Removing closure panels from SPORT S front bumper?

[Godfadr]

What specific Dremel bit? Thanks.

I just used a basic sanding drum bit for the edges.

...and the saw one for the cuts...

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[Theh8er]

I just used a basic sanding drum bit for the edges.

...and the saw one for the cuts...

That's exactly what I bought ?

 

[glady8or]

They are there for improved gas mileage fwiw

so you're saying fuel economy does not matter on all the other models? Just the sport?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

so you're saying fuel economy does not matter on all the other models? Just the sport?

In a sense, marketing data has determined that those who buy a Rubicon don't give a fxxk about mpg, otherwise that would be their last choice.
Overland has very different tires - less aggressive, not very wide, and is sold more for the conveniences, comfort, etc. Overland buyers care, but likely wind tunnel testing has shown different drag characteristics and the closure panels either didn't help, didn't help much, or some other reason.
Sport is sold to a different audience.

They put a whole lot of effort into that sort of thing - surveys, owner data, testing and more. What's important to each type of buyer, and what works with each level of truck practically, dynamically (in the wind) and aesthetically. There's a lot of psychology that goes into vehicle buying. Look at the people the ads show as driving each type and model of car or truck. The square jaw guy with a 2 day nicely trimmed beard in square rim glasses driving the Lincoln, the dancing, singing, I don't care about anything I'd rather party than work type driving the Nissan or the Kia Soul, the Toyota commercials that show various people in each of their offerings, SUV, vs. truck, vs. sedan.

It's not as simple as "doesn't matter on all the other models".

 

[Mac]

All gas JTs have the same mpg ratings.

 

[Kevin_D]

so you're saying fuel economy does not matter on all the other models? Just the sport?

What @ShadowsPapa says is certainly true.
But CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) regulations play into it, too.
The key word is Average. The Sport-variety trims at a lower price point could be expected to out-sell the higher trims, so lower the fuel consumption there, and you have more effect on the average.

Kevin

 

[DobaMark]

I believe every trim level gets them in Europe spec, at least that was the case for Wrangler at one time.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

People get hung up on the differences, why they can't meet the numbers, or why this gear ratio doesn't do better because it should according to math and science.
Looks like you should throw the math out the window as far as gear ratios, transmissions and so on according to a Jeep engineer -


>>Does it look odd to you that the eight-speed automatic, with its taller final gear and two extra cogs gets worse highway fuel economy than the six-speed manual? Looked wonky to us, too, but Gladiator chief engineer Pete Milosavlevski told us that the results are more a matter of tuning the powertrain to EPA testing cycle quirks than simply gears and ratios.

"Gear ratios and top gear ratio are not an absolute indicator of fuel efficiency," he wrote in a text message to PickupTrucks.com. "The ability to use and time in each of those gears, balancing efficiency, reserve torque for drivability, and meeting EPA regulations drives different efficiencies between the transmissions on different drive cycles."<<

So it's like anyone who is or was a web developer can relate to - back when Microsoft had Internet Exploder, vs. Chrome vs. whatever browser - you coded web sites and pages to the browser quirks and took advantage of things that weren't quite right in the browser. That was fine until the next update fixed or removed those quirks!

You could actually get BETTER mpg with the automatic, but Jeep programmed things to take advantage of the EPA testing methods.

So - the powertrain is programmed to take advantage of EPA testing cycles and methods. LOL - had to actually laugh when I saw that.

 

[Snake Eyes]

The Sport S Max tow does not have those extensions, correct? What does the sport s max tow have on the back to cover fog lights since they do do have those extensions? Can that be placed on back of a Sport bumper to cover fogs without cutting?

 

[Kevin_D]

The Sport S Max tow does not have those extensions, correct? What does the sport s max tow have on the back to cover fog lights since they do do have those extensions? Can that be placed on back of a Sport bumper to cover fogs without cutting?

It depends on which bumper you have.
The only (US) bumper with the Closure Panels is the base-model plastic bumper. The, "Premium Bumper," (also plastic) doesn't have the panels, and uses a different piece on the back of the bumper to close off the foglight compartment.
And the ends of the two plastic bumpers are quite a bit different: the panels don't look like they'd interchange.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/what-are-these.55550/

Kevin

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This is the cover or panel on the back of the Overland "plastic bumper", the step up from the Sport base bumper -

And cover and plastic back liner removed - you can see the 4 screws that held the fog lights in place -

 

[NC_Overland]

Will these fit the Overland?
#'s 6QZ88RXFAB and 6QZ89RXFAB - I'd actually like to install them because I've found on our sloppy roads with the salt and sand that stuff gets kicked up onto the bumper.
IF these part numbers, listed for Sport, will fit an Overland, I'm looking for a pair - I KNOW I can buy them online and I KNOW the dealer can order them for me - but I try to deal with individual sellers first so they have the money and I have the parts rather than them having the parts going to rot in a shed somewhere. Win-Win.
But the dealer could not tell me if these fit an Overland - their system only shows them for Sport.
If it gains me MPG - fine, great, but my biggest concern is the crap already on top of the bumper after the drive home from the dealer!
So call me a fool - it's the same reason I spent over 3 grand putting new rocker panels on an 04 WJ with over 125,000 miles on it - almost as much as the vehicle is worth. I want it to last and look good, too.

And then a few years later you bought a rubicon steel bumper. Lol

 

[Gren71]

They improved my MPG when i put them back on.

here is my data. I think they make a difference, and my wallet agrees.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/mpg-experiment.53810/

the experiment is ongoing, but the data certainly points to an improvement.

 

[NC_Overland]

A friend of mine just bought an ‘18 JL. I’ve been telling her that those bumper extensions look terrible and they need to go. She just bought some take offs from a Hard Rock with 285/75/17s on it. Those things need to go to clear the 285s? It only has 245 all seasons on it on the silver alloys. now so it’s going to look a hell of a lot better.

 

[NC_Overland]

They improved my MPG when i put them back on.

here is my data. I think they make a difference, and my wallet agrees.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/mpg-experiment.53810/

I could see the lower air dam making a difference, but I’m surprised that those would make a big difference. My overland didn’t have them and I can get 22-23 mpg consistently at 75 mph.

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