Rear winch installation project
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 506
Likes: 0
From: Beaconsfield, QC
Rear winch installation project
I (well actually my wife) was lucky enough to win a Superwinch epi9 (synthetic) at the Maine Jeep Jamboree last year. Of course I was delighted for her, but sad at the same time as she does not have a Jeep to put it on. 
She said she might mount it to the front of her Volvo, but common sense prevailed and a rear winch project was born. Basically, I would mount the new winch up front and re-mount the old one “somewhere at the back”.
Full Disclosure: Apart from some meaningless sketches and lots of hand-waving, the design and execution of this project was in the good hands of National 4WD in Montreal. They deserve lots of credit for their patience and dedication to this project.
Anyways, the plan was to mount the old T-Max winch upside down on a fabricated mount attached to the frame with the line exiting through my Rugged Ridge XHD rear bumper. My intent was to tuck the winch out of harm’s way as much as possible.
The exhaust had already been relocated by installing the MBRP exhaust. However, the rear trunk and jack ‘cubby’ had to go.
A fabricated winch mounting plate was welded to the frame with supporting cross-members. As part of the project, a rear Currie Ant-Rock sway bar was also installed. As you can see, the mounting plate was located so as not to interfere with the torsion bar (for sake of a better term).
A floor for the trunk was fabricated and welded in. Access to the winch mounting bolts was added if, for whatever reason, the winch needs to be removed.
The winch control box was installed where the sub-woofer would have been. I wanted easy access to this (and out of the elements).
The Rugged Ridge XHD rear bumper was cut to accept the hawse fairlead. The vertical surface of this bumper provided an ideal mounting point.
And finally, some pictures of the finished install and some poser pics!
She said she might mount it to the front of her Volvo, but common sense prevailed and a rear winch project was born. Basically, I would mount the new winch up front and re-mount the old one “somewhere at the back”.
Full Disclosure: Apart from some meaningless sketches and lots of hand-waving, the design and execution of this project was in the good hands of National 4WD in Montreal. They deserve lots of credit for their patience and dedication to this project.
Anyways, the plan was to mount the old T-Max winch upside down on a fabricated mount attached to the frame with the line exiting through my Rugged Ridge XHD rear bumper. My intent was to tuck the winch out of harm’s way as much as possible.
The exhaust had already been relocated by installing the MBRP exhaust. However, the rear trunk and jack ‘cubby’ had to go.
A fabricated winch mounting plate was welded to the frame with supporting cross-members. As part of the project, a rear Currie Ant-Rock sway bar was also installed. As you can see, the mounting plate was located so as not to interfere with the torsion bar (for sake of a better term).
A floor for the trunk was fabricated and welded in. Access to the winch mounting bolts was added if, for whatever reason, the winch needs to be removed.
The winch control box was installed where the sub-woofer would have been. I wanted easy access to this (and out of the elements).
The Rugged Ridge XHD rear bumper was cut to accept the hawse fairlead. The vertical surface of this bumper provided an ideal mounting point.
And finally, some pictures of the finished install and some poser pics!
Last edited by Trick Cyclist; May 2, 2011 at 10:57 AM.
JK Junkie
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,942
Likes: 0
From: Valencia, CA
I must admit that I started reading your post as a skeptic and I really tried to find reasons why I would not like the setup. I could not find one reason not to like it. Very good job!
From a usefulness point of view, I'll tell you that there have been several times that I've been on trails and would have rather used a winch over a strap to rescue a vehicle behind me, but there was no room to turn around.
From a usefulness point of view, I'll tell you that there have been several times that I've been on trails and would have rather used a winch over a strap to rescue a vehicle behind me, but there was no room to turn around.
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Spokane, WA
I must admit that I started reading your post as a skeptic and I really tried to find reasons why I would not like the setup. I could not find one reason not to like it. Very good job!
From a usefulness point of view, I'll tell you that there have been several times that I've been on trails and would have rather used a winch over a strap to rescue a vehicle behind me, but there was no room to turn around.
From a usefulness point of view, I'll tell you that there have been several times that I've been on trails and would have rather used a winch over a strap to rescue a vehicle behind me, but there was no room to turn around.
Trending Topics
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Gulfport
That is sweet. But why wouldn't you mount it to a plate and then make a mount to slide into a 2' receiver hitch? Then you could stow it or put a slider on until you needed it. Either way that is nice man.