I'm hoping someone who has installed a ton of winch bumpers will have some ideas. I picked up a dent and ding Barricade Trail Force HD bumper for a good price that was supposed to come with hardware. It did not. Too expensive to ship it back. Hardware is on back order. It has these bolt nut combo things that go behind the plate and then into the frame, where most just have the bolts welded on or some version of them already in place. See pics below.







Can I just use bolts and washers? It will be weeks before they get the kit and it gets to me. I get that the little plate probably adds some strength, but wouldn't heavy duty washers and lock nuts do the same?
Thanks for any ideas!! My winch will be here tomorrow and I really want to be back together for the weekend and some time out in the wilderness.

 

I'd submit you are probably better off getting good grade 8 hardware and washers vs the cheap chinese stuff they use anyhow. How thick is the metal there on that bracket where it attaches? It sure doesn't look that thick. Kinda makes you realize what you're really depending on there when you're winching.

 

it's supposed to be 5/32" the bracket area seems slightly thicker than the rest of the bumper.

You think washers on back side of plate and on the frame before the nut?

 

Y, that is what I would do. Outside of keeping two bolts aligned easier, I can't see any function that little plate has. As you noted, most have studs welded into em. Might consider a lock washer or a nylock nut.

 

Thanks for the help thinking it through! Will post a final product!

 

I just did a front winch bumper and kind of ran into the same issue. I just reused the heavy plates that are used for the factory bumper. Maybe they will work in your application?

 

Good suggestion. I think that would work for some, but I have the tow hooks and they would not fit in the gap on the new bumper. I did pick up some 1/2" grade 8 bolts and washers. It took a while but they are all in there. It seems like it's not going anywhere. We'll see after a test run this weekend once winch installed. Still have the kit on back order if it seems to give at all.

There will be a review left....all the pics had the bolt as part of the bumper which would have been nice...I would not have gone with this one had I known...damn expensive shipping to send things back. Se la vie. It worked in the end.

Thank you for your help!