Mopar bumper closeout panels...a question

[starrskream]

I recently got the closeout panels from Utah Design. They mounted up pretty easily, minus the factory broken clip on passenger side that i had to coerce to come out with a Dremel cutting wheel...(those metal tabs that retain the bolt without the need for a nut. one of them broke off. and the bolt just spun.)

the amount of dried mud inside my bumper was...beyond belief. I have NEVER been off road with my truck(yet)
Side note, do not do what i did and try to install these without removing the bumper ends. make your life easy and remove them.

that is where my question comes in.
I tried multiple times to fit the bumper end OVER the panel. It slides on flawlessly. Oddly i cannot line up the bolt holes. Beyond changing out fog lights, this seems to be the superior way to install them.

has anyone tried marking and redrilling the holes to achieve this? I am very tempted. i doubt it provides any more protection than the normal install, it just looks way cleaner.

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[S JEEPN]

I have only seen ads and pictures of them with the extension ends off used in the stubby bumper configuration. They look good a lot more of a finished appearance. i wonder if debris would get in front of them, in and behind the bumper. I always had issues on previous jeeps with debris getting inside the bumpers, fuel tank skid plates, transfer case skid and frame sections requiring blasting out with water after almost any run.

 

[stevenmicheal]

I'd be careful about redrilling the holes. If the bumper end isn't lining up naturally, there's probably a reason in the design. It might look cleaner, but I'd check with Utah Design first to make sure you're not creating fitment or stress issues down the road. Otherwise head towards Gengras Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fairfield. They had an excellent mopar parts department.

 

[Darugs]

One of my favorites mods - I really hated the unfinished look of the backside of my bumper. I made closeout covers for my OEM steel stubby bumper for about $10 and an hour of my time. I purchased 1/16” thick 12”x16” moldable black ABS sheets from Amazon. Used some cardboard to make a rough cut out a 1/4 larger than the size needed to cover the back bumper. Drilled holes to use the existing bolts, attached the bolts and then molded the plastic using a heat gun and heat resistant gloves. Molded the edges back towards the bumper. I did this 8 months ago and have been on the beach and on muddy back roads many times. I even took one of the covers off to see if there was an accumulation of gunk - looked fairly clean.

 

[YGBSM]

I bought my close out panels from Mike at No Worries Off-Road via eBay. Check this link for his instructions. He sells two types of each set. End caps on and end caps off. You may have gotten the end caps on set which doesn't fit. Mikes covers are awesome if you want something different. He's a great guy with a JLU and a nice TJ.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2774284908...PA38MR&hash=item409806d234:g:xhYAAeSwUAlo5SJC

 

[starrskream]

i already have the Utah design ones. It is strange to me that the "wings" on the bumper slide right over it like butter. the holes just do not line up.

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