loganjeeps
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Austin
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2023
- Threads
- 15
- Messages
- 358
- Reaction score
- 466
- Location
- Atlanta, GA
- Vehicle(s)
- 24 JTR 6MT, 96 Chevy 3500 5MT, 89 XJ (project)
- Thread starter
- #1
The exposure of the back of the fog lights and wiring on the Mopar steel bumper bothered me from the day I bought the JT. Why Jeep can afford to put a piece of plastic backing on the lower end plastic bumper but not on the supposed “upgraded” steel bumper is baffling. Anyway, this problem is mentioned on a few other threads noted below but I didn’t see anyone post the details of a solve exactly the way I did. Most seem to be solving for a stubby bumper situation which I was not. Thought my lesson learned might help others.
Maximus-3 has fog light guards listed for their bumper. A lot of their parts fit the Mopar bumper as well so I emailed them asking if this part would fit and they replied it would work.
I bought a set and found the bolt holes were off by about 1 inch. I had to drill out additional holes 1 inch below the original bottom bole and it lined up perfectly. I also painted the drilled out holes to make sure the exposed metal didn’t eventually rust. When I started to really tighten down the bolts, I noticed the plate was pressing directly against the back of the fog light and wiring. This made nervous it would eventually wear into the wiring. I added 3 washers between the bumper and the plate which created enough space for the wires to move freely in the space between the plate and back of the fog light. I am relatively pleased with the outcome and it certainly achieves the objective I wanted of protecting the back of the fog light and wiring and only took me a bit more time than planned. Pics below for reference.
I later emailed specifics to Maximus and they thanked me for the details on the issue but also in the reply indicated the plates would only fit the Wrangler Mopar steel bumper. I didn’t think and they were different as the ones I've seen on Wranlers look the same. Now I wonder if the plates would be a match for the JK bumper but not the JL/JT bumper.
Other threads I found referencing this topic:
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...stic-bumper-with-the-mopar-steel-bumper.32427
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...the-back-of-the-fog-lights-stay-exposed.64631
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/jtr-oem-steel-bumper-close-outs.49834
Pictures
Start
Plate modification for additional hole
Initial install pressing on back of fog light
Second install with washers for additional space
Final Result
Maximus-3 has fog light guards listed for their bumper. A lot of their parts fit the Mopar bumper as well so I emailed them asking if this part would fit and they replied it would work.
I bought a set and found the bolt holes were off by about 1 inch. I had to drill out additional holes 1 inch below the original bottom bole and it lined up perfectly. I also painted the drilled out holes to make sure the exposed metal didn’t eventually rust. When I started to really tighten down the bolts, I noticed the plate was pressing directly against the back of the fog light and wiring. This made nervous it would eventually wear into the wiring. I added 3 washers between the bumper and the plate which created enough space for the wires to move freely in the space between the plate and back of the fog light. I am relatively pleased with the outcome and it certainly achieves the objective I wanted of protecting the back of the fog light and wiring and only took me a bit more time than planned. Pics below for reference.
I later emailed specifics to Maximus and they thanked me for the details on the issue but also in the reply indicated the plates would only fit the Wrangler Mopar steel bumper. I didn’t think and they were different as the ones I've seen on Wranlers look the same. Now I wonder if the plates would be a match for the JK bumper but not the JL/JT bumper.
Other threads I found referencing this topic:
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...stic-bumper-with-the-mopar-steel-bumper.32427
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...the-back-of-the-fog-lights-stay-exposed.64631
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/jtr-oem-steel-bumper-close-outs.49834
Pictures
Start
Plate modification for additional hole
Initial install pressing on back of fog light
Second install with washers for additional space
Final Result
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