The Jeep Wrangler is one of the most popular vehicle models in America. The vehicle started as a simple two-door model that is specifically designed for off-roading and enjoying an uninterrupted view of the surroundings.
However, the car model quickly grew into multiple variants, including 4-door designs that made the jeep wrangler a car for all kinds of terrains with tons of features that competes with modern 4WD cars.
For that reason, you might be asking “does Jeep Wrangler have a backup camera like most new car models out there?” Read on, if you want the full answer to that question!
What Are Backup Cameras?
Before we head into the details of backup cameras in Jeep Wranglers, you should first understand what a backup camera is and how it functions in a vehicle.
A backup camera is a modern alternative to the rear-view mirrors attached to the top of the windshield.
They’re also known by some people and car manufacturers as “rear-view cameras” because they technically do the same job.
As the name suggests, they’re usually a wide-angle lens attached somewhere in the rear end of a vehicle.
This camera is then connected directly to the main screen of the vehicle’s dashboard, allowing the driver to have a full view of the entire surrounding of the car’s back in the form of a live feed.
Although the camera might be activated manually in some models, they’re usually automatically started when the driver shifts to the reverse gear.
Does Jeep Wrangler Have a Backup Camera?
Now that you have a full understanding of what a backup camera is and how it works, it’s time to answer the main question here.
After a little research, I can safely say that currently, all recent Jeep Wrangler models and updates will come with a backup or a back view camera. In the Jeep Wrangler, they’re located in the slot of the spare tire on the trunk door.
Not only that, but they also come with a relatively premium quality one with high resolution as a standard feature in almost all models.
This answer addresses Jeep Wrangler models and updates that are produced since 2018, including Jeep Wrangler Sport and Sport S, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Jeep Wrangler Moab, Jeep Wrangler Sahara, and all other variants within each model.
Since then, a recently passed law in certain states of the U.S. requires car manufacturers to include the backup camera feature in all of their car and truck models.
However, for models released before the 2018 update, the backup camera won’t be included in the standard package.
The main factor behind passing these laws is that backup cameras might provide a huge safety and convenience edge to the driver than reversing a vehicle with a rear-view mirror, such as a blind spot.
Additionally, if your Jeep Wrangler model is prior to the 2018 update, you can still have a backup camera in your Jeep Wrangler. but more on these topics in the following sections!
What Are the Advantages of Having a Backup Camera?
You might be wondering about the benefits of having a backup camera and whether you actually need one for your Jeep Wrangler. What happened to “good old look in the rearview mirror and drive backward”?.
However, there are tons of reasons why having a backup camera on your Jeep Wrangler is always the ideal decision, which is why backup cameras are now present in all recent Jeep Wrangler models.
Let’s have a quick look at some of the advantages that having a backup camera in your Jeep Wrangler offers:
- They expand the field of view much wider than a rear-view mirror
- They eliminate the blind spots that rear-view mirrors can’t avoid
- They overcome misting and fogging
- They’re proven to reduce the chances of making an accident while parking by 71%
How to Care for a Jeep Wrangler Backup Camera
Luckily, the standard backup camera that comes with the Jeep Wrangler has a remarkable level of durability and is decently resistant to shattering to a certain extent. However, that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to take care of the camera.
According to Jeep, you need to care for the backup camera of your Jeep Wrangler by continually cleaning the lens if any ice, mud, or debris starts to build up in the camera and blocks the view.
To clean the camera, you only need to remove the particle, rinse the camera area with water, and dry the camera with a soft piece of cloth.
What to Do if You Have a Model with No Backup Camera?
One thing you should know is that the 2018 law enforces vehicle manufacturers to include a backup camera in their newly produced vehicles.
However, the law doesn’t make it mandatory for owners of vehicles produced prior to this law to have a camera in their vehicle.
In other words, you won’t be in legal trouble if you don’t have a backup camera in your car. Yet, statistics do show how having a backup camera reduces the chances of accidents by a decent margin!
The good news here is that the market offers tons of backup camera kit options that are available for and compatible with Jeep Wrangler models that don’t have a camera.
To help you choose the ideal backup camera for your Jeep Wrangler and avoid buyer’s confusion, we’ve narrowed down the search for you by picking up the best options on the market. These options are:
These models are all tested by multiple Jeep Wrangler owners from 2007 to 2018 models and have been found to provide optimal performance for various budget options.
Wrap Up
With that said, you now have an answer to the question “does Jeep Wrangler have a backup camera?”.
As of 2018, all the new Jeep Wranglers must have a backup camera that is found on the spare wheel spot.
However, you can still install a backup camera system on a relatively older Jeep Wrangler by choosing a rear-view camera kit, such as the Alpine Electronics HCE-TCAM1-WRA Rear View Camera.