Bumper Booster: Installing Smittybilt XRC Steel Bumpers on a Jeep Cherokee XJ

The XRC rear bumper protects the rear and carries the spare tire, a HiLift jack, and a gas can. It also has a hitch receiver and a pair of D-ring attachment points.

It’s “Christmas in July” when the packages from Summit Racing appear at the door; however, they are heavy, large, and awkward, and you may need some help to move them around.

Well designed and powder coated, the heavy-duty XRC steel bumper is built for many years of trail riding and parking lot bumper cars.

You can mount the spare tire carrier at almost any height you want, depending upon the tire’s diameter. This swing-away carrier also holds the HiLift jack and gas can.

The two rectangular pieces are the adjustable tire carrier. They’re adjustable so that the wheel’s offset can be easily accommodated.

A hoist makes it much easier to remove the OEM bumper, even though you may need to heat some of the bolts to break them loose.

There are rear body panel holes on both sides of the Cherokee, insert the Smittybilt nut plates. The plates’ welded nuts match pre-existing holes in the body.

Install the bumper mounting brackets but do not tighten at this time.

There are bolts below the “frame” and on the sides.

Before assembling the bumper and tire gate, make sure the bumper matches its mounting brackets.

Install the tire gate onto the XRC bumper per the Smittybilt instructions, adjust the tire gate, and attach the bumper to the Cherokee. Make sure the bumper is aligned with the body properly and tighten all the mounting bolts at this time.

Bolt the stationary bracket to the tire gate using the four supplied ½-inch bolts.

Install the wheel mount studs into the adjustable wheel mount plate. The studs may be pressed into place—as shown here—or drawn in by tightening the washer and nut.

Determine where to locate the adjustable wheel mount plate onto the stationary bracket per the Smittybilt instructions.

Affix the spare tire to the tire gate and carefully swing the gate slowly and carefully into its position on the bumper. Make sure it fits and locks into place properly. Instructions show you how to make the latch adjustments.

Moving up to the front; be sure to disconnect the OEM fog light harness before removing the bumper.

You’ll have to relocate the charcoal canister after you’ve installed the bumper. You’ll notice we had already removed the OEM fender flares. Cash likes to play in the mud, and we thought we had it all cleaned off but we only dampened it here.

Unbolt and remove the factory front bumper, end caps, valence, fog lights, and all other hardware from the Cherokee.

The Smittybilt XRC front bumper bull bar is designed to mount on top of the XRC front bumper. It’s manufactured from 1¾-inch-diameter round steel tubing and has Smittybilt’s two-stage black-textured powder-coating applied. It has two light tabs and accommodates up to a 9-inch light or an LED light bar.

From previous experience, we mounted the bull bar to the front bumper prior to installing the bumper. It’s much easier to assemble it when the bumper is not on the vehicle.

If you have a first generation Cherokee, you will need to cut the front fenders before you can install the bumper. Scribe a line on the fenders that is even and straight back from the grille, as shown here.

To cut the fenders you use a hacksaw, tin snips, or a cutting wheel like we did.

Remove the three OEM steering box bolts. Be sure to support the steering box after unbolting it. Install the bumper mounting plate to the outside of the “frame” rail. Secure the steering box and mounting plate using the provided 7/16x4-inch bolts.

Install the passenger side mounting plate to the outside of the “frame” rail.

With the mounting plate secured in its proper position, use the three middle holes in the plate as a template and drill three holes through the outer wall of the frame only.

If you don’t have a hoist, you’ll need at least two people—and probably a third—to position the front bumper and bolt it into place.