Winch Install??

renegadekj · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 11:39 pm

Well recently i ran the suggestion by my fiance about getting a new bumber for our KJ ( Arb bull bar), after i showed her a picture she didnt want " that ugly thing" on the front of the jeep( she is mainly the fulltime driver of it,and i have a work truck and have no need to use it until the weekend

). so i will respect her decision for now!! I have seen a KJ with a winch mounted in the factory bumper i was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how hard this would be to install.The winch does look close to the ground but the way i look at it is after a few good offroad trips i hope to tear the hell outta that front bumper so then i may be able to convince my fiance about getting my ARB :lol:

!!

... here is a web site of a jeep with the winch mounted in the bumper( i must say i doesnt look bad ,,just not very practical for offroading). It would be strong ,but it would take some time to figure out the best way for mounting to the frame,If anyone has any suggestions that would be great! Also i was think of getting either a M8000 warn due to the lower costs but like the XD9000i warn! Which one would be best fitted and do u guys reccommend!! Here is the web site, not sure where the jeep is from !!
http://www.indiancars.fr/fr/pages/sousR ... =6&rsr=116

swyszomirski · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:59 am **Posts:** 286

I think someone here said the Rescue Jeep is French? Don't really know. And as for bumpers, take a look at the TJM winch bumper coming out, or for a really clean look, look at Rock Lizard's front bumper, but for that one you have to mount your winch on a carrier.

Stephen

renegadekj · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:13 am

I have looked at the rocklizard bumper and i like it but unfortionatly i think iam going to have to try to do a winch install with the factory bumper for now! Does anyone think this is a good idea or should i try to get the front reciever hitch installed and then mount the winchwith that?

BDK · **Joined:** Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:45 am **Posts:** 31

I am in the same delima. ARB or no ARB? For now I have orderd a front hitch and am going to get a portable 8000i Warn. How much do you really use a winch? If I find that spending $900 on a bumper is worth it, at least I will have the winch.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:32 am

Looking at the position of the winch I dont think it would be to hard to do that
all you would have to do is get a plate made that mounts like the front hich and then mount the winch up side down
it may take some cutting of the bumper skin but I dont think it would be all that hard and it would make for a clean look that even a mall crawler could live with

I would bet that it could be done with an off the shelf TJ/YJ winch plate and some pcs of steel welded on
this of corse provided that a winch can be mounted up side down but I dont think that a m8000 has an oil bath lube system

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:22 am

just finished working on the TJ and took a look
I can see no reason why you could not simply cut the ends off of a TJ winch plate and mount it upside down to the KJ tow hooks
the TJ hooks are ~30.5" bolt center to BC the kj is like ~27 BC to BC
so some one do it and give a write up :lol:

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:53 am

If you are not going all the way and getting a winch bumper I would just get a front mounted hitch and mount it that way, when I need it, its there rest of the time it is in the back or sitting in the garage.
If you look at the ARB or any of the bumpers coming out they make the KJ look so much better and approach angles are better, shop around for a used one, thats how I got mine! Paid less than a third of a new one. My wife wasnt sure either until I put it on there and now she says any without one on it , looks too cute, she now understands the soccer mom look

renegadekj · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:51 pm

BDK & tommudd i was thinking of getting the front reciever hitch but i thougt that i would like to try something different and something that will look clean and hidden when iam done It is a good option but i dont like the idea of having to take the winch on and off of the hitch ..because probably when/ if i had the winch off that is when i would need it.

jasonthompson so u said i should pick up a tj mounting plate where would i get one of these? And could u send a site with a picture of one so i have a better idea..if is what you say it is i might just end up getting someone to fabricate one for me !i will have to see what the price is on a tj winch mounting plate first If I can find one!!!!

renegadekj · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:58 pm

I found a picture of the tj winch mounting plate. i think i will be able to make it work and if not get one made!! Thanks!

BDK · **Joined:** Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:45 am **Posts:** 31

With the winch mounting plate, would this be a perminant application? can you leave the tow hooks on?

