Was out on a Jeep run with the San Diego Jeep Club and one guy recommended your video. Great "How To" video, this is a project I'll be tackling soon. Thanks!
Hello Trailrecon, thanks for the feedback! Perhaps we can meet up on the next run and you can check it out in person. If you have any questions, let me know, I'll be happy to help out.
This came out REALLY nice! For someone who said he couldn't cut a straight line very good, it looked flawless "from here"! I especially liked using the plate, to mark the curve! That is SO something I would do. I've got a few nice compasses and even sets of curve templates, but more often than not, I'll just use a coffee can or a roll of tape!! Once the rubber edge trim was on, this job looked PERFECT! I don't think ANYONE would know that those flares were cut! They look like a factory product now!
I've seen a lot of these fender cutting videos but yours is probably one of the best. The end result looks great. I love doing DIY projects on my Jeep, and I think this will be one of them.
Great tutorial on how to customize the Jeep Wrangler front and back fenders. Probably the best one out there, thanks for sharing. I do question removing the inner wheel well liner all together on both front and back. I would have figured a way to cut away any excess yet save some of the barrier to keep mud and small stones from getting caught up in there. I think I also would have scuffed and sprayed any of the white body parts showing after the cuts. I think a flat black would not draw your eyes to the wheel wells and the parts that remain.....Just Say'n.
Ray Orobona thanks for the feedback. The front inner fender liners were kept on and fixed back to the Jeep. The rear would not as they are part of the flare that gets cut.
Followed this today and it worked out perfect. If you decide not to go with the trim you can use a piece of 600grit wet/dry paper folded over to go over the edges and smooth them out. If you do it with a big of speed the friction will heat the plastic and smooth it out and give it a shiny finish.
Great video! I just got my stubby bumper, I used your video to originally cut my flares. However, I skipped the trimming of the front until I got the bumper I wanted, so now to take your plate trick and make it so my Jeep no longer looks like it has wings! haha Thank you!
I've been watching vids and reading threads on this for years. Yours is the best to date. I like the lines, methods used, explanations and shots. Especially exactly where and how you kept the front inner fenders. I'd like to keep the rears too though since I live in snowy/salty NY. Thanks again. May the force be with you. Adam
Hey mate just wanted to thank you for putting this vid up, its by far best jk fender cut vid on youtube, I used to it do my jk today took me about 7 hours but I did mine angle grinder/gigsaw come out really good, total job cost me $80 Aus dollars most of which was for edge trim. Thanks again.
John, great video. After watching yours and some others actually got the nerve to cut my fenders last weekend and they turned out great. Buys me a lot of time before having to shell out over $1000 for ll new fenders. The only issue I ran into was with the edge trim on the sharp corner on the front edges of the front fenders. The trim doesn't like to make that sharp bend and wanted to pop off so I sliced it at the bend and now no more problems. I actually drilled a hole at the lower end of the inner liner and into the body mount behind it and used one of the plastic plugs to hold the liner in place.
Steve Kline Thanks Steve, I appreciate the feedback and glad my video helped. I cut mine for the same reason, I'll wind up getting aftermarket fender flares at some point but for now it saves me some $$ and allows me more room to flex the axles, otherwise I would have had the pulled right off on a few trails. About the trim piece, exactly all of my corners are rounded out when I cut them using the paper plate as a template. So far they have held on longer then I had expected!
Yeah we used your paper plate template also. The edge trim is working fine, it just didn't like the real sharp bend at the front edge of the fender by the grill.
Great video and job well done! Anyone with basic skills and tools can do this, This looks so much better than the factory fenders, Whether its $300 or $600, you save money, customize your on fenders, practice a skill, and possible save time because some of the custom installs require more steps.
J.E. Walker thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it! Cutting into your OEM fenders can be a bit intimidating so I knew I had to shoot the video to show exactly how I did it. My goal was to show juts how easy it could be!
Excellent video. I watched it about 3 times and then jumped right in there and did it myself. Turned out really good. I ended up using 4-1" black sheet metal screws that have a little washer on therm on each fender to hold it down to the fender supports to avoid any flapping. If you don't mind having a few screw heads showing on your fenders it's a good solution. Heck, it's a jeep so I didn't mind it. I did have a little problem with the trim. To me it is too small and I had some issues with it wanting to come off so I'm decided to pull the fenders and paint the wheel wells and fenders with truck bed liner paint and I'm going to be putting some black rubber tubing (split down the middle with my dremmel) on to replace the trim. It's a little beefier looking...kinda looks like metal tubing.
Alan Fletcher Thanks for the feedback! Yes, there are definitely custom finishes that can be done with this type of mod. I know in the rear wheel well they did not finish the painting. I am planning on doing the same with some color matched liner. I like your idea on the black rubber tubing for the edge trim. I would be interested in seeing how that turns out.
I cut my flares and HIGHLY recommend elevator bolts! The front flares are barely held in place by the existing clips along the edge. Without elevator bolts, I'd expect front flares to fly off at highway speeds.
Thee best DIY for cutting the OEM flares hands down👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. I live overseas will not buy a jigsaw and dremler( they are very expensive here) ,i dont trust myself of doing i clean job like you did. I dont want metal flares since i use my Jk in the dunes (almost never rock crawling). Is there any good plastic fenders other than the bushwacker?
My OEM flares barley touch my tires on bouncing, but i can see little marks on my tires and i dont want to ruin my new set of tires. I do not want the very narrow plastic fenders( thats all i can find ) I really like my OEM fenders but its time to replace them . Any help would be most appreciated 🙏🏼
Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it. One thing you may want to look into are fender clips that allow you to take off and put back on the OEM fenders. That way, you can remove them when you go to the dunes and the. Put them back on for street.
Hey John Golden, I saw a chopped fender Rubi this afternoon and it looked awesome. Couldn't tell if they were aftermarket or if they were DIY'd, but what I did love was that it was RED underneath. Thought this would look great on your MOD. Just use some FELXI-DIP, and you cant go wrong.
Jonathan, was the red underneath inside the wheel well or are you talking in the inside part of the flare itself? When I eventually decide to replace my fenders, I'll be painting the inside the wheel well.
