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I've been following this for a while and was wondering if you think your setup would work behind a stock bumper. I want to make it so I could hide the fairlead behind a flip up license plate. That way it's completely unknown to someone looking at it but still has quick access.
I've been following this for a while and was wondering if you think your setup would work behind a stock bumper. I want to make it so I could hide the fairlead behind a flip up license plate. That way it's completely unknown to someone looking at it but still has quick access.
Based on the install that I just did, this should fit behind a stock bumper. I know that Baddad is going to do an install on a stock front bumper here soon. The only thing in its current configuration is that you would have to notch the front bumper for the shackle mounts to stick through. If there is enough interest in a truely stealth installation behind a stock bumper then I would post that desire here. If there is enough interest, I think the current configuration could be changed for that purpose without a ton of work.
Based on the install that I just did, this should fit behind a stock bumper. I know that Baddad is going to do an install on a stock front bumper here soon. The only thing in its current configuration is that you would have to notch the front bumper for the shackle mounts to stick through. If there is enough interest in a truely stealth installation behind a stock bumper then I would post that desire here. If there is enough interest, I think the current configuration could be changed for that purpose without a ton of work.
I was thinking that with shackle mount sticking out or modified as tow hooks that go under the bumper how the factory option was I think.
I’ve got someone lined up to test fit behind a stock bumper. Suprmn is correct in that notches for the D-ring holes would need to be cut. I am strongly considering making a version without the D-ring mounts so that it would fit completely behind a stock bumper. I would provide holes in the bottom of the mount so customers would be able to mount standard tow hooks. What do you guys think?
Hi guys, I just got my hidden winch mount this week...Thanks Baddad for offering this mount..Very Nice !! Great craftsmanship,excellent color photos in the instructions, even came with a hardware kit... I'm going to be using the factory bumper and will be cutting slots for the shackle mounts.. I'll post some pics of the modifications...
I’ve got someone lined up to test fit behind a stock bumper. Suprmn is correct in that notches for the D-ring holes would need to be cut. I am strongly considering making a version without the D-ring mounts so that it would fit completely behind a stock bumper. I would provide holes in the bottom of the mount so customers would be able to mount standard tow hooks. What do you guys think?
Did some measuring today. Top of the crossmember to bottom of winch plate is 7.25-7.5”
On my sons stock ‘96 it measures 7.5”
The bumper will have to be adjusted forward a bit but until I get a chance to install one, I’m not sure how much. Hopefully our schedules coordinate soon with my buddy that wants one behind his stock bumper 🤞
Alright, I've been stalking the thread for a while.
I'm also running this winch mount on my 2000 XJ. I live down the street from Baddad and built a copy off his original design. The mount has served me VERY well over the past couple years I had it on. It handled the CSI 8500 Brute series I had on it, as well as many tugs on the tow points and did not budge. This is by far one of my favorite things I have added to my Jeep, as I do not like the look of the current winch bumpers out there for the XJ, looking like they stick a mile out from the front, as well as affecting the approach angle.
Original mount (I built this to fit behind a JCR DIY front bumper and added a brush guard to it. Pics below)
As you (can't!) see, the winch tucks completely out of the way and the front bumper acts as pretty much a fascia. I added a license plate mount to the fairlead in the bumper to cover it up. Passing glance, you can't even tell there is a winch. (I can get some more pics of this bumper setup later)
Once Baddad started producing V2, I knew I had to get one of the refined models on the front. Which is just what I did this past weekend.
First off, I added a new Smitty X20 10K winch, and it fits even better than the CSI Brute 8500.
Next, since I have a 4 link rear, I needed something else beefier in the sway bar department. I tried a WJ sway bar up front, but was still left wanting more. I have been researching the many options for "Anti-Rock" style bars for a while, but was always turned off with everyone saying they are all softer than stock. I didn't want that. I wanted planted. I decided on the ORO SwayLOC, and after much deliberation, pulled the trigger. Supposedly stiffer than stock on road, and unlocked, just like an anti rock. Exactly what I was looking for.
The brackets for the kit needed a little modification to fit around the winch mount (I didn't take pics of them out of the box :/ ) but after some grinding and test fitting, it is a fantastic fit (Good thing too, since I spent a decent amount of money on this thing!)
The bracket needed trimming to fit around the winch channel, see pic below
The same thing had to happen on the other side to get the plate that lines up with the sway bar holes to sit flush.
Other side
My biggest concern after getting these trimmed is that it looked like the larger outside sway bar was going to contact the 2 rear bolts that hold the winch in place. Fortunately it did clear, and there is about 1/8" of space between them (didn't get a pic of the clearance).
Once I got the brackets all lined up, outer bar in, inner bar in and the arms installed, it looked like it was going to be close to the sides of the winch mount, and that the arms would possibly contact it. After getting everything tightened down however, it clears everything. Pics below.
The bar fits perfectly under the winch mount. And I couldn't be happier with the IMMEDIATE performance of the bar. The only thing I would think of adding now is some sort of skid to help protect the bar from any rocks to the front of the mount.
Overall though, the new design of the winch mount has significantly reduced the weight from V1, without losing any rigidity. I have no concerns pulling with this mount or using the tow points at all. I'm sure this piece of equipment will outlast the jeep, and the mount I originally built is going on to another jeep shortly.
I am so impressed with how well the mount fits to the jeep, and how well this SwayLOC fits to the mount. It is ALMOST like they designed for each other. I don't see that there would be any issues with those wanting to run an anti rock style bar, as instead of mounting in the unibody channel in front, the nutstrips included with the antirock kit could be used on the bottom of the winch channel instead. I can't wait to put this V2 winch mount and SwayLOC to the test this year during our annual run.
(Disclaimer - ORO says to try as much as possible to have 2 bolts each in the extra forward brackets. Of course since the winch mount spaced the brackets down, I needed to add a spacer. This is where a larger nut that fit snug came in to play. After getting everything drilled out though, I wasn't able to fit both bolts/nuts on the tab, so in the intructions ORO states that 1 is ok. There is already 1 hole on either side on the unibody that lines up with the tab. The others had to be drilled out, however on the driver side, the steering box blocks one of them and there is no way to get a nut under it. So there is 1 bolt through the extra tab on either side, and I will be keeping an eye on it to see how it is doing.)
So I finally got a chance to try my mount behind a stock bumper. Does it fit? Short answer is sadly no 😢. The bumper can be modded to fit tho. Stock 98. The beginning 🤔
Well crap! I typed out this whole explanation with pics and everything yesterday showing how we made it work and it never posted! Argh 😤. I’ll try again...
This Jeep had been involved in a head on type accident so fitting the mount was a challenge. After a bit of hammering, tweaking and cussing it fit 👍. The mount actually realigned the frame area close to factory spec. Cut some notches for the shackle points and fitted it up. This is where we found the bottom 45deg angle on the bumper hits the middle winch plate area of the mount. Damnit! Ended up cutting along the bottom of the angle and mostly flattening out the angle. Left the crease line in so it matched the rest of the bumper. This is a better angle to see how much it needed to move. About 11/2 inches. I bent the lip of the part I cut to give it a bit more rigidity. Now it bolts onto the factory bumper brackets. Shaved the bottom of the plastic bumper ends a bit and they bolted on. Even got the factory license plate mount on for now! This is a temporary situation for Fred as he’s going to add a different bumper in the future. Otherwise I would have cut and welded in a piece to fill the long slice at the bottom of the bumper. But, check out the before and after pics, that’s hidden! 😂
03-25-2019, 09:31 AM
hate that crap.
