2026 model year frame bracket change

[gato]

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.

You CAN remove the brackets, install the steps and reinstall the crash brackets with some cutting where the is interference. That is my plan I just haven't gotten to the cutting/reinstall part - I had so many issues with my 37s and interference between two skids, that I'm mentally tapped out to do it now. But those brackets have so many attach points that you can easily work around one or two that may interfere.

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[gato]

I should add that, the bad thing about the US aftermarket is that so long as there is a work around (e.g. remove the brackets) they will not do a damn thing to rework their products to fit the 2026+.

In Europe, Australia and Japan, where removing safety equipment is taken more seriously by the vehicle authorities, the aftermarket tends to work on more properly engineered solutions.

So my bet would be that ARB or Old Man EMU or one of those companies will be the first to address the 2026 compatibility.

 

[AnUnseenGod]

You CAN remove the brackets, install the steps and reinstall the crash brackets with some cutting where the is interference. That is my plan I just haven't gotten to the cutting/reinstall part - I had so many issues with my 37s and interference between two skids, that I'm mentally tapped out to do it now. But those brackets have so many attach points that you can easily work around one or two that may interfere.

That’s also a great option. If there isn’t a fix by the time the thing gets produced and delivered maybe I’ll do exactly that and try and come up with some kinda diagram or template to post on here to help others out as well. I am hoping more towards the “here’s a magical cure to your problem” post on here or somewhere else to make my life easier though hahaha

 

[ag4ever]

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.

My ‘26 Moab that was built mid February has the old passenger side bracket, not the new brackets.

Not sure if that is an X function, steel bumper function, or the 392 frame reinforcement function.

I don’t know if there are any 392s with the new brackets. Would be interesting to find out.

 

[Atomic5]

My ‘26 Moab that was built mid February has the old passenger side bracket, not the new brackets.

Good point. I looked at about 15 in online inventory and none have the new brackets. One was built as late as March 21.

 

[gato]

My ‘26 Moab that was built mid February has the old passenger side bracket, not the new brackets.

Not sure if that is an X function, steel bumper function, or the 392 frame reinforcement function.

I don’t know if there are any 392s with the new brackets. Would be interesting to find out.

So the brackets (and the internal frame structure to hold the brackets) is done by the frame vendor. The 392 frame is different than the other frames (has a front reinforcement beam, etc). Most likely Jeep either has 392 frames already built and/or they decided not to re-do the frames for 392s since they are lower volume.

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