Swapping the Mojave plastic bumper with the Mopar steel bumper

[JUPITER GLADIATOR]

Bumper swap completed. I did have to drill the two mounting tabs on the LED light slightly larger to get the aftermarket bracket to fit snug against the light. Others have drilled the hole in the metal bracket larger.

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[JUPITER GLADIATOR]

Did you guys notice on today's release of the 2024 Gladiator that the Mojave drove onto the stage with a steel Rubicon bumper? mmmmmm.....I assume they are using the steel bumper skid plate also as I did not see any silver under the truck...

I just found this on the web:

New trims include the Mojave X and Rubican X models that add steel bumpers, an integrated off-road camera and power Nappa leather seats.

 

[JaErikson]

Yes, noticed that and the Rubicon skid plate…

 

[ecidiego]

Steel Bumpers are an option now for Mojave. It's a single option - gets you the front and rear. Probably be around $2k I bet.

 

[JaErikson]

… and it’s also carrying the Rubicon rear bed rails…

 

[tarndesigns]

Those of you who cut your steel bumper to accommodate the Mojave skid plate ... what tool did you use to do this?

 

[Killroy Was Here]

Those of you who cut your steel bumper to accommodate the Mojave skid plate ... what tool did you use to do this?

I used a Milwaukee Saws-All with a good quality Morse brand 18 tooth per inch bi-metal blade. It cuts the bumper, & mount bracket material very easily. If you don't have a Saws-All, you could also use a jig saw with a bi-metal blade that should give the same results.

To help prevent the saw from scratching the powder coat finish on the bumper while making the cuts, I applied several layers of duct tape to the bottom surface of the saw's guide foot so that it wouldn't scratch the finish on the bumper while making the cuts.

Here is a link to my post showing the steps I used for the trim job.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...with-the-mopar-steel-bumper.32427/post-846785

Hope this is a help.
Dave

 

[tarndesigns]

I used a Milwaukee Saws-All with a good quality Morse brand 18 tooth per inch bi-metal blade. It cuts the bumper, & mount bracket material very easily. If you don't have a Saws-All, you could also use a jig saw with a bi-metal blade that should give the same results.

To help prevent the saw from scratching the powder coat finish on the bumper while making the cuts, I applied several layers of duct tape to the bottom surface of the saw's guide foot so that it wouldn't scratch the finish on the bumper while making the cuts.

Here is a link to my post showing the steps I used for the trim job.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...with-the-mopar-steel-bumper.32427/post-846785

Hope this is a help.
Dave

there’s no way a dremel would be able to cut through it right?

 

[Killroy Was Here]

there’s no way a dremel would be able to cut through it right?

It's way too thick for a dremel tool using a cutoff wheel.

 

[ecidiego]

I finally did this. I bought a complete used bumper with Rubi steel skid ( the one that comes with the steel bumper group ) and closeout. I think people don't realize Rubicons have 2 different steel skids depending on which bumper.

The skid wouldn't line up and bolt ( 5 of them ) to the bottom of the bumper...something...was wrong.

Took me 30 minutes to realize it was the brackets for the Mojave skid front 2 bolts. Rubicons with plastic bumpers have these same brackets for their steel skids. Rubicon steel skid for steel bumper interferes with these brackets. The actual steel bumper interferes with these brackets. You can mount the bumper but it is SLAMMED into them. Remove them.....holy shit it all aligns.

Don't worry about Mojave shock reservoirs...rubi steel skid for steel bumper fits and protects them same as stock.

It's a much cleaner integration. The skid seamlessly connects to and blends into the lower bumper. No gaps like the Mojave skid.

 

[ecidiego]

I agree. Once he takes off those outside brackets for the Mohave skid plate, it looks like the Steel bumper skid plate should bolt right in to the bottom of the frame.
Here is my Rubicon JT with the steel bumper and steel skid plate installed. You can see the old two bolts that had the old Rubicon bracket for the rubber bumper skid plate. I kept those 2 bolts on each side in case I need bolts on the road. Looks the same on the Mohave.

Quoting for emphasis. I installed the steel bumper on my Mojave this week. I didn't realize I needed to remove those brackets. Bumper mounted fine...but the Rubicon steel skid would not line up. Was about to hog out the holes when I realized there were those 2 no longer needed brackets from the Mojave steel skid.

 

[SaiintNick]

Just swapped a 2020 Rubicon steel bumper to my Mojave. Ran into a couple issue. Main issue is the fog light plug is not the same. Do I need to use the wiring from my plastic bumper and wiring it to my Rubicon fig lights? Or do I need to go with Diode Dynamics which I would rather not do. I just don't understand why Jeep would use different plugs. Decided to not use the Mojave skid. Getting new Fox front replacement shocks tomorrow so I will mounts steel skid after I get it back unless the dealership does me a solid and mounts to for me.

 

[homehandyman]

Did the led fog lights from the plastic bumper bolt pattern fit into the steel bumper?

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