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I want to see more of the cat.
Cats are a dime a dozen. Do you have more pics of how you attached the winch underneath? I can see that you made some sort of plate thing that you attached to the frame ends, right?
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- #5
Red Merle, my cat said to tell you he's worth way more then a dime. Anyway, I'll take the bumper off again tomorrow, so i can get you a few more photos. The Ramsey Pro 9000 winch i mounted was used, it came with a used mounting plate. In my case, that winch mounting plate was made for a CJ5 Jeep. Since it was to short to reach both of my frame rails i had to weld on some scrap 1/2 thick plate to make it reach. As luck would have it, welding on the 1/2 plate worked out in my favor, seeing as i needed to lower my winch mount about 1/2 inch to clear my trans cooler.
Another problem i had was due to the bearing support on the end of my winch motor, it sticks out about an inch from the end of the motor. This problem prevented my winch from sitting in the center of the frame rails. So i had to drill a hole in my frame rail so i could shift the winch over to the passenger side about an inch to center it in the frame.
I know, your thinking gee, most people wouldn't even notice that the flair lead was off center by only an inch. But i noticed, and i wasn't happy about it until i had the winch sitting in the center of my frame.
Another problem i had to overcome was the housing that mounted the winch solenoids. The factory housing was just way to large, plus it mounter on top of the winch, with it mounted there it wouldn't clear the AC condenser, or fit behind the bumper.
So that meant i had to come up with a new solenoid housing, and also find a new place to mount it. I ended up building from scratch, a smaller housing for my solenoids out of sheet metal. The only place i found space for my new solenoid housing, was to mount it on top of my winch motor, this place cleared the bumper, and the AC condenser too.
As you can see, to get a winch to fit the way you want, takes time, and planing. I would like to point out one last thing, REALLY take your time when cutting your bumper, you'll only get one chance to get it right.
Rifleman, Feb 3, 2017
Another problem i had was due to the bearing support on the end of my winch motor, it sticks out about an inch from the end of the motor. This problem prevented my winch from sitting in the center of the frame rails. So i had to drill a hole in my frame rail so i could shift the winch over to the passenger side about an inch to center it in the frame.
I know, your thinking gee, most people wouldn't even notice that the flair lead was off center by only an inch. But i noticed, and i wasn't happy about it until i had the winch sitting in the center of my frame.
Another problem i had to overcome was the housing that mounted the winch solenoids. The factory housing was just way to large, plus it mounter on top of the winch, with it mounted there it wouldn't clear the AC condenser, or fit behind the bumper.
So that meant i had to come up with a new solenoid housing, and also find a new place to mount it. I ended up building from scratch, a smaller housing for my solenoids out of sheet metal. The only place i found space for my new solenoid housing, was to mount it on top of my winch motor, this place cleared the bumper, and the AC condenser too.
As you can see, to get a winch to fit the way you want, takes time, and planing. I would like to point out one last thing, REALLY take your time when cutting your bumper, you'll only get one chance to get it right.
Rifleman, Feb 3, 2017
Looks like the OEM unit available globally.
I was just giving you a hard time about your cat. He's probably worth at least a buck 
My GF and I go round and round about her fleet of cats and I guess I am using this forum as a way to voice my valuation of them vs. doing it with her and getting in trouble.
Thanks for the pics. This looks pretty straight forward and I am probably one of the few that would rather keep the front bumper stock yet still have a winch once I can save up enough to install one. It doesn't really look like you are giving up anything and it looks pretty beefy. Great job!
My GF and I go round and round about her fleet of cats and I guess I am using this forum as a way to voice my valuation of them vs. doing it with her and getting in trouble. Thanks for the pics. This looks pretty straight forward and I am probably one of the few that would rather keep the front bumper stock yet still have a winch once I can save up enough to install one. It doesn't really look like you are giving up anything and it looks pretty beefy. Great job!
are your only attachment points to the frame through the existing lower bolts that attach the rescue-ring thingies (not sure what they are called). Or did you weld the CJ mount plate to the frame also? Think I might have time to work on getting my X20 winch on this weekend finally and looking for some guidance...
sounds good, thanks. How do you access the clutch lever behind the stock bumper? Seems like this is an issue with all behind bumper applications, though i do not see the clutch lever in your pics
Mine is set up similar, but with a Warn XD9000i and a harbor freight plate. I have to open the hood and reach behind the grille.
