Remove fenders on a TJ?

[BigClay]

Instead of doing flat fenders on the front of my TJ, I was thinking of just completely removing them. I know I will have to rework the hood latches, anything else have to be re done? Would this be legal in NC? Any advice or thoughts on this setup? Is it going to suck getting sprayed with mud/dirt with the doors off?

 

[powerstrokin04]

Would cutting them down be a option? Seems easier and cleaner if done right. Some images from Google.

 

[ramjo]

That red one looks pretty slick

 

[BigClay]

That red one does look nice. I am planning on taking some tube from my grille hoop and running towards the rockers to give this area some protection. I already have turn signals on the grille, so the fender lights won't be an issue.

 

[VortecJeep]

There is a lot of stuff attached to the fenders under the hood, so you'll need to find places for that stuff. You also should fab up something to protect the battery, without the fenders, it is a target for rocks being thrown from the tire.

 

[BigClay]

Good thought

 

[REDLYNER]

@MarsFab cut out my fenders, I had mounted a good bit of accessories to them too. So it was a challenge, but he re-worked them to perfection. I asked to have some aluminum paneling added to keep out the mud, but as you know, that's about impossible to do (keep mud out).

 

[Joe J.]

As far as removing them completely you would have to find a new place to mount your fuse box and re-route a few wires along with having to get rid of the factory air box and shielding the battery. And i would also think the grill would need some kind of reinforcement to keep them in place. Im kinda like you now because I don't know if I want to go with tube fenders or something else when it comes time to have to replace my stock fenders when they get wrecked. I figure when that happens and I haven't decided what to replace them with I would just trim them back to the hood line to get the busted sheetmetal out of there. That way I could retain the inner fender to still protect the engine bay and not have to do a bunch of relocating of all that stuff that's attached to them.
Also, I don't know of the legality but from what I've seen around I'm sure its a non issue. And yes it might suck getting sprayed with mud and debris but when it gets real wet out you could just leave your doors and top on. Dry days shouldn't be too bad, that's just part of the experience.

 

[Joe J.]

Like this...

And you'll still have the option in the future to keep your inner fenders if you go with some kind of tube fender or use some of those flares from MCE if you want flexible flares.

 

[BigClay]

@Joe J., that looks exactly what I was thinking. I may not keep that small piece for the hood latch, and then make the latch tie into a piece of tube.

 

[XJsavage]

@Joe J., that looks exactly what I was thinking. I may not keep that small piece for the hood latch, and then make the latch tie into a piece of tube.

If you don't need need a latch, hood pins if done correctly can be a great option. Definitely use tube lining the bottom of the hood. I did similar on mine and like it. I used the old hood hinge indentions on the hood to cut in some 2" round led turn signal lights. Popo approved.


Where it butts up to the tub is held on by factory bolts. With a grill hoop in place and taking the time to use tube flanges of some sort to attach the fenders to the grill hoop, they could be completely removable.

 

[BigClay]

@XJsavage, thanks for the pics, looks really nice.