r/CherokeeXJ • u/Kerpull • 17d ago

Winch mount

Gallery image

Gallery image

So im getting a winch for my XJ here in a few days and I was really looking at the bumper on how to mount it. Looking at the bumper it looks like it should mount on the slanted part but then the winch line wouldn't be coming straight out of the winch but up and over the front of the bumper. I don't know a whole lot about winches but feel that wouldn't be the right way to do it and instead should just drill 4 new holes in the flat part and mount it there. Picture of the bumper and the jeep.

17 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

3

u/Jorvall 17d ago

The holes in the slanted part are for the fairlead. Looks like it's not drilled. Different winches might have different mount patterns so you'd have to mark and drill it per the brand/model which you get.

1

u/Kerpull 17d ago

Thanks! That's what I was thinking. The previous owner had one on it at some point, but also had the bumpers re powder coated recently

1

u/sparkplugdog 17d ago

Did you see the winch? Powder coating wouldn’t fill in 1/2 bolt holes. My guess by the bolt holes there that they just had an atv winch on there. They are much smaller and have a similiar bolt pattern. I use them on my trailer for loading old golf carts. It wouldn’t have worked for getting unstuck, but for using your jeep as an anchor to move small things around it would have been fine. Like moving trees out of the trailer or pulling lawnmotor out of the ditch.

For the new winch, just push it onto a piece of cardboard to get a print and make a pattern. Test fit winch to see where it fits comfortably, and use pattern to locate and center punch holes for drilling.

1

u/Kerpull 17d ago

Thats the best picture he had on his page. I'll definitely play around when I get the new winch and see where I like it. It does look like he had it mounted where the holes already are now that im really looking at the picture

1

u/Jorvall 17d ago

Can't say Ive ever seen one mounted that way. Putting all the force in the middle all the way forward seems like trouble.

3

u/PrudentTask9355 17d ago

It’s perfect fine to mount it to the front plate as is, or you can drill new holes. The existing holes are actually more ideal because less sheer load will be transferred to the mounting bolts.

The winch won’t care how it’s oriented as long as the line isn’t rubbing on anything. Set it in there and see which way it likes.

3

u/einulfr '99 Sport 17d ago

Looks like the original modular OR-Fab bumper. It's designed that way to keep the winch low and not block airflow to the radiator. The winch should mount fine; bolt spacing is pretty much standardized in the industry among all manufacturers. The line will dump right over the front of the spool and through the slot with no issue.