As some of you know (and some don't until now), I recently purchased a Milemarker SE 12000 winch. I'm hoping I can mount it behind my bumper but I know I'll probably have to re-enforce it since it's only made using 1/4" plate up front and I don't even want to consider a bumper failure while winching.

Here's how my bumper is mounted currently...

The bumper's mounting bolts are all grade 5 bolts (3/8" and 1/2")
It's bolted to my frame which has been heavily re-enforced with 1/4" plate.

Since this was originally a Jeep TJ bumper the original mounting bolt holes are in front of it and the bolts are attached front to rear into a special bracket we made (3/8" plate) which is what is mounted to the frame rails.

The design is cool because I could sell the bumper to a TJ owner and he could bolt it right up to his rig w/out any changes.

My idea is to re-enforce the front plate area of the bumper with either 1/4" or 3/8" plate the whole way across. Cut a hole for the winch line to feed through and remove the front tube section which would otherwise block the hole I'd cut for the winch to feed through.

Here's an illustration of what I'm thinking...

The top illustration is the way the mount bolts are set up currently.

The bottom shows the added plate and longer front bolts in 'red'.

Questions I have are...
(1) Will this work?
(2) 1/4" or 3/8" re-enforcement plate?
(3) Anything else I'm missing?

Oh, and FWIW, the winch came in today along with a Hawse fairlead I purchased for it. Still waiting on 100' of amsteel sythetic line.

TIA!
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Do the Mitsu's have a fully boxed frame?

The reason for asking is that on the Isuzu's they are, and they come from the factory with 2 grade 10 mounting bolts per frame for the bumper and I also have 1 grade 8 bolt per frame added.

As a minimum, you should upgrade the bolts to grade 8 for added strength.



Over kill support for the frame can result in a bent frame from an extreme pull... as seen on a heep one time.

How exactly is the winch being mounted to the bumper?

HTH
Van <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

What a rip-off thread! The title says "wenches", and there are no women in the thread! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />
Some of us actually know the difference between a wench and a winch! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If you mount it like I did mine, there is no chance for bumper failure unless at least 3 bolt holding the winch break.

I welded a 1/4" plate to the bottom of the box frame, essentially adding another ladder step to the frame.

Clay,

I'm not sure I can. I may not have sufficient room underneath there.:(


Yes they do. Mines' completely reinforced though with between 1/4-1/2" of plating all around the ends.

Yeah, was already thinking of upgrading to Grade 8. I'll be asking the milemarker what they recommend for this winch.



The winch will be mounted directly to the bumper. It will feed through a hole where the fairlead will be also mounted.

The nice thing about the SE12000 is it has detachable solenoids. I can pretty much mount them anywhere. I'll probably set them up on the bumper somewhere. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

You should drive it out here and we'll sit down and have a serious look at it. I'm sure you have plenty of room <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I did. Yesterday. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

1 other thing... where can I get grade 8 bolts for the bumper and winch? Home Depot? Orchard Hardware? Lowes? Online?

Check the Fastenal website for a store near you, Ray. The local hardware stores are always hit and miss for heavy duty metrics. That's been my experience, anyway.

Get them here

GLR Fasteners Inc
664 Walsh Ave
Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 982-0581&#8206;

I know a guy who sells nuts and bolts for a living...even higher than grade 8...for military apps and such. Let me know what you need and I can find out what they cost...might be able to get a good deal. Send me a pm if interested. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />