Originally Posted by prey23

Attachment 115331
After some feedback and a little more research on a stubs, I've narrowed my choices to Pure Jeep Stubby or OR Fab. I'm leaning more toward the OR-Fab stubby non-winch/light bar. I wanna keep the front end as light as possible with the aftermarket installed, considering i'll prob have to settle with stock components until i hit the lottery..

Also, i couldn't get enough of photoshop..So, i found someone with a similar setup and modified it to what mine would look like..

To the owner of the jeep depicted, Don't be mad at me

Originally Posted by mpkelley20

I had issues with my Smitty winch when using the correct mounting holes. The issue I have was the failrlead bolts were too long so I could not have the fairlead installed with everything tight and the winch mounted as well....just not enough room. I tried flipping the bolts over but it was still too long. I ended up grinding the bolts down at least 1/4" in order for the winch to fit correctly with the fairlead attached. Once I grinded them down, no issues!

Not sure why Smittybilt made the fairlead bolts so long? LOL!!! I'm just glad I was at my father's house when I did this since he had a table top grinder which made it easier to do and keep the threading in tact!

If you were unable to get yours to fit and you used the right side holes (the one for the Warn Powerplant) you wil probably want to fix that before you do any serious pulls. You definitely want your winch centered from what I've been told....or more to the point...yelled at when I first posted pics of my not so cenetered winch! If its jst a matter of the fairlead bolts getting in the way, grind them down like I did and you will be all set.

Originally Posted by mpkelley20

Originally, I wanted full coverage because I need it to be legal in MA. But I wanted a stubby for off-roading. With the XHD bumper, I can have both and the end caps can easily be put on or taken off.

Originally Posted by prey23

Thanks man..you got me thinking of another factor that I was oblivious to, the laws on stubby bumpers.

I searched my hometown regs and it seems as if the only restriction on bumpers is dependent on the amount of lift. Here it's limited to 30" max to bottom of bumper.

Anyone know laws on how far a bumper should/shouldn't stick out? or am i overthinking this now..

Originally Posted by JK-jeepit

Thanks,,, that is what I'll have to do also.. or buy different ones..
My dad also has a grinder.... I didn't even notice the centering until I saw your picture.... wow how did I not notice that...

thanks

Originally Posted by Phantasm

I installed the bolts with the heads toward the winch threads out, with the washers it flushes up nicely on the front side. I used a thin wall socket to tighten it down. You could also just jam a large flathead screwdriver in there to lock up the nut against the fairlead until the lockwasher grabs.

I did install the fairlead before the winch, an absolute must. I did not remove the bumper to install the winch and with a second set of hands had absolutely no issue getting it installed. I did use a box wrench loop side/slipped over the end of my ratchet handle to tighten up the bolts underneath to gain extra leverage (essentially a helper bar).

And Yes I used the left side holes and the winch frame is jammed up right against the head of that bolt to the fairlead.

Originally Posted by Kneetard

I've read that the rear XHD bumper w/ the tire carrier is a POS and rattles a lot. Is this true? I've seen a couple of off handed remarks like this, so I'd appreciate any feedback. I was all set to order up XHD bumpers and I read those posts. Now I'm all

Originally Posted by JDScott10

I've got it. Love the look and add ed beefiness, but the mechanism that is used to swing the gate is a POS...I'm probably going to see if RR rep will hook a brother up with a new one