You may have done it already, but you can trim the inner fender in the rear also. I keeps the dirt from accumulating in the many nooks and crannies under there.
Super, I kept the rear inner flare section just in case I did want to do some additional trimming to keep that liner in. I'm still debating if I want to Line-x the inside or not. Good point though, thanks for mentioning it
I really want to do a similar job, but I have body color fender flares so I'm hesitant. When I upgrade o 37s though I'll have to do it or else I'll have a lot of rubbing. Most of the other videos out there say you have to take your fenders off to do it. Good to know you don't.
Hi there thank you for the tip am good big to cut my fender on my Jeep and save the money for my winch thank you again for a great tip 👍🏻 keep Jeeping 😊
John, would it be possible to post a quick video showing how you secured the inner lining on the front. I know you talked about it in the video, but I didn't see how you did it. This looks great man and a heck of a lot of dough saved. Thanks and nice jeep!!!
@ the 19:30 mark in the video that is all I did, minus the clip (not needed). The tension holds the piece tucked in place. I never had any issues with it popping out going at highway speeds and off-road
this was helpful buddy thanks i own a jeep jl and jeep has went back to putting the blinkers in the finders smh! people who dont like the way it looks dont understand "built not bought" lol.
Christyn Maynor Ive learned over the years that everyone has their own opinion of how to build “your” Jeep. If someone doesn’t like the way I build it, no problem..I just move on. Build the rig the way you want it!
It looks clean and want to do it only thing I'd do is a lil paint or plastic dip for the rear under the fender not the wheel well thoe Great video thanks
Patrick Horvath Appreciate the feedback. Yep, OEM they do not do a great job painting in the wheel well. My plan is either to paint it or have it paintmatch rhino line it.
The inner fender in the rear can be left off as it is not covering anything except the under fender wall/tub. You can river that back in if you want, there are several aftermarket inner fender flares that you can use or just leave it off.
Ryan O'Donoghue I really did not notice any additional noise after removing the rear inner liners. You’ll notice that the paint was not “finished” from the factory there as well. There is no real way to leave that in place unless you redrill new holes and pin it back in. An option to do is just rhino line it or there are companies that have liners to install.
RockTrooper ahh yes good idea. I have this underbody spray I’ve used on my poison spider bumper. Probably use that stuff and spray that area down. Great videos btw!
what about cutting it on the other side of tape line or more so its not as wide? can that be done & how far? Also How about rhino spray line the rear well?
David weber there is no “rule” on the width of the flare when you cut, however keep in mind that the front flares have a support bracket to keep it in place, so if you cut inward of the bracket, you’ll either have that bracket extending out past the flare or you need to cut it off. Also, that bracket normally gets used on aftermarket flares if you go that route later.
Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it. The bumper is the factory 10A bumper, first came out on this model, now on all rubicon model Jeeps. The wheels are Method.
CS, do you mean if I pained the inside of my wheel wells? If so, no not yet. I am going to hold off on gettng that area repainted until I decide on upgraded fender flares. I will either rhino line the interior wheel well or just get it painted the same color white of the Jeep. Still deciding.
AdamlsAdam, for some reason I was unable to respond to your comment. Hope you get this response: Thanks Adam, I appreciate the feedback. You may want to consider removing the rear inner fenders as well and coating the inside with a rhino liner or equivalent to help prevent dirt/mud buildup and rust. It is easier to clean out what you can see vs. what you cannot. Good Luck with your mod!
+John Golden (RockTrooper) Thanks. I'm seeing this now. Not sure why you weren't able to respond before. Anyway, yes, I'm going to give this a shot. Like I said, I like the lines you took. If weather holds up, I'll try it this weekend.
Hey John. I'm a huge fan of your DIY videos. They are of a huge help! I just wanted to ask you 2 questions: 1- Why did you go back to the factory front bumper? 2- What kind of tires/tire size you got now and how do they compare to your previous BFGs? Cheers!
Lol, I'll tell you I was really nervous on the first cut as well, but once you get that first cut in, easy peasy going forward. Since I cut mine I have cut at least 10 more rigs doing the same thing. We also did painted fenders and they turned out great. I have to work on that video and get that one posted. Any questions, just hit me up. I'll be happy to help.
Someone asked me what trim I used for the flares after cutting them. Here is the link to the actual product: cowlesproducts.com/cowles-custom/cc_door-edge-guard/ You can find this at just about any auto parts store and you will need 2 to do all 4 flares. Hope that helps!
I don't want to sound totally lame but what does that say on your hood say Rubicon and a different style or language I just got a rubicon look to in Hanson slowly your jeep look good my still stock if I can ask what would you enhance on a stock Jeep first thanks
Lol, I get that question often Jimmy. I'm a huge Star Wars fan (tied for 1st with Jeep) and the theme of my build is based on that, reason why I named it RockTrooper. It reads "Rubicon" in Aubresh, which is a Star Wars language.
Arthur Alikhanian yes, Level 8 Strike 5 rims. Only complaint I have is that they are aluminum and they easily get rock rash on them. Other than that, they are great!
Hey Larry, this is the factory bumper that comes with the 10th anniversary model. It also comes with the Rubicon hard rock edition. Check eBay, Craiglist or your Jeep forum local section. You should be able to find them for sale. Good luck with the fender cutting!
Ginny, as long as you leave the proper support braces in place like I had done in the video, you will not see any flapping. I have driven extended highway rides @ 70 mph, as well as normal road and off-road driving and no issues at all.
So I've noticed its been a couple of years since you did the cut. Have you had any issues with the adhesive on the rubber trim you put on the finished cut coming off?
Great video. At the time of this soot what size tires were trying to clear? Did you have a lift already? I'm thinking about trimming the flares and sticking 35's on it in stock form.
B Alt In the video I have 37" MTRs with the MetalCloak 3.5" Gamechanger OME lift. With the proper bumpstops installed I can get a full flex right at the edge of me touching the fenders. If I would have left them stock, my tires would have ripped them right off. You should have more then enough room to fit 35"s on a stock suspension when you cut them.
