Rough Country Hidden Winch Install - Jeep Grand Cherokee 2014-2020

Install video for 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee - Limited - Rough Country Hidden winch. Give your Jeep a sleek recovery system that blends in seamlessly with the factory aesthetic with Rough Country’s WK2 Hidden Winch Mounting Kit! This convenient winch mounting kit allows you to upgrade your vehicle with any standard-sized winch, giving you the ability to make it out of any tough spots you may encounter while also adding a more interesting, aggressive look to the front end of your vehicle.
Each Hidden Winch Mounting Kit includes a remote port relocation system that moves the terminal from beside the winch to just under the hood for easy operation without fumbling around underneath the vehicle.
Each kit includes a handy template allowing you to create the fairlead route in no-time flat. Rough Country’s Hidden Winch Mounting Kit features a bolt-on installation process making it easy to upgrade your vehicle! This kit can accommodate most synthetic winches and hawse fairleads. Upgrade your Jeep and be ready for recovery in an instant!
Winch is a Rough Country 9500-LB PRO SERIES WINCH - SYNTHETIC ROPE
SKU PRO9500S
FEATURES
Easy bolt-on installation.
Includes convenient remote port for easy operation
Hidden install behind the front bumper.
Only fairlead and tow hook are visible.
Durable black carbon powdercoating.
Will accommodate most winches on the market.
NOTES - IMPORTANT
Does NOT fit models with front radar sensor

[@jimgraeper5704]

Excellent technical quality in your video - thanks a lot. I'm not sure I'll be buying a winch yet but now I feel more confident that I could do the installation.

[@PatricksDIY]

Thanks for the Video, it helped me out in regards to taking the lower part of the bumper off, made it a hell of a lot easier!

[@derickcornax7658]

Thanks, this is the best video for removing and reinstalling the front bumper cover. I removed mine to replace the headlights with LED's. I tried without removing the bumper cover, but I couldn't get the lights seated properly. Worst design ever. My WK was simple, just reach in and replace. WK2 is impossible to get to on either side. Thanks again for the video.

[@mattdobson123]

Glad it helped!!

[@masterwelder079]

i just want to say great video, you are making this install a real breeze. good job man!

[@mattdobson123]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and providing feedback

[@canslono1084]

Excellent video! Watching gave me confidence to install winch kit this spring.

[@mattdobson123]

Heck yeah!! I was hoping it would encourage someone else to do it on their own.. It was intimidating at first, but step by step - its fairly easy.

[@sjt1622]

Best instructions ever

[@itzreece6347]

Awesoe that you sir for this video. This will definitely he us all out who are seeking to install this winch.

[@mattdobson123]

Great to hear! I'm glad it helps people and helped take the "fear" away from myself when I wasn't sure i could do it.

[@bsc26]

Great video. Thanks.

[@miguelalcazar7060]

You made it so easy! Thanks for the video !

[@mattdobson123]

awesome! thanks for watching and glad it helped!

[@SquatSimp]

Thanks for the video man!

[@ramonx31]

Great video!

[@AstonSubstantive]

Solid video.

[@HuntrPat]

Good job!

[@TonyTheTruckGuy]

Not sure if anyone else mentioned it, but just an FYI for everyone on those plastic “pins” that you pulled out at the beginning. Those are actually plastic rivets and should be replaced. They make a special plastic rivet tool to install the new ones, but a lot of guys just use plastic push pin clips instead. Otherwise great video!

[@johnpoole2325]

One tip, for models such as Trailhawk with the air suspension, you may want to get a piece of flat bar with the pre-existing holes in it from your local store to make a support for the air suspension system. The crash bar that gets removed typically serves this purpose and there is nothing included with the kit to offer proper support. I cut it to length, bent it to shape and used a drill to expand the holes as needed. Used nuts that were already on the Jeep for the studs and it worked out beautifully.

[@mattdobson123]

Great tip, I had no idea! Thanks for watching and sharing

[@johnpoole2325]

@@mattdobson123 thanks for your video…this install would have been a disaster without it! The instructions that come with the kit definitely leave a lot to be desired.

