RLC rear tire carrier / swing out / jerry can / custom fab bumper

[grinchy]

Cautionary note - for those with an LX, that don't want to move the AHC pump/reservoir, you'll need to fabricate a bracket for the passenger side wing. When I get mine done I'll post it up.

 

[grinchy]

What the LX rear looks like after bumper cover removed

 

[grinchy]

This hole (fits 5/8 5 inch bolt vertically) is used as the anchor point (on each side) for the primary bumper brackets. The brackets then go under the frame and attach to the tow points. The two provided brackets are mirror image and only fit one way.

 

[grinchy]

The sheet metal bent. Bend in or out with pliers up to the joint (it will naturally bend at the joint). I recommend 'out'.

You can see a bit of the AHC pump/reservoir, right where the bracket is meant to go.

 

[grinchy]

A front view of the AHC pump reservoir. This is behind the passenger side tire, up under some removed plastic trims.

This is what LX owners will need to 'work around' to fit the wing support.

 

[grinchy]

The Driver side bracket, as seen 'right side up', viewed from the tire back. This to help with orientation. the 3/8 2nd bolt can fit in two orientations, so it's a bit confusing. Thanks to earlier pictures for help on this too.

Note that the 3/8 bolt goes in the top of the frame, not the bottom.

 

[grinchy]

Both main brackets ended up needing grinder love to clear the curve of the hitch frame. Weld took a quick touch up on passenger side, just 10 sec or so. Gonna try to hang it later tonight.

Ended up with 18 x 120 10.9 bolts and nylocks. They fit best and I like staying metric. Super snug though so not much wiggle room, hope that isn’t a problem.

 

[grinchy]

Transferred over the parking sensors and put in the lights. Every parking sensor grommet broke, the two middle needed a lot of internal trimming to go in the hole. One middle one is a bit loose and I’ll likely tack it with some slow set super glue.

I am hoping to hang it tomorrow or Friday.

Looking forward to putting the lx in low so I won’t have to lift it so high.

 

[grinchy]

Yeah, it’s on. I’ve got a bit of a parallel issue with the trim out on the fenders, it’s on both sides and the same to the mm. The bumper is as high as it can go and still take the 10mm bolt for joining the main brackets. I’m also 5mm off left to right, but this I don’t think I can fix until I bracket the passenger side around the abc. The left right is barely visible, I bet only I can see it.

I used doubled wood shims to space the bumper up for wire clearance and to get it as high as possible.

Parking sensors fit and work, it is very tight to get them plugged in and fitted.

Lights are wired together but not to the reverse wire yet.

Wrapped up just as it got dark.

 

[grinchy]

Just spent a couple seconds with the pics at the start of the thread and it looks like the bumper isn't meant to be parallel with the trim out on the wings. That's a relief!

 

[RET2]

I went thru the same revelation on my install till @Willy beamin told me that. Freaked me out at first. I didn't even trim the wings for a week instead drove it and see if any thing loosened or shifted.

 

[Willy beamin]

Ha freaked me out too. The frame is not
Level on the rear. From the wheel well to the end of the frame rails it drops by 1/2”.

 

[grinchy]

Got my 5 mm left right bias fixed. Decided to put a clamp on it, then hit with the sledge. Worked good.

I've gotten so much use of this 30" Irwin Heavy Duty Quick Grip. Everyone should have one. Strong enough to put enough force into most things, but light and quick too.

 

[grinchy]

Today got the gap cover in place and cut one side of the bumper cover.

The multi tool proved to be the best cutter.

I was able to keep both plastic connectors and one bolt location on the bumper cover.

Really happy with the trim I got, will put up a photo tomorrow of the finished side.

Best way to cut for me was to get the rough fit on the rig then use a divider to measure the trim depth that way it has the same gap exactly all around

 

[grinchy]

Before final trim and trying to show the near final shape retaining the attachment points in wheel well and by license plate

 

[Markuson]

You guys realize that hundreds of people see your license plate every time you drive around town, right?

 

[grinchy]

But this lends that air of mystery to a post. Like when will he show us his plate? Is It real? Is it spectacular?

 

[Chocolate]

Trimming the fat!

IMO the rear bumper is the worst exterior design on the whole vehicle.

This is the kind of clearance you should have from the factory on the flagship offroad SUV.

 

[TonyP]

Even with a fancy steel rear bumper the departure angle for the 200 is fairly of awful. Short of chopping the rear crossmember, the departure isn't ever going to be great.

 

[grinchy]

Here's the shot of the passenger side as it will be for a bit. I still have to fit the wheel well covers and build a custom bracket around the AHC system on this side.

The link to the trim. Not an affiliate link.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191KFEIW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Vertical Bulb Trim Seal Bulb Diameter: 0.5" Grip range: 0.039" to 0.14" | Trunk, boot, lid, hood, hatch rubber