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Rough Country zj winch plate

16K views 33 replies 16 participants last post by  Maine1994ZJ 
#1 ·
Who's got one? Any pics of your zj with one? How do you like it? :cheers:
 
#5 ·
I've been impressed with RC recently. Looks like a quality piece. Let us know how it takes a winch pull, and post some pics.
 
#6 ·
Sure thing. I may start the install this weekend since a storm has rolled in. I'll snap a pic or two if I do. Actually it wasn't the wrong winch I got, it was a winch with cable instead of rope. RC sent me rope and I'm waiting on a Hawse fairlead. Apparently you can't use metal roller fairleads with rope. But I think its Energy Suspension or Prothane that makes poly rollers to retrofit your roller fairlead for rope.

Oh yea I was waiting on a 17/32" drill bit required for the install. Got here yesterday. Not that common of a size. Lowes didn't have one so I just went online.
 
#7 ·
rc winch mount

I got mine about 2 month ago ,easy to install looks great,one thing I noticed though is its made off-center,meaning ,if you stand directly in front of the vehicle it isnt centered,the fairlead is off further from one side to the other...the holes its mounted to are the same holes the factory tow hook brackets mount to.I didnt need to drill any holes at all ,the optional d-rings seem heavy duty enough,I believe thats the rc 1039d-ring kit,I had to lightly sand the pins that screw into the d-rings they are a tight fit,this is so they dont rattle,the powder coating on them is put on thick for this reason...the mount itself has a good powdercoating on it also!
 
#8 · (Edited)
I wanted one of these but the cost in the UK is crazy... and shipping from the US would be more than the plate due to the weight....

There is one on Ebay for Price:US $229.95
LOL and the shipping is :- Shipping: $464.20 UPS Worldwide Expedited

HOWEVER.....

Reading the fitting instructions gave me to basics to have a go and build one from scratch..

The result





Winch to follow soon
A bar fitted for the time being just as a safety feature to stop people walking into a 1/4" steel plate
 
#14 ·
JohnnyZJ said:
the RC plate is probably as strong as a mounting point you can make. i'd build a bumper off the mounts, or something like did. no i won't make it for you ;) mines pretty unique and i love that lol
I really do like yours, I just don't have the fabrication skills or tools to do it. So I'm planning on getting something similar to Kevin's offroad front stinger bumper or maybe notch customs bumpers if they look good/can handle a beating.
 
#15 ·
So, those that have an RC winch mount plate - do these mount to the factory holes for the factory tow hook mounts on the underneath side of the bumper?

I'm trying to determine if you lose your factory tow hooks if you install the RC winch mount plate?
 
#17 ·
capcyclone said:
So, those that have an RC winch mount plate - do these mount to the factory holes for the factory tow hook mounts on the underneath side of the bumper?

I'm trying to determine if you lose your factory tow hooks if you install the RC winch mount plate?
Yes you do but the plate has dring mounts
 
#18 ·
i think you could still run the factory hooks. it would take some creativity but basically the mounting plates just go over the factory holes so you should be able to put the stock brackets over that. but really why?
you can use either "d" rings or do what i did, and bolt tow hooks that face up, so you don't have to worry about the straps falling off when you do a recovery. also when you pull off the RC plate, it is 'boxed' (connecting) the two frame rails together, so you are utilizing the strength of both framerails tied together instead of just pulling off a towhook, which is bolted to one frame rail. the RC setup is much stronger.
i guess long and short of it, there is no benefit to the the stock tow points over the RC plate.
 
#20 ·
actually, sell the factory hooks for 50$ then you recoup some of your cost. :)

for the record i love this winch plate. i think its one of the strongest mounting designs i've seen on a ZJ. ties into the rad support and tow hook rails. i'd buy again in a second.
 
#26 ·
RaevynCarrion said:
Hey, I've been thinking about doing this on my 96 for a while. How exactly does it mount to the bumper support, and is it sturdy enough to pull your jeep/ another jeep without bending the bumper?
Doesn't bolt to the bumper but the sub frame where the tow hooks are bolted in. And it's fine for doing it I've put my jeep through a lot of winching abuse.
 
#28 ·
Anybody...

would this RC Winch plate be a good starting point for a tow bar? assuming I'll have to add to it for stength and side pull support. your thoughts?

I'm having trouble trying to find a bolt on tow bar brackets. seems I'll need to have them custom made. The RC Winch plate looks like I could use that as a starting base...
 
#29 ·
Dube2 said:
Anybody...

would this RC Winch plate be a good starting point for a tow bar? assuming I'll have to add to it for stength and side pull support. your thoughts?

I'm having trouble trying to find a bolt on tow bar brackets. seems I'll need to have them custom made. The RC Winch plate looks like I could use that as a starting base...
I personally don't think you can get much stronger a mount point than this. No need to add to it. It ties both frame rails together, and bolts to two axes. Even a 90 degree pull should be fine.
 
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