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Matt J.

Badlands
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‘97 4Runner SR5 5sp manual, ‘22 4dr BadManSquatch
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Badlands
After trimming the tire carrier with Dremel / angle grinder, did anyone do any treatment to the bare metal of the cut end? I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to repaint the cut end so it doesn't rust...

I haven't bought the kit yet but seriously considering it.
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Mdsuits

Badlands
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Mike
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Colorado
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05 f350, 68 bronco 89 samurai
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Badlands
After trimming the tire carrier with Dremel / angle grinder, did anyone do any treatment to the bare metal of the cut end? I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to repaint the cut end so it doesn't rust...

I haven't bought the kit yet but seriously considering it.
I have the turn off road adjustable mount so I hit it with raptor liner real quick….but if I remember right the stock mount is plastic…
 

nolimits

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Badlands
Clubs
 
After trimming the tire carrier with Dremel / angle grinder, did anyone do any treatment to the bare metal of the cut end? I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to repaint the cut end so it doesn't rust...

I haven't bought the kit yet but seriously considering it.
I bought some of this to use for nicks & scrapes on my rock sliders but have used it on a few other projects as well. Cut the wings of my stock skid plate. Had to grind and enlarge a hole on some frame horn braces. Only takes a few minutes to shoot a few coats and dries for a good match.

https://a.co/d/cgZjMKP
 

cobretti

Badlands
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Ed
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Badlands
After trimming the tire carrier with Dremel / angle grinder, did anyone do any treatment to the bare metal of the cut end? I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to repaint the cut end so it doesn't rust...

I haven't bought the kit yet but seriously considering it.
Only the plastic needed to be cut - looked like they accounted for that since you just cut inside of the raised edges and it perfectly aligns.
Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts 20250216_164920

Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts tirecarrier
 

DaveInSA

Badlands
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David
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Seguin, Texas
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2025 F150 Lightning Flash
Your Bronco Model
Badlands
After trimming the tire carrier with Dremel / angle grinder, did anyone do any treatment to the bare metal of the cut end? I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to repaint the cut end so it doesn't rust...

I haven't bought the kit yet but seriously considering it.
There’s no metal to cut. You only trim the plastic.
 

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DaveInSA

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Badlands
So mine was finally shipped and arrived yesterday. I installed it today. Took a couple hours. Most of which were dealing with the buggered up bolts from previous owner of my Bronco and getting the rubber tire bumper off. Those stupid body clips that you unscrew the center of are annoying. Especially when the previous owner really screwed a couple of them up.
I did remove the tailgate but just sat it in the back instead of disconnecting cables. I marked the existing hinges, but that ended up being useless for me because the ones that were on there were different sizes and didn’t help. I had my father help with fitting it back in place and aligning it. Wasn’t hard at all.
Other than the messed up bolts from previous owner the only problem I ran in to was that the left bolt on the bottom bracket that holds the reinforcement plate on has something up with the threads and I can’t get that bolt to go in. It might just be paint in the hole. I’m going to run a thread chaser through it tomorrow to try to clean it up. Hopefully that takes care of it.
And I have to find a new way to mount my gmrs/ham antenna as my cheap Amazon bracket won’t fit with the reinforcement plate. Oh and I need to add the Bronco logo still. Got too late and cold to keep going tonight.

Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts IMG_9497
 
Last edited:

Steve B

Wildtrak
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Wildtrak
Clubs
 
They fit. I still need to clean the glue and replace the Bronco. One hole for the exoskeleton bolt wasn't tapped correctly. I had to redo it to make the bolt fit. Other than that, I think it is pretty well made.

Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts 20250215_161739


Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts 20250215_161744


Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts 20250216_162800


Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts 20250216_162750
 

bebrown1075

Badlands
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White Lake, Michigan
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Badlands
Clubs
 
They fit. I still need to clean the glue and replace the Bronco. One hole for the exoskeleton bolt wasn't tapped correctly. I had to redo it to make the bolt fit. Other than that, I think it is pretty well made.

20250215_161739.jpg


20250215_161744.jpg


20250216_162800.jpg


20250216_162750.jpg
I received my kit Friday after picking it up from my local dealer.

I too am having issues with the 2 holes on the left side of the top and bottom hinge. Sadly the bottom hinge started to take the bolt but then seized up and now cannot be removed. The top hinge left side bolt will not thread at all.

I have sent an Email to [email protected] which is the tech support Email and will follow up with a call.