Shoulda waited till aftermarket flares were in the budget or left the duct tape on as hillbilly racing stripes!!! Are you honestly happy with the way it looks? Maybe I am being harsh but, do you really think the edge trim will stay in place at highway speed or even more so driving through the bush. I am disappointed.
Brett McLaughlin a little over a year later I did replace with steel fenders. I was no disappointed at all with the cut fenders, they held up perfectly, no issues at highway speeds and the edge stayed on without any issues. The trim had glue in it to keep it in place. All and all I was extremely happy with the results and it allowed for the flex I needed.
Hey Jim, I have not yet. I decided to wait until I actually replace the fender flares to replace the side marker lights. Tye OEM lights are still on there zip-tied in place. They have not moved and still work great.
Hey Don, thanks for the feedback. Actually the away that I cut it allowed me to place that piece of the fender behind the body and it stays there. I had not had to lock it in place with anything. No issues at highway speeds, off-road, etc..
Michael Flynn on this rig it took a while because of the filming etc, however when I have done others it only take a couple of hours...longer if there is beer involved 😜. The important thing is to take your time and have fun when doing it, you only get to cut once!
@@RockTrooperJeep cut ours and looks amazing we're happy with the out come. Thanks for the awsome video. Then i had to cut the brother in laws to he loves it
Thanks for this video. I just learned a lot. What is the name of the kinds of saws you used? I was just wondering I am not really familiar with power tools.
Hey Shane, thanks for the feedback. In the video, I used a few different cutting tools, a Dremel, reciprocating saw and a jig saw. You can use these or really just about anything that will allow you to cut cleaning and manage around some tight areas. You'll just want to make sure that you are using the right blades. The sharper/finer the blade the better the cut.
Rhett Patterson Yep, I'll probably do color matched rhino lining or similar inside the wheel wells. I first need to decide if I want to replace the plastic inner fender on the front wheels with some aluminum plates.
Nathan, install is complete and video shot, however when i went to compile and edit I lost a large portion of the video. I need to go thru everything and see exactly what parts are missing and see if it is worth it to uninstall and reinstall to capture the missing shots.
John Golden Oh no that's a shame! How was it on the difficulty scale? Think someone with minimal experience on vehicles could handle it, or am i better of taking it to a shop and paying a bit extra? About how long did it take? Thanks!
nathanc777 Nathan, not difficult at all, just a bit time consuming. end to end install took about 5-6 hours, which includes lining the winch drum with the line and all wiring. The Maximus 3 winch plate is a perfect fit. The only option to consider is the pump relocation bracket which depends on your winch model. Id be happy to discuss in more detail or provide help via e-mail/IM/Video chat if you need it. E-mail me @ 10ARubicon@gmail.com
great job on the fenders John they look awesome and like they were professionally done. Can you tell me what kind of rock rails/rock sliders are on this bad girl? My 2014 came with nothing and i love these. Thanks man!
Aaron Socha thanks, I appreciate the feedback and I hope the video helped. The rock rails I have on there on the factory rails that come with the Rubicon model. I believe they are also on the Hard Rock model now as well. You should check on Craigslist as I see them on there every once in a while and you should be able to pick them up relatively inexpensive.
That looks pretty sweet!! I was somewhat skeptical how it would look when you first started cutting. I have painted (white sahara) flares so I am more hesitant to start cutting. If I had regular fenders, hell ya. What lift do you have? Your rig looks even better with modified fenders. Great video, I enjoy all of them. Thanks!!
Hey Ray, thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. We actually just cut a friend of mine fenders that are also painted (blue). We were a bit hesitant becuase we thought the paint my chip and flake away but to our surprise it worked perfectly! We cut using the same tools as I did with mine and it came out nice. I am actually going to put together that quick video to show how how it looks later this week. As for my suspension, it is the Metalclaok Gamechanger 3.5" lift with Fox IFPs, rides great on 37s.
+John Golden (RockTrooper) Hello John. Awesome videos BTW. I was wondering if your ever made that video on your friends blue fenders? if so, could you provide a link for the video? I would appreciate it. Looking to do this with my painted blue fenders. thanks in advance
+pkjensenAZ funny you should ask. I actually just took some post pictures this week so I can add to the video. I should have that completed and posted this weekend. Subscribe to my channel and you should get the notification when uploaded!
Austen, no flapping at all the way I cut them. There is still support on the top and the rear section I can tuck back behind the body. I have driven highway speeds as well as off-road and never a problem.
Great Video, I was considering doing this and your video was definitely more clear on some of the finer aspects (what to do with the inner liner) and makes chopping up my jeep less intimidating. Going to give this a shot next week! Do you think cutting through sahara fenders that are body coloured would yield a similar result?
Hey Jon, I'm glad my video helped. Thanks for the feedback. There was someone who did respond that he had cut the painted fenders and there were no issues with paint cracking or peeling after all was done. Personally I have never see it done nor have I seen any painted cut flares out on the trail. I would suggest before you do it, check around the various Jeep forums and see if you can hook up with someone who has done it to see if there are any special treatment needed for the paint. Good luck with your mod!
RockTrooper lol yea and they look great! yea will take some work but that's the point to Bond with your JK lol but need to take care of my front bumper first..
Hey John, thanks for the video! I'll probably be using this as a guide for myself this weekend. I did have a quick question though. You show your fender lights ziptied up inside the fender towards the end of the video. Did you ever determine a more permanent solution? I'm not sure if there are legal issues with not having that light (I believe there is not in most states since the rear lights wrap around to the side of the Wrangler) but even if there is no legal issue, I would like to keep a light there just for the purpose of being more visible to other drivers. Let me know if you can, thanks!
Hey Camron, I still have the lights set the same way I do in the video, so over a year and several thousand miles later. No issues and the lights are completely visible when on. Eventually, when I replace the OEM fenders I'll most likely get a small button LED light for the side marker.
Hey Zac, if you are talking about the side marker light. No, not yet...The way I have the tied on now works perfectly for the temp solution. I'll probably leave it like this until I get new fender flares.
Nice job buddy. How is that factory bumper working for you? I watched another guy installing some after market fenders & I must admit that your job looks just as nice...
Henning Sainog thanks, I appreciate the feedback. The factory bumper is great, they really did an awesome job when they released this bumper with the 10a model and kept it with the hard rock. The cut OEM fenders held up extremely well, almost 2 years with no issues since I cut them with supports in place.
