I picked up my new Jeep Unlimited last November. Being winter up here i haven't gone off roading yet and i noticed tonight that the lower hinges on the back doors are all busted up from rocks and all rusted (YES RUST). I can't imagine what's going to happen when i go off roading (fishing, hunting and camping). Anyone found a way yet to protect those hinges! A tape won't work, it looks like someone took a hammer to the hinges. Also, i do have the mud flaps installed. Looks great but not practical those exposed hinges.

 

you're using the mopar front flaps and got this damage? that sucks. i'm gonna have to find something to prevent this.

 

You have any pics of your hinges. I was gunna put those mudflaps on but if they don't work what the use.

 

 

Oh yeah Rubimon, real informative.

How's about some pics so we can assess the damage.

 

Ok I think i have the solution just need someone to make it. On a TJ just aft of the front fender flare there is a seperate fender flare extension about 12" long that JKs don't have. I believe it was this flare extension that caught all the crap that is now ending up all over our doors and rear quarters. So we need a flare extension like the TJs just wider to match our flares. They only stick on the body with two sided tape. Heck, im even thinking of trying the TJ ones on my JK.

 

You could always add the blow molded side steps. That's pretty much the purpose they serve on my jeep. 6 foot long mudflaps. They kept the road salt (mostly) at bay. No rock dings to be found & done done plenty of wheel spining rock trowing wheeling with mine. They also did a decent job keeping saplings off the doors on one off raod excursion. Maybe I'll start stepping on them after lift & tires. Right now it's too low to need a step.

 

I have some rock rails coming with the side bars. I will fill at least the front section with some diamond plate to serve that purpose.

 

Oh well sure. I suppose if you are looking for a durable solutions those work too.

 

On a sort-of-related note, the Jeep engineers stated that the reason the side-steps are standard on the Sahara is because they're REQUIRED, for the purpose of protecting the painted fenders from all the crud that the tires kick up... this isn't a concern with the non-painted fenders, but if your rear hinges are taking the brunt of your tires' kicked-up sh1t, then it SHOULD be a concern! If the mudflaps aren't cutting it (and you've said that they aren't), that's probably your best bet...