MOPAR Door Sill Protectors and the USS Wrangler (Part 1)
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Central PA
From my experience, household Silcone and caulk seems to cause rust. Maybe it coincidence that it form where ever I've used it, or have seen where other people have used it, but when I can find pure Silcone I don't have that issue. As well we don't use household Silcone on the planes, but pure Silcone we do, and it all has to do with corrosion.
You can buy seem sealer from auto parts stores ( what they use to seal seams from the factory) I think that would be better, as well it's paintable if you ever remove the sills.
You can buy seem sealer from auto parts stores ( what they use to seal seams from the factory) I think that would be better, as well it's paintable if you ever remove the sills.
The caulk I used was GE Silicone II caulk, which billed itself as "100% silicone". Should I still be concerned?
JK Newbie
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake
Personally, I like them and I think they're useful. I found them for around 35 bucks (4-door) without too much searching. I haven't seen the Summit Racing ones.
I honestly don't get why Jeep doesn't install them at the factory. The plastic ones are cheap enough (the stainless, OTOH, are a different story) and the JK is the only vehicle I've ever had that did NOT have some sort of cover on the sill plate. And when climbing in and out of a JK most people seem to to put their feet there.
The only downside(s) of the MOPAR ones that I can think of
1 - They could be a bit longer to cover more of the sill (front doors on the 4-door). If the Summit ones you found are longer, that might be a point in their column.
2 - Leaking if the water's deep enough. It's not an obvious flaw unless you're looking for it, and I found it quite by accident.
The MOPAR ones are fine if you can get them sealed up underneath -- plus they say "Jeep", which I like -- makes it look factory. I stuck a set on my wife's JK when she got it and she didn't even realize that I did it until a year later because she thought it came with them.
I had them on my 2011 and after only a year I noticed a bunch of small scratches in the sill protectors, esp. on the driver's side, from all the gravel and stuff that you pick up in the treads of your shoes.
I'd go aftermarket if they covered more and didn't let water in, but I definitely think that some sort of sill plate is necessary if you're as anal-retentive about your vehicles as I am. But the MOPAR ones do the job fine, though.
I honestly don't get why Jeep doesn't install them at the factory. The plastic ones are cheap enough (the stainless, OTOH, are a different story) and the JK is the only vehicle I've ever had that did NOT have some sort of cover on the sill plate. And when climbing in and out of a JK most people seem to to put their feet there.
The only downside(s) of the MOPAR ones that I can think of
1 - They could be a bit longer to cover more of the sill (front doors on the 4-door). If the Summit ones you found are longer, that might be a point in their column.
2 - Leaking if the water's deep enough. It's not an obvious flaw unless you're looking for it, and I found it quite by accident.
The MOPAR ones are fine if you can get them sealed up underneath -- plus they say "Jeep", which I like -- makes it look factory. I stuck a set on my wife's JK when she got it and she didn't even realize that I did it until a year later because she thought it came with them.
I had them on my 2011 and after only a year I noticed a bunch of small scratches in the sill protectors, esp. on the driver's side, from all the gravel and stuff that you pick up in the treads of your shoes.
I'd go aftermarket if they covered more and didn't let water in, but I definitely think that some sort of sill plate is necessary if you're as anal-retentive about your vehicles as I am. But the MOPAR ones do the job fine, though.
Looks great, and the color matches the black plastic interior pieces. I would say that it looks like it is stock.
It took me less than an hour to prep and paint. 2 hours later I was driving around. Quick and easy mod.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: London Ontario
I noticed the scratches too, so I went another route. I bought a can of spray on bedliner. I taped off the area I wanted and sanded it, primed and bedlined it.
Looks great, and the color matches the black plastic interior pieces. I would say that it looks like it is stock.
It took me less than an hour to prep and paint. 2 hours later I was driving around. Quick and easy mod.
Looks great, and the color matches the black plastic interior pieces. I would say that it looks like it is stock.
It took me less than an hour to prep and paint. 2 hours later I was driving around. Quick and easy mod.
In regards to the OP, I don't have the door sill protectors but have never had a problem with water entering the cab during fording. Odd.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 285
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From: Central PA
I never had a problem until I put the door sills on. The sill plates let the water bypass the door seal. Poor design, IMO -- you'd think they'd have thought of that -- unless they build this stuff for people that never take their Jeep off the pavement or in the water.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Central PA
I noticed the scratches too, so I went another route. I bought a can of spray on bedliner. I taped off the area I wanted and sanded it, primed and bedlined it.
Looks great, and the color matches the black plastic interior pieces. I would say that it looks like it is stock.
It took me less than an hour to prep and paint. 2 hours later I was driving around. Quick and easy mod.
Looks great, and the color matches the black plastic interior pieces. I would say that it looks like it is stock.
It took me less than an hour to prep and paint. 2 hours later I was driving around. Quick and easy mod.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 3
From: Texas
With the Mopar ones I see a small gap at the front of the protector with the door closed. This may be another place where water enters. I spend most of my days in the Mojave so don't see enough rain to worry about water crossings deep enough to come in the doors.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Central PA