You are not going to be able to get to the tighter fit areas around the grill and body of the jeep with a grinder either. I would suggest getting a Dremel, it would make the work much easier and more controlled.
With doing this I would be able to throw on some 35" tires on a stock suspension with no lift in the meantime correct? I don't want to waist money buying an inexpensive lift kit rather save up for something good but want to run 35s
Christian Granados while cutting the fenders will allow you to fit a bigger tire, it may still limit your travel based on your bump stop placement. if you do some heavy off-roading you may end up stuffing the tires to much and causing damage to either your tire or wheel well, so be careful.
I think you just saved me $650. i was looking into ordering Bushwacker flat fenders for my JK. But this is a great DIY project and a great step by step video! Very nice touch adding the edge trim as well. What did you end up using to tie in the bottom of the front plastic piece to the frame? 19:40
Ryein, thanks for the feedback, glad it helped! As for the fender piece at 19:40, I actually just left it tucked behind the body and it has remained in place. I have driven high speed highway miles as well as off-road rubbing the fenders against trees and rocks and they have never popped out.
Hey Jake, not at all. On the front, as long as you leave the proper support braces in tact that I show in the video, it will keep them sturdy. I had been running them for a while now and never had any issues.
Was out on a Jeep run with the San Diego Jeep Club and one guy recommended your video. Great "How To" video, this is a project I'll be tackling soon. Thanks!
Hello Trailrecon, thanks for the feedback! Perhaps we can meet up on the next run and you can check it out in person. If you have any questions, let me know, I'll be happy to help out.
This came out REALLY nice! For someone who said he couldn't cut a straight line very good, it looked flawless "from here"! I especially liked using the plate, to mark the curve! That is SO something I would do. I've got a few nice compasses and even sets of curve templates, but more often than not, I'll just use a coffee can or a roll of tape!! Once the rubber edge trim was on, this job looked PERFECT! I don't think ANYONE would know that those flares were cut! They look like a factory product now!
Mike S thanks for the feedback and appreciation on the work. I was glad to have been able to do this and film it for everyone to see.
Was going to spend $600+ on flares but couldn't find any that I liked then I saw your video and now I have an awesome solution! Thanks John!!
I've seen a lot of these fender cutting videos but yours is probably one of the best. The end result looks great. I love doing DIY projects on my Jeep, and I think this will be one of them.
+Michael Pratt Thanks Michael, I appreciate the feedback! Any questions you have when doing yours, let me know.
Great tutorial on how to customize the Jeep Wrangler front and back fenders. Probably the best one out there, thanks for sharing. I do question removing the inner wheel well liner all together on both front and back. I would have figured a way to cut away any excess yet save some of the barrier to keep mud and small stones from getting caught up in there. I think I also would have scuffed and sprayed any of the white body parts showing after the cuts. I think a flat black would not draw your eyes to the wheel wells and the parts that remain.....Just Say'n.
Ray Orobona thanks for the feedback. The front inner fender liners were kept on and fixed back to the Jeep. The rear would not as they are part of the flare that gets cut.
I'm new to the Jeep world and loving your short cuts. Going to do mines this weekend.
Thanks Robert, I'm glad I can help out. If you have any questions, let me know. Good luck with your cut!
Followed this today and it worked out perfect. If you decide not to go with the trim you can use a piece of 600grit wet/dry paper folded over to go over the edges and smooth them out. If you do it with a big of speed the friction will heat the plastic and smooth it out and give it a shiny finish.
Timothy Kelly awesome! Glad the video was able to help! Thanks for posting info on an alternate way to complete the finished edge.
Great video! I just got my stubby bumper, I used your video to originally cut my flares. However, I skipped the trimming of the front until I got the bumper I wanted, so now to take your plate trick and make it so my Jeep no longer looks like it has wings! haha Thank you!
Paul Burgio Thanks for the feedback, glad the video helped!
I was skeptical until I saw the finished product. NICE JOB! Looks awesome!
John Hudak thanks for the feedback! I was skeptical at first as well, just need to take your time with the cuts.
I've been watching vids and reading threads on this for years. Yours is the best to date. I like the lines, methods used, explanations and shots. Especially exactly where and how you kept the front inner fenders. I'd like to keep the rears too though since I live in snowy/salty NY.
Thanks again.
May the force be with you.
Adam
Hey mate just wanted to thank you for putting this vid up, its
by far best jk fender cut vid on youtube, I used to it do my jk today took me about 7 hours but I did
mine angle grinder/gigsaw come out really good, total job cost me $80 Aus dollars most of which was for edge
trim. Thanks again.
Yeah buddy, glad it helped! Post some pics of your jeep up on my Facebook page, who'd love to see how it turned out!
John, great video. After watching yours and some others actually got the nerve to cut my fenders last weekend and they turned out great. Buys me a lot of time before having to shell out over $1000 for ll new fenders. The only issue I ran into was with the edge trim on the sharp corner on the front edges of the front fenders. The trim doesn't like to make that sharp bend and wanted to pop off so I sliced it at the bend and now no more problems. I actually drilled a hole at the lower end of the inner liner and into the body mount behind it and used one of the plastic plugs to hold the liner in place.
Steve Kline Thanks Steve, I appreciate the feedback and glad my video helped. I cut mine for the same reason, I'll wind up getting aftermarket fender flares at some point but for now it saves me some $$ and allows me more room to flex the axles, otherwise I would have had the pulled right off on a few trails. About the trim piece, exactly all of my corners are rounded out when I cut them using the paper plate as a template. So far they have held on longer then I had expected!
Yeah we used your paper plate template also. The edge trim is working fine, it just didn't like the real sharp bend at the front edge of the fender by the grill.
You have the cleanest garage I've ever seen! Good Job!
Larry Parga LOL, thanks! it is a constant struggle keeping it clean. The family is always trying to put stuff in my man cave!
The club membership is going to dig this video, thanks John.
I just trimmed my flares following your video. It looks great. Thank you.
