Winch bumper modification, help?

[Alpine Warthog]

I really like the idea of having my winch mounted between the frame rails. I also like how I've got my lights set up and don't really want to move them from the current spots. So I'm thinking about mounting my new winch between the rails and modding my Fabfours stubby to let the winch pop up through the bumper so I don't have to move my lights and get to mount between the rails.

Are there any drawbacks? What should I do? Should I reinforce the bumper at all?

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[NC_Overland]

What are you trying to do? If that’s not a winch ready bumper, you can’t just bolt a winch to it. You’d need to find a winch plate that would work with it.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

It's a winch ready bumper, has the bolt holes already too. It came with an additional flat winch plate with fairlead mount as well. But I'm hoping to mount the winch to the frame rails and cut a hole in the bumper top to allow the winch to stick through. If I mount between the rails, the bumper shouldn't be affected. (At least that's the plan)

I'd like the fairlead to come out where the license plate is currently. Stupidly, I'm going to a lot of trouble to avoid moving the KC titans I've got on the hoop...

 

[Freems]

Hang the winch from under the winch’s ready plate. That might fix what you want without much fabrication. What winch height? Pictures under there with/without lights?

 

[Alpine Warthog]

There's a lot of room in there, and going upside down was a thought but the free/engaged handle would then be buried/inaccessible if I were to be buried to the bumper

 

[Jaxmax]

Eric if you like the bumper , your plan will work, get a winch plate, and do as you said, also depending on style of winch you get ,you can loosen the clutch assembly and spin it so handle is at a different location, in my case I spun my clutch handle to the back, so it doesn't stick up above bumper . One of these days I am going to finish putting a UHMW plate covering the hole in bumper so winch is protected and hidden. When I say style of winch I mean old school look of just the motor not fancy shrouds and covers. Eric, ready for it? Depending on winch when you cut out your bumper top do it nice , when done put some hinges on front so when not using winch the plate would cover it. Good luck and have fun!......Jack

 

[Freems]

There's a lot of room in there, and going upside down was a thought but the free/engaged handle would then be buried/inaccessible if I were to be buried to the bumper

I’m going upside down on my new rear bumper w/ my new Apex 5500, I’m building a mud cover for the engage/freespool knob on the end of the winch, it should help get out of most mud entanglements

 

[NC_Overland]

I’m going upside down on my new rear bumper w/ my new Apex 5500, I’m building a mud cover for the engage/freespool knob on the end of the winch, it should help get out of most mud entanglements

5500? Why so low? That’s not enough power for a Gladiator. They’re for ATVs and SxS.

 

[Freems]

5500? Why so low? That’s not enough power for a Gladiator. They’re for ATVs and SxS.

I’m a devoted snatch block user…so with a snatch block and the 5500, I could pick up the JT off the ground if needed. I have a Ramsey 8K on the front as well. The 5500 winch will mostly serve as a utility tool for me, and primarily for connecting to the jet boat for difficult steep boat ramps ( very popular in Idaho). Also physical weight of the winch was a big factor choosing it over a 12k lbs rated one (67 lbs vs. 32 lbs) with it living in the back of the bus.

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