Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Rugged ridge raised winch plate mount and badland apex winch

WestKyJeeper

WestKyJeeper

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Mayfield Ky
I got the rugged ridge raised winch plate and am trying to install the badlands apex 12k winch. The fairlead bolts are hitting the body of the winch and I can’t get the holes to line up properly. Any suggestions? Or if anyone is thinking about getting this combo might run into this issue.
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WestKyJeeper said:
I got the rugged ridge raised winch plate and am trying to install the badlands apex 12k winch. The fairlead bolts are hitting the body of the winch and I can’t get the holes to line up properly. Any suggestions? Or if anyone is thinking about getting this combo might run into this issue. View attachment 671035
Click to expand...

Maybe try a button head bolt? Should give you a little more clearance?
Or are the fairlead holes square by chance? For carriage bolts?
 
Wildman said:
Maybe try a button head bolt? Should give you a little more clearance?
Or are the fairlead holes square by chance? For carriage bolts?
Click to expand...
They are size 5/16 whatever this is lol I have them backwards actually the nut on the back is supposed to be the other way around but this is the way I could get more clearance, just not enough. I thought about getting a different fairlead but that would probably have the same size hardware. It’s probably just the plate. Not really sure who designed it but they didn’t think about actually securing the fairlead. Maybe I could just run it without one? Or weld it on lol
image.jpg
 
WestKyJeeper said:
They are size 5/16 whatever this is lol I have them backwards actually the nut on the back is supposed to be the other way around but this is the way I could get more clearance, just not enough. I thought about getting a different fairlead but that would probably have the same size hardware. It’s probably just the plate. Not really sure who designed it but they didn’t think about actually securing the fairlead. Maybe I could just run it without one? Or weld it on lol
View attachment 671036
Click to expand...

You definitely want to run a fairlead.
I'd try some button head bolts.
 
Blaine will probably have the correct answer here but one option could be to die grind the existing holes for the winch to get the clearance you need? How much interference are we talking about here?
 
thedustyboot said:
Blaine will probably have the correct answer here but one option could be to die grind the existing holes for the winch to get the clearance you need? How much interference are we talking about here?
Click to expand...

I need maybe 1/4 inch 😭 die grinding the back side of the fairlead opening would work. I just don’t have the ability to do that I don’t think. I have a drill bit and a cordless drill lol thank you guys for the help
 
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Typically the head of the bolt goes in the fairlead and the nut goes on the back...most nuts are lower profile. You can always cut off the back of the bolt if it protrudes.

-Mac
 
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I had this exact problem with a M8000. Rugged Ridge put the winch mount holes too close to the fairlead mount. In my case, I was able to solve it by using a jam nut. This is what happens when you have a pseudo-standard, everybody does their own interpretation.

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I put the lock washer under the head of the bolt. Then I changed fairleads, and got to do it all over again. The bolt has to be just the right length, no longer, no shorter.
 
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As coincidence would have it, I had to deal with this bullshit problem yet again today. I added a light bracket that attaches under the fairlead. I had to get longer bolts, then space them back with different washers than the what I used the last time. It doesn't help that most fairleads have recessed mounting holes that are just big enough for the head of a Allen screw, but not big enough for washers.
 
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