JK Rear Bumper Roundup

[Teo]

Originally Posted by mowerman

That is a nice looking bar. You mentioned it takes 2 jerry cans where do they fit on it? You reckon it would need airbags? How much do you think it weighs?

It is a sweet looking bar, like how it takes two jerry cans, which based on the pictures look like they're behind the spare. Bar and carrier is listed at 190lbs so about 86kg approx

Sent from my HTC One XL using Aussie Jeep Offroad mobile app

[task82]

Originally Posted by mowerman

That is a nice looking bar. You mentioned it takes 2 jerry cans where do they fit on it? You reckon it would need airbags? How much do you think it weighs?

Thanks mate, yep, airbags for sure!! The Jerry's mount on the tyre carrier and there is mounting point for a hilift as well. I saw on a couple of sites 110lbs, which is 50kg (ish). Personally I think it is heavier than 50kg.

I was pretty happy with it after I fitted it, but I kept hearing this rattling sound after I fitted it and thought it was the latch because that is where the sound was coming from. I kept adjusting the tyre carrier and got it to a point where I would shake the hell out of it and would hear no nothing from shaking it. However, went for another drive and I kept hearing this rattling noise!! Anyway, upon closer inspection, I have since discovered that the bar is hitting on the bottom of the rear quarter panel whenever I go around corners or hit bumps (even little bumps).

Here are the photo's I took last night, first photo shows the gap between bar and body with the wheel carrier closed:



Second photo shows how close the bar gets to the body with the tyre carrier open (I can shake the rear bar with the tyre carrier and it moves):



Third photo shows where the rear bar has been hitting the body (viewer discretion is advised):



To the credit of JeepKonection they have been keeping in close contact with me and are trying to rectify the issue. To be really clear, I fitted the bar myself, JeepKonection did not fit the bars.

Anyway, gonna loosen all the bolts up on the weekend and see if I can drop the bar by 5mm-10mm. Needless to say I'm not a happy camper...

The theory with the bar is spot on and makes a good option to carry jerries and hilift. But sadly, in practice, I have really lucked out and I am pretty guttered :'(

[mowerman]

Gee that's really cut into the guard. How you going to fix the guard? If the bar had a little more of a trim and it would have been fine.

[Paul-JK]

Yeh, it's definitely sitting way too high.
There's probably about a 1" gap between my stock bumper the body work.
Even with a 10mm gap you were hoping for it might still be too close. The body can move a fair bit when you're flexing up off road. This shot of the front of mine shows how much it can move as the gap between the bumper and flare has disappeared on the passenger side. The gap is usually over an inch on both sides on the flat.



I like the look of a lot of the Smittybilt gear but they don't have the best reputation for dimensional accuracy in their manufacturing. Jeep Konection have a good relationship with them though (I know from painful personal experience trying to fit Smittybilt side steps that were never going to fit) so they should see you right. Just make sure you flex it up and see if it still clears OK before you agree that it's OK. If not, send it back.

[task82]

Originally Posted by mowerman

Gee that's really cut into the guard. How you going to fix the guard? If the bar had a little more of a trim and it would have been fine.

I have no idea, I'm kind of at a loss at the moment. Will see what Jeep Konection can offer, or whether Smittybilt can sort it out. Yeah absolutely, you can see in the photo how there is a good line, but then they bring it in, instead of following the natural curve.

Originally Posted by Paul-JK

Yeh, it's definitely sitting way too high.
There's probably about a 1" gap between my stock bumper the body work.
Even with a 10mm gap you were hoping for it might still be too close. The body can move a fair bit when you're flexing up off road. This shot of the front of mine shows how much it can move as the gap between the bumper and flare has disappeared on the passenger side. The gap is usually over an inch on both sides on the flat.

I like the look of a lot of the Smittybilt gear but they don't have the best reputation for dimensional accuracy in their manufacturing. Jeep Konection have a good relationship with them though (I know from painful personal experience trying to fit Smittybilt side steps that were never going to fit) so they should see you right. Just make sure you flex it up and see if it still clears OK before you agree that it's OK. If not, send it back.

Yeah, I just hope that it'll drop down!! I'd hate to think of how it would go offroad at the moment, based on the blacktop driving I've been doing!! I know when we fitted it, it wasn't pushed up at all, it just sat naturally, so we'll see how we go with getting it to drop I guess. I have complete faith in Jeep Konection, they have always been amazing to deal with, so I'm confident that'll be the easy part. Just hope I can get it to fit, I really do like the bar and what it has to theoretically offer!!

[MDK]

Looked thru most of the pages of this thread and done a search but haven't found much on the Aries modular bar. Quite like it. Anyone got one or had one? Anywhere to get one in Aust ? One store in WA lists them but only black. Or anyone got an educated guestimate what shipping from the US might run to?

[SeaComms]

Usatoaus.com is you best bet

Sent from a tiny keyboard with fat fingers, apologies for my spelling. .