2026 model year frame bracket change

[2nd 392]

I have been looking for side steps or rock rails and several manufacturers have said theirs don’t fit including rock hard LOD and Rough Country.

It’s just a matter of time. It’s their business, R&D will be on it.

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[gato]

I have been looking for side steps or rock rails and several manufacturers have said theirs don’t fit including rock hard LOD and Rough Country.

They will fit if you remove the brackets, which takes 5 min. When I have time I'll trim my brackets to make them fit over the Artec skids.

Incidentally, I was watching the IIHS commentary on the latest Wrangler 2026 small overlap crash test (see reel below). While the Jeep did not flip on its side, it did cause more injury to the driver dummy's legs than the prior JL tests. So take your pick, flip over or get your legs smashed. Seems that avoiding both is too much for Jeep to engineer.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2220585935434260

 

[gato]

Incidentally, I was watching the IIHS commentary on the latest Wrangler 2026 small overlap crash test (see reel below). While the Jeep did not flip on its side, it did cause more injury to the driver dummy's legs than the prior JL tests. So take your pick, flip over or get your legs smashed. Seems that avoiding both is too much for Jeep to engineer.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2220585935434260

I should also point out that all the crash tests were done with JL sports, with the plastic bumpers, small 32" tires, and smallest M186 axles. We really don't know how a Rubicon X with the HD M210, steel bumpers and 35s would perform with/whithout the crash brackets.

 

[AnUnseenGod]

I have been looking for side steps or rock rails and several manufacturers have said theirs don’t fit including rock hard LOD and Rough Country.

Have you find a viable solution for this yet? I have a 2026 being built and was going to order the LOD Destroyers to have waiting to go on when I take delivery but now I know they won’t fit.

 

[2nd 392]

I should also point out that all the crash tests were done with JL sports, with the plastic bumpers, small 32" tires, and smallest M186 axles. We really don't know how a Rubicon D with the HD M210, steel bumpers and 35s would perform with/whithout the crash brackets.

No expert, but considering it’s designed purpose I suspect it’s effectiveness would decrease with increasingly larger tires and more lift. Without even considering the steel bumper’s / stronger axles effect.

 

[gato]

No expert, but considering it’s designed purpose I suspect it’s effectiveness would decrease with increasingly larger tires and more lift. Without even considering the steel bumper’s / stronger axles effect.

Is your thinking that the oversized tire/wheel combo would be a good deforming structure in a crash, rather than simply fold under the Jeep like the 32s? I tend to think you may be right. But off course there are so many variables in a crash. Just 2 inches left or right or that small offset crash test would produce very different results. So would be the height of the obstacle the Jeep hits - if it is a Honda civic, we are going over it into low earth orbit.

 

[gato]

Have you find a viable solution for this yet? I have a 2026 being built and was going to order the LOD Destroyers to have waiting to go on when I take delivery but now I know they won’t fit.

Remove the brackets - takes 5 min.

 

[2nd 392]

Is your thinking that the oversized tire/wheel combo would be a good deforming structure in a crash, rather than simply fold under the Jeep like the 32s? I tend to think you may be right. But off course there are so many variables in a crash. Just 2 inches left or right or that small offset crash test would produce very different results. So would be the height of the obstacle the Jeep hits - if it is a Honda civic, we are going over it into low earth orbit.

Yep, designed for a specific application to pass a specific test. Results may vary with varying applications.

 

[Atomic5]

Remove the brackets - takes 5 min.

Unless you break loose one of the captured nuts in the frame like I did.
Once I figured out the correct wrench needed and attack angle, I had it out in a few minutes.
Mine are off for now.

 

[gato]

Unless you break loose one of the captured nuts in the frame like I did.

Really? There is very little torque on those bolts. The bolts are huge simply because they need a certain shear strength in a crash. Giant bolts at low torque are my favorite type of bolt. How did you manage to snap an insert? (in any event the torque is so low that I guess just wedging a large screwdriver behind the bold would pop them out.

