Bushwacker rear fender flares?

[OldFarmTruck22]

The wide track rear fenders that have rot through problem and have deteriorated too far (especially at the bottom rear) for metal work are a problem. There was a guy that had stamped some replacement panels for these wide tracks, but he seems to be gone now.
Without a metal repair option, it leaves us to have to consider totally removing the factory flare (a lot of work) and installing the fiberglass flares (A LOT OF WORK), don't let them kid you, that fiberglass install is a lot of work that will cost you a thousand dollars or much more if done by a body shop.
So ... to be able to cut off the factory rear flare and BOLT ON a complete replacement that will handle bumps and scuffs much better than brittle fiberglass, is the better option for the cost conscious like me.

[SJohn]

The wide track rear fenders that have rot through problem and have deteriorated too far (especially at the bottom rear) for metal work are a problem. There was a guy that had stamped some replacement panels for these wide tracks, but he seems to be gone now.
Without a metal repair option, it leaves us to have to consider totally removing the factory flare (a lot of work) and installing the fiberglass flares (A LOT OF WORK), don't let them kid you, that fiberglass install is a lot of work that will cost you a thousand dollars or much more if done by a body shop.
So ... to be able to cut off the factory rear flare and BOLT ON a complete replacement that will handle bumps and scuffs much better than brittle fiberglass, is the better option for the cost conscious like me.

Yes absolutely! I'm actively looking for a solution for my 81 Cherokee widetrack with rotted out rear flares. The only concern I have with an aftermarket/non factory style flare is I'll have to match the front with the rear.

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[OldFarmTruck22]

The wide track rear fenders that have rot through problem and have deteriorated too far (especially at the bottom rear) for metal work are a problem. There was a guy that had stamped some replacement panels for these wide tracks, but he seems to be gone now.
Without a metal repair option, it leaves us to have to consider totally removing the factory flare (a lot of work) and installing the fiberglass flares (A LOT OF WORK), don't let them kid you, that fiberglass install is a lot of work that will cost you a thousand dollars or much more if done by a body shop.
So ... to be able to cut off the factory rear flare and BOLT ON a complete replacement that will handle bumps and scuffs much better than brittle fiberglass, is the better option for the cost conscious like me.

Yes absolutely! I'm actively looking for a solution for my 81 Cherokee widetrack with rotted out rear flares. The only concern I have with an aftermarket/non factory style flare is I'll have to match the front with the rear.

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John, If your front flares are still good, I wouldn't even worry about it. You paint the front flares black and it's a visual match from 40 feet. I've seen pictures online of this exact fix. I'm not touching my front flares, only to match the color of what I finally decide for the back.

[Stuka]

I honestly think BJ's note saying they fit WT FSJs is wrong. A WT fender opening is so much larger than an NT FSJ/XJ, I am not sure what they would bolt up too. Looking at photos of an OE WT flare, next to a bushwacker flare on an NT FSJ, you can see by the body lines that the WT flare is larger. I would call them and ask if they have had anybody actually put them on a WT, or if its a typo. I still cannot find a single photo of a WT with the bushwackers on it.

[SJohn]

I wonder how well OEM XJ/MJ flares fit up on a nt or widetrack with flares cut off? For my case I don't need the extra width of the bushwhacker flares, just an oem style replacement.

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[OldFarmTruck22]

I wonder how well OEM XJ/MJ flares fit up on a nt or widetrack with flares cut off? For my case I don't need the extra width of the bushwhacker flares, just an oem style replacement.

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I carry a tape measure in all my vehicles. I see something in a parking lot that i need a measurement from, I just do a quick measurement.

[OldFarmTruck22]

I honestly think BJ's note saying they fit WT FSJs is wrong. A WT fender opening is so much larger than an NT FSJ/XJ, I am not sure what they would bolt up too. Looking at photos of an OE WT flare, next to a bushwacker flare on an NT FSJ, you can see by the body lines that the WT flare is larger. I would call them and ask if they have had anybody actually put them on a WT, or if its a typo. I still cannot find a single photo of a WT with the bushwackers on it.

So here's the deal with WT flares. You can use the bushwackers because they have an excessive amount of extra material in both extension away from the side, and overlap (hang down) into the well. I'm thinking leave some flare metal under the new bushwacker to bolt to. The bolt pockets are an inch from the edge of the bushwacker flare. Who cares how it looks UNDER the new flare as long as you prime the metal cuts for rustproofing.
Just my thoughts.