[@dontbother5514]

​@@johnpoole2325Hi John! I have the Trailhawk 2019 with the air suspension to. As english isn't my primary language, I am still trying to picture that ecact piece of flat bar you relate to and how you worked around with it (specifics on the cut, bend and hole expansion). I am not at all used to mechanics but have at least some logical/resourceful matter in the brain. Still... I am sweating already thinking I'll have to go through that whole video's process for that sleek winch installation, now you just pulled a big question mark (thanks God you mentioned that part btw! 😅). Do you have a picture or a link I could refer to? Before removing that bumper and everything to find out I don't have the proper tools and pieces to finish the job, man that would be really helpful to me! Again, thank you so much for bringing this! 🙏🫡

[@phantomrose1999]

Wow. Best instructions I have seen. Have a 2018 wk2 and been thinking about adding a winch. Got a new sub. How long did it take ?

[@mattdobson123]

thanks for watching! It took roughly 8 hours? I wasn't in a rush and did it over 2 days (filming also slows me down)

[@jjwiii1432]

Great vijeo, thanks!

[@richardrhodes6259]

Great video,going to do my install but how do u get to clutch handle for free spool cheers

[@theroc68155]

Great video, what did you to to access the freespool of the winch with the entire bumper on?

[@b98588]

Great video man, I really appreciate it! I’ll be installing the same mount but with a different winch. Do you have clear access to the clutch handle?

[@mattdobson123]

not a "clear" path, but i can just reach it and flip it. Some people will turn the clips to the pan and pull down the front lip to squeeze their arm in.. I thought about making a 12" tool to reach up and turn - almost like a long socket..

[@HuntrPat]

I have a 2016 jgc laredo would like to find some tow hooks and a rear tow Hitch

[@Jackalope_Outdoors]

I didn't realize that the winch got installed on the underside of the mount plate. I've only seen chief products version where the winch mounts to the top of the mount plate and seems to cover a little more of the radiator. Does the pull of the winch cable line up with the fairlead opening? Would love a video of the finished product in use. Great video! Very helpful!

[@mattdobson123]

thanks for watching.. Luckily I haven't had to use it in the wild - but I should do a follow up video - thanks for the idea!

[@BMRProductions]

Where did you buy the tow hooks? And what is the best brand you recommend? Great video btw

[@mattdobson123]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback! The tow hooks are from offroad animal. I preferred an enclosed eyelet versus an open hook - so that was my preference!

[@adrianmaryzajonskowskionei731]

hi got a 2021 5.7 v8 hemi , is this still the same as yours to do?

[@MrShawntryan]

Great video! I'm ordering mine now. Do you have a link or which flip up license plate mount you used? TIA!

[@mattdobson123]

Glad it was helpful! the flip up plate mount was by offroad animal, but several places sell them (4 wheel parts for example)

[@sampankow1820]

Hey man! Thanks for the in-depth video! By the small chance you see this. Do you know if this would also work with Rough Country's LED light bar kit that they also sell for the WK2? I'm thinking not because the winch would occupy the space that the light bar is supposed to be mounted (behind the lower middle mesh), but maybe you know off the top of your head

[@mattdobson123]

Thanks for the comment and feedback! that is an interesting question.. My first thought is: you could make it work by moving the light bar a little bit lower? Let me know if you ever found out!

[@sampankow1820]

@@mattdobson123 that was what I was going to do if there were initial clearance issues! But the 2015 WK2 actually has the winch mounted on the top side of the mounting plate, which I didn't find out until I opened the packaging from RC and they had a separate set of instructions for 2011-15 models. So the winch is on top and the light bar still can be bolted below!

[@dylantaylor3998]

Do you have a video on accessing the winch controller, connecting the remote and accessing the clutch handle/lever?

[@mattdobson123]

Thats a good point, on this setup its pretty hard to access the clutch.. The remote plugs in right on top, so that part is easy. I keep meaning to do a follow up video of the winch in action.. one day..

[@zackaryrakisits9352]

Would this work with an ecodiesel grand cherokee?

[@ekummel]

Good instruction. My only concern is that that winch bracket is held in place with those 4 rather thin and long bolts. Can those 4 bolts handle several tons of pulling that that winch can produce?

[@mattdobson123]

Interesting thought.. It states this system can handle the weight for the jeep.. I haven't personally tested this system yet, so i can't speak from experience.

