If you are operating on a budget here is a combination you should consider. The bumper is called Pre Runner Tubular Front Bumper


This bumper is available on eBay for $340 delivered. The winch is the Made-In-China sold as Cincinnati and elsewhere. I purchased the 10,000 pounder on sale for $300 at Harbor Freight and used an Internet coupon for an additional 20% off (net $240). Total cost so far is $580.
The bumper is well made with integral skid plate that bolts to the front crossmember and light tabs on the hoop.

The mounting plate which was included with the winch required some surgery before use. The overall length was reduced to 31.5 inches.

Each front corner was notched 1 inch deep and 3 inches wide to allow the mount to slide forward enough so the JK grill can be removed with the winch in place. The mount fits tightly against the back of the recovery hooks using them as additional reinforcement for the mount.

The rear corners were cut at a 45 degree angle to ease insertion of the mounted winch through the brush guard and 4 new 3/4 inch mounting holes were drilled 3 inches from the ends. The winch itself is assembled using factory bolts to the plate. The plate is bolted to the bumper. The use of the factory fog lights limits the through-hole drilling of the bumper and prevented bolting the winch through the bumper and mount.

To provide clearance for the heads of the winch mounting bolts, I fabricated two 3/8 inch thick spacers each of which accomodate two mount-to-bumper bolts, one pair at each end. Wiring is not complete, but an advantage of this bumper is that the reversing starter will mount behind the bumper.

I will post more pictures when the lights and license plate mount are complete.

 

Nice write up! I'm sure there are many JK'ers looking for a strong front bumper and winch combo at a price that wont break the bank. Keep us posted on how it works out long term. 10k winch should pull a little JK just fine.

Ty

 

Looks Good...That Bumper will look even better with some bigger tires.

 

Wow excellent budget find....and looks like a nice design for the money....this is all on ebay to huh....I'll have to look.

 

How many tabs on the bar?

 

I hate to burst your bubble but the winch thats made in china will soon make a nice boat anchor or something you can use to get traction in mud.

 

I will be sure to let you know when that happens. ITMT you go ahead and pay approximately 8 times the price for your Warn. I have both, the Warn is on my Hummer H2. Both have served me well.

 

There are two. Any lights mounted to the tabs would be above the headlights. In Virginia I cannot mount auxiliary lamps on TOP since that would place them above the headlights. I am in the process of mounting rectangular driving lamps BELOW, between the bar and winch. I will wire them so I can use either the stock fog lamps or the add-ons for highway. Offroad I will be able to use them all!

 

How does something thats brand new serve you well? Hell in the pictures its not even mounted yet.
Made in china. Heh!

 

I realize it is all just opinion, but what is wrong with the Made in China winch?

If he does not use it week in and week out and just needs something for a "just in case moment" then as long as he takes care of it it will be just fine. And lets say he replaces it every 2 or 3 years, @ $260 he can buy 5 of them over 12-15 years and still come out ahead.

By the way, take your Warn apart, you will find many parts made in China and Mexico.....thats just the way all products are made now. It may be assembled in USA but the parts come from around the world. Hell our jeeps have China, German and Mexican parts...probably more that I don't know of.