Winch Mount for Plastic Bumper

[sstuner]

Received my Maximus-3 winch plate to install on my 2018 JLUS. Will follow recommendations of this thread, only thing a little confusing is the space between the plate and plastic front bumper. May do the additional fairhead to fill the space or come up with something different. Now I need to go shopping for the winch.

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[dchemphill1]

Hi,

I just came across this one.

Rock Hard 4X4 RH-90205 Winch Mounting Plate for 18-20 Jeep Wrangler JL & Gladiator JT with Factory Plastic Bumper

https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-90205.htm

It looks like, from the directions and pictures, part of it, the rear portion, mounts to the frame, while the forward end is wedged up to the tow hooks, using them to absorb the forward force.

I just ordered one through Quadratec.com, so I'll see, as well as post pictures.

My old JKU had a plastic front bumper, and yet I easily found a winch mount for it, made by Warn, which mounted directly to the frame, but still allowed you to keep the plastic bumper. I wonder why, outside of this one from Rockhard, no one else is offering them?

That is what I used. Easy to attach and no issues with blocking radiator.

 

[AMT]

Amazing build. What is the 39 1/2 mean on the blue tape? Ride height before after?

Length of pole he wouldn't touch the Grinch with...

 

[tjd2003]

Received my Maximus-3 winch plate to install on my 2018 JLUS. Will follow recommendations of this thread, only thing a little confusing is the space between the plate and plastic front bumper. May do the additional fairhead to fill the space or come up with something different. Now I need to go shopping for the winch.

Have you installed this yet? I have a High Altitude which has the same bumper as yours just painted to match. I'm hoping this worked out well for you; if so it's on my list to do!

 

[Some Random Guy]

Have you installed this yet? I have a High Altitude which has the same bumper as yours just painted to match. I'm hoping this worked out well for you; if so it's on my list to do!

I broke mine down most of the way today. I’ll be installing it tomorrow or this weekend. I’ll try to take good photos for you. I also have the front recovery hooks from Maximus-3.
Edit: assuming you’re not done already!

 

[Some Random Guy]

Ok, the sport bumper is different. It’s only 2 pieces.

I’ve still got to cut out a bit from the bottom to clear the winch plate. I’m sacrificing 2 of the bolts that hold the metal to the plastic (and sandwich the recovery hooks). I forgot to take a picture of the plastic shell before I temporarily bolted it to the Jeep. I’ll also have to re-run the wire before I cut out the hole for the line to run through.
Edit: add photo. It’s upside down, so the notches are for clearing the recovery point bases on the bottom of the winch plate. The top is to clear the winch. The gold dots are what I still have to cut off to clear the winch plate. I took it slow so I didn’t chop off too much. After I clear the plate I’ll drill out the slot for the winch line to feed through and sandwich the metal and the plastic between a fairlead plate and my fairlead cover. Then I can file everything smooth.

 

[Some Random Guy]

Alright, full breakdown on the Sport plastic bumper. I don't recommend this, I'm just being cheap.

I'll have to figure out how to dress up the edges of the cut plastic. As you can see, I didn't need to cut in as far on the outermost layer of shell. Front view without the guideplate:

Rear of plastic bumper. As you can see, I left the wires where they were since they weren't in the way:

Close-up of notches I had to cut out for the recovery pints. Not necessary with the Maximus-3 winch plate by itself:

Here you can see I had to notch the top to clear the top of the winch:

I also had to put a cut through the metal plate underneath the plastic airdam. You can't tell from the photo, but it's all bent because I didn't feel like making cuts for the recover points. I'm not throwing the plastic airdam back on, so I left it like this. If I was, I'd notch out the recovery points too and then have to make cutouts for the airdam itself:

I don't really recommend this. I'm just being cheap and lazy. The Sport (not Sport S) bumper is one blown plastic piece and that metal plate you can see in my previous post. If I didn't already have the winch mounted to the plate from my prior JL with recovery points, I would not have done this.

 

[Gladiator Guy]

Alright, full breakdown on the Sport plastic bumper. I don't recommend this, I'm just being cheap.

