Sport-S stock bumper and a winch....educate me

[20Silver20]

I am doing this project now. Installing a 10,000 lb winch on 2022 Jeep Gladiator Sport using the original plastic bumper, and an LOD Signature mount plate. The project is about 75% done - going back together now. The project is definitely more labor intensive than a plug-and-play bumper/mount/winch kit, but the result promises to be good looking, lighter weight, and less costly. I'll share a proper write up, but here are a few pictures to hint at the work.

Key parts list: Zeak winch, LOD SIgnature mount plate, Rugged Ridge spacers, Poison Spyder fairlead mount.
Estimated net added weight: ~75-80 lbs

Sport bumper with cut-out and fairlead

Winch placement and cut-outs in bumper

Mounted plate and winch. Note that I had to also accommodate the Roadmaster Direct Connect Base Plate for towing.

Wiring the solenoid is next. Tight fit, so planning to pass the wires through drilled small holes in the lower grill.

Very nice work! I know this is an older thread but do you know which model Roadmaster baseplate you’re using? Thanks,Matt

Sponsored

 

[SamJ3]

Thank you. I purchased the Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms
Item # RM-521453-5. Here is a review I did on it.

 

[jav_eee]

What did you use the rugged ridge spacers for?

 

[Curt Oz]

I thought about it but wanted a steel bumper.
Here's one company that sells them.
Mounts on top of your bumper.

https://realtruck.com/p/paramount-e...p1JxV0FzYaZl3_-Gv2898v5jHpZm-Kc0aAl6hEALw_wcB

 

[Hootbro]

I thought about it but wanted a steel bumper.
Here's one company that sells them.
Mounts on top of your bumper.

https://realtruck.com/p/paramount-external-winch-plate/par-81-20104/?utm_source=google&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=free-pla&utm_campaign=RT GA PMax ACQ Promo Pixis&utm_content=surfaces&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAn-2tBhDVARIsAGmStVn2U3W-Bt9be3stC8SYei7p1JxV0FzYaZl3_-Gv2898v5jHpZm-Kc0aAl6hEALw_wcB

The way they jack that mount up high in front of the grille, really does the vehicle no favors for cooling.

 

[Curt Oz]

The way they jack that mount up high in front of the grille, really does the vehicle no favors for cooling.

Thats what I thought.
I went with the Mopar off road bumper, winch plate and skid plate.

 

[Hootbro]

Thats what I thought.
I went with the Mopar off road bumper, winch plate and skid plate.

Rock Hard 4x4 winch plate does a better execution of it. They keep it a bit lower towards the bumper. I ran this plate on my JK with no issue.

 

[SamJ3]

What did you use the rugged ridge spacers for?

The spacers elevated the winch and fairlead mount so the fairlead would be centered in the bumper. Otherwise, the opening would have hugged the lower edge of the bumper, and possibly required more cutting into the plastic.

 

[OSU Cowboy]

I am doing this project now. Installing a 10,000 lb winch on 2022 Jeep Gladiator Sport using the original plastic bumper, and an LOD Signature mount plate. The project is about 75% done - going back together now. The project is definitely more labor intensive than a plug-and-play bumper/mount/winch kit, but the result promises to be good looking, lighter weight, and less costly. I'll share a proper write up, but here are a few pictures to hint at the work.

Key parts list: Zeak winch, LOD SIgnature mount plate, Rugged Ridge spacers, Poison Spyder fairlead mount.
Estimated net added weight: ~75-80 lbs

Sport bumper with cut-out and fairlead

Winch placement and cut-outs in bumper

Mounted plate and winch. Note that I had to also accommodate the Roadmaster Direct Connect Base Plate for towing.

Wiring the solenoid is next. Tight fit, so planning to pass the wires through drilled small holes in the lower grill.

I have the roadmaster tow plates on my 2021 Gladiator and I'm looking to add a winch with the LOD winch mount. I was wondering what problems you ran into, so far as the roadmaster plates and the LOD winch mount.
Thanks Don

 

[SamJ3]

Hi Don,

Two things to be aware of when using the Roadmaster tow plates and the LOD Signature winch mount are: 1) it will be a tight fit (but it will squeeze in), and 2) one (on each side) of the bracket bolts will interfere with the winch plate, so the plate will need to a minor modification.

