Warn Winch Plate Install Help

[bluemokor]

I am trying to install the Warn winch plate on a 2020 JL Rubicon with steel bumper. The problem I am having is that there are welded on bolts on the two skid plate brackets (passenger and driver) that are in the way of the winch plate brackets.

The installation videos and the instructions on this forum do not mention them. I found some reviews on Quadratec of people dealing with them by breaking them off. Is that really what Warn expects? I can fit the brackets above the nuts but then they are on top of the piece behind them. See picture. Not sure if that piece should have space. I can also put the brackets over the nuts but then they are not sitting flush.

Any suggestions?

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[ChimpanZed]

They need to come off (or at least one on each side). I put the bracket in a vice then used a breaker bar and socket to twist the nuts off. I then used a Dremel to just clean up the spot welds.

You could also just leave the bracket bolted in and hit the nuts with a breaker bar or impact wrench.

I just did this install last week so the trauma is fresh. A few other things you should know:

- Remove all the fog light clips from the bumper, and cut the clips off the wiring harness. You won’t need them and they get in the way. When it’s time to reinstall the bumper I suggest taping the wire away from the contact points so it doesn’t snag and get crushed.

- The bumper likely won’t want to slide back on very easily as the holes don’t line up perfectly when it’s zip-tied in place. Just shove it on and wiggle it until there’s enough thread exposed on either side to put at least one but per side. As you tighten the bumper nuts everything will align as it should. Don’t forget to leave the 8 fasteners that hold the brackets loose until after you tighten down the bumper nuts.

- The torque spec on the bumper nuts is 66 ft-lbs. The left side inner bumper nuts are the hardest to access. I was able to get to them using an 18mm medium depth 3/8” drive socket with 2 or 3 extensions (I think the top one required me to use a 3” extension in addition to 2 6” ones), and a small torque wrench that reads to 75 ft-lbs. All my 1/2” drive and deep well sockets were too big to access the nuts once the winch was installed.

 

[MarkY3130]

One per side needs to come off. I put a socket on my impact and spun them off. They came off pretty easily

 

[bluemokor]

They need to come off (or at least one on each side). I put the bracket in a vice then used a breaker bar and socket to twist the nuts off. I then used a Dremel to just clean up the spot welds.

You could also just leave the bracket bolted in and hit the nuts with a breaker bar or impact wrench.

I just did this install last week so the trauma is fresh. A few other things you should know:

- Remove all the fog light clips from the bumper, and cut the clips off the wiring harness. You won’t need them and they get in the way. When it’s time to reinstall the bumper I suggest taping the wire away from the contact points so it doesn’t snag and get crushed.

- The bumper likely won’t want to slide back on very easily as the holes don’t line up perfectly when it’s zip-tied in place. Just shove it on and wiggle it until there’s enough thread exposed on either side to put at least one but per side. As you tighten the bumper nuts everything will align as it should. Don’t forget to leave the 8 fasteners that hold the brackets loose until after you tighten down the bumper nuts.

- The torque spec on the bumper nuts is 66 ft-lbs. The left side inner bumper nuts are the hardest to access. I was able to get to them using an 18mm medium depth 3/8” drive socket with 2 or 3 extensions (I think the top one required me to use a 3” extension in addition to 2 6” ones), and a small torque wrench that reads to 75 ft-lbs. All my 1/2” drive and deep well sockets were too big to access the nuts once the winch was installed.

Well that's a bummer. I know it is just an extra nut, but not happy about the idea of having to "break" something to make a part that is supposed to be made to fit actually work. Thanks for the extra info though. It is dark here now so the rest of the install will have to wait until another day.

One per side needs to come off. I put a socket on my impact and spun them off. They came off pretty easily

This method sounds easy enough. I will probably try it first. Thanks.

 

[ChimpanZed]

FWIW, I don’t think those nuts serve any purpose on the Rubicon.

 

[jwilson2899]

As others said, one per side has to come off. They don’t serve any purpose on a Rubicon, so it’s no harm. I cut mine off and then painted over.

 

[Punkindave]

I just clamped the nut in a bench vice and hit the bracket to snap the tack welds. Came right off.
I'll try the impact wrench when I do the wife's this week.

 

[bluemokor]

Finally finished with the install. Getting it all together was a pain. Here are few things I had to do in the process in case it helps someone else. Some of this was already mention by ChimpanZed.

For the extra nut on the skid plate mount I used the impact wrench to break it off. It came off easily.

I removed the fog clips from the bumper before reinstalling but I did not remove them from the wire. It is helpful to get them out of the way. I was able to reinstall them once the bumper was on.

The bumper bolts did not want to line up with the frame bracket on the passenger side when putting it back on. I tapped the bracket on the frame with a mallet gently to get the holes to align.

I used a combination of extensions, a deep socket, and a wrench with a bending head. I also had an extra set of hands to help me line up the socket on the nuts. The inner four nuts were the most challenging. You have to leave the winch mount plate screws (the four securing the winch to the mount plate) loose to get all 8 bumper nuts on and started. I was able to get a torque wrench in there to tighten them to 66ft lbs.

I used blue loctite on everything.

I am not sure what the torque is suppose to be on the 8 bolts in the skid plate brackets and the back of the winch plate. Does anybody have that information?

I know some people were having issues getting all of the screws back in the skid plate but that went smoothly without issue.

