Recently purchased and installed the RealWheels 2.5 inch pre-runner bar on my stock bumper. Here’s the product on RealWheels’ site - other vendors like Quadratec sell it as well.
2.5″ Pre-Runner Bar | Jeep Wrangler JK Accessories
I’m really happy with it, but all the pictures on vendor web sites suck - they make it look just like a cheap light bar. I’ve decided to correct this problem by posting some pics of my install:
![Image]()
There’s a set of tabs for mounting lights to. Nowhere to run the wires, but not sure i’m actually going to mount lights.
![Image]()
![Image]()
It’s a prerunner bar which goes forward away from the grill instead of a bull bar which is straight up or slopes back towards the grill of the Jeep.
The product comes in both unfinished stainless steel and black-painted stainless steel, in 1-5/8” and 2.5” sizes. I chose the black-painted 2.5” size though I assume both sizes use similar brackets.
Packaging was good. I found the instructions a bit confusing at times but not terrible.
INSTALL (2014 JK)
First step is to remove your grill. i’m sure there are multiple posts on it. A set of plastic auto trim puller tools from Harbor Freight came in handy for pulling the 6 clips out of the top.
For the turn signal lights, I found disconnecting the connectors was easier than the method described in the instructions.
Removing the trim piece behind the bumper comes next. My two fasteners that hold it down wouldn’t unscrew or pry out nicely, so I wound up using a big flat-head screwdriver to pry between the underside of the big plastic trim piece and the frame.
You loosen the two outside bolts on both side of the plastic front bumper.
You need to cut the ends off the plastic trim piece - I used a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel and it worked well. Made a mess, so was glad to be wearing eye protection.
Here is a pic of the plastic trim piece re-install.
![Image]()
From there you put everything together finger-tight, then do final tightening when it’s all in place.
One note - the brackets are very close to the plastic grill so it would be easy to scratch your plastic grill on them when reinstalling them. If I did this again i’d put some masking tape on bottom corners of the grill to protect it during re-install.
Here’s a pic of the brackets - they are stout.
![Image]()
Here’s a pick of a bracket installed.
Note how sturdy it is and also how close it will be to the plastic grill when reinstalled.
![Image]()
Another pic - I’ve got a 2014 JK - here’s that ‘vacuum pump’ that they sell those relocation kits for.
![Image]()
A pic of the tight fit between the plastic grill and the bracket.
![Image]()
That's all folks - hope it helps.
2.5″ Pre-Runner Bar | Jeep Wrangler JK Accessories
I’m really happy with it, but all the pictures on vendor web sites suck - they make it look just like a cheap light bar. I’ve decided to correct this problem by posting some pics of my install:
There’s a set of tabs for mounting lights to. Nowhere to run the wires, but not sure i’m actually going to mount lights.
It’s a prerunner bar which goes forward away from the grill instead of a bull bar which is straight up or slopes back towards the grill of the Jeep.
The product comes in both unfinished stainless steel and black-painted stainless steel, in 1-5/8” and 2.5” sizes. I chose the black-painted 2.5” size though I assume both sizes use similar brackets.
Packaging was good. I found the instructions a bit confusing at times but not terrible.
INSTALL (2014 JK)
First step is to remove your grill. i’m sure there are multiple posts on it. A set of plastic auto trim puller tools from Harbor Freight came in handy for pulling the 6 clips out of the top.
For the turn signal lights, I found disconnecting the connectors was easier than the method described in the instructions.
Removing the trim piece behind the bumper comes next. My two fasteners that hold it down wouldn’t unscrew or pry out nicely, so I wound up using a big flat-head screwdriver to pry between the underside of the big plastic trim piece and the frame.
You loosen the two outside bolts on both side of the plastic front bumper.
You need to cut the ends off the plastic trim piece - I used a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel and it worked well. Made a mess, so was glad to be wearing eye protection.
Here is a pic of the plastic trim piece re-install.
From there you put everything together finger-tight, then do final tightening when it’s all in place.
One note - the brackets are very close to the plastic grill so it would be easy to scratch your plastic grill on them when reinstalling them. If I did this again i’d put some masking tape on bottom corners of the grill to protect it during re-install.
Here’s a pic of the brackets - they are stout.
Here’s a pick of a bracket installed.
Note how sturdy it is and also how close it will be to the plastic grill when reinstalled.
Another pic - I’ve got a 2014 JK - here’s that ‘vacuum pump’ that they sell those relocation kits for.
A pic of the tight fit between the plastic grill and the bracket.
That's all folks - hope it helps.
