Winch Install

Saturday was a lovely day for modding on the Jeep. Didn't think it would take me from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to install this beast of a winch, but when you have a team of one you make do (the Mrs. was in class).

Fair warning - kinda long post, but hopefully helpful!

Researched, ordered, and received the winch I wanted to install on the front end. I ended up with the Badlands Apex 12K Winch. Comes with synthetic rope and wireless remote (cord also). Researched (thanks forum people) and ordered the Maximus-3 JL Winch Plate and Hook Anchor. Also, ordered the JL Trim Plates from Maximus-3.

Began the install by disconnecting all electrical connectors (one for the OEM fog lights and one for the aftermarket Rigid lights I installed).


Then, removed the bumper (and skid-plate) and installed the Maximus-3 JL Winch Plate. Installed the winch. Winch takes up ALOT of acreage...more on that in a bit.


Noticed right away the power cable coming out of the winch control assembly was going to be, either, squashed or moved if I were to continue. I chose squashed...no issues as it turned out. I put a small piece of rubber material between the cable and the front of the grill.


Wired everything up and placed the winch cutoff switch under the hood on the left side near the battery. Tested the electrical and the winch worked perfectly. Installed the Maximus-3 spacer plates on the bumper and reinstalled the bumper (recommend getting an additional set of hands as it was a PITA to do by myself). Got the bumper all buttoned up and nuts torqued properly. Installed the hook anchor and fairlead (gonna switch to a black one at some point). Installed the hook and tightened up the assembly.




It was at this point that I realized I was (fill in the word here)! See the clutch handle? Yes? Keep looking at the pics...



Uh oh...



CRAP!! Good news is that it is in the "engaged" position, so when I need the winch I can just spool it out using the remote. Bad news is that I'm either buying a new after-market bumper or conducting a little "fabrication". Haven't decided yet. Also, you'll no doubt notice the hole in the bumper in the above pic. That is where I removed the plate that goes there when you don't have a winch. TIP - either reinstall/install your fog/driving lights BEFORE you put the bumper back on, or...you can buy these things called "U-nuts" (or spire nuts). I ended up having to do this and it worked perfectly to reinstall my amber fog lights.

All-in-all, satisfied with the install. That is one big farging winch! Reconnected everything and this is the finished product.




New wheels are going on today! Cheers!

Not to criticize but I can't help mentioning you bought a $80,000 Jeep and a Harbor Freight winch!

I have a Q-tech winch on my LJR. I have used it at least a dozen times, some for removing my and neighbors shrubs. I guess I could live with not being able to free spool as I dont use it all that often. I am a fan of the JL rubicon steel bumpers so I hope not to get rid of mine.

Wait, I have a Harbor Freight winch for hoisting my LJ hardtop! Forget what I said.

If the clutch handle will come off would you be able to rotate it where it will swing toward the grill? Or fabricate a handle so it clears the bumper.

Cut the handle to a “T”.

I did the same install.
No issues.

Viking Jeeper said:

Not to criticize but I can't help mentioning you bought a $80,000 Jeep and a Harbor Freight winch!

I have a Q-tech winch on my LJR. I have used it at least a dozen times, some for removing my and neighbors shrubs. I guess I could live with not being able to free spool as I dont use it all that often. I am a fan of the JL rubicon steel bumpers so I hope not to get rid of mine.

Wait, I have a Harbor Freight winch for hoisting my LJ hardtop! Forget what I said.

Click to expand...

@Viking Jeeper - Yep...I figured I would hear something like that! No worries! I have two other smaller Badland (Harbor Freight) winches - one on my car-hauler trailer (going on 3 years now with no issues), and one on my UTV (about 2 years now with no issues). I usually stick with what-works until it starts having multiple issues, then I move on to the next best thing that works. So far, these HF winches have given me zero grief. If they do, I'll replace them. Simple.

Jeepstin392 said:

I did the same install.
No issues.

Click to expand...

@Jeepstin392 - you didn't have issues with the clutch handle? Do you have your factory bumper on your 392?

Correct.
No issues

RugbyRef said:

@Jeepstin392 - you didn't have issues with the clutch handle? Do you have your factory bumper on your 392?

Click to expand...

Correct on both.
No contact with the clutch handle to the factory bumper.
I saw that on your post and was wondering. Given supply chain issues, they likely changed something.
Bought my winch last October.

@RugbyRef . It appears to me if the winch was just slightly higher the only interference would be with your grill guard hoop.

Viking Jeeper said:

@RugbyRef . It appears to me if the winch was just slightly higher the only interference would be with your grill guard hoop.

Click to expand...

This. And likely the winch plate you used. I used the JCR. I had their bumpers on my JK and just defaulted to them for the winch plate. Maybe the JCR plate sits just high enough to clear?
@RugbyRef Which winch plate did you use?

Jeepstin392 said:

This. And likely the winch plate you used. I used the JCR. I had their bumpers on my JK and just defaulted to them for the winch plate. Maybe the JCR plate sits just high enough to clear?
@RugbyRef Which winch plate did you use?

Click to expand...

All good conclusions guys! I used the one from Maximus-3. I'm going to fab a new clutch handle here at work on our CNC. I'll let you all know the outcome. I don't really want to cut into the bumper.

