Prep Work For Winch Install?

So...Harbor Freight had their Badlands 12k on sale last weekend and one followed me home. I know it is not a Warn or Ramsey, but this is what the budget allows for now. It seems to get decent reviews on the web, given what it is. I also picked up a universal mounting plate to go with it.

I have read on some threads that it is advised to box the frame back to the front cross-member. Thoughts? This jeep will be a trail runner/farm pasture runabout type rig. Not planning on any rock crawling or mud bogging. Heck...there is a chance the winch will never get used, but I've learned to never say never.


Here is where the winch will live. 1963 CJ5. Planning to remove the diamond plate and put the mounting plate there. Eventually, I plan to replace the chrome bumper with something beefier to include some D rings or some other attachment points.

This is my first winch on my first Jeep, so any thoughts from the experienced folks would be appreciated.

Thanks, as always,
Steve

 

Thanks Fino! Looks great! Lots of ideas there I hadn't thought of. I like the hooks on the top of the plate. That would save me from needing a new bumper.

 

Winch mounts need to be stronger than you can imagine, then twice that.

A good winch can literally rip a frame apart.

And if you think you aren't going to use it that hard, why buy one with that capacity?

 

One reason is the price was right. Another, when we retire to the farm in a few years, it might just wind up on the front of my 3500 dually diesel.