Rubicon steel bumper ‘winch ready”?

[Aj58]

It means it’s ready for you to spend your money and get a winch and plate. Just one of the many “ready” things on a Jeep.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Has anyone else found the opening on the steel mopar bumper to be slightly narrow? With my badlands apex mounted including the badlands fairlead, I feel the bottom edge of the steel bumper opening is slightly higher than my fairlead. I do plan on adding .500 spacers under my winch to raise it up to not have to cut the handle and then Iam going to grind the bumper opening down some. Just curious if anyone noticed the same issue.

Yes, same.

What plate are you using??
I am also going to need spacers - or change winch plates, but that still doesn't help the fact that the bottom of the opening in the bumper stands proud of the fairlead.

 

[AmosMoses]

Yes, same.

What plate are you using??
I am also going to need spacers - or change winch plates, but that still doesn't help the fact that the bottom of the opening in the bumper stands proud of the fairlead.

I bought a cheapo Amazon plate thats actually pretty stout for the price: https://www.amazon.com/Wsays-Mounti...+,aps,129&sr=8-7#averageCustomerReviewsAnchor

I ended up going a little thicker on my risers using 5/8" thick aluminum. I finished those up today and will check fit sometime this week/weekend. I plan on probably die griding my bumper slot opening to remove about an 1/8" and then put some kind of paint over to it keep it from usting. If my risers are too tall I can always mill them down some.

 

[D_JT]

Side note, the only trim until the X's came out that ever had the winch ready steel bumper standard was the Freedom (and the Rubicon launch edition), other it was always an option even on the Rubicon and Mojave. There are a few winch plates for sale in the Marketplace section, I did that and saved a couple hundred dollars. The wording can definitely trip you up but it is certainly winch ready compared to the plastic one.

The Mojave never had the option for the steel bumper until recently. Either 2024 or 2025 was the first year for the Mojave to have the option for a steel bumper.

 

[D_JT]

Can you give me a link to those lights you mounted there?

Baja Designs LP6!
https://www.bajadesigns.com/product...ep-2020-2022-gladiator-2018-2022-wrangler-jl/

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The Mojave never had the option for the steel bumper until recently. Either 2024 or 2025 was the first year for the Mojave to have the option for a steel bumper.

Standard on Mojave X in 24

 

[Redfour5]

Side note, the only trim until the X's came out that ever had the winch ready steel bumper standard was the Freedom (and the Rubicon launch edition), other it was always an option even on the Rubicon and Mojave. There are a few winch plates for sale in the Marketplace section, I did that and saved a couple hundred dollars. The wording can definitely trip you up but it is certainly winch ready compared to the plastic one.

One of the reasons I got a 23 Freedom edition. I got the granite crystal that looks like a night edition without paying for it. It also was the last of the regular trims with the auto 4WD (a must for me) and spray in bedliner.

A year later and early 25, there were actually better "deals" than that on Rubicons/Mojave X's but not the price I got. You were still paying the high end trim 8ish K over what checked my boxes.

Oh and the decent trade in December 2023 on my Renegade AND 30% off MSRP didn't hurt... And Good Credit good rate...

 

[Flash 2004]

Thanks for all the info folks, I’m in New Zealand and have been waiting 3 months or more for a replacement motorcycle windscreen so international freight is not working any more. Can I see some photos of the winch plate you used and I might be able to make one? Thanks

 

[ALT2870]

One of the reasons I got a 23 Freedom edition. I got the granite crystal that looks like a night edition without paying for it. It also was the last of the regular trims with the auto 4WD (a must for me) and spray in bedliner.

A year later and early 25, there were actually better "deals" than that on Rubicons/Mojave X's but not the price I got. You were still paying the high end trim 8ish K over what checked my boxes.

Oh and the decent trade in December 2023 on my Renegade AND 30% off MSRP didn't hurt... And Good Credit good rate...

