Guide · Common Jeep topics
Quick JK questions: floor mats, stubby antennas, hood flutter and gas caps
These questions don’t need a full article, but they come up in Jeep communities every week. Here are the short answers from my 2007 JK and 2015 JKU.
Floor mats
Are Kiwi Masters better than WeatherTech?
For me, yes. My JKU came with WeatherTechs and I swapped them out. The fit is perfect, I like the tire-track pattern more, and they cost less.
Will the same set fit my JK?
Check your year and doors. The set I have is listed for 2014–2018 four-door JKs only, so two-doors and older JKs need a different set. The cargo liner is listed for 2007–2018 and sold separately.
Stubby antenna
How do I get the stock antenna off?
It unscrews counter-clockwise. I used an adjustable wrench. Put something around the base so the wrench doesn’t dent or scratch the paint if it slips. It takes about five minutes.
Will I lose radio reception?
A little. Local stations come in fine, but the stock antenna pulls in more distant stations.
Will a stubby antenna clear a car wash?
Yes. It’s stubby, so it clears the car wash. That goes for any stubby antenna.
Hood flutter
Why does my hood bounce on the highway?
The stock rubber latches wear out and let the hood flutter at highway speed. JL-style replacement latches fixed that on my JKU. No drilling; they bolt on.
The spring mechanism was the annoying part, and I ended up removing it. They’ve worked great since.
Gas caps
Is a locking gas cap a good idea?
Mine wasn’t. The key wouldn’t turn at the pump in the cold, so I returned it. Locking gas cap review →
Do I have to remove the taillight to swap the gas cap cover?
Yes. You pull the driver’s-side taillight to reach the clips holding the old one in. Gas cap cover review →
The parts behind these answers
Kiwi Master floor mats
I swapped my WeatherTechs out for these. Perfect fit, a great tire-track pattern, and about a year of Minnesota slush later they’re holding up awesome.
Rydonair stubby Wrangler antenna
I liked it on my first Jeep, so I bought another for my other JK. It cleans up the profile without the tall stock whip, and the swap takes about five minutes.
KMFCDAE JL-style replacement hood latches
They give my JK the cleaner JL-style look I wanted and are easier to undo than the stock rubber latches. The spring mechanism felt janky, so I took it out—they’ve worked great since.
Xprite gas cap cover
A wheel-pattern cover for the JK’s exposed gas cap. It looks awesome on my JKU, and I pair it with a plain gas cap—not the locking one I returned.
Locking gas cap
The key refused to unlock at the pump in cold weather. Fifteen minutes of panic was enough testing for me.