I tried to find most of these questions by search but
can't find the answers I am looking for.

Does anyone have this bumper without a winch.
Northern winters are hard on things and I don't know if
a winch will hold up to all the salt used on the roads.

And any pictures with a front license plate?

Thanks

 

It looks just fine without a winch I think. I've since added a winch, but felt it looked just fine without one in there. If keeping a winch in good shape is your concern, you can always get a cover for it.

 

I've got the AEV w/out the winch... Click on the link under my Avatar to go to my gallery and there is a photo that shows what it looks like w/a license plate I put on there.

 

Here is one w/ winch .... rocdogfab.com makes the license plate bracket

 

SaharaBlack: Are those the factory fogs?
Thanks

 

Smith's Falls, eh? My parents live near Kemptville.

Given the amount of crud that is used on the roads in Eastern Ontario, I have three suggestions.

#1. Get a good winch cover and a bumper that will allow you to cover the winch, line and fairlead completely with it. You may be able to use a winch cover with a full width bumper that "hides" the winch like an AEV or ARB...but I'm not at all sure about that. I don't think that you could expect a bumper like that to protect your winch from the elements as well as a good cover.

#2. Get a winch that has good seals - the 9.5ti comes to mind.

#3. Every time the weather gets mild in the winter, pull the cover off and take a look. If any crud or grime has gotten past your winch cover, give it a thorough cleaning with water.

Also bear in mind that you can make your own winch cover pretty easily.

#1. Pick up a set of EMT shears, a "sewing awl" and some "freesole" from MEC in Ottawa.

#2. Pick up a heavy-duty BBQ cover and a grommet kit from your local Ukranian Tire.

#3. Decide what shape and size you need your winch cover to be. Maybe use some old towels or something similar to experiment. Fit curved and/or straight pieces together as you see fit to get the shape you want. If there's anyone in your family that sews, now is the time to get their advice. The simpler the pattern the better...fewer seams to leak.

#4. Cut out pieces of the BBQ cover according to the pattern you decided on

#5, Stitch the pieces together with the awl from MEC.

#6. Seal the backside of each seam with the "Freesole" urethane compound.

#7. Use the grommet kit to put grommets in the bottom edge of the cover so that you can use bungee cords to hold it in place.

You can also save yourself a lot of work if you can find a spare tire cover off an old ZJ. If you trim the bottom section off, they will fit over most winches very well, and you just have to add the grommets. I used that method and I had mine built in about twenty minutes. It's handled an Alberta winter without a hiccup.