Posted 10.23.26 in Tips & Instructions
Underglow turns the ground under a Jeep into part of the build. Color spreads from beneath the body, and the whole rig looks lit from below. It also hangs low, in the zone a lift kit exists to get you out of.
That is the catch with any underglow Jeep build: the right kit depends on how your Jeep sits. XKGLOW's XKmax underglow kit fits a Jeep at or near stock height. A lifted trail rig is better served by two other XKGLOW kits.
Underglow Jeep Fit: Stock Height or Lifted
Underglow mounts under the body, and XKGLOW lists its kit as a universal fit that names Jeeps among the vehicles it suits. On a Jeep that rides at or near factory height, underglow makes sense: a daily-driven Wrangler or a Gladiator that lives on pavement.
A lifted rig that sees real trail time is a harder fit. Rocks and ledges find the underbody first, and XKGLOW's warranty excludes physical damage, including impacts or collisions. XKGLOW describes its underglow tubes as impact-resistant and rugged for underglow and interior use, and the aluminum housing on its rock light pods as built for tough off-road conditions. Those are different promises.
Google's results for underglow Jeep blend rock light pods with underbody strip kits, and XKGLOW's own store files its rock lights for trucks and Jeeps under Underglow Lights. Pick by how your Jeep sits:
- Stock or near-stock height, mostly pavement: the XKmax underglow kit below.
- Lifted and trail-driven: XKmax rock lights, from $287.99 for four pods.
- Lifted and show-first: Atomix body strips on the hood and running boards, from $191.99. They stick on with 3M tape, suit the JK and JL Wrangler and the Gladiator JT, and ride on the body, so lift height does not change how they look.
What the XKmax Underglow Kit Gives Your Jeep
The motion comes from addressable RGBW LEDs. On a plain RGB tube the whole tube shows one color at a time. On an addressable tube a band of color can run from one end to the other. The LEDs also pair RGB chips with dedicated white chips, which adds a pure white to 16 million RGB colors.
The XKmax app, which connects over Bluetooth, runs the kit, and a programmable 4-button key fob handles quick changes on the kits that include one. The app holds 28 or more ready-made chase themes, lets you edit their speed, brightness, colors, and patterns, and has a builder for designing your own. Sync mode keys the effect to the music, your road speed, or your acceleration.
A single controller can run up to 10 lighting zones, so each zone can carry its own look. Three sensor wires let the kit respond to your turn signals and brakes, and to courtesy lighting, and you can program the startup mode. The controller accepts firmware updates, and the tubes carry an IP67 rating.
Which XKmax Underglow Kit to Buy
The product page sells four kits, and only three of them put light under the Jeep. All prices below are list prices as of this writing.
| Kit | Contents | Controller | Key fob | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior (MX-CAR-MINI) | Four flex strips | 2-channel | None | $179.99 |
| Underbody (MX-CAR-STA) | Eight 24-inch tubes | 2-channel | None | $341.99 |
| Interior + Underbody (MX-CAR-ADV) | Eight 24-inch tubes, four flex strips | 4-channel | 1 | $449.99 |
| Interior + Underbody + Wheel (MX-CAR-PRO) | Eight 24-inch tubes, four flex strips, four long flex strips | 4-channel | 1 | $587.99 |
The Underbody Kit is the pure underglow buy: eight 24-inch tubes, or 16 feet of tube. It ships without a key fob; adding one costs $16.79, which brings the kit to $358.78. XKGLOW's app tips page has a walkthrough for adding an RF key fob to your kit through the XKmax app.
The Interior + Underbody Kit is the value pick. It costs $71.99 less than the Interior and Underbody kits bought separately ($521.98), and it replaces two 2-channel controllers with one 4-channel controller and includes a key fob. The top kit costs $138.00 more than the Interior + Underbody Kit and adds four long flex strips. XKGLOW sells its wheel light kit, with its own controller, as a separate add-on at $551.99.
The add-on menus overlap, so you can begin with whichever kit matches your ride height and add the other style later. The underglow page sells rock pods (two for $107.98, four for $215.96), and the rock light page sells 12-inch and 24-inch tubes. Extension wires come in 3-foot, 6-foot, and 13-foot lengths.
Installing Jeep Underglow: Time, Power, Warranty
Budget 2 to 3 hours, the range the product page lists for the install. The kit comes with mounting hardware, and the page links mounting instructions, an app guide, and support videos. XKGLOW's 11-minute install video covers an underglow-and-interior kit on a Subaru BRZ, not a Jeep. Its chapters run from planning the tube locations through placing the front strips, then the side and rear tubes, to connecting the controller.
The video's tool list:
- Jack and jack stands, if needed
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Side cuts
- Body clip tool (optional)
- Alcohol and a rag
- Fishing wire
- Drill
The video tests the tubes before it wires the cab and tidies the wiring last. Copy that order on a Jeep: confirm every tube lights before you hide any wire. If you would rather not do the install yourself, the product page's Find an Expert link opens XKGLOW's dealer locator.
The controller takes a 12-volt DC input and is rated 60 watts per channel, in 2-channel and 4-channel versions. Even if all eight tubes shared one channel, the Underbody Kit would stay under that rating.
Check the product page for the kit's warranty terms. XKGLOW's warranty page covers eligible products for LED failure under normal operating conditions, wiring defects, control module malfunctions, and manufacturing defects. Register the kit to activate the coverage, which assumes proper installation and standard on-road and light off-road use. Deep water submersion and high-speed debris impact fall outside it.
What This Means for Your Jeep
Ride height sets the build, and the totals land close together. A stock-height Jeep gets the Interior + Underbody Kit at $449.99. A lifted Wrangler JK, JL, or Gladiator JT gets four rock pods ($287.99) plus the Atomix hood kit ($191.99), $479.98 together. A Jeep that splits time between pavement and light trails can start with the Underbody Kit and add two rock pods, $449.97 together.
Underglow is one layer of a full Jeep LED build, and every XKmax piece runs from the XKmax app. Build yours today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best underglow lights for a Jeep Wrangler?
XKGLOW's XKmax underglow kit is the pick for a Wrangler at or near stock height. It chases color through addressable RGBW tubes, controlled in the XKmax app, and kits above the Underbody Kit add a key fob. A lifted Wrangler is better served by rock lights or Atomix body strips.
Can you put underglow on a lifted Jeep?
You can, but it is a harder fit. Underglow tubes live under the body, where rocks and ledges land, and XKGLOW's warranty excludes impact damage. Rock lights suit a lifted trail Jeep, and Atomix body strips suit a lifted show Jeep.
Is underglow legal on a Jeep?
Rules depend on where you drive, because state laws range from a few color rules to an outright ban on public roads. Red and blue are restricted almost everywhere, and flashing or pulsing effects in many places. Chase patterns may count as flashing, so keep them to private property and the trail.
Does underglow drain your battery?
Only if you leave it on with the engine off. All eight Underbody Kit tubes together stay under the controller's 60-watt channel rating. A running Jeep's alternator covers a load that small, so switch the lights off when you park.
How much does underglow cost for a Jeep?
At list prices as of this writing, XKGLOW's Underbody Kit costs $341.99, the Interior + Underbody Kit $449.99, and the Interior + Underbody + Wheel Kit $587.99. A key fob for the Underbody Kit adds $16.79. Installation is listed at 2 to 3 hours.
