Rubicon bumper on sport install?

[jeepinization]

My hunch is that it will not line up with the stock rear fender flares, but there may be hope. Stay with me for a paragraph or more.

Corrections welcome.

I was under the impression That there were two types of rear bumpers. One piece plastic which you find on the Sport, Sport S and derivatives like the Willys. But if your model allows and you order backup sensors as part of one of the safety packages then you get a three piece plastic bumper Of which two pieces are end caps that align with the stock fenders.

Now the same appears to be true with the Sahara except you always get a three piece plastic bumper with end caps backup sensors or not.

Something similar happens on the Rubi whether steel or plastic, whether backup sensors or not, but the end caps are shorter and wider - and are always plastic and never steel - to line up with the Rubi fenders.

What to do.

Many vendors sell the end caps and label them as for the Sport S and Sahara and the shorter/wider end caps for the Rubi steel or plastic rear bumper. See Quadratec for example and look at the Q&A especially the second link.

https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/rear-bumper-end-cap-jl-rubicon-plastic-bumper

https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/rear-bumper-end-cap-wrangler-jl-steel-bumper

So I hope that you can “simply” swap out end caps as needed. I am not yet sure if there are cases where additional parts might be needed like a close out panel.

I your case, theoretically you should be able to add thee Rubi rear bumper and get the longer end caps for the Sport S and Sahara and swap the out. But I am trying to determine if anything else is needed besides creativity.

In my case it would be trying to mate up a stock Willys rear bumper - three piece with backup sensors - to Rubi flares.

Pete

Thanks for all the feedback and your post. Great information! So what is interesting is a friend gave me his Rubi plastic rear bumper take-off with end caps without rear sensors. I also have a take off Rubi rear steel bumper as I mentioned with the plastic end caps but with the rear sensors. Of course on the Willys it's a single plastic bumper as I don't have the backup sensors. Wondering outside of replacing my fenders with the Rubi ones, how I might be able to modify or make something work with the two end caps so it at least lines up with the rear fenders on the Willys and doesn't look like it's off. Maybe it's not possible but would love to try. Of course I can always run it like the MOAB with Steel front and plastic rear but for some reason that feels wrong? Maybe keeping the plastic on the rear will in the end look better vs trying to make something fit which doesn't?

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[jeepinization]

I made the swap from plastic to metal and have the backup sensors. The end caps from the plastic will not fit the metal bumpers.

Cool. So did you find a solution to line everything up or are you running it with the alignment just a little off? If you have pictures, I would love to see what you did. Thanks so much for the help. However it looks like you have the Rubi so I'm sure you don't have the alignment issues I have as you have the wider rear fenders.

 

[PatriotMB]

If you use a Rubi steel bumper they will not line up at all with sport fenders. You will need to buy Rubi rear flares to match with the bumper end caps.

In addition you will need a new support bracket that ties into the frame and bumper. Also the plastic cover that hides this bracket will be needed as well.

I just did this swap and plugged the sensor holes with caps found at Lowe’s.

 

[jeepinization]

If you use a Rubi steel bumper they will not line up at all with sport fenders. You will need to buy Rubi rear flares to match with the bumper end caps.

In addition you will need a new support bracket that ties into the frame and bumper. Also the plastic cover that hides this bracket will be needed as well.

I just did this swap and plugged the sensor holes with caps found at Lowe’s.

Looks great! So did you only replace the rear flares? You wouldn't happen to have the part numbers for the Support Bracket and plastic cover? Thanks for the help!

 

[ptoemmes]

Thanks for all the feedback and your post. Great information! So what is interesting is a friend gave me his Rubi plastic rear bumper take-off with end caps without rear sensors. I also have a take off Rubi rear steel bumper as I mentioned with the plastic end caps but with the rear sensors. Of course on the Willys it's a single plastic bumper as I don't have the backup sensors. Wondering outside of replacing my fenders with the Rubi ones, how I might be able to modify or make something work with the two end caps so it at least lines up with the rear fenders on the Willys and doesn't look like it's off. Maybe it's not possible but would love to try. Of course I can always run it like the MOAB with Steel front and plastic rear but for some reason that feels wrong? Maybe keeping the plastic on the rear will in the end look better vs trying to make something fit which doesn't?

Take a look at this thread re: Rubicon rear steel on a Sahara with stock flares especially posts 13, 22, and 45: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/rubicon-rear-steel-bumper-on-sahara.18712/

Re: perhaps needing other parts to make it work, you might also ping Benny at: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/forums/allmoparparts-com.90/

But I suspect, in the end, it's going to be creativity.

