Rubicon Steel Bumper Fitment questions

[foxwalkhq]

I have a few questions about getting the Rubicon steel bumper installed aftermarket.

I've seen videos on installing it where they talk about a plastic skid plate, and then also talk about getting a steel skid plate for the steel bumper.

My Rubicon has a steel skid plate but the plastic bumper..

Is it the same skid plate that is needed for the steel bumper or is there a separate steel skid plate made just for the steel bumper?

Also in a video that Brad (Trailrecon) made about installing the steel bumper on his wife's Jeep JL there's mention of these Mopar nut inserts... and that if your Jeep didn't come with the steel bumper from the factory the two holes on each side needed to fasten it don't have the nut inserts installed.. I'm not sure if his wife's Jeep was a Rubicon or not, but does the Rubicon come with the nut inserts in the right place or do I have to install them?

Also are there any considerations that need to be made for the airbags to continue to work? I didn't see this in the install videos I've seen.

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[mdyucca]

The steel bumper with the steel skid plate requires a bracket that mounts to the frame with the use nutzerts. The bracket has a nut welded to it where the rear lower corners of the steel skid plate are bolted. I purchased the nutzerts through Northridge.
I doubt a steel skid plate designed for a plastic bumper will bolt up to a steel bumper. However, with fabrication most anything can be accomplished.
Just pull the existing skid plate and see if the nutzerts and brackets are there. You may be able to, useing a flashlight, just look under and through the openings in the frame to determine if the nutzerts exist on your truck.
Good question Re. airbags. I don’t know how they are activated. I would think with some sort of impact sensor. I will keep an eye on the responses and learn something new.
Have fun with the build!

 

[JRobes]

Look through this thread
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/installing-stock-rubicon-skid-plate-on-sport.26170

 

[DocMike]

Don't forget....If you are not running a winch, you need a different plate for the space between the bumper and the grill. The plastic one is not the same.

 

[mdyucca]

Look through this thread
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/installing-stock-rubicon-skid-plate-on-sport.26170

Wish I would have seen this a year ago.

 

[foxwalkhq]

Look through this thread
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/installing-stock-rubicon-skid-plate-on-sport.26170

but I have a Rubicon, not a sport. From the title of that thread I deduce that I already have a Rubicon skid plate.

Don't forget....If you are not running a winch, you need a different plate for the space between the bumper and the grill. The plastic one is not the same.

I'm running a winch.

 

[Jaxmax]

Rubicon with plastic bumper has a different skid plate then the one with steel bumper, although it might work, but will not bolt to the steel bumper.

 

[JRobes]

but I have a Rubicon, not a sport. From the title of that thread I deduce that I already have a Rubicon skid plate.

I'm running a winch.

Understood, but there's info about the brackets, frame nutserts, an install pdf, etc in that thread.

 

[foxwalkhq]

Understood, but there's info about the brackets, frame nutserts, an install pdf, etc in that thread.

I see. After looking at that thread I found this online. The links that they provided everything is out of stock on there.

https://www.justforjeeps.com/jl-jt-front-skid-plate-brackets-and-hardware.html

This seems to be exact same part numbers with the only exception that the end of the brackets is AB and not AA.. but they look the same? On the same item in MoparOnlineParts dot com it says it's not compatible with the Gladiator (thing where you put in your vehicle and it tells whether it will fit or not) but on the Just For Jeeps website it says that's for the Wrangler JL and Gladiator JT.. From my understanding the Wrangler and Gladiator are identical in the front.

From that thread it looks like if I get that kit and the skid plate then I should have everything I need? I already know about the winch plate and obviously the steel bumper itself.

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