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

[Ghosts40]

Looks Great!! Good job!

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[Nickb1907]

Good job. The Barnes4WD plate is very similiar to the Warn (wouldn't be surprised if they copied it). I image that one will work as well

Cough cough....if anyone needs a winch plate.

 

[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.

 

[azmojave]

Thank you so much for the write up! I think this will be the route for me too, as I also like the stock look. Great job.

 

[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!

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