Clear protection covering over wheel wells

[RickyBJeep]

New to owning a 392, looks like there is a clear protection sticker over all the wheel fenders. My regular rubicon only have the small protection sticker but this looks like the entire wheel fender is covered. Is that normal? Noticed the rocks gouge it , which is better than paint. Can these be replaced easily?

 

[Sim1TheOne]

New to owning a 392, looks like there is a clear protection sticker over all the wheel fenders. My regular rubicon only have the small protection sticker but this looks like the entire wheel fender is covered. Is that normal? Noticed the rocks gouge it , which is better than paint. Can these be replaced easily?

I think they may have left some factory “packing film” on yours. My 392XR I got late January only had the small rectangles on the rear fenders.

 

[RickyBJeep]

I think they may have left some factory “packing film” on yours. My 392XR I got late January only had the small rectangles on the rear fenders.

The small rectangles are over this, and it doesnt look like packing.

 

[dog]

The small rectangles are over this, and it doesnt look like packing.

Any chance you can grab some photos?

 

[RickyBJeep]

Any chance you can grab some photos?

Yes, first one is of the clear film under the rectangular piece and second photo is the rectangular piece

 

[Turboencabulator]

I don't know what that first film is on the upper photo. When we did PPF we kept that on there.

The second photo is clear bra (PPF) from the factory to try and protect the front face of the rear painted fender from getting damaged by rocks flung up by the front tires. We removed it when I did full vehicle Stek PPF. But adding the Mopar running boards (side steps) basically put an end to the rock damage. I’m sure you could have a local PPF shop replace that film if you want, or you could probably find it precut online and do it yourself. Either way an ounce of prevention (side steps or mud flaps) is much better than trying to minimize the damage with film.

 

[Sim1TheOne]

Yes, first one is of the clear film under the rectangular piece and second photo is the rectangular pieceView attachment 5213

Ohhhh…
I actually saw that on mine today while pumping gas.

Never noticed that layer before.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

I have the same PPF on the rear fenders as shown from your second picture. Have no idea where the first picture is...

 

[JLK392]

Darn it. I’m in bed about to fall asleep…now I’m gonna have to go check mine in the garage.

Yep. I got it too.

 

[scarab]

I don't know what that first film is on the upper photo. When we did PPF we kept that on there.

The second photo is clear bra (PPF) from the factory to try and protect the front face of the rear painted fender from getting damaged by rocks flung up by the front tires. We removed it when I did full vehicle Stek PPF. But adding the Mopar running boards (side steps) basically put an end to the rock damage. I’m sure you could have a local PPF shop replace that film if you want, or you could probably find it precut online and do it yourself. Either way an ounce of prevention (side steps or mud flaps) is much better than trying to minimize the damage with film.

I've installed RockBlokz mud flaps and Mopar performance side steps and I'm still getting rock chips on my rear fender flares. Is it very hard to remove the factory ppf? I'm considering adding full ppf on rear flares.

 

[Turboencabulator]

I've installed RockBlokz mud flaps and Mopar performance side steps and I'm still getting rock chips on my rear fender flares. Is it very hard to remove the factory ppf? I'm considering adding full ppf on rear flares.

So I texted Brian the guy who installed my full STEK PPF and he said it wasn't hard to get off just used his normal PPF removal process, I think he used a heat gun to make it easier.

Rocks damaging the rear painted fender was a big concern when I bought my 392. I'll freely admit that I baby this Jeep and care about appearance. If I was running this off-road everyday I wouldn't even want painted fenders. But mine lives on asphalt and the 392 Hemi is well suited to that kind of "jungle". So I added the wider Mopar Molded side steps (82215164AB), they are wide enough to block 99% of stones thrown up by the front tires. Total game changer in my opinion, and I can swap back to the OEM Rock Rails (82215126) in about 30 min if I'm going somewhere I "actually" need them.

Are you running the Performance Rock Rails? (82215165AB) I haven't seen those in person but it's interesting to know that your still getting rocks hitting the back fender.

Here is a pic showing the difference for anyone interested following along. You can see how much wider the side steps are behind the front tire, they stick out the exact same amount as the front fender but they are injection molded plastic (very well made in Canada ) but not meant for serious off-road rock crawling use, but they are just about perfect for on-pavement daily driving:

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[hardhat]

Mine does not have the rectangular piece for sure and I don't think there is any film on rear fenders at at all. rok blokz mud flaps and side steps protect fenders well from rocks on my jeep. Just got impacts on them from bugs.

 

[scarab]

So I texted Brian the guy who installed my full STEK PPF and he said it wasn't hard to get off just used his normal PPF removal process, I think he used a heat gun to make it easier.

Rocks damaging the rear painted fender was a big concern when I bought my 392. I'll freely admit that I baby this Jeep and care about appearance. If I was running this off-road everyday I wouldn't even want painted fenders. But mine lives on asphalt and the 392 Hemi is well suited to that kind of "jungle". So I added the wider Mopar Molded side steps (82215164AB), they are wide enough to block 99% of stones thrown up by the front tires. Total game changer in my opinion, and I can swap back to the OEM Rock Rails (82215126) in about 30 min if I'm going somewhere I "actually" need them.

Are you running the Performance Rock Rails? (82215165AB) I haven't seen those in person but it's interesting to know that your still getting rocks hitting the back fender.

Here is a pic showing the difference for anyone interested following along. You can see how much wider the side steps are behind the front tire, they stick out the exact same amount as the front fender but they are injection molded plastic (very well made in Canada ) but not meant for serious off-road rock crawling use, but they are just about perfect for on-pavement daily driving:
View attachment 5221

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Thanks @Turboencabulator I really appreciate that! I swapped standard rails with Mopar Performance hoping that it will eliminate the problem but it didn’t. I can’t say I babysit my 392 but I don’t abuse it either. Just want to fully enjoy it and use it like a Jeep from time to time meaning to go camping, overlanding and wheeling, but I’m not gonna do anything extreme. Last weekend I went to Moab, hit some super light trails, was trying to be careful and even pulled the stones from the tires once I was out from trails but still got some chips on rear fender flares. My 392 is ceramic coated so after a good wash and interior detailing it looks as good as new again. Except for fender flares. I totally don’t get why they only put narrow ppf stripes instead of making them a hair wider to protect the entire width of the flare I’ll have to remove them and do it properly with Xpel ppf.

 

[SKC392FL]

There is a great company, Underground Graphics (Houston), that makes a lot of great 392 graphics AND also makes replacements for the back fenders for $45. OEM is over $100 for each.

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