Hi.. just in process of doing some upgrades here. Was thinking of installing a winch up front. I am currently running the stock front bumper, with stock hooks and hoop bush guard. I would like to keep these items...
.. the question is what things should i be mindful of? and does anyone have pics of the stock bumper winch configuration..
I'm running a Warn 9.5ti on a Warn winch plate w/grill guard. Had to swap the tow hooks (left to right and vice versa). Also had to relocate my fog lights further out towards the end of the bumper.
Here's mine. Harbor Freight Winch and the plate that came with it. Got both for $300...Had to drill the holes for the plate to fit. I would suggest going with a different plate as this one is a little on the thin side if you get a Harbor Freight winch(I recommend them against other users. Hasn't let me down yet.)
Your tow hooks will go back on fine with any plate. Not sure about the hoop though. It's according to how far forward it is on the bumper. You will have to worry about clearance on the fairlead part on the front of the winch plate. And relocating the fog lights is nothing but redrilling holes.
My suggestion is that if you are going to spend $150-$175 on a winch plate, go ahead and buy a new bumper with clevis's, a hoop, and a built in winch plate for like $250 off ebay...
Really? You're telling us that of all the things that could fail in a 8,000lb winch setup, you're worried about the solid steel plate?
You're not worried about the 1,900lb safe-working-load cable, or the four small bolts that hold onto the cast aluminum framed winch, or the bolts that hold the plate to the frame? If anything is giving up in a recovery job, it will be one of those components.... far before the winch plate.
I see that you re-installed the plastic cover with Jeep logo back fm the winch. How exactly i can do that in order to have a good result and cover the right and left side of the winch plate?
Here's mine. Harbor Freight Winch and the plate that came with it. Got both for $300...Had to drill the holes for the plate to fit. I would suggest going with a different plate as this one is a little on the thin side if you get a Harbor Freight winch(I recommend them against other users. Hasn't let me down yet.)
Your tow hooks will go back on fine with any plate. Not sure about the hoop though. It's according to how far forward it is on the bumper. You will have to worry about clearance on the fairlead part on the front of the winch plate. And relocating the fog lights is nothing but redrilling holes.
My suggestion is that if you are going to spend $150-$175 on a winch plate, go ahead and buy a new bumper with clevis's, a hoop, and a built in winch plate for like $250 off ebay...
Mines a Tabor 9K on a Harbor Freight Jeep winch plate. It was $40 IIRC. The item # was 03444 but its not coming up in their website anymore. Might be discontinued. As of now I have the solenoid box under the hood and out of the way. This is a pic when I first got the TJ
This was a shot to show the plow mounted up and how the winch isnt in the way - but its the best closeup I have. You can see the winch,plate, and stock hooks all in their proper places....
thanks for the posts.. dunno if this hoop will work as it seems.. and the winch seems like an expensive project.. i would probably want warn one, gonna surf over to ebay to see whats up.
reelhabit, i thought i was looking at my jeep for a second. your running the same set up as mine. i bought the smittybilt XRC8 from jason @ 4x4 group buy. got the harbor freight winch plate & im good to go.
Here's ours, a Ramsey Winch with an A to Z winch plate.
We like the setup, we did run into a problem with the fairlead. The Ramsey fairlead has two holes in it. The standard is a single hole which is what the A to Z winch plate has. The holes on the Ramsey fairlead won't line up with the holes on the A to Z winch plate.
Have to give a big thanks to Zach at A to Z though :thumbsup: , he sent us his fairlead to get us going.
Just to let you know...the jeeps with the harbor freight winch plate are actually TJ plates you can order from Harbor Freight...mine is the one that came with the winch that is a universal plate...
if harbor freight doesn't have winch plates, 4wd hardware has mile marker for 86.99 and smittybuilt for 69.99 I have a milemarker and a se9500 MM winch and love it
Just to let you know...the jeeps with the harbor freight winch plate are actually TJ plates you can order from Harbor Freight...mine is the one that came with the winch that is a universal plate...
Is it really worth selling the universal plate (harbor freight) and buying the TJ one from harbor freight?
This is really the last thing I am stuck on before I buy the winch. I have been looking at different pictures of both the universal and TJ plate and really I just can't decide. So if you have pictures and/or advice of either plates I would really like to see them.
When it comes to the winch, I may never really have to use the winch (only really family trail and 2 track rides) but we are alone in the woods and if we get stuck I will have the winch. I am taking the mindset either not have a winch or get a cheap one.
Yes, the universal is a biotch. it took a few hours of drilling holes, cutting and grinding to get it to fit. i would gladley pay the extra money for a plate that fit.
DixiesCJ3B did a great job with his plate mod but I think the TJ plate from Harbor Freight is the way I am going. I guess I just need to spend the extra $40.
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