Does anyone have experience with installing a winch on a stock Sahara bumper?
I have a Demco tow bar set up to tow my JK behind my motorhome. I have looked at some after market bumpers but none seem like I can adapt my tow bar to them.
Any ideas?

 

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12114_300_07.htm

 

Rough Country makes a plate for factory bumpers. I got one for my JK and I think it looks really good. They are a little pricey, I think like 350. But if you are like me and don't want to spend a grand on a bumper you like. It's a good choice.

 

My dad has a tow bar on his JK (not sure what brand tow bar) and he's got the ARB bumper with a winch. So, there's definitely aftermarket bumpers out there that can be adapted with tow bars.

 

OK, here is the deal. I bought a Currie front skid plate and tow bar for about
$149 from NorthRidge 4x4. I understand it will also work with a Demco tow
bar, but I have never seen one and apparently, there are no dealers stocking
Demco products in Oregon or anywhere else close to me.

The Currie skid plate will work with the stock bumper, which is one reason why
I have not upgraded to something more substancial although I believe the
Currie skid plate might also work with the AEV front bumper or any other that
is compatible with the stock air dam, which is what the Currie skid plate and
tow bar adaptor replaces.

As for the winch, just get a $40 Harbor Freight plate and set it on top of the
frame rails of your JK. I re-used the hole on top of the frame the plastic filler
plate bolted to and drilled another couple of holes through the plate and into
the top of the frame, bolted the plate on and trimmed the metal and plastic
parts of the bumper to fit. The next step will be to make my stock bumper into
a stubby because the 37" tires rub the back end of the bumper on steep
downhill turns.



Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

-meljr

 

davebloomer did a cool set up. i think his is the second picture on this thread:

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-show-tell-33/2-doors-37s-club-41359/

 

Check out stoutoffroad.com they have a plate that will fit your stock bumper. I met him at the Carlisle All-Truck Nationals. Good people

 

Just go to your local metal shop and get a piece of metal 32"X15" and build your own winch plate.



I am having a piece welded on today for the fairlead and then she will be done. This winch plate cost me... $10 bucks for bolts. The metal shop gave me the plate out of there scrap

 

whoa, i didn't know a plate alone costs that much. Shell out another ~$200 and you can get a new Mopar bumper winch-ready.

 

Harbor Freight has winch mounts, and mine only cost 29 bucks after my downloaded 20% off coupon