After taking my spare off, i cant stand looking at the the marks left by the tire carrier. So i want to make a plate to go over where it was and use the same screws. My question is, what is the vent in the middle of the tailgate for? Can i cover it? Take the vent piece out and make my plate?

 

It helps with the vacuum caused when you open and close your doors.

 

you can cover it. Warrior Products makes a cover.... what is it for?

 

It is for flow-thru ventilation when the jeep is closed up, as in the winter. Without it, fogging of the windows may be a problem on cool humid days. Vents in the back for air exchange have been in vehicles for decades.

 

Yep, usually vehicles with normal urethane bumpers have the vent on the inside of the bumper, that's why you don't see it on cars.

 

Warrior does not make a cover for the vent. You can buy a cover for the entire tailgate, but the middle portion requires their cover which still leaves the vent opening.
It is necessary to have this vent unobstructed for vacuum issues and for your air conditioning unit to work correctly.

 

hummmm, i have one made that just needs paint. or warrior products has one for around 50? but they also have a LED brakelight that i really like for an additional 50.

 

correct, it is vented

 

That's where I put my afterburner.

 

yup thats it! just got off the phone with them, you can just buy the center piece and dont have to get the whole tailgate cover. and like i said they have a pretty nice LED that goes with it. For extra cash of course