Aluminum winch mount plate

[StG58]

After years of avoiding putting a winch on my rigs, I'm bowing to the inevitable. Winter is coming and that means snow, ice and blow-downs in the backwoods. I'm getting tired of winching crap out of the way with my farm jack, and frankly, I'm getting too old (lazy?) for that nonsense anyway.

So - here's the deal. I need advice on a winch mounting plate for the front of my SE TJ. I'm keeping the stock front bumper set up and the two already installed tow hooks. I was looking at this mounting plate from Under Cover Fabworks:

http://undercoverfab.com/winch-plates/54-hd-winch-plate-for-jeep-yj-alum.html

The issue is the bends on the front lip of the plate extend past where the tow hooks project forward. Does anyone see any issues with trimming those bends enough to clear the tow hooks? Any ideas on another aluminum winch mount plate that doesn't have the front lip all the way across?

Please feel free to offer advice and abuse as the mood strikes you. I am, after all, probably the last guy on the board that felt a farm jack was an adequate substitute for a winch.

 

[Chris]

I don't see any issue with that at all. The Rough Country winch mounting plate (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B2AEPNK/?tag=wranglerorg-20) which I used to have on my stock bumper, fit just fine without any issues at all. Nothing needed to be modified or anything.

I don't think you'll encounter any issues.

 

[StG58]

8#'s for aluminum vs. 22#'s for the steel winch mount plate. The UCF plate clears the antisway bar in the back, but probably hangs over the stock bumper just a little in the front. Man, this going free range on a build is a pain in the backside. I feel like a salmon swimming upstream sometimes. It's so much easier and cleaner to just do what everyone else is doing. There, I've vented.

Oh, and I HAVE cut the handles off my toothbrush to save weight backpacking.

 

[Chris]

Maybe you should just get a whole new front bumper with built in winch mounting plate?

 

[StG58]

Probably...makes more sense than farting around with this thing. Ahhh...I hear the siren song of the TJ Rubicon calling me. Must...Be...Strong...

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Savvy makes a great aluminum bumper with an integrated winch mounting plate. It looks best with a Warn winch sitting on top.

 

[StG58]

Thanks Jerry. That's probably the way I'll end up going. No use half-assing this thing, but it does mean one more winter without a winch.

 

[Chris]

Yes, anything Savvy is highly recommended!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I know Blaine hates this pic I shot in Nordstroms years ago but what the hell.

 

[Stinger]

Okay just saying here, but have you tried a small chain saw? I carry one in Oregon and it solves a hell of a lot of axe whacks!

 

[Ahoragi]

I know Blaine hates this pic I shot in Nordstroms years ago but what the hell.

View attachment 6299

LOL

 

[TJ4Jim]

I know Blaine hates this pic I shot in Nordstroms years ago but what the hell.

Is that your winch cover Jerry ??

 

[StG58]

Okay just saying here, but have you tried a small chain saw? I carry one in Oregon and it solves a hell of a lot of axe whacks!

Yup, Stihl MS 250C with an 18" bar, green chain. Works wonders in the woods...doesn't it? Which reminds me, I need a new chain. Mine has been sharpened down to the wear marks.

Checked out the Savvy front bumper and the Warn winch. Bumper $546 with all the goodies, $388 for just the bumper and the fairlead mount. and an M8000-s at about $850. (M8000 around $586) Plus shipping. That's not in the cards right now. Oh well, maybe next year. I can probably do an Engo and a winch plate this Fall, and run them till they die, then upgrade. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

...Checked out the Savvy front bumper and the Warn winch. Bumper, about $700 +/- and an m8000s at about $800. Plus shipping.

Where did you get that pricing from? Savvy's front bumper is $330 at http://shop.savvyoffroad.com/Savvy-Off-Road-Front-Bumper-TJ-LJ-1997-2006-SAV-TJF.htm .

Warn's M8000 is $586 at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000182DYM/?tag=wranglerorg-20 and it is occasionally on sale for less than that.

 

[StG58]

Where did you get that pricing from? Savvy's front bumper is $330 at http://shop.savvyoffroad.com/Savvy-Off-Road-Front-Bumper-TJ-LJ-1997-2006-SAV-TJF.htm .

Warn's M8000 is $586 at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000182DYM/?tag=wranglerorg-20 and it is occasionally on sale for less than that.

I have no idea Jerry, brain fart I guess. $546 with all the goodies, $388 for just the bumper and the fairlead mount. I'll update my original post with those amounts. The M8000-s is $863.85 on Amazon. I really want to go with the synthetic line for various reasons. Though I guess that upgrading to synthetic line later is an option. Hmmm, you ever sell used cars Jerry? I could be in for around $1,000 with good quality stuff.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Warn's synthetic line is way/too expensive, buy the M8000 winch with the standard wire rope. Use it until the wire rope needs to be replaced, then upgrade it to synthetic rope from someone like www.4lowparts.com

Or if you want to go synthetic right away, you can sell the new wire rope on Craiglist or eBay. I sold a new wire rope on Craigslist in less than a day. You'll recoup part of the winch cost that way and save $$$ by buying your synthetic rope elsewhere beside Warn. I like Warn but their synthetic winch rope cost is approaching absurd.