So I think I have a trade ready (well a buy then I buy another) so my integrated winch goes, and I end up with a separate solenoid style winch... this leaves me with the install, inside my East Coast Bullbar. This bumper has a fairlead hole in the front, but no cradle or center support at all inside. I am not complaining - this bumper is very-very light, probably lighter than the stock one I took off. But it does make it difficult to mount up a winch.

So I'm thinking (after being told by two buddies who are smarter than me) what about if I don't put any kind of frame in there, and simply tip the winch back? Mount the "bottom" of the winch against the vertical surface, hidden inside the bumper... The lower bolts going through the front of the bumper are the same width as the fairlead spread (10 inches), and then I drill two more holes at the top for the "front" mounting holes. As long as I can reach the lever lock, this should work, shouldn't it?

Might I FINALLY get to use my synthetic rope and UHMW fairlead that's been in the basement since Betsy III, and never ever installed? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" />

Your buddies are smoking and inhaling. And not sharing <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

If the winch is attached just to the bumper, your light aluminum bumper,it will deform the bumper on first good pull.

Put a steel bracket between frame rails, bolt it to the frame and bolt the winch to it. That's why I have cutoff saw and welder. So you'd come over and we use them. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I can't see that working out too well Phil. IMHO it would be best to build a mount that is bolted to the frame that way you know your not going to pull your bumper off.

My ARB bar has the winch mounting bolts in a vertical pattern. The Warn winch could be disassembled and the motor and gears turned 90 degrees relative to the housing. With the motor and gears turned, the housing bolted right up to the back side of the ARB.

What kind of winch do you have?

Deal hasn't been done yet, but it'll probably be the Superwinch 8500 cheapie... So ARB does it that way too eh? I could always sandwich a plate in between the winch and the bumper, for extra strength...?

Nothing wrong with mounting this way.
Do pay attention to the mounting of the bumper to the frame.

My winch is mounted on a 2" box tube that bolts up under the frame rails. This uses one 12mm bolt on each end going up through existing holes in the main rails of the frame. The bolts are in single shear and have proven reliable.
You just want to make sure the front horns of the frame want the loads of the winch. I expect you will not have problems with the frame though.
You may want to add a doubler across the inner face of the bumper and I would try to have these attached to the frame also.

Thank you. So maybe a piece that mirrored the inside of the bumper and 90'ed to the frame on each end, using the bumper mounting bolts to attach it on the frame sides, and the 4 winch bolts to attach it through the bumper.

So Iggy, we can still use your chop saw. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Possibly using angle going across since most of the bend resistance will be in the flange. Then the angle can have the plates on the end to sandwich the bumper mount.

This is an ARB with a Warn winch installed. Here one can see three of the four mounting bolts.


Here is a shot of the end of the winch. Remove all the allen bolts and one can rotate the end piece. This keeps the handle oriented up. The same thing is done on the other end with the motor.

Same deal as Marks on mine but my ARB was a non winch version - Augie welded some plates backside of the front face of the bumper and then drilled and mounted through that.

I would think it would be preferable to mounting on its back - no shear load going on.

If you want pics let me know.