[@genaroakajakegomez1256]

Hey brother where did you get the winch plate???

[@vladimirvaravin2425]

хорошая видео инструкция. А что за комплект, где можно приобрести и сколько стоит данный комплект.

[@josiasglenn7]

Mannnnn I thought I was gonna get to see the finished product

[@daniellafave4443]

Finished product is the thumbnail.

[@tlhphotography8676]

How do you access your clutch?

[@9868973]

Hi Can I modify my 2017 Honda Pilot as well? Please if yes could be kind enough to send me the link. Thanks

[@yell0lab]

Can this be installed in a 2019 Cherokee latitude?

[@shallowsholes9365]

Dude, it seems like mounting the fairlead to that plastic is a bad idea. Let me know how that worked .

[@Ryan-yo4dg]

At the beginning of the video, did you have to get a different plastic grille because you didn't have factory tow hooks? Will this winch mount work with factory tow hooks? What brand & model winch did you go with?

[@mattdobson123]

correct, I didn't have tow hooks - so the factory grille didn't have the cutouts! Yes, this mount and others would work with factory hooks. This kit had spacers you would use with factory hooks. I went with a rough country 9500 synthetic line winch. I wanted a Warn, but couldn't justify the price with the limited off-roading I do.

[@Ryan-yo4dg]

@@mattdobson123 awesome, thank you for the info!

[@vbrooklyn]

Could you tell me where you got the lower grill with the cutouts for tow hooks?

[@mattdobson123]

some serious searching for the lowest price! this was bought from justforjeeps.com

[@adrianmaryzajonskowskionei731]

it has air bags

[@TheRog777]

Winch is monted upside down on 2017. 2014-2016 Winch goes on top of the plate. Fairlead plate bolts to winch plate and not the bumper fascia. The four bumper fascia plastic rivets are not reusable and must be replaced.

[@michaelschlink3457]

@@TheRog777 , I wasn’t sure about the winch install. I called RC and they confirmed (I’m still doubting it) that it gets mounted upside down. I asked how to reach the clutch and they (he) said just leave it engaged? I looked at their install instructions and photo 36 shows it upside down but the wiring photo has the controller on top. I’m going to install this project later this week and may report back.

[@TheRog777]

@@michaelschlink3457 I have only installed the Rough Country Hidden Winch kit on 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I edited my comments above. 2017 does mount upside down according to instructions and video. Either way would require removing front fascia to disengage clutch.

[@michaelschlink3457]

@@TheRog777 , well it’s done. 2019 JGC limited. RC winch, hidden winch mount and tow hooks installed. The winch does get mounted upside down, weird. The instructions require the installer to do some thinking on their own but overall fairly easy job. RC could do a better job on the instructions, which would make it possible for more weekend mechanics to handle this. I didn’t get it finished in the 2-3 hrs RC said it would take but I wasn’t in a hurry. MATT DOBSON, thanks for the video, a picture is worth a thousand words so a utube video must be worth ten thousand?? FYI- I used the paper template to cut in the fairlead/rope opening. It wasn’t to scale and the bolt holes were a little too high. Measure and lay it out yourself, toss the template. I removed the lower “valance?”/grill part of the bumper and did the cutouts for AM tow hooks. All in all, I’m happy with the end result.

[@mattdobson123]

awesome! glad it helped.. I had a hard time mounting the winch upside down.. but after 45 minutes of messing with it (right side up) I finally realized it!! Thanks again for watching

[@yourmomsfavoritepodcast4460]

I’m doing mine tomorrow does anyone know if the bumper gets pulled around having the rope go through it, like id assume that if the rope is pulling up it’s gonna pull the bumper up too

[@alexs.5675]

Did you ever get the mount installed?

[@yourmomsfavoritepodcast4460]

@@alexs.5675 yeah I did, got some questions about it?

[@ecentballer1]

@@yourmomsfavoritepodcast4460 did you install it the same way as this guy or did you install it right side up? And does the rope/winch cable rub while using?

[@jamespatterson3913]

Did you really just bolt the fairlead to the plastic bumper and not the winch mount? That is a high stress point and I don't see how that won't tear up the bumper if you do any kind of off angle pull. those 2 holes in the front of the winch mount are used to bolt the fairlead to. Or maybe i just missed the part where you mounted it properly.

