Installed a winch on my stock (plastic) Rubicon bumper - DIY writeup

[Ghosts40]

Looks Great!! Good job!

Sponsored

 

[Jag]

Be aware that if your winch has a wireless remote there is a constant drain on your battery. I had to put a cut off switch in the Plus lead.

 

[Hootbro]

Be aware that if your winch has a wireless remote there is a constant drain on your battery. I had to put a cut off switch in the Plus lead.

What winch you have? Most winches if not all should have a master power cutoff switch on the controller box.

 

[Divided_Wood]

What winch you have? Most winches if not all should have a master power cutoff switch on the controller box.

Right—mine has a wireless on/off switch on the solenoid box. If there is a phantom draw I never noticed it in the 4+ years this winch was on my old rig.

 

[Jag]

The ON/OFF switch turns the power off to the remote, not the winch. Take the plus lead off the battery and just strike it to the post, you will see a spark if it's hot.

 

[it_trailblzr]

Well done sir!

 

[Bonanza]

Looks great! I smashed the front bumper right on those wings on both my JK and JT, so that wouldn't work for me... but well done!

 

[Imbuere]

I did the same thing with the same winch… but I relocated the solenoid and just punched a hole for the rope.

 

[Iamstubb]

I used the Warn plate as well.
Yes, get a cover. UV is no good for synthetic line.

How did you avoid cutting the front of the bumper like the OP did for the fairlead mounting plate?

 

[AmishMike]

@Divided_Wood 's bumper seems to fit tighter to the grille than mine. Not sure if his plate had different spacers than mine or what.

 

[Divided_Wood]

Yeah, there was no way mine was going on without the cut. I tried to stretch the plastic over it but it needed a couple of inches of give for that to work, which mine didn’t have.

 

[SamJ3]

I believe the Overland and Rubicon plastic bumpers are the same 3-piece construction. The Sports are different and only 2-piece. So the disassembly steps should be the same, I think.

I just finished a similar project on my 2022 Gladiator Sport. Yes, it is a 2-piece bumper and the approach is similar. The metal portion appears similar or identical. I too disassembled everything and reassembled the metal portion only, but then installed the plastic - needed to slightly trim the mating side to clear the collision absorption 'cans'.

See https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...per-and-a-winch-educate-me.48026/post-1018374 for a view.

 

[Divided_Wood]

I just finished a similar project on my 2022 Gladiator Sport. Yes, it is a 2-piece bumper and the approach is similar. The metal portion appears similar or identical. I too disassembled everything and reassembled the metal portion only, but then installed the plastic - needed to slightly trim the mating side to clear the collision absorption 'cans'.

See https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...per-and-a-winch-educate-me.48026/post-1018374 for a view.

Really nice work. I like the flush mount fairlead. Good job!

 

[Jaxmax]

Lot of guys are figuring out how to use the plastic bumper with winches, I used a LOD winch plate that fits flush with front of frame horns seems real solid and powder coating was excellent, plus price was right at $149.00……Jack
Ps: Rotating the clutch handle to rear let’s you keep bumper top area intact on some basic frame winches.

 

[Jrhz06]

Lot of guys are figuring out how to use the plastic bumper with winches, I used a LOD winch plate that fits flush with front of frame horns seems real solid and powder coating was excellent, plus price was right at $149.00……Jack
Ps: Rotating the clutch handle to rear let’s you keep bumper top area intact on some basic frame winches.

Which winch is that and which LOD winch plate? Best install I’ve seen and I’d like to do the same. I’m guessing 0701 plate and rc9.0 winch. What did you use to support the hawse fair lead, lod mount?Thanks

Sponsored