Jeep Grand Cherokee 1993-1998: How to Install Winch

Learn how to install a winch plate to effectively cover your recovery missions.

By Piyush Kayastha - October 8, 2015

This article applies to the Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ (1993-1998).

Jeeps are rugged vehicles meant to be used in off-road situations where the terrain is unfamiliar and unforgiving. Normal sedans and other vehicles besides trucks or other 4x4's Sport Utility Vehicles aren't always the luckiest when meandering through such areas. Often, travelers could get stranded in a ditch or hill and don't have the capability to pull their cars out on their own, or even under the vehicle's own power. Thankfully, some volunteer fire fighter services have Jeeps and trucks who have winches installed on them. A winch is a device affixed to the front or rear bumper of the vehicle, which has a heavy duty coil and wire that binds. With a tow hook end, it can be connected to the other vehicle and the winch can wind the coil and wire, retracting the vehicle from the ditch or hill where they have gotten stuck.

Materials Needed

Dremel
Sawzall
Grinder
Flat tip and star tip screwdrivers
Pliers
Socket wrench
Painter's tape
Measuring tape
Safety goggles

Step 1 – Remove grill insert

Before you can access the mounting points of the winch, the grill will need to be removed.

Open the hood.
Use the screwdriver to remove the screws holding in the grill insert.

Figure 1. Remove the screws holding in the grill insert.

Step 2 – Pull off bumper

There are push pins and push rivets holding the bumper in. They will need to be removed.

Using pliers, the push pins can be pulled out from the bumper.
Using the flat tip screwdriver, the push rivets can be removed from fender wells and bottom of front bumper.

Figure 2. Remove the bumper push pins.
Figure 3. Remove rivets.

Pro Tip

You can usually push the rivets from behind using your finger.

Step 3 – Perform cuts for winch mounting brackets

Safety first! Make sure to wear safety goggles. In order to mount the bracket properly, you will need to cut the unibody.

Place the winch mounting bracket against the body to use as a template.
Mark your cuts.
Cut carefully using a Sawzall.
Use a grinder and/or Dremel to clean up the cuts.
Repeat on the other side.

Figure 4. Open up the hole for winch mounting brackets.
Figure 5. Clean up those cuts, so you don't get cut.

Pro Tip

You may need to clean up or widen the cuts more as you continue.

Step 4 – Remove radiator shroud brackets

To accept brackets from the kit later, these bolts need to be removed.

Using a socket wrench, remove the radiator shroud brackets on both sides.

Pro Tip

You can lightly screw the bolts back into the shroud so you don't lose them for later.

Step 5 – Modify bumper

The bumper will need to be modified from the outside to accept the unit and brackets.

Use masking or Painter's tape to mark off where you want to cut.
Measure twice, cut once.

Figure 7. Making the initial cut.
Figure 8. Fine trimming.

Pro Tip

Use the dimensions of the winch plate as a guide. The cuts you make are where the plate will sit.

Step 6 – Install brackets

Now that all the necessary cuts have been made, the winch brackets can be installed.

Line up the bracket to the holes cut in the unibody.
Insert the rear bracket from behind.
Secure using the bolts from the radiator shroud removed previously.
Tighten using socket or impact wrench.
Repeat on opposite side.

Figure 9. Line up your bracket.
Figure 10. Screw in mounting hardware.

Step 7 – Install winch plate

Now that the brackets are secured into place, the winch plate and accessories can be installed.

Secure winch plate to mounting brackets using provided bolts with socket or impact wrench.
Install accessories using provided bolts using socket or impact wrench.