Swapping the Mojave plastic bumper with the Mopar steel bumper

[Rockabillyroy]

Is the winch plate only held on by the bumper bolts? I thought there would be support in the rear, but having no instructions or any clear indication I couldn't make sense of it - so it is only held on by the 8 bumper bolts.

Turned out pretty awesome though!

There should be two brackets that are used to support it from underneath.

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[FREEZE451]

There should be two brackets that should are used to support it from underneath.

Fun!

Well, I won't have a winch for a while, so nothing I'll lose sleep over.

Thanks for the reply though, I keep all my spare parts - always.

So, in the near future I'll hammer it out ?

 

[Sonoran_Mohavey]

I scored a slightly used JL Rubicon bumper off craigslist, a couple scratches on it but nothing some touch up paint cant fix. I tried trimming the Mojave skid as others have done, but I have *no* idea how this would ever work. I would have to trim off the top 1/2" of the entire skid, as well as the mounting brackets. Fortunately the bumper I got came with the Rubicon skid, and that fit just fine. I liked the look of the Mojave skid but I think this works ok!

Is this part # 82215183AB ?

Also, it looks like it protects the reservoirs well. Thoughts?

 

[Killroy Was Here]

If anyone is interested, trimming the bumper mount bracket & bumper to clear the Mojave skid plate isn't that big of a deal for the plastic to steel bumper conversion.

Decided that for me, this was the way to go so that it would look the most like it came from the factory with the steel bumper.

For reference, this is the most current production version of the Mopar 3pc. Rubicon bumper as of November 2021, PN: 82215121AF purchased from my local Jeep dealer's parts dept.

Already had the bumper completely apart to swap out the red Rubi tow hooks for the Mojave's orange ones, so had a good part of the prep work for the trimming was already done.

First held the mount brackets in place on the frame horn, and marked what needed trimmed away for clearance of the skid plate. First two images looking down from the top show the driver side bracket mounted on the frame after trimming.

The next three images show the bracket lined up in the bumper, & marked what needed trimmed from the bottom edge of the bumper itself.

The 4 tabs on the rear edge of the bumper which the wire harness anchors to were then bent up at about a 45 degree angle to allow clearance to the center part of the skid plate.

The next two images show the test fitting & skid plate clearance.

After filing & dressing all the trimmed edges with some matte black acrylic enamel, then coated the entire bumper backside & brackets with Krown rustproofing before final reassembly & installation.

Am very happy with the end result, & just thought I'd post this to show that trimming the bumper for this conversion isn't as big of a deal as it is sometimes made out to be.
Hope this might be a help to someone.

Dave

 

[shredX]

Here's my final product, swapped over the orange hooks of course. Went with the two bolt approach on the skid plat to avoid cutting, but it's on their solid.

Looks great!

Do you have wheel spacers? If so, what size?

 

[jl_explorer]

Looks great!

Do you have wheel spacers? If so, what size?

I do, 1 and 3/4 Spidertrax spacers. On sale soon

 

[abe57]

So for all of you that did this .is it or can it be a one man operation or need two ? Love everyone's input on this ! Would love to have steel bumper on mine !

 

[abe57]

So I am looking at this bumper E-Bay : https://www.ebay.com/itm/175074879155 , And this bull bar Maximus-3 JL XLP Hoop : https://maximus-3.com/jt-gladiator . So to be on the safe side after looking at all the posts this will work on my Mojave with a bit of trim work for the skid plate ?
Please advise TY

 

[Killroy Was Here]

So for all of you that did this .is it or can it be a one man operation or need two ? Love everyone's input on this ! Would love to have steel bumper on mine !

The bumpers aren't that heavy, and didn't have any problems handling them by myself for the swap.
Course, I'm used to working alone on projects like this.
As they say "Your mileage may vary".

 

[Killroy Was Here]

So I am looking at this bumper E-Bay : https://www.ebay.com/itm/175074879155 , And this bull bar Maximus-3 JL XLP Hoop : https://maximus-3.com/jt-gladiator . So to be on the safe side after looking at all the posts this will work on my Mojave with a bit of trim work for the skid plate ?
Please advise TY

The Maximus bar is made specifically to fit the Rubicon factory steel bumper. The mounting holes line up perfectly.

With the Ebay aftermarket knock off bumper in the link you provided, the bolt holes that the Maximus bar mount to may, or may not line up without some modification.
Also, at the mounting base of the large tube locations, the top surface of the bumper is curved, which again may, or may not match up exactly to the Ebay bumper.

Just a roll of the dice you will want to keep in mind if you intend to use the two together.

Hope this is a help.

Dave

 

[abe57]

The Maximus bar is made specifically to fit the Rubicon factory steel bumper. The mounting holes line up perfectly.

With the Ebay aftermarket knock off bumper in the link you provided, the bolt holes that the Maximus bar mount to may, or may not line up without some modification.
Also, at the mounting base of the large tube locations, the top surface of the bumper is curved, which again may, or may not match up exactly to the Ebay bumper.

Just a roll of the dice you will want to keep in mind if you intend to use the two together.

Hope this is a help.

Dave

Ty upon looking you are right the bumper has a dip where the Maximus would fit so no I am like you it will not be just a bolt-on ! ty..and good catch !!

 

[Killroy Was Here]

Ty upon looking you are right the bumper has a dip where the Maximus would fit so no I am like you it will not be just a bolt-on ! ty..and good catch !!

Here is a close up image showing the curvature of the surface at the mounting point of the large tube on the drivers side of my truck.

 

[abe57]

Here is a close up image showing the curvature of the surface at the mounting point of the large tube on the drivers side of my truck.

That's more of a dip than I thought ...MMMM Might work ! Thanks for the pic !

 

[Killroy Was Here]

That's more of a dip than I thought ...MMMM Might work ! Thanks for the pic !

Glad to help out.
Am really happy with the fit & finish of the Maximus bar on my Mojave with the OEM Rubicon steel bumper.

Just would hate to hear that you ordered the Maximus-3 JL XLP Hoop thinking it surely would bolt right up, only to discover after the fact that it may have fitment issues with the Ebay bumper.
While I'm sure you could arrange a return with Maximus, there would most likely be a restock charge as well as the return shipping.

 

[abe57]

Glad to help out.
Am really happy with the fit & finish of the Maximus bar on my Mojave with the OEM Rubicon steel bumper.

Just would hate to hear that you ordered the Maximus-3 JL XLP Hoop thinking it surely would bolt right up, only to discover after the fact that it may have fitment issues with the Ebay bumper.
While I'm sure you could arrange a return with Maximus, there would most likely be a restock charge as well as the return shipping.

One question .. the center mount you showed a close up of on the down side of the dip the tube covers the 3rd bolt located there ? and ty again !

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