97 Wrangler TJ 5.3L

[Ryanw10]

I brought this jeep home about a year and a half ago completely stock with 55k on it. Today it sits a whole new rig.

-5.3L V8
-CAI
-Dual exhaust with Thrush glasspacks
-Custom Tune
-Ax15 5 speed Manual
-Ford 8.8 with 4.10 Gears
-3" Rusty's Offroad springs with a 1" spacer up front
-Homeade front bumper
-4 fog lights, 2 windshield mounted and 2 bumper
-33x10.5 BFG All terrains
-Kicker 12" shallow sub with Kenwood 1000 watt amp

Im sure I missed a few things but currently I am working on building tube fenders and I have been playing around with the 4 link calculator. I plan on putting it in storage this winter to finish at least the tube fenders and possibly the 4 link as well. I also have a 1949 jeep willys pickup that I am restoring which takes up quite a bit of my time

[Ryanw10]

[montecarlo33]

nice looking jeep.

[Strangler]

If your not going to run 37+ tires I would keep the stock fenders. Too many people are running flat fenders when they don't need them, and its not a good look IMHO (and I'm one of those people).

[Ryanw10]

Personally, I love the look of flat fenders. And as far as tire size goes Im going to move up to a 35" sometime soon. The reason for tube fenders for me is all about protection. Any flex on the plastic flares and the paint will chip right off. And when I get in a tight situation with tube fenders I dont have to worry about damage, only a few scratches here unlike the whimpy stock fenders that will crinkle to the sight of a tree.

[boggin-machine]

flat fenders cause alot of damage!!! anyone with flat fenders that wheels will tell you. they will bend the shit out of the cowl with the softest touch

[Tab]

Originally Posted by boggin-machine

flat fenders cause alot of damage!!! anyone with flat fenders that wheels will tell you. they will bend the shit out of the cowl with the softest touch

Truer words have never been spoken. I used the have a show worthy jeep, now it's a crumpled mess.

[boggin-machine]

Originally Posted by Tab

Truer words have never been spoken. I used the have a show worthy jeep, now it's a crumpled mess.

just means you wheel it!! still have a badass jeep!

[bigbchevy]

Originally Posted by boggin-machine

just means you wheel it!! still have a badass jeep!

I bent my tube fenders

[whiterhino]

Originally Posted by Tab

Truer words have never been spoken. I used the have a show worthy jeep, now it's a crumpled mess.

I

for many reasons.


But back on topic, true story, tube fenders pass forces through to your grill and cowl. Tab's jeep has taken some hard hits and rather than put the dent in an easily replaceable fender, he now has a major repair in his cowl. On the other hand, my fenders have taken it hard but my cowl is not damaged. (well, from the fenders anyway)

My guess is that your intended usage won't see a lot of damage anyway so it becomes personal preference.

[Tab]

Originally Posted by whiterhino

I

for many reasons.


But back on topic, true story, tube fenders pass forces through to your grill and cowl. Tab's jeep has taken some hard hits and rather than put the dent in an easily replaceable fender, he now has a major repair in his cowl. On the other hand, my fenders have taken it hard but my cowl is not damaged. (well, from the fenders anyway)

My guess is that your intended usage won't see a lot of damage anyway so it becomes personal preference.

I'm here to amuse you. Come on, you know my jeep is a show jeep.

[Ryanw10]

I guess I learned something new about tube fenders. I do still believe though for the wheeling I do tube fenders will in my opinion give it a sick look and give me more protection. My biggest problem withe the stock fenders is the flares. I have mine color matched with flexible primer and countless hours of prep work and still with any sort of flex to them the chip.

[whiterhino]

I eliminated flares years ago.

Here's an honest statement not meant to be inflamatory. It's just my opinion;

If you want a trail rig, you can't keep it pretty. Make your choice.

[Ryanw10]

This is still my DD. I am also one of those who likes to have a decently clean jeep. I put a fresh paint job on it last summer and im not ready to trash it quite yet.

[Ryanw10]

Would anybody be interested in trading my 33s for your 35s? My tires have less than 1500 miles on them. I could add cash if needed

[bbaXJ]

Originally Posted by Ryanw10

My biggest problem withe the stock fenders is the flares. I have mine color matched with flexible primer and countless hours of prep work and still with any sort of flex to them the chip.

Well then you put entirely too much effort into them. Take stock flares, clean off dirt, grease, etc, then rattle can them with Krylon Fusion paint. They make it in gloss black that'll color match fine with your rig. I beat the shit out of mine, only time it would come off was when it directly scraped across a tree or got severely bent to the point that the fender was also smashed....and even then, a 30 second rattle can touch-up made em look good as new. Cheap, easy, and functional.

[whiterhino]

Or simply use factory black rubber flares & Armour-all them.

[bbaXJ]

Yep that always works too....although my flares were off a 14 year old TJ with 1/4 million miles, so they were pretty far gone. Satin black Krylon Fusion made em look great and hold up equally well. I'm sure gloss black would work nicely too.

[Ryanw10]

Got some 1 5/8" o.d DOM so I will start bending tube. Next week I will be picking up sheet metal and cutting it to size. And then whenever I go home next I will be able to do welding and assembly

[cyrus]

tab, whiterhino

quality flat fenders are tied into a quality cage & chassis. that way they don't pass any force in to the cowl/grill....