I know you can't stop something from be stolen if it's wanted bad enough, but you can make it very difficult for the thief. A winch can be removed in under 5 minutes with common hand tools. The 4 bolts are generally easy access and the wires just can be snipped.
A thief could also just remove the 6 bumper bolts and take everything in just a few minutes.
I didn't want to weld the winch to the bumper, but I wanted it to be impossible to remove with hand tools. So without a cutoff wheel or a torch, and some time, I don't think they'll get this one short of stealing the entire Jeep.
I needed to block access to some of the bolts, and at the same time make it where they couldn't just steal the bumper and get the whole thing.
First, let's secure the bumper. I welded caps over the bottom two TORX bolts. The caps were welded to the bumper and the frame. One on each side. This will stop them from removing the bottom two bumper bolts.
Next I need to block access to the two most forward winch bolts. They have to be blocked enough were not even a swivel can get access to them.
I welded a piece of plate steel to the bottom of the bumper. It extends to the frame blocking access to both bolts.
The welds don't look all that great, but they'll do the job. Now I just need to primer and paint it and she's done.
Total cost —- $14. If it stops one person from stealing about $800 worth of winch, it's worth it.
A thief could also just remove the 6 bumper bolts and take everything in just a few minutes.
I didn't want to weld the winch to the bumper, but I wanted it to be impossible to remove with hand tools. So without a cutoff wheel or a torch, and some time, I don't think they'll get this one short of stealing the entire Jeep.
I needed to block access to some of the bolts, and at the same time make it where they couldn't just steal the bumper and get the whole thing.
First, let's secure the bumper. I welded caps over the bottom two TORX bolts. The caps were welded to the bumper and the frame. One on each side. This will stop them from removing the bottom two bumper bolts.
Next I need to block access to the two most forward winch bolts. They have to be blocked enough were not even a swivel can get access to them.
I welded a piece of plate steel to the bottom of the bumper. It extends to the frame blocking access to both bolts.
The welds don't look all that great, but they'll do the job. Now I just need to primer and paint it and she's done.
Total cost —- $14. If it stops one person from stealing about $800 worth of winch, it's worth it.