Nice, I have a 21 in the same color. The extra decals work a lot better with those neutral colors thought I get why they dropped them from the 23's.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Jeep marketing lie that is now even invading some aftermarket bumpers. Used to be every bumper marketed as a winch bumper meant all you needed was the winch and the components that come in the box to fully install a winch (wiring, fairlead, hook have always come with the winch). Jeeps version of winch ready just means you don't have to cut holes in it to install a winch. So have to buy the winch mounting plate, remove the bumper, etc. The Jeep lie runs so deep now I've even had forum members try to argue that this is industry standard. I've probably bought a half dozen winch bumpers over the years, installed a few dozen, and looked at hundreds. Most are one piece with the winch plate welded in. Some of the newer ones copy Jeeps design with a separate winch plate but it's included with the bumper. Nobody else is selling you a winch bumper you can't mount a winch to. Even the knock off oem style bumpers usually include the winch plate. Winch "ready" once you buy the mounting plate and remove and recount everything.

 

[Mr Miami]

Jeep marketing lie that is now even invading some aftermarket bumpers. Used to be every bumper marketed as a winch bumper meant all you needed was the winch and the components that come in the box to fully install a winch (wiring, fairlead, hook have always come with the winch). Jeeps version of winch ready just means you don't have to cut holes in it to install a winch. So have to buy the winch mounting plate, remove the bumper, etc. The Jeep lie runs so deep now I've even had forum members try to argue that this is industry standard. I've probably bought a half dozen winch bumpers over the years, installed a few dozen, and looked at hundreds. Most are one piece with the winch plate welded in. Some of the newer ones copy Jeeps design with a separate winch plate but it's included with the bumper. Nobody else is selling you a winch bumper you can't mount a winch to. Even the knock off oem style bumpers usually include the winch plate. Winch "ready" once you buy the mounting plate and remove and recount everything.

I'm not a winch expert here but I have the "winch ready" bumper on my Rubicon and it was an option ($995) and is steel as opposed to the plastic thing that is on the standard bumpers. Yes, I agree, it is misleading in the sense that you cannot simply put the winch directly on it. A plate is needed.

My only comment, and again I am not the expert winch person here, but can most winches use one standard mounting plate? When I bought mine, I wanted a plate that was the easiest to install and use with my HF Apex 12000 winch. Some people here (thank you!) recommended the Grimm winch plate and it fit just fine with my winch. I know it can also work with certain Warn winches, but in general, do all winches generally work with all winch plates without a lot of cutting and trimming?

If they do, then I agree that it is a shit that Jeep doesn't include the Mopar winch plate as part of the bumper package. But if it's not universal, then I can see how they would make the winch plate an option and charge additional for it. At least their argument would have "some" validity to it.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I'm not a winch expert here but I have the "winch ready" bumper on my Rubicon and it was an option ($995) and is steel as opposed to the plastic thing that is on the standard bumpers. Yes, I agree, it is misleading in the sense that you cannot simply put the winch directly on it. A plate is needed.

My only comment, and again I am not the expert winch person here, but can most winches use one standard mounting plate? When I bought mine, I wanted a plate that was the easiest to install and use with my HF Apex 12000 winch. Some people here (thank you!) recommended the Grimm winch plate and it fit just fine with my winch. I know it can also work with certain Warn winches, but in general, do all winches generally work with all winch plates without a lot of cutting and trimming?

If they do, then I agree that it is a shit that Jeep doesn't include the Mopar winch plate as part of the bumper package. But if it's not universal, then I can see how they would make the winch plate an option and charge additional for it. At least their argument would have "some" validity to it.

Generally winches have the same mounting bolt pattern. If you run a larger winch you may run into clearance issues but it's mostly universal. We have the Mopar bumper on our JLUR and I think it's the JCR mounting plate. That said it's not an option is but again. The actual winch bumper on my JT was $400, it's definitely stouter than the Mopar version, and it even came with led fog lights. With the xbull 13.5k pound winch it still cost less than the Mopar "winch ready" bumper alone and it had closed loop clevis mounts which are much safer than the hooks on the Mopar too. I've made some really hard pulls with it without issue.

 

[Lost1wing]

They are all winch ready! Those with the steel bumper are more ready.

 

[Mr Miami]

They are all winch ready! Those with the steel bumper are more ready.

Is that like being "more pregnant"? ...lol

 

[Sarge502]

...warn winch plate

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