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Hello,

I just bought a mopar lip kit for my R/T. It's probably not a great idea to install a lip kit in preparation for winter driving, but I figured if I installed it last summer it would still be on there now for the winter, right?

The IKEA-style installation guide states that the kit should be installed in temperatures between 61°F-86°F (16°C-31°C). I am assuming this is because of the adhesive tape. The manual also states that the car should not be driven for 5hrs, and not get wet for 24hrs. Again, I'm pretty sure this is precautionary for the adhesive.

My question is this, if I use a space heater to bring my garage up to the recommended temperature range, how long after installation do I need to maintain that temperature? Just long enough to get the lip stuck to the bumper, or does the temperature need to stay up while the adhesive is setting?

I'd like to use the space heater a little as possible. As you know, space heaters are infamous energy hogs, and my municipality utilizes a Kitten Burning Power Plant.

joseph_hac wrote:As you know, space heaters are infamous energy hogs, and my municipality utilizes a Kitten Burning Power Plant.

Though kitten power plants are highly efficient... they do tend to produce a lot of smoke. -1 for kitten power plant.

But anyway... not really sure about the space heater.

space heater is probably a good idea but i put my lip kit on at an outside temp of about 60 and i had to drive in the rain about 2 hours after i put it on. It is still on with no gaps in the tape. looks perfect. just make sure you drill the holes in the right spot and the adhesive just sucks right to the bumper when screwed on. just run a paint roller over the part with the adhesive to mold it to the bumper and your fine

KC21Balla wrote:space heater is probably a good idea but i put my lip kit on at an outside temp of about 60 and i had to drive in the rain about 2 hours after i put it on. It is still on with no gaps in the tape. looks perfect. just make sure you drill the holes in the right spot and the adhesive just sucks right to the bumper when screwed on. just run a paint roller over the part with the adhesive to mold it to the bumper and your fine

and on the other end of the spectrum i followed the directions to the "T" and i got gaps.

haha lol im sorry to hear that. kinda funny though. lol

i don't know where you live but if i were you and lived somewhere that had the potential for more than a couple of inches of snow at a time, i'd wait for spring, just so i could drive around on a perfect front lip all summer. i wouldn't risk putting it on and getting scratches in the front from high ice, dirty or gravely snow, or sliding into a curb, or any of the other random things that can happen during the winter. spring is the time for body kits.

im with him. hes not stupid though. he has a very good point

The directions (what??? theres directions???) state that you shouldn't drive the car for X hours (can't remember number) after installing the kit so the tape has time to cure to the vehicle and not to get it wet for I another set time period. Other than that I don't remember seeing any temperature recommendations for the installation.

I'm going to take a stab in the dark here and say the temp has a little to do with the glue on the tape but it could also play a part in fitment. In warmer temps the plastic will be a little more flexable unlike when it's cold out and becomes stiff. That may make it a little easier to put it on. Another thing is if it's warmer it will also expand ever so slightly so sticking it on when it's warm might be a decent idea then when it gets colder and shrinks, it would conform to the bumper better. It's a little out there as far as the temp requirements but hey... never know. lol

Wenuden wrote:i don't know where you live but if i were you and lived somewhere that had the potential for more than a couple of inches of snow at a time, i'd wait for spring, just so i could drive around on a perfect front lip all summer. i wouldn't risk putting it on and getting scratches in the front from high ice, dirty or gravely snow, or sliding into a curb, or any of the other random things that can happen during the winter. spring is the time for body kits.

Maybe you're right. I got myself so excited to put the kit on though! I am rocking stock suspension, so I don't think clearance will be an issue. The only real danger I see is if the snow gets really deep, turning my car into a plow, or parking near a curb that is now a mound of ice.

I guess I have a tough decision to make. I could always just put the back on for now. I wonder if it would look terribly stupid having the sides and rear with no front?