[OldFarmTruck22]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=htt ... AdAAAAABAD

For Stuka

If anybody knows how to open this link then load it up here as a picture, that would be cool.
thanks

[thej10guy]

Wow I actually really like that cherokee. I don’t think it’s better than factory style flares but it still looks good


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[Yeller]

Someone posted up a YJ flare earlier, too small, however TJ ones are larger in the opening, they are just smoother.

[OldFarmTruck22]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=htt ... AdAAAAABAD

For Stuka

If anybody knows how to open this link then load it up here as a picture, that would be cool.
thanks

Anyone know how to turn this into a picture and post it in this Thread? It would be good to have this picture for future questions.
Thanks

[SJohn]

Here

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[OldFarmTruck22]

So I spoke with a tecnical guy at Bushwacker about these rear flares. To install them on a 2 door XJ or MJ you have to remove 3" of wheel well opening from that XJ vehicle. 1 1/2 inches from front and 1 1/2" from the back of the XJ wheel well. Hmmmm that tells us something, right?
Like Stuka said, the FSJ 2 door W/T wheel well is bigger than a 2 door XJ well. So, these should be in the ball park to fit a W/T.

Obviously the guy in the picture above fit them on back and front without cutting them in half or anything.
No doubt there's some plastic trimming to get them to contour to the quarter panel profile.

[OldFarmTruck22]

Here

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If you look closely at the picture above, the flat part of the new Bushwacker flare is bolted on slightly above that body line above the wheel well.

[thej10guy]

Here is the image


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[Stuka]

Hmm, interesting.

Those are mounted about 1" to 2" higher than they typically are (based on other FSJs that have them). If you adjust the brightness and contrast (as the photo is kind of dark), you can see the flare indeed no longer covers the rocker area. It starts above the rocker. To bad we don't have some other photos showing this in better lightning from other angles.

My comment above was based on the flare start along the rocker, which would mean it would not go high enough to cover the top part of the OE fender opening. But if you are willing to forego that, you can move the whole flare up. It may just look a little goofy.

And personally, I think having rear pocket flares with OE fronts would look really goofy. So its really do front and rear so that they match, or spend slightly more and do the fiber glass ones which will look factory.

[Rc4mike]

So I’m trying to cover a previous owners chop job on my 84 waggy. Getting a pair of cheap Amazon xj flares for 100 bucks…just to see how they fit and look. If they are cheap material but look and fit good, I’ll get the bushwhacker set. I sure like how those look on that chief

[thej10guy]

Cool! If it works and you order the bushwhacker set post up pics on here too please.


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[Stuka]

So I’m trying to cover a previous owners chop job on my 84 waggy. Getting a pair of cheap Amazon xj flares for 100 bucks…just to see how they fit and look. If they are cheap material but look and fit good, I’ll get the bushwhacker set. I sure like how those look on that chief

Cool, interested to see how the cheap ones look too.

[OldFarmTruck22]

Hmm, interesting.

Those are mounted about 1" to 2" higher than they typically are (based on other FSJs that have them). If you adjust the brightness and contrast (as the photo is kind of dark), you can see the flare indeed no longer covers the rocker area. It starts above the rocker. To bad we don't have some other photos showing this in better lightning from other angles.

My comment above was based on the flare start along the rocker, which would mean it would not go high enough to cover the top part of the OE fender opening. But if you are willing to forego that, you can move the whole flare up. It may just look a little goofy.

And personally, I think having rear pocket flares with OE fronts would look really goofy. So its really do front and rear so that they match, or spend slightly more and do the fiber glass ones which will look factory.

Stuka, Could you post the lightened picture for us to see this? I am looking at the horizontal body line on the quarter panel. The new flare seems to align with that. On my 78 that is where the factory flare attaches to the quarter. I'm not the owner of the orange Chief, who knows what this guy was dealing with that caused him to place the flare so high, but I would drop mine down a 1/2" maybe.
As far as 'goofy looking' goes, I have seen owners of different cars and trucks and jeeps who have an artist/painter airbrush those exact pocket bolt and holes onto fenders. If done well it looks damn good up to 1 foot away.

To each his own I suppose. I won't be cutting out my perfect front flares so I can 'match' anything. But I'm a bit of a redneck. HA!