Rugged Ridge Rear Bumper interferes with Tailgate opening and closing

[George Jetson]

I damaged my plastic bumper. So, I purchased a Rugged Ridge tubular bumper with LED lights. I installed it an hour ago, and to my chagrin, the tailgate now won't open all the way. The lowest point in the bottom edge, just above the license plate, makes contact with the upper edge of the bumper. It scrapes the paint off the tailgate when I try to close it. The bumper is mounted as low as I can get it in the bolt holes, and it is pressed up tightly to the frame. I don't see any way to adjust the angle or position of the new bumper. My options are to 1) allow it to ruin the paint on my tailgate. 2) Remove the new bumper and put the old damaged plastic one back on, 3) Get myself a grinder and start grinding away the top edge of the new bumper or 4) See if anyone has any better ideas before I start grinding away.

Any ideas anyone?

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[Gvsukids]

I damaged my plastic bumper. So, I purchased a Rugged Ridge tubular bumper with LED lights. I installed it an hour ago, and to my chagrin, the tailgate now won't open all the way. The lowest point in the bottom edge, just above the license plate, makes contact with the upper edge of the bumper. It scrapes the paint off the tailgate when I try to close it. The bumper is mounted as low as I can get it in the bolt holes, and it is pressed up tightly to the frame. I don't see any way to adjust the angle or position of the new bumper. My options are to 1) allow it to ruin the paint on my tailgate. 2) Remove the new bumper and put the old damaged plastic one back on, 3) Get myself a grinder and start grinding away the top edge of the new bumper or 4) See if anyone has any better ideas before I start grinding away.

Any ideas anyone?

Contact rugged ridge.

 

[Rockabillyroy]

That's the rugged ridge quality I remember. After buying a few of their products for my JKU, I learned my lesson. Each product had some issue that had to be fixed.

 

[Freems]

I damaged my plastic bumper. So, I purchased a Rugged Ridge tubular bumper with LED lights. I installed it an hour ago, and to my chagrin, the tailgate now won't open all the way. The lowest point in the bottom edge, just above the license plate, makes contact with the upper edge of the bumper. It scrapes the paint off the tailgate when I try to close it. The bumper is mounted as low as I can get it in the bolt holes, and it is pressed up tightly to the frame. I don't see any way to adjust the angle or position of the new bumper. My options are to 1) allow it to ruin the paint on my tailgate. 2) Remove the new bumper and put the old damaged plastic one back on, 3) Get myself a grinder and start grinding away the top edge of the new bumper or 4) See if anyone has any better ideas before I start grinding away.

Any ideas anyone?

Make RR replace it.

 

[Ragnarock_jeep]

Most times when installing a bumper, there is a little wiggle room for alignment. Any chance you have it aligned wrong?

 

[Main Line Willys]

I would look at elongating the bumper mount holes. This should give you enough clearance.

 

[whiteglad]

x2 on elongating the mounting holes.

 

[Reddog]

I damaged my plastic bumper. So, I purchased a Rugged Ridge tubular bumper with LED lights. I installed it an hour ago, and to my chagrin, the tailgate now won't open all the way. The lowest point in the bottom edge, just above the license plate, makes contact with the upper edge of the bumper. It scrapes the paint off the tailgate when I try to close it. The bumper is mounted as low as I can get it in the bolt holes, and it is pressed up tightly to the frame. I don't see any way to adjust the angle or position of the new bumper. My options are to 1) allow it to ruin the paint on my tailgate. 2) Remove the new bumper and put the old damaged plastic one back on, 3) Get myself a grinder and start grinding away the top edge of the new bumper or 4) See if anyone has any better ideas before I start grinding away.

Any ideas anyone?

Good grief, send it back to Rugged Ridge! Don't modify it! It's their problem to fix, not yours. Good luck to you.

 

[George Jetson]

Good suggestions. Thanks. I might call RR today just to see if they have suggestions. There doesn't seem to be any room for adjustments. It mounted perfectly level without any wiggle room.

If RR can't help, I'll either cut down the lip that's interfering with the tailgate or I'll try elongating the 4 mounting holes to lower the bumper a half inch.

I bought it from 4WP. They wanted $600 to install it, and I couldn't find any way to justify that amount. 6 bolts=$600? No. So I took it home in a box and installed it myself. But now I have to wonder what they would have done differently if they'd have installed it. I might call them also.

Thanks for chiming in everyone.

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