Justin Hollers awesome! I am glad the video helped out
Great video and job well done! Anyone with basic skills and tools can do this, This looks so much better than the factory fenders, Whether its $300 or $600, you save money, customize your on fenders, practice a skill, and possible save time because some of the custom installs require more steps.
J.E. Walker thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it! Cutting into your OEM fenders can be a bit intimidating so I knew I had to shoot the video to show exactly how I did it. My goal was to show juts how easy it could be!
Excellent video. I watched it about 3 times and then jumped right in there and did it myself. Turned out really good. I ended up using 4-1" black sheet metal screws that have a little washer on therm on each fender to hold it down to the fender supports to avoid any flapping. If you don't mind having a few screw heads showing on your fenders it's a good solution. Heck, it's a jeep so I didn't mind it. I did have a little problem with the trim. To me it is too small and I had some issues with it wanting to come off so I'm decided to pull the fenders and paint the wheel wells and fenders with truck bed liner paint and I'm going to be putting some black rubber tubing (split down the middle with my dremmel) on to replace the trim. It's a little beefier looking...kinda looks like metal tubing.
Alan Fletcher Thanks for the feedback! Yes, there are definitely custom finishes that can be done with this type of mod. I know in the rear wheel well they did not finish the painting. I am planning on doing the same with some color matched liner. I like your idea on the black rubber tubing for the edge trim. I would be interested in seeing how that turns out.
elevator bolts have worked well as I've seen from another video
I cut my flares and HIGHLY recommend elevator bolts! The front flares are barely held in place by the existing clips along the edge. Without elevator bolts, I'd expect front flares to fly off at highway speeds.
AWESOME idea with the trim!! Def. gonna do that!!
Thanks, glad it will help!
Awesome, going to do this soon. 35's, 2" spacer lift w/ shocks, stubby Bumper LCOG build done (well never done). Thanks man!
Thee best DIY for cutting the OEM flares hands down👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼.
I live overseas will not buy a jigsaw and dremler( they are very expensive here) ,i dont trust myself of doing i clean job like you did.
I dont want metal flares since i use my Jk in the dunes (almost never rock crawling). Is there any good plastic fenders other than the bushwacker?
My OEM flares barley touch my tires on bouncing, but i can see little marks on my tires and i dont want to ruin my new set of tires.
I do not want the very narrow plastic fenders( thats all i can find ) I really like my OEM fenders but its time to replace them . Any help would be most appreciated 🙏🏼
Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it. One thing you may want to look into are fender clips that allow you to take off and put back on the OEM fenders. That way, you can remove them when you go to the dunes and the. Put them back on for street.
@@RockTrooperJeep .i didn't know it existed. That is perfect for me. Thanks❤
Nice tutorial. Thanks for taking the time to put this together & post.
Oh! And nice garage too.
Subscribed.
Thanks for the feedback! As for the garage, its a constant battle with the wife/kids to keep "stuff" out! :)
Hey John Golden, I saw a chopped fender Rubi this afternoon and it looked awesome. Couldn't tell if they were aftermarket or if they were DIY'd, but what I did love was that it was RED underneath. Thought this would look great on your MOD. Just use some FELXI-DIP, and you cant go wrong.
Jonathan, was the red underneath inside the wheel well or are you talking in the inside part of the flare itself? When I eventually decide to replace my fenders, I'll be painting the inside the wheel well.
Nice work...Good clean job. I will use some of your ideas.
Raymond Chokelal thanks for the feedback, glad the video helped out!
You may have done it already, but you can trim the inner fender in the rear also. I keeps the dirt from accumulating in the many nooks and crannies under there.
Super, I kept the rear inner flare section just in case I did want to do some additional trimming to keep that liner in. I'm still debating if I want to Line-x the inside or not. Good point though, thanks for mentioning it
I really want to do a similar job, but I have body color fender flares so I'm hesitant. When I upgrade o 37s though I'll have to do it or else I'll have a lot of rubbing. Most of the other videos out there say you have to take your fenders off to do it. Good to know you don't.
So without reading through the countless comments, how does this hold up at high speeds? Do you hear them flexing in the wind?
Jeff Peck no issues at all, as long as you leave the support brackets in place.
Hi there thank you for the tip am good big to cut my fender on my Jeep and save the money for my winch thank you again for a great tip 👍🏻 keep Jeeping 😊
Chris Macias thanks for the feedback! Glad the video will help. Jeep On!
John, would it be possible to post a quick video showing how you secured the inner lining on the front. I know you talked about it in the video, but I didn't see how you did it. This looks great man and a heck of a lot of dough saved. Thanks and nice jeep!!!
3rd, I'll see if I can get a quick vid and pictures this weekend and post it up
3Rd, send me an email and I'll send you the quick video I made showing what I did with the front fender tuck
@ the 19:30 mark in the video that is all I did, minus the clip (not needed). The tension holds the piece tucked in place. I never had any issues with it popping out going at highway speeds and off-road
Great video! Best one That I seen thank you can’t wait to do my Jeep.
Andrew Irvin thanks for the feedback, hope the video helps!
this was helpful buddy thanks i own a jeep jl and jeep has went back to putting the blinkers in the finders smh! people who dont like the way it looks dont understand "built not bought" lol.
Christyn Maynor Ive learned over the years that everyone has their own opinion of how to build “your” Jeep. If someone doesn’t like the way I build it, no problem..I just move on. Build the rig the way you want it!
Man awesome video! Just what I was looking for. Great detail & great editing!
It looks clean and want to do it only thing I'd do is a lil paint or plastic dip for the rear under the fender not the wheel well thoe
Great video thanks
Patrick Horvath Appreciate the feedback. Yep, OEM they do not do a great job painting in the wheel well. My plan is either to paint it or have it paintmatch rhino line it.
Is it okay if i leave my rear inner fender off?
The inner fender in the rear can be left off as it is not covering anything except the under fender wall/tub. You can river that back in if you want, there are several aftermarket inner fender flares that you can use or just leave it off.
Wanting to trim mine this weekend. Thanks for video!
Robert Earles just take your time and enjoy the work, you’ll be glad you did when you are done.
I feel like the inner lining on the rear fender keeps your paint protected from gravel etc.. also a bit louder without them?
