jmb23
New member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2025
- Messages
- 22
- Reaction score
- 3
- Location
- TX
- Military
- Army
- Current Ride
- 2023 F150 Tremor 3.5
I 'm must one of those folks that won't cut off crash bars because it's easy to do. They serve a purpose and I feel they should remain. I tried in stalling my new Method wheels (17" with 0mm offset today). Sitting on flat ground with a 2" level they only had 1/8" of clearance. This would not work offroad at all. So I told the shop leave my rim sit for a day and I'll be back to test fit again.
I went home and pulled the tire, loosened the two 14mm bolts for the front crash bars and a simple push with my hand forward moved them a full 1/4" (clearance around the bolts). I then placed my port-a-power hydraulic pack with the base on the large welded plate below the rear crash bar and pushed the front crash bar forward over 5/8" inch. I tightned the bolt back down, relaxed the port-a-power and the net result was a solid 1/2" of clearance. Problem solved and I still have the crash bars intact.
In the pictures attached I marked 1/8" increments on a piece of tape and attached it to the filler plate I custom made to hide the end of my crash bar. This plate is attached to the end of the crash bar itself and the plate slides in behind the aftermarket bumper freely with some clearance. As I jacked the crash bar forward that whole plate moved forward and I could watch how much based on the taped on scale I had applied. As shown in the photo it moved well over 1/2". Truck will go back to tire shop for fit test #2 and I believe this well be fine. Much better than the 1/8" shown in todays test before moving them. I'll post some new pics once we fit test it again.
I went home and pulled the tire, loosened the two 14mm bolts for the front crash bars and a simple push with my hand forward moved them a full 1/4" (clearance around the bolts). I then placed my port-a-power hydraulic pack with the base on the large welded plate below the rear crash bar and pushed the front crash bar forward over 5/8" inch. I tightned the bolt back down, relaxed the port-a-power and the net result was a solid 1/2" of clearance. Problem solved and I still have the crash bars intact.
In the pictures attached I marked 1/8" increments on a piece of tape and attached it to the filler plate I custom made to hide the end of my crash bar. This plate is attached to the end of the crash bar itself and the plate slides in behind the aftermarket bumper freely with some clearance. As I jacked the crash bar forward that whole plate moved forward and I could watch how much based on the taped on scale I had applied. As shown in the photo it moved well over 1/2". Truck will go back to tire shop for fit test #2 and I believe this well be fine. Much better than the 1/8" shown in todays test before moving them. I'll post some new pics once we fit test it again.
