Anyone that has installed a winch directly to their bumper have any issues when it came to mounting the winch?
Specifically I have 8 holes pre drilled in my bumper to mount a few different types of winch. I can line up everything ok with a WARN 9.5ti but the winch mounting bolts are a little smaller than the mounting holes. Any ideas or suggestions besides drilling new holes. They would be too close to the other ones and I don't believe the integrity of the bumper would be any good with a winch mounted so close to a bunch of holes in the bumper.

 

No problems like that at all on my shrockworks.

What kind of bumper is it?

 

Highrock Narrow

 

Can't see your sig on my phone, are you talking about mounting it aftermarket or stock bumper, with or with out winch plate? Thanx

 

Hey Frog, I have an aftermarket that does not require a winch plate.

 

If they have washers I would put it in the holes that are there its not going to affect anything. If you are worried about the winch moving around because of the holes being big it shouldn't because the winch only pulls one way so if its at the front of the holes there is no where to go. If you are worried the bolts are to small and will pull through go buy bigger grade 8 bolts

 

You could go to any hardware store and get bigger grade 8 bolts and the nuts to go with them.

 

I have Grade 8 hardware available, the problem is the thread pitch still has to match the one internally on the winch itself. I may be able to use bolts that have a longer shank and threads that do not go up all the way to the head of the bolt, going to try that this afternoon. You should not just place washers on both sides, I know the bolts are not going to get 'pulled' through the mounting holes, but having a smaller bolt when the winch is under load and whether or not it is pulled to the front of the bumper is a bad idea.

Thanks for the comments and I will let you know how it works out, hopefully get it on there.

 

Don't over think it, use the holes that match up, washers if necessary, torque To spec and call it a day.


Merlinn

 

I have the same bumper and had the same problem! I just had a friend drill new holes for me. He works at a steel shop and said that the holes would not cause a problem. So far have not had to use my winch. But I have full faith in my friends working knowledge of steel. Carefully measure and mark the holes and drill them out. Measure twice cut once. In this case due to expence of the bumper measure three times