How did you attach your Harbor Freight winch plate to the frame?
 

Who has the Harbor Freight winch plate? How did you attach it to the frame? I have the winch plate, and a brand new XRC8 winch in the garage and I'm needing to get it installed!

There are quite a few threads on this. You have to use the search feature.

I didn't find anything that showed how to attach the Harbor Freight winch plate. I'm hoping somebody can help.

I am not sure if the plates are exactly the same. I have a Champion winch and winch plate. Very generic, I cut the bumper to fit around the plate. I mounted it right to the top of the frame rails. I did have to drill one hole on each side. It fit tight to the top of the rails. There were three bolts throught the top layer of the frame rail on each side. very secure. the plate ws the same width as the frame rails. I have since changed bumpers. I hope this helps. good luck

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/me...b_2007_007.jpg

I drilled new holes in the plate and used 4 grade 8 u-bolts running around the frame rails. It was pretty low on the hassle scale, and it's solid.

edit- I did have to trim off the rear "lip" to keep it from interfering with the painted grill.

Did you run your bolts all the way to the bottom side of the frame rails, or did you just put a nut under the top of the rail and bolt it there? Did you drill all the way through the frame rail, top and bottom? How long were the bolts?

I have the same "universal mount" (actually two) sitting in my shed. I could not figure it out either so I mounted the winch to the bumper instead of the frame.

Good questions, wondering the same thing.

want to sell one?

hell if you come to the beach run on sat i will give you one

X2...wondering this myself. One more question since I haven't had the factory bumper off yet. Would it be possible to mount the plate on the bottom of the frame rail so the winch would sit a little lower and between the rails?

Thanks,
Bill

The grade 8 bolts I used go thru just the top of the frame rail I had to cut a small gap in the front end of the rail to reach in to hold the nuts. I dont remember if there were 3 or 4 per side. It worked great. Then I found a $200.00 rock racer bumper at Teraflex. It has the winch mount built in. I added D ring mounts installed oem fogs. total of $300.00. Sorry I dont have any photos yet.

where is it at? If it is a beach run it must be a ways from me... I am way up in Texarkana, you in H-town?

I used the H.F. universal plate. If you take the front bumper plastic cover off, the front of the frame rails are open. I put tape on one side of a box end wrench and put the nut in it- then just stick the wrench into the frame rail and line it up to start the bolts from the top.
Of course my plate is upside down but it works the same!
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/bumper_001.jpg

Awesome job!:thumbsup:

I mounted a hf plate on mine.

I used a pair of 6 1/2 inch number 8 bolts and drilled the frame rails. One to a side. Then five bolts across the bumper sheet metal.

I know the bumper sheet metal is not particularly strong but with five bolts holding the plate to it and a pair of anchors through the rails it is securely mounted. No distortion or bending.

Some Pictures
 

I used a Harbor Freight plate, I took a few pictures of the frame that may help. [http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z...ry_2007/winch/

link doesn't work

update
 

http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z...ry_2007/winch/

This should work.

not to get off topic but how did you do your stubby and do you have any pics pf the process?