Winch Mount for Plastic Bumper

[No Spark V6]

I opted against the steel bumper group on my JLU-R, but still needed a winch. So I built a simple winch mount plate and performed some plastic surgery:

I cleaned up the fog light wiring after these pictures were taken, so it's not dangling in the way of the winch spool as it shows here... I'm happy with how it turned out

I saw this thread well over a year ago when I was researching JLs and trying to decide what to buy. I wasn't crazy about spending money on the steel bumper group after hearing how poor the rear was and planning to get a tire carrier in the future anyway. So when I found this thread I decided I'd stick with the plastic bumpers for now and try to build my own plate for my zeon10s. Can't take credit for all of it, I had some help.

Decided to skip putting the winch on and have a tissue dispenser for the broncos that get stuck on the trail

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[danm]

I saw this thread well over a year ago when I was researching JLs and trying to decide what to buy. I wasn't crazy about spending money on the steel bumper group after hearing how poor the rear was and planning to get a tire carrier in the future anyway. So when I found this thread I decided I'd stick with the plastic bumpers for now and try to build my own plate for my zeon10s. Can't take credit for all of it, I had some help.

Decided to skip putting the winch on and have a tissue dispenser for the broncos that get stuck on the trail

This is hot! Nice work on the plate and the cutting of the stock bumper. Well done.

 

[No Spark V6]

This is hot! Nice work on the plate and the cutting of the stock bumper. Well done.

Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it.

 

[RickB]

nice job!

 

[Trekkor2020]

Thanks to Toby, I decided to do a version of this on my Gladiator Rubicon. I bought a Maximus-3 winch plate and it worked perfect.

 

[dirtdigr]

Thanks to Toby, I decided to do a version of this on my Gladiator Rubicon. I bought a Maximus-3 winch plate and it worked perfect.

Any idea if this would work on a Sport S ?

 

[The Fixer]

Any idea if this would work on a Sport S ?

The plastic bumper shells are similar, so theoretically it should work on a Sport as well. @Trekkor2020 did you use this Rubicon steel bumper winch mount? https://maximus-3.com/home/jl-winch-mount-kit

 

[Trekkor2020]

The plastic bumper shells are similar, so theoretically it should work on a Sport as well. @Trekkor2020 did you use this Rubicon steel bumper winch mount? https://maximus-3.com/home/jl-winch-mount-kit

The Fixer - yes, that is the winch plate that I used. It fit perfect. I believe it would also work on a Sport since bumper front frame rails are the same. I don’t know if the sport plastic bumper would be useable or not. But pictures of the sport bumper are very close to the Rubicon plastic bumper in shape.

 

[Trekkor2020]

The Fixer - yes, that is the winch plate that I used. It fit perfect. I believe it would also work on a Sport since bumper front frame rails are the same. I don’t know if the sport plastic bumper would be useable or not. But pictures of the sport bumper are very close to the Rubicon plastic bumper in shape.

I installed the Warn EVO 12S, Maximus-3 winch plate, Go Rhino 332000T Rockline Textured Black Fairlead Mount Plate (to take up some space between the winch and the plastic bumper), Tuffy license plate holder, Maximus-3 Tow/D-ring brackets. I bought the winch/mount plate kit from RubiTrux. Great price, no sales tax, and free shipping. I had to cut up the plastic and steel factory bumper, but the mounting plate fit perfect. No mods needed to my factory steel skid plate (Not the same as the skid plate for the steel Rubicon bumper). And obviously everything outside of the tow hooks is plastic and will bend very easily.

 

[The Fixer]

I installed the Warn EVO 12S, Maximus-3 winch plate, Go Rhino 332000T Rockline Textured Black Fairlead Mount Plate (to take up some space between the winch and the plastic bumper), Tuffy license plate holder, Maximus-3 Tow/D-ring brackets. I bought the winch/mount plate kit from RubiTrux. Great price, no sales tax, and free shipping. I had to cut up the plastic and steel factory bumper, but the mounting plate fit perfect. No mods needed to my factory steel skid plate (Not the same as the skid plate for the steel Rubicon bumper). And obviously everything outside of the tow hooks is plastic and will bend very easily.

Awesome, thanks for the detailed info! Definitely going to reference this thread in the future if/when the time comes for me to need a winch. Right now I only go wheeling once or twice a year because the closest legal spot is a 3-hour drive each way, and I've only just started out in the hobby. I need to get my driving skills up before attacking difficult trails that might require recovery.

 

[Trekkor2020]

Awesome, thanks for the detailed info! Definitely going to reference this thread in the future if/when the time comes for me to need a winch. Right now I only go wheeling once or twice a year because the closest legal spot is a 3-hour drive each way, and I've only just started out in the hobby. I need to get my driving skills up before attacking difficult trails that might require recovery.

Same here. We have only had this vehicle off-road once. We are in Dallas area. Not
Much close. But we have Jeep Jamborees scheduled this year for Oregon and Moab. Plus a trip to Colorado in July. Hope I never use the winch.

 

[Nvrmor]

Thanks to Toby, I decided to do a version of this on my Gladiator Rubicon. I bought a Maximus-3 winch plate and it worked perfect.

Quick question for you I’m planning on doing this set up what exactly is the red part between the plastic of the bumper and rockline fairlead mount?

 

[Trekkor2020]

Quick question for you I’m planning on doing this set up what exactly is the red part between the plastic of the bumper and rockline fairlead mount?

Nvrmor- good eye. I forgot to list that part. It is another aluminum fair lead that is performing as a spacer between the plastic bumper and the Go Rhino mount plate. I also used some steel spacers on the fairlead mount bolts to help take up some of the gap. Without it, the outer plastic bumper would be deformed after tightening the bolts that hold the front Warn Fairlead to the mount plate. I just bought an inexpensive part on Amazon. Remember, the front bumper is actually 3 layers (steel cross beam, plastic impact absorption layer, outer plastic cosmetic layer.) you have to cut out the center of the steel and middle plastic bumper. A different mount plate may extend farther forward without the need for the spacers. YaeKoo 10 inch Billet Polished Aluminum Bolt-Pattern Hawse Fairlead Synthetic Winch 8000-15000 LBs for ATV/UTV Rope Cable (Anodized Red, 10'') https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VT5D1X...abc_9F0GDNCR1YYAV8SAJ2SH?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[LooselyHeldPlans]

Nvrmor- good eye. I forgot to list that part. It is another aluminum fair lead that is performing as a spacer between the plastic bumper and the Go Rhino mount plate. I also used some steel spacers on the fairlead mount bolts to help take up some of the gap. Without it, the outer plastic bumper would be deformed after tightening the bolts that hold the front Warn Fairlead to the mount plate. I just bought an inexpensive part on Amazon. Remember, the front bumper is actually 3 layers (steel cross beam, plastic impact absorption layer, outer plastic cosmetic layer.) you have to cut out the center of the steel and middle plastic bumper. A different mount plate may extend farther forward without the need for the spacers. YaeKoo 10 inch Billet Polished Aluminum Bolt-Pattern Hawse Fairlead Synthetic Winch 8000-15000 LBs for ATV/UTV Rope Cable (Anodized Red, 10'') https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VT5D1X...abc_9F0GDNCR1YYAV8SAJ2SH?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Did you mount that Tuffy plate under the maximus winch plate?

 

[sstuner]

Great info for the "JL Plastic Bumper Winch Plate", just ordered the Maximus-3 winch plate.

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