Mounting winch to stock JK bumper

[forsakenfuture]

I have a Warn 9.5Ti winch with brand new synthetic winch line sitting on my shop floor from my 2006 Wrangler and would like to mount it to my JK. When money allows I would like to get the AEV bumper for my Jeep but that is down the road. I see most winch mounts are in the 300 plus range which would be a healthy amount to put toward the AEV bumper. Is there any other alternatives I dont know about out there that would work for the time being?

 

[Bigjerm]

I had a WARN winch plate when I had a JK. Worked great and was cheaper than a full bumper. Now there are several other companies who make winch plates for a good deal cheaper than WARN.

 

[forsakenfuture]

Warn was the one I was looking at for about 350 dollars.

 

[Idlehour]

Harbor freight has a winch plate for cheap ($30 #90476 iirc). I have mine mounted upside down, with the fairlead on the outside of the bumper using spacers. I had to notch the little chin bar under the bumper for the lever, and grind the plate in a spot or two. It's probably even easier if you mount it right side up.
Jk-forum has a bunch of writeups. Searching 90476 might help.

 

[Idlehour]

Here's a few pics. The spacers for the fairlead don't. Work great. If I did it again and mount it directly to the plate. The blue thing is where the winch remote plugs in under the hood.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

You could likely make a beefier version of the HF winch plate using some 8x4 or 10x4 C channel.

 

[forsakenfuture]

Here's a few pics. The spacers for the fairlead don't. Work great. If I did it again and mount it directly to the plate. The blue thing is where the winch remote plugs in under the hood.

Thats amazing and came out much better then i would think possible!

 

[Rovertrader]

Check cl, eBay, etc as many folks go the same route, then sell after getting their preferred bumper. However, it is a nice way to keep the weight down going the winch tray way.

 

[Piet]

Here is a thread with all the info to mount your winch using the factory bumper... (without mounting it on top)
http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?2001-Winch-mount-W-factory-bumper

 

[ColinJ]

Rough Country makes a few cheap mounts.. I thought about getting one until I could afford my ARB but then I remembered that is what Visa is for

 

[dox]

This TJ winch plate on Amazon also works on the JK:
http://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-28...1A88/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1330134166&sr=8-4

Confirmed to work by a few of the reviews on Amazon, as well as a few posts on various forums. Would work well for a low cost or temporary solution.

This is what I intend to go with when it comes time to mount one to my JKU.

 

[Maine07jk]

Personally I would save your money like I did for a winch bumper. I feel mounting the winch on our bumpers puts it too high and makes it less effective. Some also talk of the winch blocking needed air to the radiator when it mounted that high.

 

[forsakenfuture]

I am thinking about just saving up for what I really want.

 

[Warn Industries]

FYI, our winch plate for stock JK bumpers is PN 74247 or PN 74249 (for M8274-50 only).

http://www.warn.com/truck/mounting-systems/winch_mounts.shtml

- Andy