I have only seen one JK with a hidden winch install and it looked super. The guy on this forum put a t-max winch under the OR-FAB stubby. I am curious if anyone else has done this or thought of doing it. Is there any available solutions or am I just going to have to do it custom?

 

Haven't seen any others besides what you said, I don't suggest it unless it is only for looks.

 

Here is a thread of folks that did a few hidden winch mounts on the factory bumper.

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...ighlight=moint

For the most part, it's going to involve custom work. There are bumpers out there that drop the winch down inside them, like the LOD, but it's not "hidden." To build something so the only visible evidence of the winch in the fairlead on the outside, plan on a day in the garage.

 

Why is that? You should give a reason, not just say, Don't do it. Plenty of others have so why would you not "suggest it unless it's only for looks"?

 

I have seen some bumpers that allow the winch to sit really low. I might just do what was mentioned and make a cover plate for it, so when Im not needing to use it, it will be protected from the elements and such.

 

once i get my bumper finished, i will be cutting that factory bash bar off, and bolt or welding a plate on the bottom of the frame rails. that should bring a winch down pretty far. there is no reason why you couldn t hide a winch and use it. hell look at some roll backs, you can t even see the damn things because the recess them into the bed.

 

Someone did a very nice job installing a winch into the factory front bumper. I'm sure someone can add the link to this thread.

EDIT: I see someone already did. I just checked it out again and it looks better than I remember. The only thing I would have done was add door edge molding to the bumper where it was cut around the roller fairlead.

 

The reason is the following -- when a winch cable binds it is difficult enough to un bind when you are sitting on level ground in your garage. If your winching yourself out or a buddy you might be in a unlevel sitution with poor footing etc. Considering that footing it would be more difficult to unbind the cable. Now add the fact that your winch is enclosed in the bumper, and if something binds or even sounds funny you can't see it. So I wouldn't suggest it because when I need to utilize a winch it usually isn't in a pleasant situation and I don't want to add complication to the existing problem.

 

Here is the link to the Or Fab. https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...ght=Fab+bumper