Just purchased a new 2012 Jeep Liberty. Does anyone have any experience taking the front end facia apart to install a BlueOx base plate? The instructions are lacking in detail. Any help would be appreciated.
DAN
2007 Winnebago Sightseer 29R
2012 Jeep Liberty Toad
Learn to Start a Heart!
I just looked through those instructions last night. My impression was that the Liberty was one of the easier vehicles to install a base plate on. We are looking at a 2012 CR-V - that seems really complicated compared to the Liberty.
We just bought a Ford Focus and when I looked at the Blue Ox instructions for the base plates, decided to let the dealer do it so it could be completed this year.
luvlabs wrote: I just looked through those instructions last night. My impression was that the Liberty was one of the easier vehicles to install a base plate on. We are looking at a 2012 CR-V - that seems really complicated compared to the Liberty.
The 12 CR-V appears much easier than the older Accord. The Liberty should bed very easy. Just waiting for a free day without rain to do ours.
Beverley and Ken
2006 Winnebago Outlook 29B E-450.
2012 Honda CR-V AWD
Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar and Brake Buddy Vantage.
Well I did it. The base plate is on. Only took about 6 hours. Most of that is trying to figure out how to take the dang thing apart!
I did not take pictures, but a couple of things which might help future base plate installers.
First go to your Jeep dealer and purchase 6 clips. The ones that are hidden behind the front of the wheel well facia. That way you can gently pull and separate the wheel facia from the bumper facia. Start from the bottom. After you push and muscle out the bottom slot clip, (not hard to do), you can slide a sharp knife in between the two facia's, cut the clip in half, and dispose of them. It is a lot easier than trying to save them. The clips are pricy. $4 each. Well worth it in time saved. Plus the two top clips are not accessible. (AT ALL)
Remove the light bulb sockets from the side marker lights and the turn indicator lights. A simple twist is all that is needed. A lot easier than unplugging them.
Perform all the other steps that Blue Ox tells you to do. Once all the pins and bolts are removed, the whole bumper facia comes off pretty easy. Lift from the bottom. Gently push down on the facia under the grill, work from one side to the other and it just pops off.
After you install everything, base plate and wiring, and before you put the bumper facia back on, remove the entire lower grill that sits in front of the base plate. If you just remove the notches where the factory tow hooks would have been, the bottom of the facia will not match up and seat in the three lower notches they came out of. Cutting out the small grill allows the three tabs to fit where they are suppose to. The base plate is nearly hidden to begin with so the grill really is not needed. It is just decorative anyway.
If anyone has questions, pm me and I will give you my phone number. We can talk. If anyone is in the Cleveland area and wants some personal hands on advice. Give a shout.
Offline
