Adding a winch to the plastic front bumper?

[Slapping_Rabbits]

I came across this:

https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-90205.htm

and was wondering if it would work for the stock bumper on my gladiator?

I thought it might save me a lot of money not buying a new bumper so i could get a better winch. What do you think? I've never done this before so excuse my ignorance if this is a really bad idea.

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[Rokon]

I don't think having the winch mounted that high is a very good idea. It's going to have real effects on airflow thru the radiator. A lot of work was done massaging the grill to improve flow to achieve enough cooling to support the towing capacity of the JT. Having the winch inside the bumper is the way to go.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I came across this:

https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-90205.htm

and was wondering if it would work for the stock bumper on my gladiator?

I thought it might save me a lot of money not buying a new bumper so i could get a better winch. What do you think? I've never done this before so excuse my ignorance if this is a really bad idea.

Another option would be to add a front receiver and a receiver winch mount. It would put the winch out in front of the bumper. Curt 31086 and 31009.

 

[hjdca]

I came across this:

https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-90205.htm

and was wondering if it would work for the stock bumper on my gladiator?

I thought it might save me a lot of money not buying a new bumper so i could get a better winch. What do you think? I've never done this before so excuse my ignorance if this is a really bad idea.

I agree it is cheaper, but, there are major drawbacks which you already know --- radiator air flow, and it is not pretty (this is subjective). I went the Mopar steel bumper route but it is very expensive. Personally, I would go with an inexpensive aftermarket winch bumper before I would consider this. Another thought - The plastic bumper is junk anyway, why throw good money at it to make it acceptable when it never will be ?

 

[Empty Pockets]

DITTO - I agree with hjdca 100%.

 

[Trippin01]

please don't. I like your gladiator. get a cool bumper 1st, then a winch. Thats what I'm gonna do. A little at a time. but tastefully

 

[Backwoodsraider]

Would like to see numbers on how the winch in front of the grill would affect towing. The grill on the gladiator looks identical to the one on the JL. I dont think they changed anything to affect towing. Maybe underneath/behind, but the grill... meh

I concur though about getting an AM bumper, cost is negligible compared to what they want for that plate. I have a HF winch plate sitting in garage. Thought about mounting it to the rails, and cutting the plastic on the bumper in front of the fair-lead (sits shorter then the one OP posted). But i can get a new bumper for 250 thats steel.

OP, i am going with a bumper that has the winch sitting on top, need a place for my license plate. With the pics i have seen on the JL, i dont foresee it blocking enough airflow to cause any issues.

 

[jurfie]

Would like to see numbers on how the winch in front of the grill would affect towing. The grill on the gladiator looks identical to the one on the JL. I dont think they changed anything to affect towing. Maybe underneath/behind, but the grill... meh

The JT grills are wider and the mesh screen has larger openings than on the JL.

 

[Backwoodsraider]

Thanks for pic @jurfie

But are there any numbers? Or is this based on that information alone, on a first year model?

Also add - by that reasoning, the max tow package would have a wider grill then the non. right? Does it?

 

[TrailHiker]

No, same widen grill, which was to increase air flow. I would not mount a winch on top the bumper either.
Cheers

 

[Troybilt]

I am going to do a custom winch mount in my plastic bumper like I did on my JK if I can’t find a bumper that I like soon. It will sit down between the frame rails. I did this with my Jk and it was not that difficult. I bet you could get a local fab shop or farmer to build a bracket for you if you don’t have the tools or the skills

I will post photos of my Jk once my Wifi is back up.

 

[BruteForce]

I can literally carry my OEM JT bumper in one arm.. it weighs like 30 pounds. How would that hold to to a major winching effort? I personally wouldn't. I just didn't see enough metal/steel on that thing.

 

[Troybilt]

I can literally carry my OEM JT bumper in one arm.. it weighs like 30 pounds. How would that hold to to a major winching effort? I personally wouldn't. I just didn't see enough metal/steel on that thing.

If you do it right the winch plate is the only thing under any amount of stress. I pulled many of trees out of the woods with my JK setup.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Thanks for pic @jurfie

But are there any numbers? Or is this based on that information alone, on a first year model?

Also add - by that reasoning, the max tow package would have a wider grill then the non. right? Does it?

There's an interview article around here somewhere with an FCA engineer that describes what they did to increase airflow for adequate cooling while towing. Among them were wider grille slots, larger holes, and higher capacity fans.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

There's an interview article around here somewhere with an FCA engineer that describes what they did to increase airflow for adequate cooling while towing. Among them were wider grille slots, larger holes, and higher capacity fans.

Yeah, that grill took them a lot of effort. There was a ton of engineering that went into the AIR FLOW and cooling for the towing abilities on these.
Read this and you'll see the grill size is a big deal on the JT -

https://jalopnik.com/the-engineering-behind-the-jeep-gladiators-tow-rating-1833657453

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