Mopar Tailgate Hinge Reinforcement & Relocation Kits

[LeoTheDragon]

You will be fine without the relocation kit. Here is a pic of 35's on the Quadratech Rubicon Extremes with 4.5" backspacing. If you have the steel bumper a 35 will be touching it but with the plastic bumper nearly 1/2" space between tire and bumper.

Thanks for the response! Yeah I had new wheels installed a few weeks ago and it works just fine without the relocation bracket! Another confirmation here for anyone who is wondering in the future.

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[Chocolate Thunder]

So having read this thread, I’m still not 100% sure about how to get the best fitment for my spare. Right now I’ve got a 35” (315/70/17 Milestar Patagonia) on the OEM carrier. I extended the CHMSL to the higher position. I can close the tailgate but it touches the OEM steel bumper and the tire contacts the wiper arm a little bit. The wiper works properly. I lift the wiper arm slightly when I close the gate to make sure it doesn’t get damaged, or worse break the rear glass.

I just purchased the Mopar spare tire relocation bracket from a member but I don’t have it yet. I understand that it only moves the tire out away from the glass/gate. Since it doesn’t raise the tire any, will the contact between the bottom of the spare and the bumper cause problems over time? Which relocation bracket lifts and extends the least (it’s bareky touching the bumper)?

 

[IronScott]

So having read this thread, I’m still not 100% sure about how to get the best fitment for my spare. Right now I’ve got a 35” (315/70/17 Milestar Patagonia) on the OEM carrier. I extended the CHMSL to the higher position. I can close the tailgate but it touches the OEM steel bumper and the tire contacts the wiper arm a little bit. The wiper works properly. I lift the wiper arm slightly when I close the gate to make sure it doesn’t get damaged, or worse break the rear glass.

I just purchased the Mopar spare tire relocation bracket from a member but I don’t have it yet. I understand that it only moves the tire out away from the glass/gate. Since it doesn’t raise the tire any, will the contact between the bottom of the spare and the bumper cause problems over time? Which relocation bracket lifts and extends the least (it’s bareky touching the bumper)?

I have a relocation bracket (EAG which looks very much like the Rough Country one). It moves the tire up around 2 inches. I recall reading several people have drilled closer holes in the Rough Country one to move it a shorter amount.

Personally, if my tire was just barely making contact with the bumper I would consider that a good thing. It’s getting support and other than cosmetic rubbing that you won’t see, I can’t imagine any other damage. That vertical support and the bump stops would negate the need for extra hinge support, I would think. That said, I have the MOPAR reinforcement kit and while it looks good I’m not sure how much work it does. I got a decent deal on it and felt like it was good insurance against any related warranty claims.

I may get that ACE bracket at some point. That thing looks incredibly strong how it mounts and how it’s built.

 

[IronScott]

So having read this thread, I’m still not 100% sure about how to get the best fitment for my spare. Right now I’ve got a 35” (315/70/17 Milestar Patagonia) on the OEM carrier. I extended the CHMSL to the higher position. I can close the tailgate but it touches the OEM steel bumper and the tire contacts the wiper arm a little bit. The wiper works properly. I lift the wiper arm slightly when I close the gate to make sure it doesn’t get damaged, or worse break the rear glass.

I just purchased the Mopar spare tire relocation bracket from a member but I don’t have it yet. I understand that it only moves the tire out away from the glass/gate. Since it doesn’t raise the tire any, will the contact between the bottom of the spare and the bumper cause problems over time? Which relocation bracket lifts and extends the least (it’s bareky touching the bumper)?

BTW, this is the ACE carrier I was referring to. Rated for up to a 40” tire and has accessory mounts.

https://aceengineeringandfab.com/collections/jl-products/products/jl-stand-alone-tire-carrier

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

I have a relocation bracket (EAG which looks very much like the Rough Country one). It moves the tire up around 2 inches. I recall reading several people have drilled closer holes in the Rough Country one to move it a shorter amount.

Personally, if my tire was just barely making contact with the bumper I would consider that a good thing. It’s getting support and other than cosmetic rubbing that you won’t see, I can’t imagine any other damage. That vertical support and the bump stops would negate the need for extra hinge support, I would think. That said, I have the MOPAR reinforcement kit and while it looks good I’m not sure how much work it does. I got a decent deal on it and felt like it was good insurance against any related warranty claims.

I may get that ACE bracket at some point. That thing looks incredibly strong how it mounts and how it’s built.

