So apparently the OEM winch mount is fairly well known about, but I have just learned of it today. I removed my front bumper, (gave it to my cousin because I wanted to make a high clearance bumper) and while looking around at how to mount my winch, I realized I have the same bolt pattern as the four holes in this picture, which wound up being the factory mounting location. Im not looking for a factory kit, I can reinforce it myself no problem. But while researching I found one post, after an hour of searching, that said you have to use a winch that is made to be pulled directly from its feet. Apparently the ramsy winch that was a factory option was engineered to be pulled that way. I found one guy who said he broke the sun gear from pulling incorrectly like that. I have a Chicago Electric 10k winch (harbor freight). It bolts right up like in the picture, no mods needed. I just dont want to break my winch, anyone actually know anything about this? Because I am having a hard time finding info on directional pulling from the feet...

Link to Bob Webb, Ramsy Engineer, stating he engineered the cherokee factory winch to be pulled in this manner.

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthrea...n+winch&page=2

A link to some pictures of a xj with the factory winch package.

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthrea...6&page=1&pp=15

 

bump

 

Little more to it than just bolting on a wich thru paper thin metal there...http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthrea...n+winch&page=2

 

https://encrypted.google.com/#hl=en&...w=1197&bih=674

 

You must buy or build a winch bumper. And attach it properly thru the frame rails.

That area is too weak.

 

there's a reason why it took you soo long to find anything posted about using the "oem factory winch mount". Simply because its nothing nearly strong enough for any realistic winch to function without destroying your A crossmember

 

I already mentioned in my post that reinforcing it wouldnt be a problem, my question was directed to winch operation, thanks for the useless imput though

 

yes you can use it i love it... i weldes a 1/4" thick plate to it first. Iv winched trees out and iv winched a f250 once and no issues

 

the Factory Parts Manual shows how the original was mounted