RugbyRef said:

All good conclusions guys! I used the one from Maximus-3. I'm going to fab a new clutch handle here at work on our CNC. I'll let you all know the outcome. I don't really want to cut into the bumper.

Click to expand...

The JCR came with spacers to raise the winch in case they were needed.
I didn’t use them and they’re two plates, 5mm thick.
I suspect that probably the amount of space you need.
Bolts are likely long enough. You could easily fab your own.

RugbyRef said:

All good conclusions guys! I used the one from Maximus-3. I'm going to fab a new clutch handle here at work on our CNC. I'll let you all know the outcome. I don't really want to cut into the bumper.

Click to expand...

Absolutely! If I had access to a CNC I would be making all kids of stuff.

RugbyRef said:

Saturday was a lovely day for modding on the Jeep. Didn't think it would take me from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM to install this beast of a winch, but when you have a team of one you make do (the Mrs. was in class).

Fair warning - kinda long post, but hopefully helpful!

Researched, ordered, and received the winch I wanted to install on the front end. I ended up with the Badlands Apex 12K Winch. Comes with synthetic rope and wireless remote (cord also). Researched (thanks forum people) and ordered the Maximus-3 JL Winch Plate and Hook Anchor. Also, ordered the JL Trim Plates from Maximus-3.

Began the install by disconnecting all electrical connectors (one for the OEM fog lights and one for the aftermarket Rigid lights I installed).
View attachment 4711

Then, removed the bumper (and skid-plate) and installed the Maximus-3 JL Winch Plate. Installed the winch. Winch takes up ALOT of acreage...more on that in a bit.
View attachment 4712

Noticed right away the power cable coming out of the winch control assembly was going to be, either, squashed or moved if I were to continue. I chose squashed...no issues as it turned out. I put a small piece of rubber material between the cable and the front of the grill.
View attachment 4713

Wired everything up and placed the winch cutoff switch under the hood on the left side near the battery. Tested the electrical and the winch worked perfectly. Installed the Maximus-3 spacer plates on the bumper and reinstalled the bumper (recommend getting an additional set of hands as it was a PITA to do by myself). Got the bumper all buttoned up and nuts torqued properly. Installed the hook anchor and fairlead (gonna switch to a black one at some point). Installed the hook and tightened up the assembly.
View attachment 4715

View attachment 4716

It was at this point that I realized I was (fill in the word here)! See the clutch handle? Yes? Keep looking at the pics...

View attachment 4717

Uh oh...

View attachment 4718

CRAP!! Good news is that it is in the "engaged" position, so when I need the winch I can just spool it out using the remote. Bad news is that I'm either buying a new after-market bumper or conducting a little "fabrication". Haven't decided yet. Also, you'll no doubt notice the hole in the bumper in the above pic. That is where I removed the plate that goes there when you don't have a winch. TIP - either reinstall/install your fog/driving lights BEFORE you put the bumper back on, or...you can buy these things called "U-nuts" (or spire nuts). I ended up having to do this and it worked perfectly to reinstall my amber fog lights.

All-in-all, satisfied with the install. That is one big farging winch! Reconnected everything and this is the finished product.

View attachment 4719
View attachment 4720

New wheels are going on today! Cheers!

Click to expand...

Getting ready to do the same install. Thanks for the pics. Also, what is the brand and style of your tubular grill guard?

Hokie Eng said:

Getting ready to do the same install. Thanks for the pics. Also, what is the brand and style of your tubular grill guard?

Click to expand...

You're welcome! The grill guard is a Maximus-3 JL XLP Hoop (https://maximus-3.com/home/maximus-3-jl-xlp-hoop).

Moral of the story, when you see the word Badlands and thats a model of the Abortion Bronco, you probably should have passed

RugbyRef said:

You're welcome! The grill guard is a Maximus-3 JL XLP Hoop (https://maximus-3.com/home/maximus-3-jl-xlp-hoop).

Click to expand...

BTW, a little secret here.

The Maximus 3 alp hoop leans forward and most lights come in to contact with them.

The new Rigid Adapt XP fits like a hand in a glove with that bar. I just got them and love them and I am a Baja Designs guy.

and the Adapts have a lifetime warranty

a little hard to get right now but worth the wait.

Smess said:

BTW, a little secret here.

The Maximus 3 alp hoop leans forward and most lights come in to contact with them.

The new Rigid Adapt XP fits like a hand in a glove with that bar. I just got them and love them and I am a Baja Designs guy.

and the Adapts have a lifetime warranty

a little hard to get right now but worth the wait.

Click to expand...

Super helpful, much appreciated. They are on back order unfortunately have to wait. But I'll do the winch.
BTW I received my 392 last Friday after 7 months wait. Maine.

I just did the same install this last weekend, used the Warn winch plate. Had the exact same issue with the clutch handle not clearing the bumper, so I did a little trimming to accommodate, and used some edge trim to clean it up.

Hokie Eng said:

Super helpful, much appreciated. They are on back order unfortunately have to wait. But I'll do the winch.
BTW I received my 392 last Friday after 7 months wait. Maine.
View attachment 5631

Click to expand...

Here you go.

I will get a shot from the back, they are angled on the back like they were made to fit the Maximus Bar.