As you can see in the photo, we need to make space for the bolt head by trimming away a small corner of the winch plate. We will still have access to the rear mount bolts and should lose no strength with the modification.

As for the tight fit, I used a rubber mallet to help convince the plate in place. Also, I may have also used the grinder to flatten a weld that was a bit too wide where the parts were to line up. Finally, anything cut or filed was painted black for a measure of rust protection.

Good luck. Share pics when done.

 

[OSU Cowboy]

Hi Don,

Two things to be aware of when using the Roadmaster tow plates and the LOD Signature winch mount are: 1) it will be a tight fit (but it will squeeze in), and 2) one (on each side) of the bracket bolts will interfere with the winch plate, so the plate will need to a minor modification.

As you can see in the photo, we need to make space for the bolt head by trimming away a small corner of the winch plate. We will still have access to the rear mount bolts and should lose no strength with the modification.

As for the tight fit, I used a rubber mallet to help convince the plate in place. Also, I may have also used the grinder to flatten a weld that was a bit too wide where the parts were to line up. Finally, anything cut or filed was painted black for a measure of rust protection.

Good luck. Share pics when done.

Thanks very much, that area was one I was concerned about. I will now order the LOD plate and find me a winch. Would it interfere with the winch if I had a piece of metal welded inside to the mount tang to fill the area that was cut out?

 

[SamJ3]

Thanks very much, that area was one I was concerned about. I will now order the LOD plate and find me a winch. Would it interfere with the winch if I had a piece of metal welded inside to the mount tang to fill the area that was cut out?

There is a good bit of space between the frame rails for the winch, however, I don't think that is necessary, as the mounting plate only required one bolt (per side) to secure the rearmost portion, and the forces under load are such that there is relatively little load to compensate. Almost all of the winch pulling force will be held by the 8 bolts at the front of the plate attached directly to the front of the vehicle frame. This is a really hefty mount plate - that is 1/4" steel throughout.

Also, I needed access to the bolt head when tightening it, so covering it with a replacement piece of metal might interfere with that access.

Final note: Take care not to over-torque the tow base plate bolts. The vehicle frame is not as thick as the winch plate, so it can be easily over-compressed. Just use the torque specs that the tow base plate called for in the Roadmaster instructions. You may need to reverse the orientation of the bolt to fit as I've cut it, or, you can cut off a bit more to allow for the heads of the bolt to remain outboard of vehicle center.

 

[fireproof69]

Thats what I thought.
I went with the Mopar off road bumper, winch plate and skid plate.

Wondering the price range for all that complete? Just not too crazy about those 2 pushers bumping out.

 

[fireproof69]

Project complete! It ended up being rather involved, with a lot of trimming, disassembly and reassembly, and tight clearances, but the I am very pleased with the outcome. There are a bunch of nuances and tips for anyone using this combination, especially if there is an existing tow base plate (bracket). If interested, I can do a detailed write up.

The intent was to minimize added weight, add recovery capability, and preserve as much of the clean factory lines as reasonable. (I'm going to store the red strap with the remotes, and hang the hook below the bumper instead of on top.) Total weight added was less than 77 lbs; only took 3/16" from the front ride height.



Lower panel was preserved, with the tow connections neatly fitted through.

Love the looks of this. Wondering the total cost of everything?

Wondering how similar my '23 Sport S bumper would take to this? And I don't have the tow brackets, so that might make it easier? I just don't have that recess in the center.

Just starting to think about adding a winch, and love it sitting behind the stock bumper.

 

[Curt Oz]

Wondering the price range for all that complete? Just not too crazy about those 2 pushers bumping out.

I didn't like the pushers at first but I'd rather sacrifice a little plastic before hitting the steel.
Plus it protects my Factor 55 shackle
The bumper Part Number: 82215691AD is $1,491.60 but I lucked out when a local dealer had one that someone ordered and never picked up. Bought it for $1,333.00
Mopar Winch plate 82215182AD $519.20
Mopar skid plate 82215183AB $310.34
Mopar Winch & Grille Guard 82215351 $322.14
Mopar installation kit for skid plate Part Number: JLJTSKIDPLTHW $76.41
Warn evo 10s winch $499 I found it on sale plus I got a $100 rebate from Warn

Sponsored