Ryan O'Donoghue I really did not notice any additional noise after removing the rear inner liners. You’ll notice that the paint was not “finished” from the factory there as well. There is no real way to leave that in place unless you redrill new holes and pin it back in. An option to do is just rhino line it or there are companies that have liners to install.
RockTrooper ahh yes good idea. I have this underbody spray I’ve used on my poison spider bumper. Probably use that stuff and spray that area down. Great videos btw!
Ryan O'Donoghue glad to help! Thanks for the feedback
what about cutting it on the other side of tape line or more so its not as wide? can that be done & how far?
Also How about rhino spray line the rear well?
David weber there is no “rule” on the width of the flare when you cut, however keep in mind that the front flares have a support bracket to keep it in place, so if you cut inward of the bracket, you’ll either have that bracket extending out past the flare or you need to cut it off. Also, that bracket normally gets used on aftermarket flares if you go that route later.
Nice work I watched a few videos but like yours best,
What bumper and wheels are those if I may ask
Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it. The bumper is the factory 10A bumper, first came out on this model, now on all rubicon model Jeeps. The wheels are Method.
Excellent "How-To" video Rocktrooper, thanks for sharing with us all.
You are welcome!
What wheels are you running?
did you ever paint the inside of your finder liners black? where the the was showing?
CS, do you mean if I pained the inside of my wheel wells? If so, no not yet. I am going to hold off on gettng that area repainted until I decide on upgraded fender flares. I will either rhino line the interior wheel well or just get it painted the same color white of the Jeep. Still deciding.
+CS Savage Here ya go: ruclips.net/video/2Czh3FFlKls/видео.html
AdamlsAdam, for some reason I was unable to respond to your comment. Hope you get this response: Thanks Adam, I appreciate the feedback. You may want to consider removing the rear inner fenders as well and coating the inside with a rhino liner or equivalent to help prevent dirt/mud buildup and rust. It is easier to clean out what you can see vs. what you cannot. Good Luck with your mod!
+John Golden (RockTrooper) Thanks. I'm seeing this now. Not sure why you weren't able to respond before. Anyway, yes, I'm going to give this a shot. Like I said, I like the lines you took. If weather holds up, I'll try it this weekend.
Great job came together real nice
Thank you
Hey John. I'm a huge fan of your DIY videos. They are of a huge help! I just wanted to ask you 2 questions:
1- Why did you go back to the factory front bumper?
2- What kind of tires/tire size you got now and how do they compare to your previous BFGs?
Cheers!
Sulz, thanks for your feedback. Very much appreciated. As for your questions:
1- Why did you go back to the factory front bumper?
Were did you get your Aurebesh Rubicon hood decal!
Pixeldecals.com
@@RockTrooperJeep fantastic thanks im getting a clone gunship style pinup made 😎 and that will be the cherry on top!
Great video maybe one day I'll get the courage to try this haha
Lol, I'll tell you I was really nervous on the first cut as well, but once you get that first cut in, easy peasy going forward. Since I cut mine I have cut at least 10 more rigs doing the same thing. We also did painted fenders and they turned out great. I have to work on that video and get that one posted. Any questions, just hit me up. I'll be happy to help.
Awesome video
Thanks Bombdigiti!
Looks damn good!! Great job
yvesjeanpttrsn thanks, appreciate the feedback!
Someone asked me what trim I used for the flares after cutting them. Here is the link to the actual product: cowlesproducts.com/cowles-custom/cc_door-edge-guard/ You can find this at just about any auto parts store and you will need 2 to do all 4 flares. Hope that helps!
This looks stupid good 🔥
Bryan Cintron thanks for the feedback, appreciate it!
Where is your red and black decal from?
Angelina Iniguez if you are referring to the hood decal, I custom ordered it from pixeldecals.com. Do you know what it reads?
RockTrooper yes the hood decal! & no I don’t but I was looking to get something I know but in that font!
Hello there nice video! Question I see that you keep the light side in there is it connected?
Hello Vampy, thanks for your feedback. If you are talking about the side marker lights in the front, yes they are connected and functional
I don't want to sound totally lame but what does that say on your hood say Rubicon and a different style or language I just got a rubicon look to in Hanson slowly your jeep look good my still stock if I can ask what would you enhance on a stock Jeep first thanks
Lol, I get that question often Jimmy. I'm a huge Star Wars fan (tied for 1st with Jeep) and the theme of my build is based on that, reason why I named it RockTrooper. It reads "Rubicon" in Aubresh, which is a Star Wars language.
Cool thanks
cool, but I have question about your rims, I see you have the Level 8 Strike. How do you like them?
Arthur Alikhanian yes, Level 8 Strike 5 rims. Only complaint I have is that they are aluminum and they easily get rock rash on them. Other than that, they are great!
I'm trying this next weekend! whats the name of the front bumper?
Hey Larry, this is the factory bumper that comes with the 10th anniversary model. It also comes with the Rubicon hard rock edition. Check eBay, Craiglist or your Jeep forum local section. You should be able to find them for sale. Good luck with the fender cutting!
Where did you get the aurebesh decals for the hood?
Craig Mason good eye my friend! I had them done by Pixeldecals.com he did some great work!
Do these completed fenders flap in the wind while driving on the highway or any driving at all for that matter ?
Ginny, as long as you leave the proper support braces in place like I had done in the video, you will not see any flapping. I have driven extended highway rides @ 70 mph, as well as normal road and off-road driving and no issues at all.
So I've noticed its been a couple of years since you did the cut. Have you had any issues with the adhesive on the rubber trim you put on the finished cut coming off?
Great video. At the time of this soot what size tires were trying to clear? Did you have a lift already? I'm thinking about trimming the flares and sticking 35's on it in stock form.
B Alt In the video I have 37" MTRs with the MetalCloak 3.5" Gamechanger OME lift. With the proper bumpstops installed I can get a full flex right at the edge of me touching the fenders. If I would have left them stock, my tires would have ripped them right off. You should have more then enough room to fit 35"s on a stock suspension when you cut them.
Hey bro that looks good man
What tires size are those? And lift?
JonGCruzNY 37” tires and 3.5” lift.
RockTrooper Thanks !
