I was just going to post a few pics in show and tell, but since I took a slight detour from the instructions provided, I thought I'd post up what I did.

Once the old bumper is removed, the instructions say to rest the winch and plate on the crash bar and temporarily secure with zip ties. This is because the assembly may not fit in the opening after the bumper is installed. Since I was doing this by myself, I didn't want to risk having it fall or be in the way while I was putting the bumper on so I decided to not put it on the crash bar and remove the grill instead.

It only takes a few minutes to get the grill off, but it's nice not having it in the way while doing the install.

There's five or six screws across the top of the grill that need to come off. They won't screw out without a little help, so use a small screwdriver under the screw to get it started unscrewing and then use an upholstery tool to pull the anchors out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5321537287/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5321537257/
Don't try to unplug the wire going to the turn signal, just twist the assembly so the wire connection is point towards the bottom of the grill and it will pop right out with the bulb.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5322138352/
Now you're ready for the bumper, side plates and d-ring mounts.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5321537381/
Put the d-ring mount in the bumper and also put in the top inner bolts. Once you get the bolts through the frame plates, put a nut on them so the bumper won't fall off while your jerking it back and forth getting the other bolts in. Note: Don't tighten any bolts down until the very end.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5321537341/
Now take the inner nuts off and put on the side plates. The winch plate will rest on these side plates.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5321537401/
Here's all the space you have to work with now.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5321537429/
Go ahead and mount the winch to the winch plate. You can rest it on the bumper and make any power connections before dropping it in the bumper.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5322138466/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5321537501/
Now put the winch plate on the side plates, but don't bolt it down. You will need to move the plate towards the front and maybe tilt the winch forward to put the grill back on.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5321537535/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5322138540/
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In addition to the four winch plate bolts, there are four more bolts to install under the bumper. These tie the bumper to the crash bar. If you get the bumper with the center mount winch, you will have two long bolts with sleeves that will connect to the winch plate. If you have the off set winch mount, then you will use one long bolt.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44410265@N02/5322138566/
And here's the finished product.

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

 

Looks great!!

 

Looking good, good work

 

Good write up. They are nice bumpers for the price. I will add to this for anyone getting one for their JK. Check the manufactor's date on the box the bumper comes in. This is the white sticker with a bar code. If it is date anywhere around the summer time of 2008. Check to make sure the driver side bracket for the winch plate is correct. I just did one of these for BLC67 and noticed the bracket was made incorrectly. I contacted OR Fab and they were very helpfull and advised that there was a manufacturing problem around that time frame and sent a new one. You will need the box to get the information that they need off of the white sticker. Besides that a very simple install and a nice bumper.

 

Great write up. I ordered mine and will get it mid January from Northridge.

 

The date stamped on the side of the box I received is 12/15/10. So it's safe to say no one will have the problem you encountered.


I think you'll be happy with your order. I had a full width bumper but was having clearance issues with my 35" MTRs. I wasn't sure about a stubby, but now that it's on, I really like it.

 

Nice write up. Can I ask why you went with the offset mount? Or why they even offer an offset mount??

 

Looks good, and not too difficult

 

Imight be wrong but I believe its for the way the winch spools out?

 

I went with the offset because some of the bigger Warn winches need the offset in order to fit in between the frame. Other brands may need the offset too, but I'm not aware of them. I may bump up to the Warn Powerplant or similar Warn one day so I went with this one to keep from having to buy a bumper again. The MOPAR brand bumper also comes standard with the winch mount offset; there is no option for a center mount. These pics show why better than I can describe it. But if you go with a different brand winch, then the center mount would probably be the better choice.