Gladiator Rear End Repaired & Trimmed

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
As some of you may know, Cindy and I did a little body damage to the rear end of our Jeep Gladiator. This happened out on the Rubicon and ironically, it was caused by factory corner guards that I had just installed. But, to be fair, I was not able to install the guards as they would have been from the factory and that most likely caused them push up into the pinch seams and buckle them. Here are a few shots of what the damage looked like.
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What really sucks is that this isn't the first time we've done damage like this and it is why I was trying to prevent it by reinstalling the factory corner guards. The problem is, our EVO high and tight bumper sits above the pinch seam and so when you come off of a big rock or obstacle, the pinch seams were the first thing to get hit. Of course, what we really need, is for the bumper to be taking on the hits but that would mean, we'd need to install a bigger one and that really wasn't something we wanted to do. So, we decided to address the problem in a different way.

After getting the body damage repaired, we decided to go one step further and trimmed off the trouble spots. Specifically, we completely removed the pinch seams from the rear fender back. Essentially, everything that was being covered by the factory plastic trim. Of course, to make everything look right, we also removed the fender liners and black edge trim and here's what our Gladiator looks like now.
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By trimming off the pinch seam, our rear bumper and frame rails have effectively become the lowest point on our Gladiator's rear end. And, for the most part, they should now be taking on all the hits. Well, that and maybe the 3rd muffler - something I may need to look into. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and really, this is something we should have done over 2 years ago.
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Anyway, just thought I'd share what we did and with the hopes it can help others out. :cool:
 
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RCC

Active Member
That looks really good.

I am curious to see what you end up doing with the exhaust.
 
Nice and clean. Now… on to the bigger question. Which Jeep is getting the new Nitto Trail grapplers peaking through in the background 🧐
 

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Looks good isn’t the pinch seam what keeps the quarter panel together ?
Yes, a pinch seam is and I probably shouldn't have used the term as this bottom piece of the rear bed is NOT a pinch seam. It's more of a valance to help hide things like the muffler.
Awesome,more function and looks better as well.
Thanks! :)
That looks really good and better than stock!
It's funny you should say as much because I think so too 😎
Looks fantastic, the only other thing to do is bob the bed
LOL - Not sure about a bob. Not really my thing.
 

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
That looks really good.

I am curious to see what you end up doing with the exhaust.
I've been considering one of these.
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That looks really nice!!
Thank you :)
That looks great! Funny I was just looking at a straight pipe solution for my truck.
The Dynomax Quite Crawler for JT Gladiator is what I've been eyeing. :cool:
Looks sharp.
Looks clean.
Thanks guys :)
 

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Mo Better. (y)
LOL - thanks! I kinda like it myself :)
Looks great. Makes it look huge
It would take a really big rock or crazy high ledge to make contact with the bumper now. And, with the fender trim removed, I think I can squeeze in a set of 42's with ease not too :)
That looks like the way it should have been right out of the factory. Super clean!
I kinda think so too. All that trim was just to hide things like the muffler anyway.
Nice and clean. Now… on to the bigger question. Which Jeep is getting the new Nitto Trail grapplers peaking through in the background 🧐
LOL - coming to a video soon :)
 
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