Winch mount on stock bumper.

[tommudd]

I cant see a problem, looks very well mounted, similar to the ARB winch bar mounting system

NOT AT ALL THE SAME
You better study up some more

 

[marjsyd]

I’de love to install a Warn winch on my 03 Kj and keep the stock bumper. I know ARB had a winch capable bumper but it adds a significant amount of weight to the truck plus its not cheap. I’ve seen people using Detours Backbone winch mount but i doesn’t sound like they make them anymore, I couldn’t even find company’s website. In some older threads i’ve seen people building their own winch mounts and posting design plans. Unfortunately those pictures don’t work anymore, so I’m wondering if anyone has any good designs for a winch mount or knows where to get a pre-made mounting plate?

I'm using the ARB. With front winch mounts you also need to consider protection and that your airbags will still work based on the impact characteristics. ARB design its front bars to work with the car's crash safety design.

 

[Dave_too]

Prowling around, I found this. Can't neccessarily vouch for it though; no personal experience. https://jeepmania.eu/en/winch-mount...plate-2002-2008-jeep-liberty-cherokee-kj.html All said and done, and if you have the money, I'm inclined to agree with TomMudd and marjsyd.

 

[vlad588]

Prowling around, I found this. Can't neccessarily vouch for it though; no personal experience. https://jeepmania.eu/en/winch-mount...plate-2002-2008-jeep-liberty-cherokee-kj.html All said and done, and if you have the money, I'm inclined to agree with TomMudd and marjsyd.

This one actually looks pretty good but unfortunately they do not ship to Canada

 

[Yetiboy01]

Arb doesn't remove the crossmember.

Maybe not but the mounts are similar, fitted an ARB & winch last month. I cant see a problem with removing the crossmember & replacing it with the winch mount as the mount will actually strengthen the front up, Ive modified quiet a few jeeps, removing crossmembers & replacing them with winch bars or repositioning them for suspension & engine mods & have had no issues getting them comprehensively engineered by a qualified transport engineer for legal registration purposes in a nanny state.

 

[duderz7]

That's cool, I just feel it's best to not remove structural components whenever possible.

 

[tommudd]

Maybe not but the mounts are similar, fitted an ARB & winch last month. I cant see a problem with removing the crossmember & replacing it with the winch mount as the mount will actually strengthen the front up, Ive modified quiet a few jeeps, removing crossmembers & replacing them with winch bars or repositioning them for suspension & engine mods & have had no issues getting them comprehensively engineered by a qualified transport engineer for legal registration purposes in a nanny state.

removing cross members LOL
I been building 4x4s for over 45 years and never remove a cross member , UNLESS you need to and replace with a better / stronger one in its place

 

[tommudd]

Maybe not but the mounts are similar, fitted an ARB & winch last month. I cant see a problem with removing the crossmember & replacing it with the winch mount as the mount will actually strengthen the front up, Ive modified quiet a few jeeps, removing crossmembers & replacing them with winch bars or repositioning them for suspension & engine mods & have had no issues getting them comprehensively engineered by a qualified transport engineer for legal registration purposes in a nanny state.

Not similar , I ran a ARB for years and installed 5

 

[JeepinSteve]

So I decided to build a winch mount retaining my stock bumper. I used two 2x2 1/4" tubes and a universal winch mount from Harbor Freight which are welded and bolted together with grade 8 bolts for added strength. To mount it, I did something very similar to what Nate from Dirt Lifestyle did, I just changed a couple of things. Where he cut the 2x2 1/4" tubing short so he could weld the nuts to the inside of the tube through the back of the tube, I kept the tubes long so they would go into the unibody / frame as far as possible, so I could add more bolts down the road if I need them. In order to weld the nuts, I had to cut a piece out of the top side of the tube (angle grinder), which was welded back in after the nuts were welded in place. Also, I used the factory tow hooks to add a little bit of strength to the mounting points. The bolts that hold the mount to the frame first go up through the tow hooks (which I think are 1/4" or 3/16"), then the thin sheet metal frame, then through the 2x2 tubing into a nut that is welded inside the tube. I used grade 8 3/8 bolts, nuts, and washers. I threw this together quickly as I didn't have much time to work on it. I do plan on welding in some covers for the ends of the tubes when I have time, and I might angle them a little bit. I would say the most difficult part of this was cutting the plastic bumper. It just didn't cut very clean no matter what tool I used. I installed the bumper first, then slowly cut away at the bumper until the mount was able to slide in.

 

[lfhoward]

Nice job. Looks kind of like the Detours Backbone in the old days that is not made anymore. Also super stout.

 

[duderz7]

Looks good, consider adding a plate that connects the 2 square tubes and bolts across the front crossmember for added dimension.

 

[JeepinSteve]

Looks good, consider adding a plate that connects the 2 square tubes and bolts across the front crossmember for added dimension.

Thanks. Yes, agreed. I would like to connect the two square tubes. After I get the end caps welded in, that will be my next upgrade to the mount.

 

[sota]

I could removing the crossmember, but ONLY if you're replacing it with something else even stronger.

 

[tommudd]

Thanks. Yes, agreed. I would like to connect the two square tubes. After I get the end caps welded in, that will be my next upgrade to the mount.

Yes if you ever have to do a side pull that is not going to hold up

 

[Dave_too]

reposting

Prowling around, I found this. Can't neccessarily vouch for it though; no personal experience. https://jeepmania.eu/en/winch-mount...plate-2002-2008-jeep-liberty-cherokee-kj.html All said and done, and if you have the money, I'm inclined to agree with TomMudd and marjsyd.

