Rock Rails Question

dark_luther · **Posted:** Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:00 pm

I have an 03 Sport and had dealership put rock rails on. To my surprise they DON"T fit like this:

--- ---
--- --- --- ---
--- --- -------------------------------- --- ---
(front wheel) ================== (rear wheel)
(rock rail)

Instead, the rock rail is half-way under the gray plastic fender like this:

--- ---
--- --- --- ---
--- --- --------------------------------- --- ---
===================

WTF? Does anyone know if this is normal? Does anyone have pictures of rock rails on their 03 sport?

dark_luther · **Posted:** Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:03 pm

my pretty, hand-typed pictures ... destroyed.

anyway, the problem is that the rock rails sit under the rear plastic fender-type things in the rear, and their is a strange looking "space" between the front of the rock rail and the front plastic fender thingy. Is this normal? Does anyone have pics of an 03 sport w/ rock rails on?

corwyyn · **Posted:** Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:26 pm

Found this one that might help: http://www.thechucklesstart.com/car/9-6-04/p9061613.jpg I had remembered Charles having factory rock rails on his before he swapped out to Boulder Bars, and it looks like his go under both the front and rear fender flares. His is an '04 though, so it might be a different design.

Hope this helps.

moose · **Posted:** Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:18 pm

almost sounds like they mounted them on the wrong sides...

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Jul 03, 2006 6:05 pm

Are you talking about OEM Rock Rails? If they don't look like this, then they screwed up.

dark_luther · **Posted:** Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:17 pm

Yeah ... they screwed mine up big time! I assume that to fix it - they will have to drill new holes into the frame. What damage might this cause? rust? weakness? I'm going to try to get them to refund the labor ... maybe the parts too? Those %$&#&%$%#'s

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:24 pm

By the way, show them my KJ's picture and tell them this came from the factory this way so they can't say that it could go either way.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:50 pm

There are holes in the frame where they should have put inserts to bolt the rock rails in place; you can see them in the side of the frame member below:

Joe, can you confirm if this is correct? If it is and they didn't install the inserts but instead drilled new holes to bolt the rails in place then I'd take it back and ask them to do it right.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:55 am

I'll have to look at the holes tomorrow and see where they are on mine. I can't confirm if holes are already on KJ's since mine came that way when I bought it.

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:07 am

IIRC, when I had the dealership install my old rails (before I upgraded to Skink Sliders) the bolts went through holes that were already there.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:36 am

do you have a photo of the incorrectly mounted rails?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:13 pm

If they are mounted like this then they are put on right. His are mounted under the plastic.

This is not my jeep, it is mooses' jeep.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2348831

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:37 pm

Wow! That sits way under the plastic! Seems better to go with an AllJ, RL, or Carolina bars/rails/sliders. They sit out further for more protection (aside from the sturdiness of them over the OEMs. I like the OEMs but obviously not on the `05-07 models. Not with that plastic thing along the side.

dark_luther · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2006 4:37 am

Well ... spent all morning at the dealership arguing that the rock rails from mopar didn't fit my 03 sport. The tubular rails left 1.5 inches of the body (just behind the front flare) uncovered and overlapped the rear flare by 1.5. They tapered out from back to front leaving an assymetrical "space" between the body and rail. I learned how valuable it is to press your point and STAY AT THE DEALERSHIP NO MATTER WHAT until they fix the problem. They tried to get me to leave it with them, or to leave and wait for them to call - huh - I'd still be waiting! After three hours I got a full refund on part and labor. Now the dealership has to go after mopar and/or dc to get their money back. The sick irony is that I wanted a dealership to put the rails on to avoid some annoying situation just like the one I have endured. ... Well ... boulder bars or skink sliders?

Ps. The manager was arguing that the rails looked normal to him so I told him that I was networked with 50-some kj owners who would be happy to send pictures of rock rails that fit normally. He looked at me like "oh $#!7".

I could hardly keep the smirk off my face.

Thanks for your help and the terrific pictures!

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:37 am

Glad to help. Glad you didn't take crap from the dealer either.

moose · **Posted:** Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:03 pm

I haven't mounted the Skinks yet (that's Saturday with Eddo), but those things are built like tanks!

Rock Rails Question

Who is online