JL Winch Install - Warn VR8-S and Artec Winch Plate

[Will]

I was able to pick up a Warn VR8-S for dirt cheap from an employee awards program at work. I also picked up a winch mounting plate for the factory steel bumper from Artec.

The install was pretty straight-forward. I'd recommend the Artec mounting plate. It's all machine-bent with no welds, nice powder coat finish, American made, and it has support tabs that slide into the frame that hold the plate while you bolt it in which is a nice feature. I've seen videos of other manufacturers' plates where guys are having to fight a floor jack or zip tie the plate to the frame just to get a free hand for wrenching. This is definitely the design to go with if you will be installing it without a helper.

One thing you will notice very quickly about the JL is there is very little room under the hood. It took some care to route the winch cables and to get them secured. You will need a fish tape or a flexible stick in order to get your winch cables up to the battery. I still need to pre-tension the rope.


Here's some before and after pics:

Sponsored

 

[Will]

More Pics

 

[Evolved6]

good job, looks great!

 

[Ed El Man]

 

[CanAmMick]

More Pics

It looks great!

 

[Will]

I like the Maximus-3 anchors! Did you order the JL part number or the JK?

 

[Ed El Man]

I like the Maximus-3 anchors! Did you order the JL part number or the JK?

I think its the JL, it definitely looked different from yours.

 

[Will]

I think its the JL, it definitely looked different from yours.

I don’t have any Maximus-3 parts on mine. I’ve just got the Artec aluminum plate behind the fairlead.
I may add the Maximus-3 hook anchor down the road. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jm355]

Went with the same set up as Will. How did you tension and spool the rope? I can't see the winch drum at all.

 

[Will]

Went with the same set up as Will. How did you tension and spool the rope? I can't see the winch drum at all.

I found a tree with a slight incline and had my wife steer. I stood outside with the remote. Warn says to only use hand pressure on the first 5-6 turns. After that start letting the winch pull the weight of the Jeep. I stopped about every 15 seconds to check how the rope was laying. Sometimes it doubled up and sometimes it left gaps so I would back it out and make adjustments. You can still lean or pull on the rope as the winch is pulling in so that you can get a nice tight rope pattern. The whole process took about 20 mins for me and I was pretty anal about how the rope was seated.
But yes, you do have to get right up on there in order to see the rope.

 

[jm355]

Thanks for the help. I will give that a try.

 

[wanderer]

was this post the one that mentioned it is easier tto mount the artec plate because you didn't have to cynch it up with zip ties? Is that plate alumium. ? I am thinking of oinh with the super winch 10K exp whci has the sam bolt pattern as the warn but is about 3/8" wider ( fron to back) that than the zeon 10k But it am having a hard timefigureing out if it will fit.

Sponsored