Step by step, with photos, how to install a Warn winch on a Jeep Gladiator, using STOCK plastic bumper.

[NC_Overland]

This 'winch in a plastic bumper' method is probably one of the worst ways to go about it (no offense to the OP). This plate just isn't a good selection for this custom job.

To your point, it's great if someone wants to find a whole steel bumper later...

The LOD plate like I have fits behind the plastic cover, so you are only cutting a slot for the line to feed out of, and of course an opening in the top for the winch. Now, either way you are cutting the steel channel out of the middle as well as the plastic reinforcement, so it's still just a weak fog light holder in the end.

I still want to find a nice fresh plastic bumper for mine and re-do just the plastic shell. I want to clean and tighten some of the cuts I made on the first version.

I just never liked the look of the plastic bumper but I didn’t want to add too much weight so I did the MP concepts aluminum bumper that’s an exact copy of stock. The only downside is their winch plate is trash so I ended up spending more than intended and bought the warn winch plate. I painted the plastic pieces sting gray so it wasn’t a sea of black. No offense intended. Personal preference.

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[ChrisNLA]

I just never liked the look of the plastic bumper but I didn’t want to add too much weight so I did the MP concepts aluminum bumper that’s an exact copy of stock. The only downside is their winch plate is trash so I ended up spending more than intended and bought the warn winch plate. I painted the plastic pieces sting gray so it wasn’t a sea of black. No offense intended. Personal preference.

Looks nice!

I've considered going to an actual metal bumper at some point, but I haven't put much thought into it other than I want to stick with something full width.

 

[NC_Overland]

Looks nice!

I've considered going to an actual metal bumper at some point, but I haven't put much thought into it other than I want to stick with something full width.

I like full width too. I need to hit the outer removable parts with 3k grit to dull them a hair. I sprayed my bumper with two coats of 2k satin clear and I ran out and put a different brand of clear on the outer pieces. They’re slightly shinier.

 

[McRuss]

One quick question, oddly enough:
what is the size of the nuts on the eight bolts that hold on the stock plastic bumper? I have an 18 and a 22mm, one is too little, one too big. I'm going to buy a socket but would like to know which to get first.

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