I'll have to figure out how to dress up the edges of the cut plastic. As you can see, I didn't need to cut in as far on the outermost layer of shell. Front view without the guideplate:

Rear of plastic bumper. As you can see, I left the wires where they were since they weren't in the way:

Close-up of notches I had to cut out for the recovery pints. Not necessary with the Maximus-3 winch plate by itself:

Here you can see I had to notch the top to clear the top of the winch:

I also had to put a cut through the metal plate underneath the plastic airdam. You can't tell from the photo, but it's all bent because I didn't feel like making cuts for the recover points. I'm not throwing the plastic airdam back on, so I left it like this. If I was, I'd notch out the recovery points too and then have to make cutouts for the airdam itself:

I don't really recommend this. I'm just being cheap and lazy. The Sport (not Sport S) bumper is one blown plastic piece and that metal plate you can see in my previous post. If I didn't already have the winch mounted to the plate from my prior JL with recovery points, I would not have done this.

Thanks for posting this. I have been contemplating a custom installation of a winch on my Gladiator Sport - your photos (especially of the deconstructed bumper) and shared experience has been very helpful. I plan to tackle that next week using an LOD Signature plate.

 

[kwilson046]

Has anyone who has installed the RH-90205 Rock Hard winch mount on their JL have any over heating issues due to winch blocking the grill?

 

[ChrisInTexas]

Has anyone who has installed the RH-90205 Rock Hard winch mount on their JL have any over heating issues due to winch blocking the grill?

I don't have the rock hard winch plate, but overheating is a non issue with mine. Airflow isn't exactly a concern for anyone when crawling along at 2-5mph, so the winch isn't really blocking anything.

 

[dpsanborn]

I have a Sport S and decided to make a custom winch plate as well. Luckily I found this thread to inspire me. It was way more work then I thought it was going to be, but if you have the skills it is a fun project and let me practice my welding. In the end, the 2x4ft peice of 1/4 steel was $60 and the XBULL winch was $289. I cut the blown plastic piece so my winch plate butts right up to the front of the bumper. I like the look of the stock bumper so this works for me, maybe I will get a aftermarket bumper at some point, but it is nice having this since no one else has the same thing. Once you take it all a part you can start the planning process. If anyone has any questions , just PM me.

 

[dpsanborn]

Just to be clear, I copied TOBYW (started this thread and inspired me to do this) plate design as close as I could from the pics. You will have to make your own measurements, but the design works well and I am happy with the results.

 

[easterr]

While researching winch options for the plastic bumper, I found this thread and also noticed that TOBYW Jeep is on an ebay listing. @tobyw

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1664969500...-87f2-f62fcc33df51|iid:1|vlpname:vlp_homepage

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

 

[JeepsR4Me19]

Alright, full breakdown on the Sport plastic bumper. I don't recommend this, I'm just being cheap.

I'll have to figure out how to dress up the edges of the cut plastic. As you can see, I didn't need to cut in as far on the outermost layer of shell. Front view without the guideplate:

Rear of plastic bumper. As you can see, I left the wires where they were since they weren't in the way:

Close-up of notches I had to cut out for the recovery pints. Not necessary with the Maximus-3 winch plate by itself:

Here you can see I had to notch the top to clear the top of the winch:

I also had to put a cut through the metal plate underneath the plastic airdam. You can't tell from the photo, but it's all bent because I didn't feel like making cuts for the recover points. I'm not throwing the plastic airdam back on, so I left it like this. If I was, I'd notch out the recovery points too and then have to make cutouts for the airdam itself:

I don't really recommend this. I'm just being cheap and lazy. The Sport (not Sport S) bumper is one blown plastic piece and that metal plate you can see in my previous post. If I didn't already have the winch mounted to the plate from my prior JL with recovery points, I would not have done this.

Is the plastic on these bumpers the type that I could heat up with heat gun and bend them instead of cutting? Maybe bend that corner in so as to make it look more factory. I AM CHEAP also but also its kinda smart to use what you have. Thieves look for stuff that sticks out and fancy. They see a plastic bumper all cut up or the winch is hidden behind a cover its makes it out of sight out of mind. Im just cheap.

 

[Some Random Guy]

Is the plastic on these bumpers the type that I could heat up with heat gun and bend them instead of cutting? Maybe bend that corner in so as to make it look more factory. I AM CHEAP also but also its kinda smart to use what you have. Thieves look for stuff that sticks out and fancy. They see a plastic bumper all cut up or the winch is hidden behind a cover its makes it out of sight out of mind. Im just cheap.

I’m not familiar enough with plastic work to answer that with any real authority but I think it is too thick to heat through enough for bending.

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