Winch inside stock bumper fzj80

[jwbc84]

Like what you guys are doing. My question, how do you keep the line on your winch stacked nice and neat if you can't see it? If it ends up under a rap, and you make a hard pull, your line can get stuck or damage it self? Been there before winching in the dark.

I ended up notching out the top of the bumper and trimming it out. Gives me decent access to open up the spool and keep an eye on the line. I was in a hurry in fabricating the mounting plate and made it flat. I wish I had made one that allowed the winch to set about an inch higher. That way the winch line would exit higher through the bumper.

 

[TAOTAOMOTNA]

There's a few threads on mounting a winch inside the stock bumper of the 80 and I thought I'd add my two bits.

Years ago, before I bought my cruiser I looked inside the bumper and found a HUGE space to mount a winch. I was excited, and saved up many pennies.

Finally I got a 97 LX450 with 56k miles, but it had a bunch of dents, and smelled like wet dog. Oh well.

I had a Warn M8000 from my 84 toy pickup, so I decided to mount it up. I would have preferred a 10 or 12k winch, but already had this one with a 3/8" synthetic line, so on it goes.

A smittybilt winch mounting plate for a jeep was purchased at a local shop for about $70 then drilled to fit the 80. I would have gotten the harborfreight one, but they wouldn't ship, and I'm up in the Great White North (tm) so smittybilt was the one for me.

The tricky part was lining up the fairlead. I wanted it to sit flush to the bumper, and wanted the winch as far back as possible for center of gravity and minimizing any damage due to accidents. So I made a couple of extensions to move the fairlead away from the winch plate.

I used 2/0 gauge wire and Military type battery terminals to complete the installation.

The solenoid box is mounted on the left framerail until my second battery is installed, at which point it will be mounted between the 2nd battery and the air cleaner so that it stays drier, and is in a more protected spot. I won't be using the wired remote, it's all in-cab until the box is relocated.

Thanks to Slee for the idea to use an antenna switch for in-cab controls, and to 'mud for the pictures of a jdm winch mounted inside the bumper. And Van for sending me a couple switches. They're en-route and not installed yet, but I'm too excited to not share the pics right now.

- Brian
View attachment 481611View attachment 481612View attachment 481613

Sorry so late but just scrounging the parts w/same winch awaiting more parts the dimensions of the plate and the height of fairlead mount bend and health tk looks original tks

 

[Hetsekr]

Was looking to do something similar. Glad I found this thread.