Bombproof Jeep Spare Tire Bump Stop Install for Oversized Tires
- Muddy Ruttzz
- 14 hours ago
- 5 min read
📌 TL;DR / Quick Summary
The Problem: Aftermarket wheel offsets create gaps that lead to spare tire rattle, vibration, and tailgate metal fatigue on rough trails.
The Weakness: Factory and standard extended bump stops rely on loose friction-fit plugs that easily pop out or tear during off-road use.
The Overkill Fix: Install permanent Rivnuts into the tailgate openings and bolt down custom bump stops with Grade 8 hardware and internal fender washers.
The Result: Achieve exact rubber compression to hold your oversized spare tire rock-solid and eliminate tailgate stress.
What You Will Learn In This Blog Post
In this guide, you’ll discover why aftermarket wheel offsets create dangerous play in your spare tire mount and how unabsorbed vibrations gradually fatigue your Jeep Wrangler's tailgate sheet metal. We'll break down why standard friction-fit bump stop extensions often fall short on rough trails and why stepping up to a mechanical fastener solution is worth the effort.
You will learn the step-by-step process of installing heavy-duty Rivnuts directly into your tailgate's factory openings. We’ll cover the exact hardware combination needed—including how to drop fender washers inside rubber bump stops—to create a permanent bolt-on anchor that won't pull out when the chassis flexes off-road.
Finally, we’ll walk through the practical fine-tuning process: how to measure, test-fit, and safely trim rubber bump stops directly on the vehicle. You'll see how to achieve the ideal balance between solid tire tension and sheet metal protection, ensuring your setup is 100% trail-ready for your next overlanding adventure.
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The Problem: Aftermarket Wheel Offset & Spare Tire Rattle
Bigger tires are heavier. When you mount bigger tires and high-offset wheels, the back of the tire no longer presses firmly against the factory rubber isolators. Throw in miles of corrugated dirt roads, and that floating weight turns into violent spare tire vibration that degrades your tailgate hinges over time.
Fixing Jeep tailgate rattle requires extending those bump stops to bridge the gap, absorbing trail shock before it cracks your tailgate frame. However, I wanted to find a better way to hold my bump stops onto the tailgate than that small, weak rubber tail.
The Bombproof Fix: Jeep Spare Tire Bump Stop Mounted With Rivnuts
Installing a Jeep spare tire bump stop extension is a standard fix, but the cheap friction-fit rubber plugs just weren't cutting it. I bought a 4-pack of extended bump stops, and while installing one, I ripped the friction-fit rubber plug right off the bottom.
That’s when the wheels started spinning. Taking a mental inventory of my garage parts bins and tool drawers, I came up with a way to reinforce the bump stop and permanently bolt it to the tailgate using a Rivnut.
Rivnut Kit: A Tool That Every DIY Enthusiast Will Find A lot of Uses For
Key Takeaway: If your spare tire can move independently of your tailgate, every bump on the trail is hammering your door structure. Proper tension is critical.
Modifying Bump Stop With Washer
I bought some Bump Stops from Amazon and when I was installing one I ripped the friction fit rubber plug off the bottom. That's when I came up with a way of reinforcing the bump stop and bolting it to the tailgate. (See Photos Above)
Cut off the rubber tail so there is a hole in the bump stop.
Insert a fender washer into the bump stop.
Jam the fender washer into the bottom of the bump stop (I used my drift pin)
Insert a bolt into the bump stop.
First Place You Went In Your New Jeep Was The Tire Shop For 35's or 37s. Now You Need To Beef Up That Tailgate
Upgrading to a Rivnut Mount for a Permanent Solution
This is when your pile of miscalaneous nuts, bolts and washers and that tool you have that only use once in a while come in handy. The wheels started spinning and I took a mental inventory of what is in the parts bins and tool drawers in my garage.
Step-by-Step Installation Process:
Prepare the Hole: Insert a heavy-duty Rivnut into the factory tailgate bump stop opening.
Set the Rivnut: Use a threaded Rivnut installation tool to crush the insert firmly against the inner sheet metal.
Reinforce the Bump Stop: Drop a wide fender washer down inside the custom-trimmed rubber bump stop to prevent the mounting bolt from tearing through the rubber under flex.
Threadlock & Secure: Apply blue threadlocker to a Grade 8 bolt (a spare differential cover bolt works great), run it through the washer, and torque it into the Rivnut.
Trimming and Dialing in Your Clearance
Getting the length right on an extended Jeep spare tire bump stop takes a little fine-tuning. If it's too long, you'll put excessive stress on the sheet metal when shutting or latching the tire carrier. If it's too short, the tire will rattle.
How to Achieve Perfect Contact:
Guesstimate & Cut: Trim one outer ring off the bump stop using a sharp utility knife before mounting.
Test Fit: Reinstall the spare tire and tighten the lug nuts to check compression.
Fine-Tune On the Vehicle: If the bump stop is squishing too much and caving the tailgate panel inward, carefully slice another ring off with the tire loosely mounted.
You want the rubber ridges compressed enough to hold solid tension while still allowing enough flex to absorb trail shock.
Conclusion: Trail-Ready Fitment
The finished product is a rock-solid spare tire bump stop mount that won't pull out, pop loose, or fail under harsh off-road conditions. It might seem like overkill for a basic accessory, but when you're miles out on an expedition, preventing tailgate fatigue is worth every extra minute in the garage.
Be sure to check out the rest of our Youtube series, Willys EcoDiesel Evolution: The Rubicon Conquering Build, where we're tackling everything from ball joints and steering knuckles to lockers, axles, and eventually upgrading the entire cooling system. Subscribe to the channel and check the Muddy Ruttzz Gazette for more articles and build updates!
Muddy Ruttzz is a digital creator, overlander, and DIY enthusiast who documents rugged outdoor adventures and the gear that makes them possible through the Muddy Ruttzz brand. With a multi-decade background in industrial sheet metal fabrication, heavy infrastructure construction, and mechanical problem-solving, he brings a straightforward, hands-on trade perspective to technical builds, vehicle modifications, and digital workflow optimization.
#JeepWrangler #RubiconBuild #EcoDiesel #Overlanding #JeepMods #MuddyRuttzz #GarageBuild #OffRoadLife #JeepJL
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