor Wires
XKmax whips run on the XKmax app over Bluetooth, with a 4-button RF key fob you can program for quick access. The app carries 28-plus pre-built chasing themes, a DIY builder for colors, patterns, speed, and brightness, and Music and Speed Sync that follows your stereo, your speed, or your acceleration. One controller runs up to 10 lighting zones. XKGLOW's support videos walk through the app, including setting a default look and making a startup animation.
Three sensor wires tie the whips into the Jeep. They sync the lights with turn signals, brakes, and courtesy lighting, and a programmable startup mode sets what the whips do at power-on. XKGLOW's page lists sequential turn signal and brake light integration, so the whips can follow your signals. Color and flash rules for the road vary by state, so check your vehicle code before wiring show patterns to anything traffic sees.
Build Out the Rest of the Jeep
The kit page offers a "Make it even brighter" option with XKmax rock pods and 12-inch or 24-inch tubes. Other options add extra wire in 3, 6, and 13-foot lengths and extra key fobs at $16.79 each. XKmax Jeep rock lights use the same Bluetooth app control and 4-button key fob, so the glow at the wheels can match the whips.
The pre-runner grille pods put XKmax color across the front, in kits of three to seven pods. For the order to buy in, the guide to choosing LED lights for your Jeep maps each piece to the job it does.
Settle the mount first: a Jeep with a 2-inch receiver can take the hitch step combo at $659.98 or $695.98. A Jeep without one means finding your own mount before the $299.99 single-whip kit makes sense. Everything after that is count and length, and length costs $36. Build yours today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do XKGLOW whip lights fit a Jeep?
They can, but XKGLOW names no Jeep model or year on the product page. The kit is titled "For ATV, UTV & Truck," called universally compatible, and listed in the store's Jeep LED Lights category. A Jeep with a 2-inch hitch receiver can take the hitch step combo. Any other mount is yours to source.
How do you wire LED whip lights on a Jeep?
XKmax whips take a 12V DC input and a 2-channel controller. Three sensor wires can tie them to turn signals, brakes, and courtesy lighting, and a programmable startup mode sets what they do at power-on. XKGLOW rates the standalone kit at 2 to 3 hours to install.
Are LED whip lights legal on the road?
It depends on your state and how you run them. Flashing lights and red or blue colors are commonly restricted on moving vehicles, and the XKmax whip page states no road-legal rating. Keep show colors for off-road or parked use, and check your local vehicle code before driving with them lit.
How much do XKGLOW whip lights cost?
A single 48-inch XKmax whip kit costs $299.99. The 2-piece kits cost $443.99 in 32-inch and $479.99 in 48-inch. The hitch step combo, with two whips and the step, costs $659.98 or $695.98. Prices are as listed on XKGLOW's product pages at the time of writing.
Which whip size is better for a Jeep, 32-inch or 48-inch?
The 48-inch whip gives more height and is rated at 45W against 27.6W for the 32-inch. The 48-inch pair costs $36 more. Pick the 32-inch if your Jeep spends time under garage doors or trail brush, and the 48-inch if you want the whip seen first.