 

[duderz7]

I like the way it's tucked in there and hidden away, but it doesn't look up to the task.

 

[bwood97]

This one actually looks pretty good but unfortunately they do not ship to Canada

They ship to Canada now! I just checked it out and out my address in (BC in Canada), $146 euros shipping. All in, with shipping and the winch mount, it came to about $500 CAD

 

[JustSumDad]

So I decided to build a winch mount retaining my stock bumper. I used two 2x2 1/4" tubes and a universal winch mount from Harbor Freight which are welded and bolted together with grade 8 bolts for added strength. To mount it, I did something very similar to what Nate from Dirt Lifestyle did, I just changed a couple of things. Where he cut the 2x2 1/4" tubing short so he could weld the nuts to the inside of the tube through the back of the tube, I kept the tubes long so they would go into the unibody / frame as far as possible, so I could add more bolts down the road if I need them. In order to weld the nuts, I had to cut a piece out of the top side of the tube (angle grinder), which was welded back in after the nuts were welded in place. Also, I used the factory tow hooks to add a little bit of strength to the mounting points. The bolts that hold the mount to the frame first go up through the tow hooks (which I think are 1/4" or 3/16"), then the thin sheet metal frame, then through the 2x2 tubing into a nut that is welded inside the tube. I used grade 8 3/8 bolts, nuts, and washers. I threw this together quickly as I didn't have much time to work on it. I do plan on welding in some covers for the ends of the tubes when I have time, and I might angle them a little bit. I would say the most difficult part of this was cutting the plastic bumper. It just didn't cut very clean no matter what tool I used. I installed the bumper first, then slowly cut away at the bumper until the mount was able to slide in.

@JeepinSteve

If you dont mind me asking and posting in an old thread
How has this held up? put any good yanks in on it and how has the uniframe held up?

Thanx

 

[JeepinSteve]

@JeepinSteve

If you dont mind me asking and posting in an old thread
How has this held up? put any good yanks in on it and how has the uniframe held up?

Thanx

Hello JustSumDad. So I have never had to use the winch to this point as I have never been stuck. The mud tires (Cooper STT Pro) and the Detroit TruTrac have worked very well so far. It’s no secret that the mounting points on the Liberty uniframe are not very thick. With that said, the winch mount feels very solid. Although I only used the four bolt holes that the recovery / tow hooks use, I would recommend keeping the tubes that go into the uniframe as long as possible and adding some bolts further back in the tube as I mentioned in my original post. I plan on doing this at some point. I think it will make a big difference in strength. I have seen a lot of people with full steel bumpers with a winch. I’m not sure how much these bumpers weigh, but I’m sure it’s a lot. I would recommend trying to keep the weight down. The 12k winch I have is about 85 lbs and the mount I built is probably about 45-50 pounds. Although I have an OME lift, I feel like this is a lot of weight to put on the front suspension. Looking back, I wish I would have gone with the heavier front springs to offset the weight (I think they are the springs made for the Diesel). At the time I installed the OME lift, everyone told me I didn’t need the heavier springs. At some point I will throw in the heavier springs just to see if the front suspension feels better supported. I know some people will comment that it will make the front to stiff. If anyone has the heavier front OME springs on a gas Liberty, let us know how they feel. I will say, the winch is a great conversation piece. Very often in parking lots or gas stations, random people walk over to check it out. In the end, I’m glad I have it just in case. Great piece of mind when out deep in the Everglades. Hope that helps.

 

[JustSumDad]

Hello JustSumDad. So I have never had to use the winch to this point as I have never been stuck. The mud tires (Cooper STT Pro) and the Detroit TruTrac have worked very well so far. It’s no secret that the mounting points on the Liberty uniframe are not very thick. With that said, the winch mount feels very solid. Although I only used the four bolt holes that the recovery / tow hooks use, I would recommend keeping the tubes that go into the uniframe as long as possible and adding some bolts further back in the tube as I mentioned in my original post. I plan on doing this at some point. I think it will make a big difference in strength. I have seen a lot of people with full steel bumpers with a winch. I’m not sure how much these bumpers weigh, but I’m sure it’s a lot. I would recommend trying to keep the weight down. The 12k winch I have is about 85 lbs and the mount I built is probably about 45-50 pounds. Although I have an OME lift, I feel like this is a lot of weight to put on the front suspension. Looking back, I wish I would have gone with the heavier front springs to offset the weight (I think they are the springs made for the Diesel). At the time I installed the OME lift, everyone told me I didn’t need the heavier springs. At some point I will throw in the heavier springs just to see if the front suspension feels better supported. I know some people will comment that it will make the front to stiff. If anyone has the heavier front OME springs on a gas Liberty, let us know how they feel. I will say, the winch is a great conversation piece. Very often in parking lots or gas stations, random people walk over to check it out. In the end, I’m glad I have it just in case. Great piece of mind when out deep in the Everglades. Hope that helps.

Thanx for the reply

I have 1.5" lift H&R springs... how much did your front end sag with this weight? Did you measure?
I was thinking I would do a clevis lift to compensate for whatever droop the weight gives. I was aiming at a 12k OpenRoad winch. Weight is 26.8kg so about 59lb
still not sure if I am going forward tho, I was selling a motorcycle to clear out the shop and use the money and space for this... Dude ghosted me... will see

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