[@joshua7624]

No the mount has a place for the fairway to be bolted

[@jamespatterson3913]

@@joshua7624 gotcha, I went back and watched and could see where it is supposed to mount, I guess I got confused when I saw you bolt it to the plastic bumper cover (I assume to hold it into place) but you never showed the very important step of securing it to the mount. I Predict if someone is following your video, then they are probably reading the instructions that came with it which will tell them to do that.

[@Thaz72398]

what winch did you use? looks like you have to bend down to free wheel, some winches have free wheel in the remote.

[@mattdobson123]

Winch is a Rough Country 9500-LB PRO SERIES WINCH - SYNTHETIC ROPE - SKU PRO9500S. You are correct, you need to reach under to hit the clutch/free wheel

[@aaronbishop2691]

Nice! What did that run you?

[@mattdobson123]

the tow hooks were $120, the winch bumper $250, and the winch was roughly $300?

[@CM-fe6to]

Which winch did you go with? Also, how do you plan to access the clutch?

[@mattdobson123]

thanks for watching! I went with a rough country 9500 synthetic line winch. I can squeeze my hand through the tow hook opening and just reach the clutch! I may cut a 3" hole in the lower fender to make it easier or upgrade to a steel lower bumper that already has a cut out for it.

[@bearsj3]

do you have qt2?

[@MrShawntryan]

Do you know if the winch mounts right side up on a 2019 JGC?

[@mattdobson123]

I looked at the instructions on the rough country website and it shows "upside down" or on the underside for the winch! I've heard others having issues with the winch on the "right side" so perhaps some winches don't fit, or some specific models won't allow? I have a limited and it worked great!

[@Maar99x]

Can you do the same on jk wrangler ? Hidden winch

[@mattdobson123]

I would - If I owned one! I've seen a few pictures of them completed- and it looks good.. Good luck!

[@jermainemitchell2936]

Where did you get the license plate flip up?

[@mattdobson123]

the flip up plate mount was by offroad animal, but several places sell them (4 wheel parts for example), thanks for watching!

[@quincybirwood2629]

How long did it take you to remember you forgot to put the wind deflectors back in?

[@mattdobson123]

The instructions claim you don't reinstall the wind deflectors - haven't had any issues (noise or otherwise) so far!

[@hunterfromm9732]

Can you send me the link for new bottom bumper that you bought for 30 bucks

[@mattdobson123]

Sorry, that was roughly 3 years ago.. I found this one here: www.moparpartsgiant.com/parts/mopar-grille-lower~68310773ab.html - but you'll need to confirm its the right one and fits your vehicle

[@hunterfromm9732]

@@mattdobson123 thank you it was very helpful

[@edwilliams2007]

Hello what winch did you happen to use

[@mattdobson123]

I used the 9500-Lb Pro Series Winch with Synthetic Rope

[@williamscam1]

Nice and shiny Fiat! I'd trust that in the middle of the mountains.

[@dubguy1121]

That fiat is a solid vehicle. What do you drive? lol 😆

[@ur12cujo]

Show us the finished product!

[@mattdobson123]

its on the thumbnail, but you're right.. I screwed up by not showing it at the end.. I can't figure out how to edit once its been posted..

[@jorgemorey3514]

Bro I have taken mine apart twice to get it right. The mountain the winch gets anchored to is backwards that's why it didn't work on top. Didn't you realize the negative and positive wires barely reached also the controls wire barely reaches that should had told you something was wrong. Upside down is not correct also I wondered why my hidden light bar wasn't compatible with it because I followed your install. 🤦🏻‍♂️ aside of rough country not giving enough instructions you are telling people to install it upside down. You should redo your video

[@jorgemorey3514]

*mount not mountain lol

[@mattdobson123]

They may have changed the design.. mine would not bolt in right side up.. it could only go in upside down.. sorry man!

[@ArcticAstrophysics]

I can't believe you didnt show it complete and finished, video just ended

[@mattdobson123]

sorry! I didn't want to drag the video out any longer than it needed to be, but you're right.. I should of at least added a picture!

[@intrigue175175]

Great video!