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Fairlead Below Bumper ?

Discussion in 'Winches' started by Bowbender, Feb 2, 2019.

  1. Mar 12, 2019
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
    Messages:
    1,188
    I would have left it. On top of the frame rails is the classic 8274 mount for a Jeep anyways. On 31's and 33's I'd hit the roller fairlead that was on mine on obstacles before anything else hit. Yours will be lower yet. I don't know how you use the Jeep, so mounting it below the bumper may work for you, but with any off roading planned, you will likely have to learn to "drive around" your low hanging plow of a winch mount. Does the jeep get hot with the winch mounted like it is? I can understand why you'd want to keep the Tux bumper, but if you're taking the Jeep off road, the chance of damaging a rare part like that is pretty high. Why not build a new bumper that bolts on with a fairlead in the middle of the bumper and save the Tux bumper from risk of damage? And if it isn't going off road, does it really need a winch at all?

    Behind that Air Locker sticker is a hole to access the top mounting bolt of the winch.
     

    Attached Files:

    Bowbender likes this.
  2. Mar 14, 2019
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2014
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    561
    I just completed welding up the mounts today. Still need paint and final install.

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Clearance may be an issue, but at this point, I'm going to go with it and see. I plan on mostly trail running/ logging roads type use. I'll avoid the deep mud holes and big rock piles if I can. The winch may be put to work pulling firewood at times.
    The bumper is part of the Tux package, so I'm keeping it on there. It isn't in real great shape, so it won't be a tragedy if it gets damaged. I'll try to avoid wrecking it, but I intend to use the Jeep.
     
  3. Mar 14, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
    Looks great!
     
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  4. Mar 14, 2019
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2014
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    561
    I'll probably put a little fab info and a few more pics in my build thread.
     
  5. Mar 15, 2019
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
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    1,188
    Nice job!
     
    Bowbender likes this.
  6. Mar 16, 2019
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    Looks like you kept the tow bar and got the fairlead mounted at the same height to keep as much clearance and approach angle as possible. Good work!
     
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  7. Mar 16, 2019
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,466
    Here's the last winch that I worked on.

    Progress pics of Scotties Jeep ......

    Now for a top view of installed winch:
    [​IMG]

    Next the Koenig fairlead is installed using the same bumper mount bolts.
    This winch has a special LH gear that allows it to spool cable onto the bottom of drum.
    [​IMG]

    Here you can easily see how low this particular winch sets.
    Low mounting will enhance its usefulness during self extractions.
    [​IMG]

    The ground clearance for the lower winch and fairlead are ideal.
    The relatively narrow drum and fairlead will allow drum to spool cable more neatly during side ling pulls.
    [​IMG]
     
    73 cj5, Bowbender and Focker like this.
  8. Mar 16, 2019
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2014
    Messages:
    561
    I tucked it up under the bumper as tight as I could. I'm just below the shackles with the bottom of the mount. It may save my tie rod if happen to find a stump or rock with it. I will be making a new tow bar to match up with the new mounts / pull points. I think it will be easier than re-working the tow bar I have now.
     
  9. Mar 17, 2019
    melvinm

    melvinm Member

    Arvada Co. 80003
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2012
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    196
    Looks like it sets to low ?
     
  10. Mar 17, 2019
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
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    Nov 14, 2014
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    I guess time will tell....It's all bolt-on, so if it becomes a problem, I'll take it off and try again.
     
  11. Mar 18, 2019
    jeeper50

    jeeper50 jeeps 'till I die

    Spanish Fort. AL
    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2007
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    844
    So that's what y'a'll when it's snowing outside! Seriously they look great and bet they work fine I need to get off my arse and get busy too!
     
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  12. Mar 27, 2019
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2014
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    561
    Turns out I was able to re-use the tow bar I got with the Jeep. Tweaked it a bit, made new mounting ends and cleaned all the old paint off. Tow bar bolts to the "Nerf bar" I made to help protect the winch motor when up. Massaged some of the dents and wrinkles out of the bumper and made mounting brackets for it. Pics of it together, before paint. Parts are all painted now, but it may be a while before I put it all back together.

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  13. Apr 2, 2019
    BadGoat

    BadGoat How High Can You Climb?

    Northern Virginia
    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2017
    Messages:
    326
    Looks good, but I like them higher to keep them out of the dirt. Seems like I'm frequently buried up to the front bumper when i get stuck.

    If you switch to synthetic rope, you can run a hawse type fairlead so you're not constantly digging the rollers into the dirt. It'll also take 30-50 lbs of steel cable off the very front of your Jeep and be easier to work with. You may need to check your winch drum for any abrasions from running cable, but that's really the only change needed to go to synthetic.

    You could also upgrade from the old solenoids to a modern contactor and mount it under the hood to keep that front looking nice and clean. It also helps to keep mud out of the controller socket.

    Mike
     
    bigbendhiker likes this.
  14. Apr 2, 2019
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
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    Nov 14, 2014
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    Yeah, my fairlead is gonna take a beating if I take a digger. The Hawse and synthetic might be a good option. I'm planning on a solenoid set-up under the hood. It's all built and painted now, so I'm going to go with it and see what happens. This was an idea that got in my head, so I built it to get it out of my system, kind of a distraction from getting my rig back on the road, but it had to be done sooner or later. I had fun building it.
    Thanks for the feedback.
     
    Walt Couch likes this.
  15. Apr 2, 2019
    jeeper50

    jeeper50 jeeps 'till I die

    Spanish Fort. AL
    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2007
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    That 5687 sure is shiny, did you polish the housing with a rouge wheel before assy or after
     
  16. Apr 2, 2019
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2014
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    The picture makes it look better than it really is. I cleaned it up, but it has a "patina" to it. I think there is a bit of glare in the pic. The motor is a new replacement.
     
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  17. Apr 3, 2019
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
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    Are you missing a roller on the fairlead?
     
  18. Apr 3, 2019
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
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    No, I had to take a couple off to get the hook through. They will all get put on when I put this all together.
     
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