 

[PatriotMB]

Looks great! So did you only replace the rear flares? You wouldn't happen to have the part numbers for the Support Bracket and plastic cover? Thanks for the help!

Yeah, I replaced only the rear flares, inner fender as well. Quadratec has a great guide on all of the parts needed.

https://www.quadratec.com/jeep-replacement-parts/wrangler-jl/steel-rear-bumper-parts#nm8


The support bracket is Mopar Part #: 68295574AA
https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/rear-bumper-bracket-jl-steel-bumper-68295574AA

Rubicon Close out Panel https://www.quadratec.com/node/1012466/293341 you'll need one for driver and Passenger.

 

[jeepinization]

Yeah, I replaced only the rear flares, inner fender as well. Quadratec has a great guide on all of the parts needed.

https://www.quadratec.com/jeep-replacement-parts/wrangler-jl/steel-rear-bumper-parts#nm8


The support bracket is Mopar Part #: 68295574AA
https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/rear-bumper-bracket-jl-steel-bumper-68295574AA

Rubicon Close out Panel https://www.quadratec.com/node/1012466/293341 you'll need one for driver and Passenger.

Thanks! This really helped. Do you have the part number for the rear fenders only?. I can find the fenders but only buying both the front and rear. Also I can't tell from the digram but what hardware (nuts, bolts...) did you need to buy as well for the support bracket?

 

[PatriotMB]

Thanks! This really helped. Do you have the part number for the rear fenders only?. I can find the fenders but only buying both the front and rear. Also I can't tell from the digram but what hardware (nuts, bolts...) did you need to buy as well for the support bracket?

I used the same hardware for the bracket that came off my sport.

For the fenders, I bought them off ebay and the guy sent me the fenders, liners and all needed pushpins etc to install them. These are just for the rear fender. Message the seller and ask for both rear and liners. I paid $210 shipped from him.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/113910088399

 

[jeepinization]

I used the same hardware for the bracket that came off my sport.

For the fenders, I bought them off ebay and the guy sent me the fenders, liners and all needed pushpins etc to install them. These are just for the rear fender. Message the seller and ask for both rear and liners. I paid $210 shipped from him.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/113910088399

Sweet! Thanks!

 

[t.i.]

I used the same hardware for the bracket that came off my sport.

For the fenders, I bought them off ebay and the guy sent me the fenders, liners and all needed pushpins etc to install them. These are just for the rear fender. Message the seller and ask for both rear and liners. I paid $210 shipped from him.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/113910088399

Do you have to swap out the skid plate as well? I am only getting getting the steel bumper would that be an issue?

 

[jeepinization]

Do you have to swap out the skid plate as well? I am only getting getting the steel bumper would that be an issue?

Yes. If you are swapping out the front plastic bumper with the front steel bumper you will need to purchase the steel skid plate as well. If you go to quadratic.com you will see two options.

Mopar Part #: 82215183AB (This includes all the hardware you will need to install it) https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/front-bumper-skid-plate-jeep-wrangler-jl

OR

Mopar Part #: 68293984AB (This is just the skid plate and more of a replacement vs new install).
https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/front-bumper-skid-plate-jl-steel-front-bumper-68293984AB

However at least on Quadratec it is $100 difference and you might be able to get the brackets and bolts for less either online or from your local dealer. I don't have the part numbers for the bolts or the brackets.

mopar-82215183-rubicon-bumper-skid-plate-jeep-wrangler-jl-tabletop-whardware.jpg

 

[t.i.]

Yes. If you are swapping out the front plastic bumper with the front steel bumper you will need to purchase the steel skid plate as well. If you go to quadratic.com you will see two options.

Mopar Part #: 82215183AB (This includes all the hardware you will need to install it) https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/front-bumper-skid-plate-jeep-wrangler-jl

OR

Mopar Part #: 68293984AB (This is just the skid plate and more of a replacement vs new install).
https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/front-bumper-skid-plate-jl-steel-front-bumper-68293984AB

However at least on Quadratec it is $100 difference and you might be able to get the brackets and bolts for less either online or from your local dealer. I don't have the part numbers for the bolts or the brackets.

mopar-82215183-rubicon-bumper-skid-plate-jeep-wrangler-jl-tabletop-whardware.jpg

Thanks

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