Winch Install??

renegadekj · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:04 pm

If you get longer bolts you should be able to reinstall the tow hooks as well. :wink:

, thats the plan anyway.

ChileanKJ · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:18 pm

No, you can't use the hook any more, the hook has 3 attachment points with the winch you left only two for hook attachment, so you will have to look for an aftermarket hook.

Claudio

slikjr · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:59 pm

With the winch plate going to where the tow hooks were, could you not just drill two holes in the plate then, attatch a generic "two bolt" hook to where you drilled them and have them come out the in the same location as the factory hooks?

Also, I noticed it's the 02-04 bumper style in the pics. NEone report on how the 06-07 (flatter) bumper style works? I think it would work better because of the longer pening in it, as supposed to the "three section" style.

Anyone post in on that issue... pics of new bumper install. If anyone who is doing this can send me pics of the plate and how it attatches, I would greatly appreciate it. I can get the bumper off, just pics of the plate and how it goes to the holes. Also, whatever, if any, trimming needed. That would be so awesome!!! Thanks so much

renegadekj · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:02 pm

If you center the winch in the bumper(which can be done), You will be able to reinstall the tow hooks.It depends on how you fabricate your mounting plate and also where exactly you winch sits and what type it is. I have to get on this project and get it done, along with a good descriptive explanation.

slikjr · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:13 pm

renegadekj, YES, if you can get good pics and a good description, that would be SOOO good! Please keep me informed!! Thanks so much!!

KJTUGA · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 2:51 am

howdy,

I had a word with the guys in the first link(Indian Cars in Paris) and apparently it is a welding job, with no plate, they simply welded the thing directly to the front chassis members.
Their jeep is a gasser so that should be alright with you guys in the US, but I had a look at my 03 CRD and the radiator looks pretty big on that small space.
They proposed to do the same thing to mine( I am only 3 hours away) so I might go there and find out how they did it.
I will try to get some pics and then post them here. :lol:

slikjr · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:02 am

excellent! Keep us posted and get some good pics!

renegadekj · **Posted:** Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:08 pm

KJTUGA I have tried to contact "Indian Jeeps" but didn't seem to get to much info since they speak french and well i don't! So if you are able to contact them and find out exactly what the used and ho wthey did it that would be very useful! Iam not 100% sold on the winch being mounthed directly to the front cross-member(Its not nearly thick enough,in my opinion a plate is a must. Keep us updated on what you find out as well. Thanks

slikjr · **Posted:** Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:09 pm

Agreed! The frame cross-member is not heavy enough to support a winch under load. I wouldn't mount it directly to that, you would do some serious damage if that let go. Say good by the the entire front bumper, valance, grill, rad support, rad, ac condensor... YIKES! HUGE MONEY!

Let's see some pics of some plates. That's the best and safest way. Mounted directly to the frame rails where the tow hooks attatch. If any one has pictures and dimensions of such a thing, please post!

Thanks!

KJTUGA · **Posted:** Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:45 pm

I will keep you guys posted, but it might take a while as my next two weekends are fully booked(one wheeling and the next playing soccer) so I will only be able to get down there in three weeks time.

I had a second look at the front end of the KJ and I had the impression there were two cross members, a very small one where the radiator sits and a second one a lot thicker where I do beleive you could weld the winch upside down.
I do not know if it would hold the winch under load(probably not) but it might be possible to weld it on both members for extra strength...

But like I said I will ask how they did it and if they tested its strength at all... :?:

renegadekj · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:04 pm

Just to let everyone who has been following this thread, I FINALLY have plans for the 14th of july to do this hidden winch install! Will post pics and write-up when completed. Thanks for the patience.

slikjr · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:00 pm

Excellent! Keep us posted!!

t-tops · **Posted:** Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:42 pm

awesome! i'm excited to see how it goes. i haven't even had the time lately to get under there and get some ideas. this should be a huge help.

ducktail · **Posted:** Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:24 am

And the results are....?

renegadekj · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:09 am

Well we got started installing the winch and ran out of time to get it completed! This install is very difficult due to the lack of space! My suggestion would be to get a hidden hitch and a winch mount so you can remove the winch when needed. This install fir the jeep just isn't very compatiable. The winch is so big it actually holds to bumper from attatching to its orgional mounting points underneath(The two bolts behind the rad which are the main supports for this plastic held piece of #$##.
I may try and finish this install or i may just scrap the whole idea. The edmonton jeep club is having a "swap meet" in august so if anyone there has a new set of moab's and MTR's i may trade the winch for them, we'll see.
Here

.
You can see that my plan was to install a 1/4" plate on top of the front cross member which i was going to hold in place with bolts going directly through the crossmember to the towhooks using 1/2'x5.5" grade 8 bolts. from there i was using a plate just big enough for the winch to bolt to that was going to be mounted through the crossmember as well using 2- 1/2"x4.5 grade 8 bolts(this would allow the winch to sit up as high as possible in the curved crossmember area..kinda confusing?) then i was going to weld a plate to connect the two plates on the face of the crossmember and also weld a bracket for the fairlead. Iam not the best at explaing these things in full detail so if you want more info just om me an i will help as much as possible but i would advise against this install.

xjpeex · **Posted:** Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:50 pm

thats it thanks :wink:

KJTUGA · **Posted:** Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:39 am

hi,
regarding this winch install.

I just ran into this yesterday, it basically solves most of the problems(i.e: you do not have to buy a new bumper and the winch will sit high enough in the end...and you get two recovery point as a bonus!!!)

check out the site

http://www.detoursusa.com/kjbackbone.php

ZooL · **Posted:** Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:55 pm

Hi,

Here in Europe there is also available this winch mounting solution:

It comes from a German company called Taubenreuther (http://www.taubenreuther.de), it looks like a very nice & clean installation, but it sure is pricey

Don't know yet if it would fit 2005+ models, I'm gonna send them an email and post back if anyone's interested.

X.

bbo · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:17 pm **Posts:** 382

KJTUGA wrote:

hi,
regarding this winch install.

I just ran into this yesterday, it basically solves most of the problems(i.e: you do not have to buy a new bumper and the winch will sit high enough in the end...and you get two recovery point as a bonus!!!)

check out the site

http://www.detoursusa.com/kjbackbone.php

http://www.timothylund.com/detours.pdf

That's mine .. install wasn't too hard with mostly basic tools.

Jeger · **Posted:** Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:48 am

ZooL wrote:

Hi,

Here in Europe there is also available this winch mounting solution:

It comes from a German company called Taubenreuther (http://www.taubenreuther.de), it looks like a very nice & clean installation, but it sure is pricey

Don't know yet if it would fit 2005+ models, I'm gonna send them an email and post back if anyone's interested.

X.

PDF of install...but is it really 1000 USD? $$$$ :shock:

http://www.taubenreuther.de/einbauanlei ... 510_DE.pdf

Winch Install??

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