It was very satisfying to zip all those bolts out with an impact

 

[Atomic5]

Really? There is very little torque on those bolts. The bolts are huge simply because they need a certain shear strength in a crash. Giant bolts at low torque are my favorite type of bolt. How did you manage to snap an insert? (in any event the torque is so low that I guess just wedging a large screwdriver behind the bold would pop them out.

I was removing them using hand tools. I got lazy and used my impact wrench. It's a Milwaukee stubby with a terrible design. The directional switch is so close to the grip, it reversed direction and in a split second broke the weld.

 

[gato]

I was removing them using hand tools. I got lazy and used my impact wrench. It's a Milwaukee stubby with a terrible design. The directional switch is so close to the grip, it reversed direction and in a split second broke the weld.

My DeWalt is the same way. More than once I saw my life flash in front of my eyes as I gripped it and changed direction to tighten and let a bold have it. Not so much on my Jeep, but working on the BMW the bolts are much smaller. I used to do all initial break with hand tools, but I confess I have gotten lazy over time and sometime just zip shit off

 

[AnUnseenGod]

Remove the brackets - takes 5 min.

If you remove the brackets, does that just essentially make it the same as a 2025 MY? I’d have to assume that removing a metal bracket on the frame and then adding a metal bracket that’s a giant frame rail essentially for a rock slider would yield the same results? I know that’s impossible to determine because none of us are doing crash testing, just looking for thoughts and suggestions.

 

[gato]

If you remove the brackets, does that just essentially make it the same as a 2025 MY?

I think it makes it the same as 2021 and earlier. In 2022 or 2023 Jeep started putting a smaller crash bracket only on the passenger side (if you google you will those). Then, 1/2 way through 2026MY (I think it was decided once the CAFE fines went to zero) they added the supper large, super heavy brackets on both sides.

I’d have to assume that removing a metal bracket on the frame and then adding a metal bracket that’s a giant frame rail essentially for a rock slider would yield the same results? I know that’s impossible to determine because none of us are doing crash testing, just looking for thoughts and suggestions.

You bring up a good point. All the crash tests have been with sport models, with the 32" tires, plastic bumpers, no rock rails, thinnest axles, etc. I have no idea how my Rubicon X with steel bumpers, the sway bar mechanism plus a winch upfront, the heavy duty M210 axle, 35" tires (now upgraded to 37s) and the Mopar rock rails with step assist would perform, but I'm sure that adds a lot more deformable metal upfront vs a Sport.

We can speculate all we want, but the bottom line is that Jeep ran the simulations and the crash tests and they concluded that adding 25 lbs x 2 of those crash brackets was beneficial. None of us will ever have as much data or resources as they invested in this. I still think if you can keep the brackets you should.

 

[AnUnseenGod]

I think it makes it the same as 2021 and earlier. In 2022 or 2023 Jeep started putting a smaller crash bracket only on the passenger side (if you google you will those). Then, 1/2 way through 2026MY (I think it was decided once the CAFE fines went to zero) they added the supper large, super heavy brackets on both sides.



You bring up a good point. All the crash tests have been with sport models, with the 32" tires, plastic bumpers, no rock rails, thinnest axles, etc. I have no idea how my Rubicon X with steel bumpers, the sway bar mechanism plus a winch upfront, the heavy duty M210 axle, 35" tires (now upgraded to 37s) and the Mopar rock rails with step assist would perform, but I'm sure that adds a lot more deformable metal upfront vs a Sport.

We can speculate all we want, but the bottom line is that Jeep ran the simulations and the crash tests and they concluded that adding 25 lbs x 2 of those crash brackets was beneficial. None of us will ever have as much data or resources as they invested in this. I still think if you can keep the brackets you should.

I definitely agree with you. One of the main reasons I’m upgrading my 22 Willys to a 26 Willys is the safety features with the air bags for the rear passengers. (The Extreme Recon package, lockers and hard top are definitely an added bonus as well!) But part of those new safety features is this new bracket that helps with the crash test, so I’d definitely like to keep it in place, but I also need a step for the wife and kid to get into. And I’ve worked on enough vehicles with pinch mounted steps to know you definitely don’t want all that weight on just the pinch welds. So I’m kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to get parts for this dang thing and it isn’t even here yet.

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