Excellent point about the bumper contact being a good thing. I was kind of thinking that but wanted to hear someone say it out loud to see if it made sense to anyone else or I was just rationalizing. It’s only been a few weeks but my Jeep isn’t a daily and I don’t open/close the tailgate a lot so I haven’t noticed any cosmetic damage yet. I plan on getting a compressor, so I though that then I might even deflate it slightly to minimize the bumper rub because I can just inflate it fully if I need to use it.

 

[IronScott]

Excellent point about the bumper contact being a good thing. I was kind of thinking that but wanted to hear someone say it out loud to see if it made sense to anyone else or I was just rationalizing. It’s only been a few weeks but my Jeep isn’t a daily and I don’t open/close the tailgate a lot so I haven’t noticed any cosmetic damage yet. I plan on getting a compressor, so I though that then I might even deflate it slightly to minimize the bumper rub because I can just inflate it fully if I need to use it.

Yep, totally get your line of thought. I only moved mine up because my bike rack wasn’t working. I only have 33s but they are mud tires and aftermarket wheels, so the weight is 94 pounds and I can tell a big difference in how the tailgate swings. Your tires are 2” bigger so I’d be concerned as well.

I love watching your build, BTW.

 

[Dan S]

So having read this thread, I’m still not 100% sure about how to get the best fitment for my spare. Right now I’ve got a 35” (315/70/17 Milestar Patagonia) on the OEM carrier. I extended the CHMSL to the higher position. I can close the tailgate but it touches the OEM steel bumper and the tire contacts the wiper arm a little bit. The wiper works properly. I lift the wiper arm slightly when I close the gate to make sure it doesn’t get damaged, or worse break the rear glass.

I just purchased the Mopar spare tire relocation bracket from a member but I don’t have it yet. I understand that it only moves the tire out away from the glass/gate. Since it doesn’t raise the tire any, will the contact between the bottom of the spare and the bumper cause problems over time? Which relocation bracket lifts and extends the least (it’s bareky touching the bumper)?

The MOPAR Relocation Bracket does move the spare tire upwards. That's the reason I purchased it. The extra space allowed the tailgate to open with plenty of clearance above my hitch mounted bike rack. Before, it had about 1/4-3/8" interference, after it has about an inch of clearance. Hopefully that will be enough when I put 33's on next weekend.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

The MOPAR Relocation Bracket does move the spare tire upwards. That's the reason I purchased it. The extra space allowed the tailgate to open with plenty of clearance above my hitch mounted bike rack. Befire, it had about 1/4-3/8" interference, after it has about an inch of clearance. Hopefully that will be enough when I put 33's on next weekend.

So you’re saying that it positions the spare 1 1/4” to 1 3/8” higher as well as moving it horizontally away from the rear gate?

 

[Dan S]

So you’re saying that it positions the spare 1 1/4” to 1 3/8” higher as well as moving it horizontally away from the rear gate?

Correct. If I recall correctly, there were multiple plates included so you can adjust how far out it sets. And another set of the rubber bumpers so you can fit it to not swing/bounce vertically.

 

[Therby]

I installed my reinforcement bracket and relocation today. I like the looks of it and got it for a good deal.

Moved the rear brake light up one notch,

Then just bolt it all on, make sure you have large size Torx bits. I had to go get them

It moves the tire up and it moves it further out, with the large tire bumps installed it works well. As said before, not sure how much help this provides the tailgate, but im sure its some.

Im running 315/70r17 duratracs on procomp wheels, so my set up is light at 89lbs a piece

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

I have 35” Milestars on OEM wheels,14 lbs. heavier than the OEM combo. If that amount of extra weight stresses the gate there’s a problem.

 

[Dan S]

I have 35” Milestars on OEM wheels,14 lbs. heavier than the OEM combo. If that amount of extra weight stresses the gate there’s a problem.

The tailgate is rated to 85lbs.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

The tailgate is rated to 85lbs.

Uh-oh. OEM was 72 lbs, mine are 94.

 

[Dan S]

Uh-oh. OEM was 72 lbs, mine are 94.

Then, officially, you should add the tailgate reinforcement kit...

 

[mikej]

I added my reinforcement kit when I found out my wheel/tire combination kit weighted 115 lbs and there were no options on the market at the time. I now have an ACE Tire Carrier on the way to replace it. At this point in time, there are solid options on the market. If you can get a used Mopar reinforcement kit for cheap, go for it. Otherwise, I would go with a full carrier (be it hinge replacement or bumper mounted) to carry the weight and also give you the adjustability to get the tire off your bumper if you would prefer.

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