9 people accidentally cut the entire flares off while watching this video. :3
Shoulda waited till aftermarket flares were in the budget or left the duct tape on as hillbilly racing stripes!!! Are you honestly happy with the way it looks? Maybe I am being harsh but, do you really think the edge trim will stay in place at highway speed or even more so driving through the bush. I am disappointed.
Brett McLaughlin a little over a year later I did replace with steel fenders. I was no disappointed at all with the cut fenders, they held up perfectly, no issues at highway speeds and the edge stayed on without any issues. The trim had glue in it to keep it in place. All and all I was extremely happy with the results and it allowed for the flex I needed.
Thanks for the great video. Did you ever replace the side lights with LEDs? If so, is there a way to see a pic?
Hey Jim, I have not yet. I decided to wait until I actually replace the fender flares to replace the side marker lights. Tye OEM lights are still on there zip-tied in place. They have not moved and still work great.
Excellent video. How did you end up securing the fender flare to the body? Did you get that clip you mentioned?
Hey Don, thanks for the feedback. Actually the away that I cut it allowed me to place that piece of the fender behind the body and it stays there. I had not had to lock it in place with anything. No issues at highway speeds, off-road, etc..
can you just delete the side turn signals?
DWings you sure can, however they make inexpensive LED lights that you can use now you can connect one up quickly.
How long did it take to cut all 4
Michael Flynn on this rig it took a while because of the filming etc, however when I have done others it only take a couple of hours...longer if there is beer involved 😜. The important thing is to take your time and have fun when doing it, you only get to cut once!
@@RockTrooperJeep cut ours and looks amazing we're happy with the out come. Thanks for the awsome video. Then i had to cut the brother in laws to he loves it
Awesome, glad it turned out the way you wanted it!
Thanks for this video. I just learned a lot. What is the name of the kinds of saws you used? I was just wondering I am not really familiar with power tools.
Hey Shane, thanks for the feedback. In the video, I used a few different cutting tools, a Dremel, reciprocating saw and a jig saw. You can use these or really just about anything that will allow you to cut cleaning and manage around some tight areas. You'll just want to make sure that you are using the right blades. The sharper/finer the blade the better the cut.
What size tires are you running?
Dylan, I'm running 37" tires, Goodyear MTR
Good job, and it looks great. Where do you get that plastic edge trim you added for the final touch?
R Law thanks for the feedback, appreciate it. I got the trim from Autozone, or you can get something similar from Amazon amzn.to/2Lhq3jk
Instead of a file try a sanding block with 100 grit sandpaper folded around it.
great video. Where did you get your StarWars RUBICON hood decals?
Matt Buchholz ordered from Pixeldecals.com. They can do just about anything you need.
"RUBICON" in Aurebesh!
nice trim, just remember to paint the insides of the wheel wells black.
Rhett Patterson Yep, I'll probably do color matched rhino lining or similar inside the wheel wells. I first need to decide if I want to replace the plastic inner fender on the front wheels with some aluminum plates.
ETA on the Maximus 3 Stinger and Winch Plate install? Great vids. Thanks!
Nathan, install is complete and video shot, however when i went to compile and edit I lost a large portion of the video. I need to go thru everything and see exactly what parts are missing and see if it is worth it to uninstall and reinstall to capture the missing shots.
John Golden Oh no that's a shame! How was it on the difficulty scale? Think someone with minimal experience on vehicles could handle it, or am i better of taking it to a shop and paying a bit extra? About how long did it take? Thanks!
nathanc777 Nathan, not difficult at all, just a bit time consuming. end to end install took about 5-6 hours, which includes lining the winch drum with the line and all wiring. The Maximus 3 winch plate is a perfect fit. The only option to consider is the pump relocation bracket which depends on your winch model. Id be happy to discuss in more detail or provide help via e-mail/IM/Video chat if you need it. E-mail me @ 10ARubicon@gmail.com
John Golden Thanks so much, will definitely keep that in mind when i gather up all the components!
great job on the fenders John they look awesome and like they were professionally done. Can you tell me what kind of rock rails/rock sliders are on this bad girl? My 2014 came with nothing and i love these.
Thanks man!
Aaron Socha thanks, I appreciate the feedback and I hope the video helped. The rock rails I have on there on the factory rails that come with the Rubicon model. I believe they are also on the Hard Rock model now as well. You should check on Craigslist as I see them on there every once in a while and you should be able to pick them up relatively inexpensive.
Sweet mods man
GSHeverything _27 thank you, I appreciate the feedback!
Great job looks great thx for the vid
you are welcome, hoped it helped!
Your jeep is very pretty, have you ever taken it off roading?
Not knocking the vid, good stuff!
dcobbism he is a real beaut Clark! Sure do, off-road and then next day gets cleaned!
Well damn, you sure do a good job of cleaning it! Cheers
dcobbism lol, and thanks!
That looks pretty sweet!! I was somewhat skeptical how it would look when you first started cutting. I have painted (white sahara) flares so I am more hesitant to start cutting. If I had regular fenders, hell ya. What lift do you have? Your rig looks even better with modified fenders. Great video, I enjoy all of them. Thanks!!
Hey Ray, thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it. We actually just cut a friend of mine fenders that are also painted (blue). We were a bit hesitant becuase we thought the paint my chip and flake away but to our surprise it worked perfectly! We cut using the same tools as I did with mine and it came out nice. I am actually going to put together that quick video to show how how it looks later this week. As for my suspension, it is the Metalclaok Gamechanger 3.5" lift with Fox IFPs, rides great on 37s.
+John Golden (RockTrooper) Hello John. Awesome videos BTW. I was wondering if your ever made that video on your friends blue fenders? if so, could you provide a link for the video? I would appreciate it. Looking to do this with my painted blue fenders. thanks in advance
+pkjensenAZ funny you should ask. I actually just took some post pictures this week so I can add to the video. I should have that completed and posted this weekend. Subscribe to my channel and you should get the notification when uploaded!
+John Golden (RockTrooper) That's awesome! I subscribed. keep up the great work! can't wait!
+Ray Marcial We did cut some painted flares, check it out here: ruclips.net/video/2Czh3FFlKls/видео.html
did you have any fender flapping once you cut them?
