Want to add a winch

[Damon]

Had a Semi back into me at work and trashed my bumper. I had the body shop install the Mopar steel bumper. I'm looking for help/opinions from the group.

1) What else do i need to get for the bumper to accept a winch? I'm assuming I need to buy and install a plate for the winch to sit on.

2) What winch would you go with? This is my daily driver, will do some off-roading, nothing major.

3) Is there a good tutorial on the installation? Electrical, I have the auxiliary switches that came with the vehicle.

Any other information or pictures needed let me know.

Thanks in advance for the help.

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[svtrit]

I have not installed one, but Fred Williams on Dirt Head Shed said to connect it directly to the battery. Someone else will clarify.

 

[Thrillhouse74]

Harbor freight has their badland 12000 on sale right now. It should be wired directly to the battery as far as I know.

 

[embedded rock]

 

[jadmt]

the problem with that bumper is you are going to be married to a jeep warn winch...look at the winch fairlead opening..it is very small. warn made a winch for jeep that is only available thru jeep..you can cut the opening bigger and use a normal winch (Warn VR series are nice and affordable) and something like a Maximus3 winch plate, super easy to install made in the USA and strong. there are other winch plates as well. the bumper you have is an OEM from a jeep that came with a winch package from the factory. the oem mopar steel bumpers that are purchased as aftermarket replacements have a bigger fairlead opening..they also don't have the big plastic bumpers...and yes wire direct to battery per Warn...the OEM winch package also is wired direct to the battery..

 

[ChoSunJuan]

the problem with that bumper is you are going to be married to a jeep warn winch...look at the winch fairlead opening..it is very small. warn made a winch for jeep that is only available thru jeep..you can cut the opening bigger and use a normal winch (Warn VR series are nice and affordable) and something like a Maximus3 winch plate, super easy to install made in the USA and strong. there are other winch plates as well. the bumper you have is an OEM from a jeep that came with a winch package from the factory. the oem mopar steel bumpers that are purchased as aftermarket replacements have a bigger fairlead opening..they also don't have the big plastic bumpers...and yes wire direct to battery per Warn...the OEM winch package also is wired direct to the battery..

Untrue.

I just installed a Mopar Steel front bumper, Warn winch plate for that bumper and a Warn 9.5xp-s, and a regular Warn fairlead.

That same bumper/plate set up will accept any winch with a 10" center for the mounting bolts.

 

[jadmt]

Untrue.

I just installed a Mopar Steel front bumper, Warn winch plate for that bumper and a Warn 9.5xp-s, and a regular Warn fairlead.

That same bumper/plate set up will accept any winch with a 10" center for the mounting bolts.

take a close look at the OP's fairlead opening. you put a normal size ie 10" fairlead on and that will not work you will butcher your line the first time you use it. this will give you an idea what I am talking about as this is the fairlead that comes with the factory winch option.
https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku/f...b6q7e5PGUKv2wVB-y7kGB9vhyZzhOeeM81Ytq52Tol2To

 

[Maverick909]

super easy install. you need a winch plate for the steel bumper. and then if you get the badlands winch you will get a inline disconnect for it in the box. highly recommend running it with that disconnect. easy install though takes a couple hours to complete.

i am running the American trail products winch plate with the badlands 12lbs winch.

 

[embedded rock]

This is the winch plate I used and is designed for the steel bumper. It's solid. The front face extends through the OEM bumper opening to support the fairlead. Then, there is a cover plate to cover the gap between the winch plate face (red in the picture) and the bumper.

https://barnes4wd.com/products/jeep-jl-rubicon-factory-bumper-winch-mount

 

[ChoSunJuan]

take a close look at the OP's fairlead opening. you put a normal size ie 10" fairlead on and that will not work you will butcher your line the first time you use it. this will give you an idea what I am talking about as this is the fairlead that comes with the factory winch option.
https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku/f...b6q7e5PGUKv2wVB-y7kGB9vhyZzhOeeM81Ytq52Tol2To

Ahhh, yes, he has the large nipple bumper. I was working on the normal steel bumper.

 

[Damon]

the problem with that bumper is you are going to be married to a jeep warn winch...look at the winch fairlead opening..it is very small. warn made a winch for jeep that is only available thru jeep..you can cut the opening bigger and use a normal winch (Warn VR series are nice and affordable) and something like a Maximus3 winch plate, super easy to install made in the USA and strong. there are other winch plates as well. the bumper you have is an OEM from a jeep that came with a winch package from the factory. the oem mopar steel bumpers that are purchased as aftermarket replacements have a bigger fairlead opening..they also don't have the big plastic bumpers...and yes wire direct to battery per Warn...the OEM winch package also is wired direct to the battery..

When you say "jeep warn winch" do you mean exclusively the warn winch that jeep sells? If so that's twice the cost of a normal warn winch. Guess I will be cutting the fairlead opening bigger. When I do this do I just need to make sure the opening in the bumper is bigger than the fairlead opening? Is there a preferred way/tool to cut the bumper opening? Thanks

 

[Radioman]

I beleive the fiar

When you say "jeep warn winch" do you mean exclusively the warn winch that jeep sells? If so that's twice the cost of a normal warn winch. Guess I will be cutting the fairlead opening bigger. When I do this do I just need to make sure the opening in the bumper is bigger than the fairlead opening? Is there a preferred way/tool to cut the bumper opening? Thanks

I believe the factory fairlead opening plate is replaced when using a Warn mounting plate kit.
https://www.warn.com/winch-mount-2018-jeep-wrangler-jl-101255
See the installation manual.

 

[jadmt]

When you say "jeep warn winch" do you mean exclusively the warn winch that jeep sells? If so that's twice the cost of a normal warn winch. Guess I will be cutting the fairlead opening bigger. When I do this do I just need to make sure the opening in the bumper is bigger than the fairlead opening? Is there a preferred way/tool to cut the bumper opening? Thanks

yes and yes.....cut off wheel will work. people who are trying to help are not understanding that you have the bumper that comes with the winch package so the cut out is for a 8" fairlead not a 10" no matter what fairlead plate you get the bumper needs to have the opening enlarged...if they look closely at your photo they might understand the issue. but maybe not. regardless I think you have it figured out now.

 

[harveytig]

Mine 24 Rubicon came with the steel bumper and warn winch. I replaced them within the first few months for another setup as a flat tow behind my RV. I still have all the original parts if interested or have questions.

 

[Wagabond]

Once you’ve got to the bottom of the fairlead size with the factory winch & steel bumper., check out this thread. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/winch-install-videos.161544/post-3321473

I installed a Warn VR EVO 10s winch and a Maximus 3 winch plate to factory steel bumper that came from the factory without a winch. Install hints and tips in that thread.

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