Raised Winch Plate

nwiTJdave · 02-19-2010, 10:52 AM

Ive got a nice battle scar dent on my front bumper and I have a brand new Superwinch sitting in my garage awaiting to be put on. Due to that dent, there is a good 1/2 or so steel protruding upwards from the bumper. I was going to make one but have been unable to find some 2 x 4 tubing that is resonably priced. How far up do most raised winch plates rise up off the bumper? And anyone with a raised bumper, can you please post a pic of it. I like the A to Z one, but I think that is more than I want to spend on one. Thanks.

shortydog33 · 02-19-2010, 10:57 AM

Sorry I dont have a pic, but I have the Smittybilt raised plate, it was around $70 and while I dont have a pic it would clear a 1/2" bumper bulge.
Winch Plate II - Smittybilt

**Gr8_Outdoorsman** · 02-19-2010, 11:00 AM

I ordered the Body Armor raised plate off of Amazon..... I would guess it raises it 2-3"....

**Sccafire** · 02-19-2010, 11:06 AM

I'd say get a BFH and fix the bumper till your current winch plate works.

cmgorman94 · 02-19-2010, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sccafire

I'd say get a BFH and fix the bumper till your current winch plate works.

My thoughts exactly.

I'm no engineer, but it seems that by raising the winch you would be putting more leverage, and ultimately more strain on the mount every time you used it.

**MO2500** · 02-19-2010, 12:48 PM

Is there any reason you can't just take a BFH to the bumper and bend it back down? it's already bashed up and your replacing it at some point right? why buy a winch plate to fit your bent bumper that your going to replace soon?

nwiTJdave · 02-20-2010, 12:39 PM

ive tried that before when it first happened. ill go take some pics of it in a bit and show you just how bad of a dent it is.

**andy02** · 02-20-2010, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmgorman94

My thoughts exactly.

I'm no engineer, but it seems that by raising the winch you would be putting more leverage, and ultimately more strain on the mount every time you used it.

I would think the same thing. The more I think about it, the scarier it seems to me. I wouldn't want to be anywhere around someone using a winch on a plate that sits that high. At least if the winch does come flying off the front of the Jeep, it is not going to go far.

**MO2500** · 02-20-2010, 12:47 PM

I still don't think you should buy a winch plate that will fit your current bumper when you said your going to replace it as soon as you find steel to build your own. It doesnt make sense to compromise because of the condition of your current bumper

I'd hit it with a bigger hammer, and i'm being completely serious

I'm not trying to offend you or anything but you should be able to beat the stock bumper back down to clear the plate. You may need to remove it from the jeep and and beat on it on a bench or a garage floor.

Edit: another thing you could do would be get a stock bumper from someone. I know if you were near me i'd give you mine and i'm sure there are others that would do the same. They are pretty cheap on craigslist or ebay if you can't find someone willing to give theirs away

STW · 02-20-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmgorman94

...I'm no engineer, but it seems that by raising the winch you would be putting more leverage, and ultimately more strain on the mount every time you used it.

And blocking more of the radiator.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO2500

I still don't think you should buy a winch plate that will fit your current bumper when you said your going to replace it as soon as you find steel to build your own. It doesnt make sense to compromise because of the condition of your current bumper

I'd hit it with a bigger hammer, and i'm being completely serious

I'm not trying to offend you or anything but you should be able to beat the stock bumper back down to clear the plate. You may need to remove it from the jeep and and beat on it on a bench or a garage floor.

Edit: another thing you could do would be get a stock bumper from someone. I know if you were near me i'd give you mine and i'm sure there are others that would do the same. They are pretty cheap on craigslist or ebay if you can't find someone willing to give theirs away

X2
We all have stock bumpers in a corner somewhere waiting to getting hauled for scrap. Expensive to ship, but if someone on-list near you has one, you'd get it cheap or free. Or put a want add in your local Craig's list offering $10 for one and someone will jump at that. In the meantime hammer the $%^% out of the one you have to get the winch to fit, and start shopping for the aftermarket bumper you like best. My favorite is the Warn, which is lucky because it's available for very reasonable money (<$125), and I use the special Warn winch plate because the 8274 requires a specific plate. The Warn bumper takes any plate though.

**TheBoogieman** · 02-20-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gr8_Outdoorsman

I ordered the Body Armor raised plate off of Amazon..... I would guess it raises it 2-3"....

That's a good sturdy plate.

aogmitch · 02-20-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmgorman94

My thoughts exactly.

I'm no engineer, but it seems that by raising the winch you would be putting more leverage, and ultimately more strain on the mount every time you used it.

Most, if not all TJ specific winch plates are raised to get above the factory anti-sway bar. The flat universal fit plates will extend out past the front edge of the bumper. IMO, all the raised mounts look much cleaner on the Jeeps with stock bumpers.