I had bought a bartract cover for the winch but pretty sure it is impossible to get over the winch without taking it all apart again. Anyone using a cover with the steel bumpers?

 

[MarkY3130]

I have the warn EVO VR10-S and was able to get the cover on just barely. The cover was for the previous generation VR line. It was very difficult to get the cover on due to the tight spacing. Sorry I don’t have closer up picture handy

 

[Halstem1]

Finally finished with the install. Getting it all together was a pain. Here are few things I had to do in the process in case it helps someone else. Some of this was already mention by ChimpanZed.

For the extra nut on the skid plate mount I used the impact wrench to break it off. It came off easily.

I removed the fog clips from the bumper before reinstalling but I did not remove them from the wire. It is helpful to get them out of the way. I was able to reinstall them once the bumper was on.

The bumper bolts did not want to line up with the frame bracket on the passenger side when putting it back on. I tapped the bracket on the frame with a mallet gently to get the holes to align.

I used a combination of extensions, a deep socket, and a wrench with a bending head. I also had an extra set of hands to help me line up the socket on the nuts. The inner four nuts were the most challenging. You have to leave the winch mount plate screws (the four securing the winch to the mount plate) loose to get all 8 bumper nuts on and started. I was able to get a torque wrench in there to tighten them to 66ft lbs.

I used blue loctite on everything.

I am not sure what the torque is suppose to be on the 8 bolts in the skid plate brackets and the back of the winch plate. Does anybody have that information?

I know some people were having issues getting all of the screws back in the skid plate but that went smoothly without issue.

I had bought a bartract cover for the winch but pretty sure it is impossible to get over the winch without taking it all apart again. Anyone using a cover with the steel bumpers?

Thanks for the info. this is helpful. Going to be doing the same setup in the near future. Anything you'd do differently? I also wanted to put a cover on my winch since it will get used about once a year. Let me know what you find out. From the pics I've seen the Zeon 10S is a pretty tight fit and a cover might be tough.

 

[bluemokor]

My only other suggestions would be to install the winch rope before mounting it or at least before putting the bumper on and install the fairlead on the bumper before mounting it. You can install the fairlead at the end but just easier before the bumper is on. I also routed the wiring over the frame rail and I think it may have been better to go under it. It would be a bit more hidden and it would be more out of the way of a cover.

 

[Drytellsr]

I am trying to install the Warn winch plate on a 2020 JL Rubicon with steel bumper. The problem I am having is that there are welded on bolts on the two skid plate brackets (passenger and driver) that are in the way of the winch plate brackets.

The installation videos and the instructions on this forum do not mention them. I found some reviews on Quadratec of people dealing with them by breaking them off. Is that really what Warn expects? I can fit the brackets above the nuts but then they are on top of the piece behind them. See picture. Not sure if that piece should have space. I can also put the brackets over the nuts but then they are not sitting flush.

Any suggestions?

Exactly the issue i am having with installing a new steel bumper, warn winch plate and steel skid plate on my rubicon. My rubicon came with a plastic bumper and all the videos i see have a different skid plate mounting brackets. The one i got with the plate is the same you are showing. The parts manager at the dealership is though roughly confused and thinks the issue may be that some steel bumpers and skid plate kits are classified as accessory kits (meant for non rubicon models) and they be slightly different than the original rubicon steel bumper that goes on the rubicons. the mounting brackets are different. I may have to take a grinder to the brackets if i don't get any resolution from the parts manager on the correct brackets

 

[jwilson2899]

Exactly the issue i am having with installing a new steel bumper, warn winch plate and steel skid plate on my rubicon. My rubicon came with a plastic bumper and all the videos i see have a different skid plate mounting brackets. The one i got with the plate is the same you are showing. The parts manager at the dealership is though roughly confused and thinks the issue may be that some steel bumpers and skid plate kits are classified as accessory kits (meant for non rubicon models) and they be slightly different than the original rubicon steel bumper that goes on the rubicons. the mounting brackets are different. I may have to take a grinder to the brackets if i don't get any resolution from the parts manager on the correct brackets

I don't believe it's an accessory vs OE install so much as a possible running change. My Gladiator Rubicon Launch Edition is a 2020 and it had the welded on nuts from the picture, but the steel bumper was a factory install since it's part of the LE package. I'm surmising there is some reason for the running change, and all the new models all have those tack welded on nuts now. I know on mine there was nothing attached to them, so removal was not an issue.

 

[Drytellsr]

I don't believe it's an accessory vs OE install so much as a possible running change. My Gladiator Rubicon Launch Edition is a 2020 and it had the welded on nuts from the picture, but the steel bumper was a factory install since it's part of the LE package. I'm surmising there is some reason for the running change, and all the new models all have those tack welded on nuts now. I know on mine there was nothing attached to them, so removal was not an issue.

Well there doesn't appear to be any use on the Rubicon for the extra holes and welded hex nuts coupled with the taller plate, hopefully the parts manager will figure it out otherwise im breaking out my grinder.

Thanx, greatly appreciated

 

[jwilson2899]

Well there doesn't appear to be any use on the Rubicon for the extra holes and welded hex nuts coupled with the taller plate, hopefully the parts manager will figure it out otherwise im breaking out my grinder.

I agree there isn't any use on the Rubicon, like I said mine had nothing in them. They were easy to pop off, less than 30 seconds, I wouldn't hold up your install because of them. I was a bit confused when I saw them on mine, so clearly it's a recent change since mine was build in the Julyish timeframe.

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