Question about removing rear bumper?

NWPATJ · 07-26-2009, 12:18 AM

I have a 97' and I got the Smittybilt Rock Crawler Rear Bumper. The directions suck. So the question is do you have to drop the gas tank to take the old bumper off? Or can you just take the corner caps off and get to them that way?
It did say to remove the rear body mount bolts, but I live in North Western Pennsylvania (RUST) and I really don't want to break the bolts off in the body. Any help would be very appreciated.

mudslinger150 · 07-26-2009, 08:11 AM

i do remember someone had posted about putting one of those rear bumpers on (recently). They didn't go into spesifics but they noted that they never wanted to do it again, it took them about 3.5 hrs., bolt holes didn't mesh well, and they needed 2 sets of hands.

If it came to the point of having to drop the tank and removing rusty hardware. I would deffinatley get all the parts that you might need to replace before hand, esp if its your daily driver.

but i would wait for some more replys to see if there is anymore ideas out there, i have yet to replace my stocky with anything else.

**KBR97** · 07-26-2009, 08:31 AM

No, you dont need to remove the gas tank. You do need to get those plastic bumpers off though. The bumper bolts are behind there.
From what i remember It wasn't hard at all. I took my stock one of along with a tow hitch, and replaced it all with an Olympic bumper in an hour maybe.

**slf41002** · 07-26-2009, 09:07 AM

No the tank does not have to be dropped to get the old bumper off.You have to go in from the sides.

catITguy · 07-26-2009, 09:43 AM

no dont take the tank off. remove the 'jugs' from the factory bumper to get at the bolts. I installed the highrock bumper in maybe an hour by myself, and I am about as far from mechanically inclined as one can get.

n8smitty · 07-26-2009, 06:04 PM

Search : Smittybilt Rock Crawler bumpers, Part 2

That is the thread I started about installing the rear bumper. Yes it was a pain in the butt. Yes it required an extra set of hands. But it wouldn't have been working on the Jeep without some sort of set backs. It wasn't any harder than the new flares I put on that seemed to be a different shape than stock flares. lol.

NWPATJ · 07-27-2009, 12:26 AM

Thank you guy for your help. Just wanted to see what I was gettin' to.