Austen, no flapping at all the way I cut them. There is still support on the top and the rear section I can tuck back behind the body. I have driven highway speeds as well as off-road and never a problem.
That looks great!!
Thank you
Great Video, I was considering doing this and your video was definitely more clear on some of the finer aspects (what to do with the inner liner) and makes chopping up my jeep less intimidating. Going to give this a shot next week! Do you think cutting through sahara fenders that are body coloured would yield a similar result?
Hey Jon, I'm glad my video helped. Thanks for the feedback. There was someone who did respond that he had cut the painted fenders and there were no issues with paint cracking or peeling after all was done. Personally I have never see it done nor have I seen any painted cut flares out on the trail. I would suggest before you do it, check around the various Jeep forums and see if you can hook up with someone who has done it to see if there are any special treatment needed for the paint. Good luck with your mod!
thanks for that video! will do the same on my JK
Cisco Valdez glad the video helped. It's an easy mod, once you get past cutting into your rig! Lol
RockTrooper lol yea and they look great! yea will take some work but that's the point to Bond with your JK lol but need to take care of my front bumper first..
Cisco Valdez exactly! You, my friend get it! It's all about the relationship with your rig.
RockTrooper Will do! what do you thing about cutting off the front bumper? I have the plastic bumper
Cisco Valdez I have seen the front bumper cut and capped on either end. It is possible to do. I'm sure there are a few videos on it as well.
Hey john, I was wondering what type and size of lift you have on your JK? Thanks!
Hey Tommy, I have the MetalCloak Gamechanger 3.5" OME. Great suspension lift!
John Golden Thanks for the quick answer man!
Hey John, thanks for the video! I'll probably be using this as a guide for myself this weekend.
I did have a quick question though. You show your fender lights ziptied up inside the fender towards the end of the video. Did you ever determine a more permanent solution? I'm not sure if there are legal issues with not having that light (I believe there is not in most states since the rear lights wrap around to the side of the Wrangler) but even if there is no legal issue, I would like to keep a light there just for the purpose of being more visible to other drivers.
Let me know if you can, thanks!
Hey Camron, I still have the lights set the same way I do in the video, so over a year and several thousand miles later. No issues and the lights are completely visible when on. Eventually, when I replace the OEM fenders I'll most likely get a small button LED light for the side marker.
+John Golden (RockTrooper) Awesome, thanks for the reply!
Excellent.
where did you get your Rubicon sticker. im inlove with it!!!
Miguel Jauregui Not many people get the meaning. I got the decals from pixeldecals.com, they can do a lot of custom work too!
i figured right away! lol thanks!
I don't get the meaning. What is it? What is the font set called? It is very cool and I love your videos!
Bella, it's part of the theme build. Search on Star Wars alphabet 😉
OK. Thanks! Very cool! I'm installing my new LUX rock lights on my 2017 Rubi this week and your videos were very helpful! Thank you! :-)
looks great, thanks for the info
Thanks Nathan, hope it helps
that turned out really nice. I'm probably gonna copy the edge trim. Have you done anything with the light yet?
Hey Zac, if you are talking about the side marker light. No, not yet...The way I have the tied on now works perfectly for the temp solution. I'll probably leave it like this until I get new fender flares.
What the hell does it say on the side of your Jeep hood 🤔 looks pretty badass👍 kind of like something you see from the movie Predator😎
It’s Aubresh. Language from Star Wars. It reads Rubicon
Nice job buddy. How is that factory bumper working for you? I watched another guy installing some after market fenders & I must admit that your job looks just as nice...
Henning Sainog thanks, I appreciate the feedback. The factory bumper is great, they really did an awesome job when they released this bumper with the 10a model and kept it with the hard rock. The cut OEM fenders held up extremely well, almost 2 years with no issues since I cut them with supports in place.
You think I can do this with a grinder?
Not sure. A grinder (electric or air) might be too much power for the cut. If you can get a really super thin wheel it might work.
You are not going to be able to get to the tighter fit areas around the grill and body of the jeep with a grinder either. I would suggest getting a Dremel, it would make the work much easier and more controlled.
+John Golden (RockTrooper) thanks bro! Ima try it tomorrow on my wrangler see what happens awesome video
Sooooooooo? Im curios as I'm toying with the idea of hacking my sahara fenders as well.
+Big Johnson you can do it! If you have any questions before you start, let me know and I'll answer what I can.
Looks good
With doing this I would be able to throw on some 35" tires on a stock suspension with no lift in the meantime correct? I don't want to waist money buying an inexpensive lift kit rather save up for something good but want to run 35s
Christian Granados while cutting the fenders will allow you to fit a bigger tire, it may still limit your travel based on your bump stop placement. if you do some heavy off-roading you may end up stuffing the tires to much and causing damage to either your tire or wheel well, so be careful.
RockTrooper thanks for the response bud! I'm going to have to probably stick with 33s for now
I think you just saved me $650. i was looking into ordering Bushwacker flat fenders for my JK. But this is a great DIY project and a great step by step video! Very nice touch adding the edge trim as well. What did you end up using to tie in the bottom of the front plastic piece to the frame? 19:40
Ryein, thanks for the feedback, glad it helped! As for the fender piece at 19:40, I actually just left it tucked behind the body and it has remained in place. I have driven high speed highway miles as well as off-road rubbing the fenders against trees and rocks and they have never popped out.
Excellent video, how much of the edge trim did you end up using though, more than 18'?
Ryan Freeland Yes, actually 2 packages of the edge trim is what you will need to complete all 4 flares.
Do You have small jeepers going to wheel w u ? I'm in Californian as well would like to join
You should paint the wheel well with bed liner.
Zakaria KTM I had thought about it, however I had installed inner fender liners in the front and had them painted white to match the body color.
do the fenders flap any at hwy speeds?
Hey Jake, not at all. On the front, as long as you leave the proper support braces in tact that I show in the video, it will keep them sturdy. I had been running them for a while now and never had any issues.
Ok thanks for the video, I plan to do this sometime soon and will use your video to help me along!
+Jake Carter glad I can help. If you have any questions, let me know. I'll be happy to answer what I can.