Has anybody installed a winch on the LOD mid width front bumper after installing the bumper on the jeep?

The project JK site tells you to install the winch, then lift up the bumper and install it on the jeep. The problem is, I took off my stock bumper before I read this. I ordered my winch, but its on 2 month back order. So, I either have to install the LOD bumper and then take it off again later, or drive around with no bumper (not sure if that's even legal). I'd prefer to not do any of this twice...

 

i have the lod shorty with the hoop and in my directions they said to slip the winch in after it was on, but it should be the same for the mid?

 

I installed my Superwinch EPI9 after installing the bumper and it was a piece of cake. I personally wouldn't do it any other way.

 

I think it might depend on the hoop style (or lack of a hoop) vs. the height of the winch.

I don't have a hoop on mine, and I have a Power Plant (tall winch). I have had it off and on a couple of times, and it's a piece of cake mounting it after the bumper is installed. That might not be the case if I had a low hoop.

-Randy

 

I forgot to mention my bumper is the LOD midwidth with hoop; easy as pie to install winch afterwards.

All this talk about cake and pie is making me hungry:-)

 

You want to Install the winch after you have the bumper on the Jeep. It makes it easier to install the bumper without the winch in the way. The winch will then Just bolt up from the bottom side.

 

Mount the winch after the bumper is on. Taking the grill off before putting the winch in will give you more room to work with.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...&highlight=lod

 

I have the LoD shorty and installed the witch after I had the bumper installed. But for some reason it just didn't look right.

 

I did the LOD middy and put my XD9000I in afterward and also did NOT remove the grille. I just put a towel over the grill when dropping it in, just for protection.

What I didn't do was take it back out after finding out that the fairlead didn't line up perfectly with the winch. I took a 'wait and see' approach and now wished that I had drilled new mounting holes for the winch because it doesn't spool well and is damaging the cable a little as it rolls over on the end that is not covered well by the fairlead.

 

I measured mine up prior to installation fo the Superwinch and found out that the spool would have been off center from the fairlead. I drilled new holes that I believe were about 1/2-3/4" further towards the passenger side. I thought it might have been a Superwinch thing but I guess other winches have the same problems.

Any comments about this from LOD?