It seems they have some QC issues with these hinges and makes me feel a bit better it isn't just me but seem to be worse off than others who were able to chase the holes.

Hopefully others see this posting and can check the exoskeleton holes before installing the whole kit.
 

Steve B

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22, 2 DR WT, 22 4 DR WT, 22 Mustang GT (Stock-ISH)
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Wildtrak
Clubs
 
I received my kit Friday after picking it up from my local dealer.

I too am having issues with the 2 holes on the left side of the top and bottom hinge. Sadly the bottom hinge started to take the bolt but then seized up and now cannot be removed. The top hinge left side bolt will not thread at all.

I have sent an Email to [email protected] which is the tech support Email and will follow up with a call.

It seems they have some QC issues with these hinges and makes me feel a bit better it isn't just me but seem to be worse off than others who were able to chase the holes.

Hopefully others see this posting and can check the exoskeleton holes before installing the whole kit.
I only had the issue on one of the kits. The other kit worked perfect. I had one that was stuck. I put my impact on it and it came out fairly easy. Over all, it appears to be a good set up and the price was worth the issues to me. Looks like there will be a lot of these on the road in the next week or two.
 

cobretti

Badlands
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Badlands
They fit. I still need to clean the glue and replace the Bronco. One hole for the exoskeleton bolt wasn't tapped correctly. I had to redo it to make the bolt fit. Other than that, I think it is pretty well made.
Same here also had one hole that I had to re-tap.
 

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SoloBronco

Black Diamond
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Boston, Ma
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Ford Ranger
Your Bronco Model
Black Diamond
Mine arrived on Saturday and I got it installed over the weekend. Like others, I swapped one hinge at a time. I used a M8 stud in one of the hinge bolt holes to ensure the nut plate stayed in place while I swapped the hinge. Definitely much easier to make adjustments and get the alignment right with a second set of hands.
Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts IMG_9117


Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts IMG_9118

I’m not sure I love the matte black horse. I had a gloss black one - it might look better given the hinges are gloss black but at least Ford included something in the kit.
Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts IMG_9131

One thing that was not included in the instructions - my new hinges did not come with the little plastic limiter piece(I think that’s what it does?). I popped it off the old hinges when I took each one off and inserted it into the new hinges.
Ford Bronco Spare tire mount reinforcement kit now available from Ford Performance Parts IMG_9128
 

lewy

Wildtrak
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Kevin
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Wildtrak
So mine was finally shipped and arrived yesterday. I installed it today. Took a couple hours. Most of which were dealing with the buggered up bolts from previous owner of my Bronco and getting the rubber tire bumper off. Those stupid body clips that you unscrew the center of are annoying. Especially when the previous owner really screwed a couple of them up.
I did remove the tailgate but just sat it in the back instead of disconnecting cables. I marked the existing hinges, but that ended up being useless for me because the ones that were on there were different sizes and didn’t help. I had my father help with fitting it back in place and aligning it. Wasn’t hard at all.
Other than the messed up bolts from previous owner the only problem I ran in to was that the left bolt on the bottom bracket that holds the reinforcement plate on has something up with the threads and I can’t get that bolt to go in. It might just be paint in the hole. I’m going to run a thread chaser through it tomorrow to try to clean it up. Hopefully that takes care of it.
And I have to find a new way to mount my gmrs/ham antenna as my cheap Amazon bracket won’t fit with the reinforcement plate. Oh and I need to add the Bronco logo still. Got too late and cold to keep going tonight.

IMG_9497.jpeg
I had the same problem with the bottom left bolt as well. And I did exactly that ran a thread chaser in it and it went right in. I believe it was a M8 for the rest of you . I would check it before installing the hinge.
 

derichio02

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Bo
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Badlands
Mine just shipped but I no longer need it. I’m going to sell it once it arrives. Not looking to make money just to get most of mine back. I’m in SoCal if anyone is interested DM me. Northern LA County.
Mine arrived today and is up for grabs. Again, I just want to make my money back so $275 and its yours. I am in Northern Los Angeles County. I will ship at buyers expense but due to the weight and box size it can get expensive.
 

CarGuy

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Wildtrak
They fit. I still need to clean the glue and replace the Bronco. One hole for the exoskeleton bolt wasn't tapped correctly. I had to redo it to make the bolt fit. Other than that, I think it is pretty well made.

20250215_161739.jpg


20250215_161744.jpg


20250216_162800.jpg


20250216_162750.jpg
Looks like the horse is crashing into the support and is in mid-end over.
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