I have a (up until now) stock 2010 Rubicon. My darling wife bought me a warn.com/truck/winches/src/M8000.shtml winch and smittybilt.com/product/index/64.htm winch plate to go with my stock bumper.

Has anyone installed this combination? As this is my first winch and Jeep mod, I'm daunted by the lack of cohesive installation instructions. I finally got the winch plate installed probably correctly (the instructions are quite vague in parts, flat-out wrong in others, and just-about-impossible-to-achieve in one spot). The 59 page installation instruction booklet is 3 pages of warnings, two circuit diagrams, a couple pictures showing that bolts go into holes with lock washers...and then in repeats it in many languages. There isn't a single picture of the fairlead, discussion of which direction to mount the winch (does it matter?).

So...if someone happened to have exactly this combination installed, I'd love to see a pic or two to guide me down the path of finger loss and self-discovery!

Oh, and if you are a burly man who has installed this winch plate, tell me how you bolted it to the frame without the help of a slender-wristed, long-fingered wife to reach the washers and nuts up inside!

 

Sorry--Phrogz-- i cant help with any pics BUT try using the search function I saw a pretty cool set up with the stock bumper but cant remember when it was. I was thinking of doing the same thing. I should keep better track of these things.

 

Good luck with your project. I for one have a hard time with the idea of placing a winch on a stock JK bumper, as they are only plastic with some metal reinforcements. It seems like you might have been better served by holding onto the gift of winch and mount until you could replace the front bumper with something that is actually made to handle the 90+ pounds of additional weight. You are really going to add to the front slope of the JK with that on there.
All that said, I do hope it comes out o.k. for you, and yes, please submit some pics so we can all see it.

 

Any pics yet?

 

Do an advanced search with "winch stock bumper" and select to search titles only. It brings up a whole page of threads on this type of thing.

Here is a pic I copied off a post that shows the Smittybilt plate with a Smittybilt winch on stock bumper.

 

Sorry dont have any info about install since i bought the jeep as is but here is a pic with m8000 and stock bumper

 

I've taken the pics, but not yet posted. I had planned to write up a big thorough illustrated guide to the process…but what use is a guide for creating something that doesn't work?

The SmittyBilt winch plate model #2804 does work with the stock bumper (albeit it's a pain to put on). And I was able to successfully install the Warn M8000 winch onto it, despite their best efforts to provide the skimpiest documentation possible.

However...the plate is too small for the winch. Specifically, the slot in the front of the plate is significantly more narrow than the fairlead. When attempting to pre-tension the rope I found it scraping against the side of the slot. It was unable to spool smoothly onto the winch as a result.



I'm annoyed that I didn't notice this (or know to look for it) during installation, but more annoyed that the salesperson suggested and sold the pair to my wife.

I will probably still do a write-up, since I have good pics of the plate installation and winch separately.

 

Contact Smittybilt, they're pretty responsive. Seems like you've got three options,

1) Return the Warn winch for a Smittybilt that is presumed to fit better
2) Get a replacement winch plate from Smittybilt that has a larger slot
3) Get someone to enlarge the slot

Good luck.

 

I contacted SmittyBilt and got no response from them. The salesperson ("Kirk") who sold my wife the plate/winch pair investigated independently and is also in contact with SmittyBilt. SmittyBilt's response is not locked down yet, but Kirk has confirmed that:

1. my plate is not an anomaly, and
2. there is a problem with the design of the plate.

I've put up a video more clearly showing how the SmittyBilt #2804 winch plate does not fit with the fairlead here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z51hCaJXM6M

So, it looks like I need to return the winch plate (after cutting my stock bumper to make it fit) and get a replacement plate and bumper. Oy! Rather disappointing, as I've taken on a) trees, and b) vehicle collisions with my stock bumper so far and the soft bumper did little damage to what I was hitting and no lasting damage to my jeep. I know that a big slab of metal looks cooler, but I want something more functional.

Any recommendations for bumpers? The salesperson said that many people like Hansen, and he personally likes the Rock Hard bumper.

 

Are you looking for a full-width, mid-width or stubby? I just installed an OR-Fab stubby a couple weeks ago and really like it. I had a full width before and wasn't sure I would like a stubby. But I went for it and am very pleased with the results. The winch mount bumpers come with a winch plate so there's no need for a separate purchase. I went with an off-set mount because I may bump up to a powerplant one day. Otherwise, I would have gotten the center mount. The bumpers aren't that expensive and they get bonus points from me for being made in the USA.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5321537653/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5322138658/