The plate hasn't arrived yet (they promise delivery will finally be this weekend) but I know it won't fit with the Olympic rock bumper so I'll be spacing the bumper out between 1-1.5 inches to make the winch plate fit. I bought 2.5inch grade 5 carridge bolts, and extra washers, nuts and spacers to do so (boltdepot.com). I'll also need to trim the plate to keep the JCW front grille - will post photos as soon as the plates finally arrives.

 

Keep us posted on the fitment & take lots of pictures.

 

Here's some pictures of it virtually finished. My JK now has the Ares winch plate, Olympic rock bumper with stock fogs, and the JCW grille all mounted together on the front.



You've REALLY got to want to have this threesome set-up to go through the hassles of reworking and shaping the plate and getting new bolts + hardware to fit it together. Buying a winch bumper with large front hoop would be the easy alternative, but I really like the high-mounted JCW grille together with the functional Olympic bumper with fogs and a front hitch, and glad I can now mount a winch with them.

I started by removing the entire front end - the existing bumpers, JCW grille and the painted stock JK grille to test mount the Ares winch plate and get an idea where it fits in relation to the other parts. The winch plate needs to have slots made so the JCW grille upright anchors can be slotted through, so mark those with a sharpie and on both sides drill six 5/16 size holes through the winch plate, then use 14T metal-cutting steel jigsaw blades to cut the excess into a slot shape as in picture below. These jigsaw blades snap easily cutting through the thick steel winch plate so have a extra on hand. Also, my Ares plate didn't line up exactly - the eight front holes (four on each side) for mounting it to the front frame rails needed to be enlarged at the bottom of each hole again using the jigsaw. All holes and slots were sprayed with rust inhibitor.



Next, loosely bolt the winch plate in place using the alan-key bolts provided. I spaced the Olympic bumper out 1inch using an extra nut and a 1/2 inch nylon spacer on the inside of each bolt to provide room for the alan-key tip and allow the winch plate to sit snug on top of the back edge of the Olympic bumper.

Simultaneously getting the eight new 2.5inch long carridge bolts through the frame rail mounting holes then through the winch plate holes was a real PITA ! I can describe this easier verbally if anyone else wants this set-up. Tighten everything up and push the JCW vertical mounts through the new slots, and reattach the JCW grille.

I still have a few more jobs that can wait till warmer weather :
- tidy up the fog light wiring.
- drill a new vertical hole through the winch plate and through the frame rails, and use a 6inch bolt and nut as a secondary anchor for securing the top plate to the frame rails.
- buy a winch !!!
- I expect the winch line will be too close to the light bar rail on the JCW grille, so cut and move that up.

 

Why do you feel you need another set of bolts? doesn't it already bolt to the frame at the bumper also?

 

Yes it does. I know the plate was weakened with the newly drilled slots, I just don't know how much so. The slots are close-by to the single vertical bolt (the alan-key bolt). Maybe its overkill, but I feel it prudent to have the plate anchored again to the frame rails, esp when a 9000lb winch is doing its job.

 

I wouldn't worry about it. Looking at the location and size of the whole, It doesn't look like a high stress concentration area.

 

Smiley did you find a taker for that winch mount yet?

 

who's smiley ??

 

Just so I have this correct:

This plate is the Aries 15722-WP, which can be purchased for $63?
This PLATE needs NO TRIMMING to install on the stock bumper?
The bumper WILL need to be trimmed?
The stock recovery hooks ARE compatible?

If anyone who has installed it verify these to be true, I'll order it tonight!

Thanks!

 

Ok, I just ordered mine. I'll update you guys when I get it installed!

FYI - I ordered over the phone. Per the phone dude, if you order online, you're on the hook for return shipping. If you order over the phone, they'll cover shipping if you return it. (Yeah, the call WAS recorded on my end... I called from work, where we record that shiz) I don't plan on returning it, but if I have to, it's a nice option.