I don't have a reason to remove them other than looks. Would it make it look "beefier"? I was thinking about bedlining the bumpers too. I think it would be aggressive looking with the caps off and bedlined. How would it look? I have a 96. How about the fender flares? I have a sport so the bottom is painted black. It's a little worn looking. Should I paint it black or bedline it? I have about a 1/4 of a gallon if it left after doing my headliner and my interior after rust repair with stainless steel sheet metal and rivets.

 

Removing end caps is a matter of preference. I personally think it looks dumb. But that's just me. Many others will disagree. It takes a couple bolts per side. Take them off and see if you like em. If not, put em back on.

Many people bedline their bumpers. I say do it. Flares, I think it'll be a little tougher, considering they're plastic but I'm pretty sure it can be done

 

It'll look like this. I don't run them because mud and crap gets caked in there as much as I hate it. I might put them back on though.

 

I'm not sure if I like the hollow wimpy look on the side. But it makes it look like a "cool" bumper...

 

I think the front looks good but the rear is kinda weird.

 

I agree with you on that but then It would be kinda asymmetrical

 

I hear they are hard to remove, and it's easy to break them. I took off my front bumper to install fog lights on it at one point.

 

a trail that was WAY to narrow for a jeep removed mine for me...

 

I always forget about the rust issue that people in other states have to deal with. That must suck

 

The end caps are hard to remove and easy to break? Nah. The flares on the other hand. The clamps or whatever they're called that hold the flares on will most likely break she was you try and remove em.

 

Amazingly I only have one (two?) busted brackets that hold my fender flares on. The rear DS is nearly mint, half of the front DS fell apart.

On a '96 removing them, and related rust, shouldn't be an issue. On '97+ they obscure a bunch of the quarter panel and it's a real issue (one removed my pinch seam for me, couldn't get the screw out...)

Bedlining the plastic is easy enough - I sanded the crap outta them, hit them with brake cleaner, Krylon Fusion, primer, then bedliner. Probably flake off by this time next year lol

 

Mine are off right now and I constantly get comments about when I'm going to 'fix' my Jeep.

 

My fronts are off and rear are on (PO choice) I don't mind this look but I would prolly have them all on. I bedlinerd my bumbers, bottom trim, fenders and gas door. Looks pretty good, I didn't really do anything to any of them other than clean them. No sanding/priming etc.... I didn't really think about it till I started with one side so I'm not too sure on how it will hold up. I did spray two coats of a flat clear sealer once I was finished that way the dirt wouldn't get to it too bad. Looks pretty slick I think. I'll take/post some pictures 2morrow in the day light.

 

Do it. I did my bumpers. Its so much better if you just pull them off first. What ever you do use a good nappie roller. I tried to be cheap on my back bumper and used a brush. it came out real smooth looking. I used the roller on the front and it came out great. I also masked off and repainted fender flares. And did bed liner on bottom of doors and fenders


when i say do it talking about bed liner, keep the caps.

 

These are tricky to take off. There is really only one BOLT and one SCREW to worry about; but it looks like it prys off ---- DO NOT PRY IT OFF. Just slide it towards the rear of the vehicle a few inches and it will
just fall off. I broke one of the tabs the first time I tried to take it off.
Had to get out the JB Weld and patch it before I put it back on ....

Randy PS: If anyone has a couple of non-painted black ones for sale, I will buy them from you. 2000 XJ Cherokee 4 door.