Edit: I just remembered the only reason I can reach behind the grille is because I had to relocate the transmission cooler to accommodate the taller winch.
Edit: I just remembered the only reason I can reach behind the grille is because I had to relocate the transmission cooler to accommodate the taller winch.
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- Thread starter
- #14
In my case, in order to move the winch clutch lever i have to remove the 2 plastic vents mounted in the bumper. It only requires the removal of 2 Philips screws to remove those vents. Then i can reach inside to connect the winch controller, and disengage the winch clutch lever to un spool the cable. Now i know i could just remove those plastic vents all together to speed things up, but i think the bumper looks better with them installed.
Another thing i have to connect each time i use my winch is the positive battery power cable at the battery. The reason i leave that battery cable disconnected, in the event of a front end collision with the battery cable connected, you can end up crushing that cable, or the winch solenoids.
That can lead to a MAJOR dead short that can cause a fire. Even if you have a fire extinguisher on hand you will not be able to put that fire out until you eliminate the source of ignition. That dead short will keep heating up causing the fire to reignite until the connection is cut. That's the reasons why when fire trucks are called out to a car fire, they like to cut the cars battery cables to remove them as a possible source of re ignition.
Another thing i have to connect each time i use my winch is the positive battery power cable at the battery. The reason i leave that battery cable disconnected, in the event of a front end collision with the battery cable connected, you can end up crushing that cable, or the winch solenoids.
That can lead to a MAJOR dead short that can cause a fire. Even if you have a fire extinguisher on hand you will not be able to put that fire out until you eliminate the source of ignition. That dead short will keep heating up causing the fire to reignite until the connection is cut. That's the reasons why when fire trucks are called out to a car fire, they like to cut the cars battery cables to remove them as a possible source of re ignition.
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davidp14
SILVER Star
very nice! where'd you get the box/cover?
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- #16
The cover that fits over the flair lead came with the winch when i bought it, I'm not sure who it was made by. I can tell you this much, it's not listed on the repair/replacement parts list for my Ramsey winch, so i don't think it came from them.
The cover is made out of some type of plastic, and to get it to fit right I had to cut both sides of it to match the contour of my bumper. The cover has 2 metal spring clips mounted inside it, they just snap over each vertical flair lead roller holding the cover firmly in place.
How has that cat held up? I feel bad about that and I did not mean to offend Mr. Snuggles or Ram Van 3000 Super Sexy, or whatever people are naming their cats these days. I am glad you have that cat.
If you ever want to work by 10% of the world's fresh water, drop me a line. I fully understood the points you were making as far as how to fit things on the 80.
- Thread starter
- #18
Well Red, the cat has held up really well, his name is now button, before that it was just cat. My daughter picked out that name when she moved home after getting her Bachelors degree. And in short order after naming him, she made up her mind that the best place for her "new" cat to live, was inside MY HOUSE. It's a really good thing i love my daughter, because as far as I'm concerned, the best place for a shop cat to live, is OUTSIDE in my shop.
As far as your offer to work by 10% of the worlds fresh water. I'm afraid I'd be a VERY bad influence on you. I'd be wanting to go bass fishing all summer long, then deer, duck, and pheasant hunting in the fall, then after that I'd be wanting to go ice fishing for pike in the winter.
As far as your offer to work by 10% of the worlds fresh water. I'm afraid I'd be a VERY bad influence on you. I'd be wanting to go bass fishing all summer long, then deer, duck, and pheasant hunting in the fall, then after that I'd be wanting to go ice fishing for pike in the winter.
davidp14
SILVER Star
That sounds awesome to me!!
Again strong work on the winch install. I plan to steal your idea in the future.
Yeah, those sound like great influences to me. If we could build(refurb) a boat big enough to get out on Lake Superior, that would be even better. There's all sorts of stuff worth catching out there as well.
Button is a great name for a cat. Rolls off the tongue a little easier than Ram Van 3000 Super Sexy, too.