Rugged Ridge Rear Bumper & Tire Carrier Installation Review & Tips

DeepSky · 12-14-2009, 03:17 PM

I was going to post this in my other thread but I felt it was deserving of its own. So yesterday I finally finished tweaking my bumper install that I kicked off last weekend. It was a real PITA getting everything up to par. Here's a few things I ran into:

Problem: Holes on bumper did not line up with holes on frame mounts.

Solution: With body mount bolts loose on one side and bumper bolts inserted and loose on the other side I stuck a large screwdriver in one of the holes and applied leverage to line up the shackle holes while I inserted the bolts.

Problem: Tailgate would hit latch plate tower when opening.

Solution: Moved passenger side shackle mount as far towards the driver side as possible.

Problem: Latch was not at the same level as latch plate and could not be closed.

Solution: Installed all the shims the kit came with between the ramp & bottom of tire carrier and ground down a bit of the bottom of the end of the latch.

Problem: Latch required an amazing amount of force to close and secure tire carrier.

Solution: Drilled out the holes on the latch plate and moved it as far towards the driver side as I could. Moved the latch & handle assembly as far towards the passenger side as possible. Ground down the tip of the latch.

Problem: Gap between bottom of fender flair and top of bumper was twice as large on the passenger side.

Solution: Placed 3-4 washers under the top bolt holes on the driver side tire carrier shackle mount between the bumper and the body mounts to level the bumper.

Problem: Tire jiggles & wiggles left to right when hitting bumps and on bumpy roads and kind of whenever.

Solution: Adjusted the tire carrier arm inward to bring the tire closer to the tire carrier's center of mass. Didn't completely get rid of the issue, but it helped.

MattJK09 · 12-14-2009, 03:50 PM

That's enough PROBLEMS to keep me away from that product.

I'm glad you got it all squared away though.

DeepSky · 12-14-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattJK09

That's enough PROBLEMS to keep me away from that product.

I'm glad you got it all squared away though.

haha yeah, you certainly get what you pay for, although now that most of the problems have been taken care of I do have to be honest and say I like it.

**CGScotty** · 12-14-2009, 07:47 PM

Pics Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DeepSky · 12-15-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGScotty

Pics Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wanna get some up but it's been rainy and overcast every time I have the opportunity!

I have to admit, as big of a pain in the *** it has been, for a $670 dollar bumper & tire carrier it looks damn good

Avian · 12-15-2009, 05:30 PM

Rugged ridge is definitely on my list for new bumpers. 90% sure Im going with their modular stubby/ skid plate combo for the front. Still debating if I should get their rear to match. Cant wait to see pics!

**1222** · 12-15-2009, 05:37 PM

Don’t you have a garage or something from where you can take pics? We’re like babies and need our pic ba ba’s.

Also does this mean you didn’t take pics of the install?

DeepSky · 12-15-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avian

Rugged ridge is definitely on my list for new bumpers. 90% sure Im going with their modular stubby/ skid plate combo for the front. Still debating if I should get their rear to match. Cant wait to see pics!

From what I've read (after I got my rear) the front bumpers are amazing in terms of quality (and obviously looks as well). The rear's have the looks, but the quality isn't exactly par to their front bumper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1222

Don’t you have a garage or something from where you can take pics? We’re like babies and need our pic ba ba’s.

Also does this mean you didn’t take pics of the install?

I do!!! In fact my hours of installation and adjusting occurred in my garage. I even took about 15 pics, but the lighting was terrible and I deleted them. And no, I didn't take pics of the install, although I could tell you step by step how to do it at this point :P

DeepSky · 12-19-2009, 11:28 AM

Finally took some pics!

Dumontra · 12-21-2009, 07:56 PM

VERY, VERY nice looking!

DeepSky · 12-22-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dumontra

VERY, VERY nice looking!

Thanks!

BTW I figured out this problem:

Problem: Tire jiggles & wiggles left to right when hitting bumps and on bumpy roads and kind of whenever.

I should have read the install directions better. The inside of the tire is actually supposed to rest up against the tire carrier. The jiggles are gone now.

Charles · 04-02-2010, 05:38 PM

I installed this bumper without the tire carrier. I really love it. I yanked a Yukon Denali XL out of the snow uphill with one of the D-Rings on the back.

I wouldn't say the install is difficult because of the quality, it is difficult because you are trying to line up 24 holes at one time...kinda. If you keep the bolts on the plate that mount the bumper to the frame loose while you install the 8 bolts that mount the bumper to the mounting plate it's not to bad. Once you get the 8 bolts on the outside done you line everything up and level it then you tighten the mounting brackets. It can be difficult but it's worth it because this bumper looks and feels indestructible. I'm really happy with it.

**1222** · 04-02-2010, 05:44 PM

Yup, good lookin Jeep.

drvnwheel · 04-03-2010, 01:45 AM

I also installed the Rugged Ridge rear bumper. Install went well, just kept all the bolts loose until in everything was in place then tightened everything up. About 6 months later, then installed the tire carrier (it was not available when I purchased the rear bumper). Tire carrier install also went well.
BTW, also installed the Rugged Ridge front bumper and side rails.
Great products, looks great too. No doubt they appear to be "rugged".

Charles · 05-15-2010, 06:56 AM

Is it a PITA opening two gates every-time you need to access the cargo area?