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 4:35 pm

BDK wrote:

With the winch mounting plate, would this be a perminant application? can you leave the tow hooks on?

yes it would stay
I have no clue

like I said it would take some fab work to make it fit
I was saying that it would be a good starting point

renegadekj · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:09 pm

You would be able to leave the winch on all the time but for the tow hooks it looks like you need to do a few modifications but iam not sure exactly until i get the yj mounting plate and get under the kj! iam goingto try to contacthttp://www.indiancars.fr/fr/page ... =6&rsr=116 to see how they did the install on their jeep( might be hard since my french is kinda weak) and what kind of wich was used, because i looked under the jeep and it would have to be mounted upside down and it looks like a tight spot.we'll see how it going wheni find out some more info

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 6:14 pm

renegadekj
it looks like you are going to have a go at it befor I do so this is what I would do
first I would remove the tow hooks they are held on with 3 bolts each
then I would remove the hook from the mounting plate ,2 bolts that hold the hook to the steel
I would get 4 bolts that are longer by the thickness of the plate
I would then remount the 2 tow hook mounting plates with out the hooks and measure the hole center to hole center for the bolts that hold the hooks
I would remove the mounting plates again and cut the winch plate to fit you will need to do some drilling as well to gain access to the 2 inner most mounting bolts
once you get it all cut and ready I would mount the hooks back on and the mount the plate to then to hook bolts

I do not know if you would have to mount the winch first but I would think yes then mount to jeep
you may also want to remove the bumper skin befor you start with all the on and off it will get in the way
if you do this I DEMAND pics :wink:

renegadekj · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:23 pm

Well iam going to do this for sure, it will be a couple weeks before my winch comes in i suspect but that will give me time to get my mounting plate all ready and pre drilled. i think ithis is going to work out nice except not 100% sure of winch which to order i dont want to get one that wont fit or have anything hanging down !! i was just wondering which wich is the most compact and has a 8000lb + limit?

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:33 pm

renegadekj wrote:

Well iam going to do this for sure, it will be a couple weeks before my winch comes in i suspect but that will give me time to get my mounting plate all ready and pre drilled. i think ithis is going to work out nice except not 100% sure of winch which to order i dont want to get one that wont fit or have anything hanging down !! i was just wondering which wich is the most compact and has a 8000lb + limit?

Look at the warn m8000 or the mile marker PE8000
you will have to relocate the control box thingy but thats about it
I would try to gt it up on top of the bumper some how to keep it out of the mud and water

renegadekj · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:42 pm

thanks jasonthompson, i wasnt sure if you could relocate that control box. The m8000 is what i will go with since it is know for the best qualty and endurance!!
i will post some pictures in a few weeks!

renegadekj · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:52 pm

Well i will have the winch here in a few days and iam currently fabricating my own mounting plate for the winch instad off paying $150.00 for a piece of metal i would have to cut up anyway!

I have a question, i want to hide the control box(solenoid) but th problem is that is where the controller plugs in,Ive heard you can buy a cord that plugs into the control box and the other end can be put where you want for easy access for plugginng the controller in. Where i can i find one of these?? the winch is a warn M8000 ...any help with this would be great i cant seem to foind what iam looking for on warns website.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 1:40 am

renegadekj wrote:

Well i will have the winch here in a few days and iam currently fabricating my own mounting plate for the winch instad off paying $150.00 for a piece of metal i would have to cut up anyway!

I have a question, i want to hide the control box(solenoid) but th problem is that is where the controller plugs in,Ive heard you can buy a cord that plugs into the control box and the other end can be put where you want for easy access for plugginng the controller in. Where i can i find one of these?? the winch is a warn M8000 ...any help with this would be great i cant seem to foind what iam looking for on warns website.

I dont know about any winch spicficaly but I have seen guys with the swiches for in and out mounted to the center console
so I know it can be done like that

larswyers · **Joined:** Sun Oct 29, 2006 3:33 pm **Posts:** 4

Any one know where to get the winch bumper shown here? I personally like it alot beeter than the ARB alternative.

renegadekj · **Posted:** Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:28 pm

I dont think anyone manufactures this winch mounting setup for a factory bumper as shown, currently i am in the process of fabricating my own mounting plate i will post some pictures and details once iam done.(couple weeks). I dont think anyone accept this jeep posted on this topic has a winch installed like this so it will be nice to have something different than everyone else!

Winch Install??

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