Cj winch mount

wrecker1 · Apr 3, 2007

On this Jeep,

the front crossmember is covering the power steering box. Anyone see a problem with removing that cheep bumper and mounting a winch plate in front of the crossmember, and inside the frame ears. Basically sink it into the frame in front of the crossmember.
What I am thinking is that the winch will block less of the radiator, keeping the truck cooler. The problem I see is it will stick out the front farther than I like. Of course a new bumper will be in order.
On that topic, how far must a bumper be extended out from the frame? to the center of the tires? I'm thinking 12" from the frame, and allowing room for the tires to turn.
thoughts? ideas? pics?

Zoediak · Apr 3, 2007

on my 74, I extended the front (axle too 3.5") and did some cutting and plate work. I inset a ramsey 9000 (it was free) withing the frame rails. and then created the bumper. in fact it is in my avatar picture.

it worked out very well, and I have had no problems with it at all.

there is still enough room for me to mount the 8274 if I changed to it on this jeep.

wrecker1 · Apr 3, 2007

Do you have any better pics? I believe we are onto the same idea. I wasn't crazy about how far it was sticking out from the front. I still have lots of breakover angle, just wasn't sure about the design.

Zoediak · Apr 3, 2007

I can go pop off a couple real quick.. wont turn out too good, because it is still all muddy and dark, but I will see what I can get real quick-like...

pokey · Apr 4, 2007

This is what I did to mine to drop the winch between the rails. I am using a warn 8274. My front bumper is a piece of 3/16 2x4 tube so its plenty strong to make up for the x member. this moves the winch towards the passenger side but still works well

Hip · Apr 4, 2007

i basacially did the same thing. i removed that crosspiece and made the new bumper welded to the frame to replace the crossmember.

i later redid the entire thing when i went to rope and raised it a few inches so i could maintain protection for the bottom of the winch and keep the composit fairlead inside the metal of the bumper.

Zoediak · Apr 8, 2007

here is a couple of shots of what mine looks like.. mind you this is after a mudding trip so they are a bit dirty...

not the best of pics... but under the winch is a full width piece of 1/4 plate that the winch is mounted to.

zip1 · Apr 8, 2007

additional sunken winch ?

Does anyone have a pic, showing more of how they did their steering gear box, with this setup?

Zoediak · Apr 8, 2007

my steering gearbox never moved or got unbolted...

I was able to do all my mods around it.. I will try later on to take some closer pictures of it after I get a chance to spray it down a bit.. and I will try to get some shots around that area...

wrecker1 · Apr 8, 2007

Yea, My Power Steering box is in the way to do it like yours. Makes the winch stick out way to far for my tastes. I'll have to figure out something later, after I can get the Jeep back in the garage.
Dang it, it started raining before I could get the new hitch on the car trailer (complete with a winch-in-a-box!) Now I gotta wait to work on the Jeep some more!!

wrecker1 · Apr 9, 2007

I found the pics I snapped of the bumper when I was mocking it up. This is as close as I can go without taking out the crossmember. I can't see taking it out when the P/S box is right under it, and in the way.

I don't have the capability to trim the crossmember and mount to clear the box good enough and tight enough. so my options are limited right now. I may have to re-consider mounting above the frame rails.

spicker · Apr 9, 2007

Winch Mount

Here is pic of what I did. I have a V8 in my jeep and when I put the winch on Man, did I notice a lot of weight in front. I think that the farther back over the axle the better. I have no over heating problems I just used some 1/4 inch plate. It works great!

pokey · Apr 9, 2007

I would mount it on top of the rails before putting it on like that. Having it stick out like that will hurt your approach angle and the leverage it will create will tweak the heck out of your frame rails without substanial fabwork. Theres nothing wrong with having it on top of the factory x member ran my old ramsey like that for years as have many others.

wrecker1 · Apr 9, 2007

yea, thats another reason I hadn't considered. So, over the rails it is.
(UUMM, I just mounted that winch on my car hauler trailer.....now I gotta buy another one, or fix the 6K one I bought a while ago) OOPs!

Zoediak · Apr 9, 2007

I cut back the x-member to the steering box.. it wasn't a lot but it took almost half of it away...

I will take a hose to it tomorrow after work and post up some pics. I never even had to unbolt the box when I did it... just worked around it.