For those of you who have the winch plate from BudBuilt did it come with a set of instructions? Mine just came with the plate and two large u-bolts with a washer and nut on either end.

My understanding from looking through Harper's install pics is that it should be relatively straight forward and bolt-on. That being said, I would love to be familiar with the install steps to make sure I'm confident in what needs to be done and that I have all of the right parts (i.e. do I need additional bolts or are there ones on the frame that I'll be utilizing?) before I take the front bumper off my truck. Much tougher to get to the hardware store in that condition.

Thanks, looking forward to getting my new Warn M8000-S installed!

Don't know - sorry but that is the exact same set up as I'm doing. Please do post pics along the way as you are doing the install.

Did you try emailing BudBuilt to see if there's a PDF or something they can send you? The last time I emailed them Bud replied within an hour.

I sent them an email via their website the day before yesterday but hadn't heard back yet. I figured I would tap the vast knowledge here as well. I'll follow-up with Bud again here shortly too.

[email protected]

May take a day or three but he will reply.

I talked to Bud on Monday and he mentioned he still had 318 emails to catch up on due to the a huge influx he received over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Give him a few days to catch up and I'm sure he'll respond.

Hi Ryan, In another post I requested pictures of the plate and the mounting hardware just for this reason. Which I never received any.

Being a Aerospace Stress/Design Engineer and a avid wheels for many years; I have picked up a weird personal Traits. Which is...I need to see how things are engineered before I buy an item that may possibly save my life or someone else.

I have seen pictures of Haper's rig, but it's not what I am looking for. I want to see the thing before the winch is mounted on it.

RyanC: Would you be able to provide pictures of just the mount and it's hardware?

Thanks

Yeah, I figured he was busy and based on the great feedback from everyone here was confident that I'll hear from him when he's able. Thanks for the update.

Nachies: I can definitely post a couple of pics but it will have to wait until I get home. I'll try to get it up tonight or tomorrow. I will say though that it is very solid and well made so I don't have any qualms about using it for its intended purpose.

I just got my winch in today (Warn VR8000s) and I will be putting it in tomorrow. I will post pics of it if that helps. I wanted to start tonight, but looks like it might rain here.. And it's freakin cold.

RyanC & 2JZTT:
That would be great. Thank you guys.

I didn't get any instructions but then I didn't really need any as I've had my front apart so many times. Once you get the front bumper cover off I think it should be kind of self explanatory.
My winch plate is kind of a one off as it's the original prototype that was fitted on Gadgets truck for a Hawse fairlead then modified for a roller fairlead by cutting and welding a new front lip on to the measurements I sent him.

One tip I can give you is the existing bolts(either 12 or 14mm) that you use that connect the bumper extension to the frame horn(end) are very tight. Use a breaker/cheater bar or long box end wrench of the correct size so you strip them. I forget the torque but it's in the repair manual or use the old german torque spec of goot'n'tight.

I personally and purposely didn't want to give away too much info,pics and specs on an open forum out of respect for Bud's design and as a friend. It's not you but a fairly well known Jeep parts manufacturer already has made exact Chinese made replicas of some of his other 4x4 parts he came up with.He said he can't even buy the bare steel for what they sell them for.

Fair point Harper.

Nachies - pics sent via PM. Hope they help.

Thank you Ryan.

Harper I completely understand and I respect your point of view.

Just give Bud a call--not always easy to get a hold of him but when you do he's incredibly helpful! I'd say he's the model vendor others could take lessons from

If I may be allowed a little chuckle and then be serious. Bud has pics as well as measurements on his site. Even if he did not - the way to reverse engineer and counterfeit any product is to simply buy one. Are we no longer going to be posting pics of our mods?