winch mount/ hybrid steel and OE plastic front bumper.

candpliberty · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 3:19 am

I started with cutting my bumper to expose the middle area between the two frame end caps.

Since we sold our second vehicle, I have to keep it in more or less running condition.
I bolted the pieces together to get an idea of what I want to achieve.

I started with a Ramsey winch plate, 2 through weld shackle mounts and the center section from a Reese Multifit trailer hitch. Walmart sells the center separate from the ends since the center fits many vehicles. I cut the end plates and fashioned mounts very similar to the Backbone.

After trimming some of the black plastic grill support frame, I mounted the winch plate to the cross member. Them I trial fitted the trailer hitch center section.

I fit and refitted and did it again to get to this point with the end pieces with 4 7/16" grade 8 bolts.

More to come.

TexasRock · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:34 am

Very nice! Keep the pics and write up coming! :pepper:

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:51 am

Sweet. Wish I had the place and ability to make my own stuff. Til I do ill just support the economy. :lol:

candpliberty · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 1:10 pm

DirtyKK wrote:

Sweet. Wish I had the place and ability to make my own stuff. Til I do ill just support the economy. :lol:

Making it yourself isn't cheap! Raw materials, TOOLS, consumables like welding wire, saw blades and drill bits add up. So far I have 200 bucks in materials plus a lot of scrounged steel. 45 bucks in 1/2 inch drill bits(I broke 2!) 40 dollars in nuts and bolts.Another 40-50 bucks in welding wire, paint, cut off wheels, carbide 1/4inch shank grinding bit, etc, etc.

candpliberty · **Posted:** Sat Apr 10, 2010 11:42 pm

The winch is in and running! I still have to make a custom solenoid mount and tidy up the wiring. I have to make a couple of sheet metal panels to cover up the gap between the winch mount and the plastic ends. Speaking of plastic ends I chopped them up too.

So far I used hot glue and black round head screws to put it back together. I hope it works!
I had some louder aftermarket horns kicking around the garage so I put them on centered behind the hitch.

All bolted in and tacked components together.

Took the whole mess off and welded everything, rattlecan primer and hammer finish Krylon.

Trimmed grill to fit, installed winch, found out a solenoid bracket needs to be made. wired and did a quick test.

I weighed the mount on a bathroom scale. 57.5 pounds. I have ideas for a skid from the bumper to the engine plate, basically a grid using square tubing. Any ideas?

KJWildman · **Posted:** Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:05 am

Candpliberty This project is looking sweeeeet. I like it!

kskj · **Posted:** Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:08 am

candpliberty · **Posted:** Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:38 am

Thanks, guys. I've been living in the garage for the last 3 days and still have tons to do! I wanna go wheelin!

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:57 am

Pretty cool fab you got goin, are you thinking about integrating a tube hoop to protect the winch/front of the vehicle , looks like your winch backboning would be plenty heavy for it

candpliberty · **Posted:** Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:21 pm

Jarhead, I was thinking about putting a couple of 6-8inch driving lights on each side of the fairlead(the holes are already there) but you present a conundrum. I want to leave the stock fogs where they are. They're as high as I want them for fogs to be effective. If I do put a loop on, where would I put the loop? maybe integrate a loop with the skidplate ala prerunner? What go you boys think?

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:59 am

I would brace it to the underside, brace it to the front and bring it up and over, square the top or angle the sides for mounting lights on the pre-runner is a good option for aux lights too

candpliberty · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:23 pm

Sorry for the crayon drawing. Round tube outer loop, square tube "jail bar" radiator skid.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:53 pm

lol!

Something like that

I laughed at the crayons, not at the concept

tube it back to the engine skid, brace it, and skin it sounds like it would end up lookin pretty beefy

candpliberty · **Posted:** Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:19 am

I'm thinking about keeping the skid open for cooling. With summers upward of 118 I don't want to close it off any more than I did. I saw a old Toyota Landcruiser that had a skid made out of 1 1/2 square tubing, guessing 1/4 wall. looked pretty functional! LOL I had to laugh at the crayon drawing also! :ROTFL:

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:22 am

could terminate the tubing with a piece of heavy angle, have it where it fits across the leading edge of the engine skid, pop a hole through it stick a bolt in it and tighten it down to prevent any rattles

candpliberty · **Posted:** Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:35 am

What do you think about slotting the end of the tubing and running it on both sides of the leading edge of the engine skid. Don't make me get the crayons out again! Thinking 7 tubes to keep up with the Jeep grill. :JEEPIN:

candpliberty · **Posted:** Sat May 15, 2010 3:48 pm

Been hard at it. switches from 12 Volt Guy. DIY LED indicator lights. 500 amp ANL fuse for winch. Cheapo 100w driving lights from Harbor Freight. sheet metal panel with wiring block and light relay:

driving light switch and indicator:

Winch master switch and in cab control:

lights and mount bolted to fairlead:

nosnorb_808 · **Posted:** Sun May 16, 2010 9:40 am

NICE! I LIKE IT!!! How much?! LOL... I want one.

stumpjumper_09 · **Posted:** Sun May 16, 2010 9:50 am

candpliberty wrote:

Been hard at it. switches from 12 Volt Guy. DIY LED indicator lights. 500 amp ANL fuse for winch. Cheapo 100w driving lights from Harbor Freight. sheet metal panel with wiring block and light relay:

driving light switch and indicator:

Winch master switch and in cab control:

lights and mount bolted to fairlead:

From the Crayon drawing I was expecting it to look like a plow frame. But it turned out Awesome!!!

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun May 16, 2010 10:16 am

Looks pretty good overall. Good job! Plus it looks strong enough to work unlike a lot of the things you see people throw on the front.
Again good job! :wink:

winch mount/ hybrid steel and OE plastic front bumper.

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