Tail gate reinforcement kit worth the $ for 35's?

[Jammer]

Someone posted on here a few weeks ago where they did have a 35 tire and it bent the tailgate. Its not worth the risk considering how much it will cost if you have to fix it paint it and the price of that would be more then the tire carrier .

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[desert runner]

Yeah, I hope you will be OK. I knew the Mopar Beadlockers I put on mine were super heavy - very likely heavier than most. And then perhaps I was swayed too much by the thread on here where the OP dented his tailgate with a heavy wheel/tire combo. As FYI - below is a pic of what the OEM reinforcement really does. Without it, there is a gap of "just tailgate" between where the tire mounts and the hinges. As you can see in the pic below, the reinforcement kit spans that gap.... so that the load of the spare tire weight is on the hinge straps themselves and not the tailgate. No offense or disrespect to the dealership mechanics, but I'm betting they are not trained engineers. As such, knowing the wall thickness and load capabilities isn't necessarily obvious. For piece of mind, I opted for the kit.

While I agree that reinforcing the tailgate for heavier tires is a good idea, especially off-road, I think $650 for the MOPAR tailgate reinforcement is a rip off. I'll wait for alternative offerings.

 

[JEEPJL]

While I agree that reinforcing the tailgate for heavier tires is a good idea, especially off-road, I think $650 for the MOPAR tailgate reinforcement is a rip off. I'll wait for alternative offerings.

I asked Mopar and they say they recommend using the brackets on anything other than the stock rim and tire .

If I worked for Mopar and got 650.00 a pop I would be one who recommends also.

My 35" and 20" rim are snug as hell on that tailgate with zero movement !! ......If I do any offroad which I wont for quite sometime I would defiantly consider installing them , But for just wheeling around town I confident with the way it is set up now

 

[JEEPJL]

I asked Mopar and they say they recommend using the brackets on anything other than the stock rim and tire .

If I worked for Mopar and got 650.00 a pop I would be one who recommends also.

My 35" and 20" rim are snug as hell on that tailgate with zero movement !! ......If I do any offroad which I wont for quite sometime I would defiantly consider installing them , But for just wheeling around town I confident with the way it is set up now

And If I do decide to install the brackets I will powder coat them to match body !!!!

 

[Jammer]

Yes I agree 100% and that's not all you need you have to have the relocator that help support it also. That works with that in conjunction that's Teraflex might come out one. I hope they do they made it for Mopar before but Mopar has someone else making it or they make it themselves they said. There was a post on here with a video showing someone that had 35s and did not get any support and it showed the tailgate with a crease in it. It's not worth the risk. By the time you see the crease it's too late it will cost more than that bracket that's the way I look at it. You won't get the tailgate fixed for under $600

 

[JEEPJL]

Yes I agree 100% and that's not all you need you have to have the relocator that help support it also. That works with that in conjunction that's Teraflex might come out one. I hope they do they made it for Mopar before but Mopar has someone else making it or they make it themselves they said. There was a post on here with a video showing someone that had 35s and did not get any support and it showed the tailgate with a crease in it. It's not worth the risk. By the time you see the crease it's too late it will cost more than that bracket that's the way I look at it. You won't get the tailgate fixed for under $600

I saw the video several times and if you look closely I Believe its a 37" tire which is even more weight and we dont what they did to cause to additional stress to the gate .

I understand the logic , common sense and safety of using the brackets and I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but what I see and feel with my set up , I feel confident with the RC relocation bracket and how sturdy it feels mounted to the gate .

Its not a money issue either , after tax , tag, title , lift , tires,rims , bumper to bumper 6yr -etc Im at 65K so another 650 is nothing at this point .

I guess you really need to see the bracket and tire mounted and feel how solid it actually is

 

[TIDALWAVE]

If you off-road with 35"+ tires, I would recommend the reinforcing kit. But you will save money and get a more robust reinforcement if you go aftermarket. The company that makes the kit for MOPAR makes a nearly identical kit for aftermarket. Not only less expensive but they replace the tailgate portion of the hinges with a more sturdy brass pin arrangement. I was worried not only about the strength of the OEM tailgate but also the strength of the tailgate portion of the hinges.

 

[Jammer]

This is really a nice tire carrier. I hope they come out with it for the JL soon. It probably wont be more then the Mopar set up. the Mopar carrier is 625 plus you have to buy the other part that relocates the tire up so it doesn't hit the bumper.. So that is another 275 plus the 625. This will be a better set up for sure and it shouldn't be 900. Even it is was it looks like it will be a lot stronger set up this way

 

[Jammer]

I actually called Mopar today for this info, and they couldn’t even provide it. The few times I’ve called Mopar so far has been, well uninspiring to say the least.

There is a you tube video where they show a 35 tire did crease the tail gate on the JL

 

[DanW]

I stuck with the stock wheel and but 315 KO2's on them. That's only about 13 or 14 pounds more than the 285, so it should be well within the load range of the stock mount. Plus, my spare now rests on the lip of the steel bumper, so the tailgate may be supporting only a few pounds more than before, but with nothing pulling down on it. I'm saving the money and weight of that reinforcement.

 

[JEEPJL]

I was Just informed by a reliable source that the 85LB weight limit on the tailgate is outside of the stock spare tire

 

[JL2018]

There is a you tube video where they show a 35 tire did crease the tail gate on the JL

I wonder if they backed into something and just saying the weight caused it? folks are putting on heavy tires and wheels without this and are just fine.

That's the main drawback I see with tailgate mounted tires. I'll get a trailer hitch ball which extends beyond the tire. It may just save the tire and/or tailgate.

 

[OnlyOne]

I’m sure he backed into something or snagged it on a rock. The 85lbs weight limit is in addition to the spare tire. That rear gate is tough. All this misconception, from one video that showed this and has never been heard of again. I know Jeep appreciates all the $650 tailgate reinforcement sales from it.

 

[aug0211]

I’m sure he backed into something or snagged it on a rock. The 85lbs weight limit is in addition to the spare tire. That rear gate is tough. All this misconception, from one video that showed this and has never been heard of again. I know Jeep appreciates all the $650 tailgate reinforcement sales from it.

That’s awesome if the 85 lbs is in addition to the spare tire and wheel.

Is that 100% confirmed? Everything I had read up until this had indicated it was a total weight (inclusive of spare tire and wheel). You have me excited, though!

 

[Jammer]

If you off-road with 35"+ tires, I would recommend the reinforcing kit. But you will save money and get a more robust reinforcement if you go aftermarket. The company that makes the kit for MOPAR makes a nearly identical kit for aftermarket. Not only less expensive but they replace the tailgate portion of the hinges with a more sturdy brass pin arrangement. I was worried not only about the strength of the OEM tailgate but also the strength of the tailgate portion of the hinges.

Teraflex has not come out with theirs for the JL yet but I agree I think maybe it will replace the hinges. I don't think the Mopar one replaces the hinges it's more like a cover and that's all it is. The one from JCR looks more heavy duty it says it will hold up to a 40 tiire..

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