So I have decided to lay out the money for a winch. DO I HAVE to buy a mounting plate or is it possible to mount it on a stock bumper set up? I was pretty bummed when I saw mounting plates in the $300 to $400 range for a JK. What gives?

 

i put a winch in my wifes stock bumper. i found the same when i was shopping for a mount. i decided to make my own out of 1/4" plate steel. pretty much just a flat piece spanning the frame rails. i just welded a bracket for the fairlead and was done with it. all the mounts i found were 3/16". and very expensive. it came out pretty sweet. i took some tips from a thread on the forum here about a winch in a stock bumper.

 

RCX makes a winch bracket for the stock bumper. I put one on my JK and it's pretty sweet! Paid $189.