Warn JL Elite Full Width Bumper Install Time

[treillw]

How long to install the Warn Elite JL full width bumper?

Not finding an estimated time anywhere online, despite multiple tutorials.

Thanks!

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[tk1700]

If I remember correct it took me about 3 hours. It was easier than the rear and all the bolt holes lined up very easy. I had my wife ready to help when I lifted it on but all the bolts slid right in. It left me wondering what I had done wrong!

 

[Whaler27]

X2 on faster than the rear. The Warn Elite rear bumper is an enormous pain in the ass to mount, even with a delicate and patient touch and two people trying to line it up, because multiple bolts (7?) with tight tolerances have to be aligned with multiple holes without bumping the bolts and flimsy retaining clips that hold them in place. If you bump one bolt to shift the alignment, the bumper will not slide into place, and all bolts have to be positioned and repositioned by trial and error. it took me less time to replace all the brake lines, rotors, and calipers than it took to install that bumper. I gave up and left my shop twice to take a break and cool off because I was ready to put my fist through the wall.

The Warn rear license plate bracket/carrier adds insult to injury, as the plate can’t be removed without removing the whole carrier, and that requires holding the bolt up top while lying on your back with socket and extension to access the nuts underneath and inside the bumper. Don’t buy the matching rear Elite bumper. ?

 

[treillw]

X2 on faster than the rear. The Warn Elite rear bumper is an enormous pain in the ass to mount, even with a delicate and patient touch and two people trying to line it up, because multiple bolts (7?) with tight tolerances have to be aligned with multiple holes without bumping the bolts and flimsy retaining clips that hold them in place. If you bump one bolt to shift the alignment, the bumper will not slide into place, and all bolts have to be positioned and repositioned by trial and error. it took me less time to replace all the brake lines, rotors, and calipers than it took to install that bumper. I gave up and left my shop twice to take a break and cool off because I was ready to put my fist through the wall.

The Warn rear license plate bracket/carrier adds insult to injury, as the plate can’t be removed without removing the whole carrier, and that requires holding the bolt up top while lying on your back with socket and extension to access the nuts underneath and inside the bumper. Don’t buy the matching rear Elite bumper. ?

Fantastic. I have one on order. Supposed to get it in September. Sounds like a grand time.

 

[Whaler27]

Fantastic. I have one on order. Supposed to get it in September. Sounds like a grand time.

If I had it to do over again, I'd pay a shop to install it, and I generally enjoy working on my Jeep. YMMV.

The good news is, once it's on, it's good. The tire carrier is otherwise well designed, stout, adjustable for fit, and quiet. (And the carrier itself is a snap to mount.)

There's also room to install a couple small LED backup lights in the bumper (but not more than two).

When you mount the license plate bracket it will be very close to the driver's side corner of the Jeep. Check for clearance. You may want to bevel our the holes a touch, so small flexion won't start digging into the paint,

Good luck.

 

[treillw]

If I had it to do over again, I'd pay a shop to install it, and I generally enjoy working on my Jeep. YMMV.

The good news is, once it's on, it's good. The tire carrier is otherwise well designed, stout, adjustable for fit, and quiet. (And the carrier itself is a snap to mount.)

There's also room to install a couple small LED backup lights in the bumper (but not more than two).

When you mount the license plate bracket it will be very close to the driver's side corner of the Jeep. Check for clearance. You may want to bevel our the holes a touch, so small flexion won't start digging into the paint,

Good luck.

I'm a glutton for punishment when it comes to saving money and doing things "right" haha.

Tell me more about the backup lights.... Brand? Install procedure?

 

[Whaler27]

I'm a glutton for punishment when it comes to saving money and doing things "right" haha.

Tell me more about the backup lights.... Brand? Install procedure?

Mine are the Rigid "Ignite" series.

Rigid backup lights

There isn't much room inside the bumper, particularly when you are competing for space with the backup sensors. (The sensors aren't mounted in perfectly symmetrical disks; the disks are like little wedges with a particular orientation. Before removing the factory bumper, I recommend you note their orientation on a simple diagram, with an arrow showing where the sensors are pointed relative to the back of the jeep. When you move the sensors into the new bumper you can duplicate that orientation, so they'll work properly.)

Some guys will wire the backup lights into the reverse light wire. Others will buy or build a plug-n-play harness that allows the lights to activate automatically when in reverse, OR turn on when switched. (That's what I did on my Raptor, and I think it's the best solution. I got a plug-n-play harness from Offroad Alliance, as it was idiot-proof and clean.) When I wired the lights up on the Jeep I just grounded them and used one of the existing switches. (When I run out of other things to do I'll probably rewire them the way the Raptor is wired.)

I taped the bumper before drilling and made sure it was secure on saw horses and center-punched to avoid any wander or wobble. Remember to allow for wiring and sensor space in your light placement and, because the tire carrier post mounts on the passenger side, there's more room on the driver's side. In fact, there's room for two of these lights on the driver's side (with the second one mounted about where the Jeep emblem in the photo above), but you can't fit a second light on the passenger side. A total of two of these lights is plenty anyway, as they are very bright.

 

[Dave928]

a few hours each. it's a royal PITA. on the rear the bolts are too long, on the front too short. they're a pain to put in the bumper. the front doesn't sit completely flush on the frame horns due to the bolts are carriage bolts (square shoulder) and the shoulder doesn't fit in the round holes on the frame. so they all tighten up kind of cock-eyed with a gap.

try the bolts in the frame holes first, if the shoulder doesn't fit you'll have to open the holes a bit. can't do this after the bumper goes on.

the plate bracket design is stupid. the screw holes in your plates are about 1/4", they're 3/8" bolts in the bracket, so you have to drill the holes in your plates to use the included hardware. really stupid design choice. and as stated above, it's REALLY >< close to the rear fender paint. put some aluminum tape on the paint first.

do it on a lift if you can, or you'll be getting up and down at least a thousand times getting the right tools to fit.

 

[treillw]

Apparently something has changed on the LED fog lights for 2022. I can't get them to sit level, unless I just need to go sit down and stop working at 10pm (which I do).

Guess I put emails into to Northridge and Warn. I'm trying to not get mad and enjoy the process. It's awesome to be able to do this to such a cool vehicle - it's a shame to make it into a chore like everything else.

 

[Dave928]

you need steel bumper fog lights and a Dremel :

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