Question for experts - winch with Rubicon steel bumper

[AmosMoses]

Yes that plate is just to cover up excess holes that the factory plastic plate uses. I bought the thick factory plate and never even thought to notch out the plastic plate and use it. Good idea though.

One thing Iam not thrilled with(badland winch) is the low 30-35 ft/lb torque specs on the 4 winch mount bolts. Seems kind of low to me but the cast webbing the square nuts go into are only about a half inch thick and not that robust in my opinion. Iam aware though that many people are happy with these winches.

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[Jaxmax]

Well here is one answer, some plates fasten to the bumper some don’t Rock Hard makes a nice plate that touches bumper but they put a thick plate on front saying they think it needed reinforcement. Grim makes nice light weight plate , won’t fit with hitch but also ties into bumper and also puts a metal decorative plate on. Bill why not drill out the decorative plastic plate put it on under fairlead and put the thick metal plate on back side of bumper , best of both worlds stiffer bumper area no bolts showing….Jack

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Does only the Mopar plate line up tight with backside of bumper?

Yes, as far as I know.

Why would Mopar make two different bumpers using the same plate and not have them built the same way?

???
You have me confused with that question.

So other plates don’t line up tight to the Mopar bumper? I wonder if the Mopar winch plate lines up tight to the back of your Mojave bumper?

Correct. They bolt to the frame on the sides and either behind the bumper mount flanges, or between the end of the frame and the bumper.
The Mojave bumper is the same as they've always used on Rubicon. Same skid plate, bumper, everything.

I never liked the look of that plate on the Mopar bumper and assumed it was to fit offset winches.

Are you talking about the plate I'm asking about?
It's a thick steel plate, holes that line up where the plastic cover snaps into the bumper when you have no winch, and the opening is the same as the opening in the bumper, so it's definitely not for offset, etc. The slot lines up with the fairlead and with the bumper slot.

I really wanted the MOPAR winch mount but didn't have the time or money to buy one before we took the thing apart to put the snow plow stuff in place.
Maybe I'll watch ads for one that someone is taking off because of a bumper change.
The bumper will have to come off anyway to put in longer fairlead bolts and mount my license plate bracket.

 

[ALT2870]

The Mopar plate definitely does not sit flush with the front of the bumper. I'd take a picture but battery too low to flash.

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