When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
For the record, Zeons are hugely wide. I had a tough time finding a bumper that had a wide enough cutout for my 10S back in 2016 when I replaced my former winch with it on my Jeep. Great piece of hardware, but really big.
The Zeon 10-S Platinum is the "official" Land Rover winch for their mounting kit, but Lucky8 says theirs can handle it as well as the VR-EVO 10s and the Zeon 10-S. I suspect they go with the synthetic to reduce front end weight. However, I agree with @NoGaBiker that most anything you can put on the mounting kit will fit since they already have you cutting the "crap" out of a lot of cross members and other plastic components ala free hand. Pretty confident @Mark1107 has wheeled the "crap" out of it while in Moab so it can handle the weight/stress - at least in the short term!
I went with the Zeno 10 Platinum because they are easier to source and then got a 100’ 3/8 synthetic cable and made my own 10-s. It came out to be slightly more that the 10-s used to be but a WHOLE lot easier to find. Sold the steel cable to a wheeler friend and netted down to pre-COVID $$.
Getting closer. Roo bars arrived today. Scored a Winch & synthetic cable last week. The fairlead, 500amp cut-off and hook were fairly easy in comparison. Just waiting on the undershield and I'll get started. Well, maybe I'll start as it will take me a LONG time before I'm putting it back on....
Since you have been through the installation process, I have a question for you.
how long do you estimate it would take to install the pole guard on a D90 S without a winch?
My 2023D 90S is being delivered in June and I ordered it without any additional option packs other than the Off-road Pack as I am trying to keep it old-school by eliminating all unnecessary electronics so it has: analog gauges, I4 engine, coil suspension.
I cannot afford to pay a dealer a $5000 installation fee on top of a $5000 brush guard.
It was the first time for the folks who did mine. They said it took one of their Mechanics almost 40 hours ("a full week"). But that was both the brush guard / roo bars (pole guard?) and the winch. Ymmv depending on your skills. I predicted it would take me like 2 months of weekends. Others have posted doing it over a long weekend, but I suspect they did just that for the entire weekend. Me, I only get about 2 hours of me time and then I have family "stuff" to do.
My experience = myself in my garage / driveway, 29 hrs 20 mins start to finish. I did spend a good bit of time making sure I had all neccessary parts and have a pretty good tool set so I was prepared. Here's what it took:
6hr 20 min - Disassembly / Removal (VPLEP0489 steps 1-19)
6 hours - Winch Tray Fitting (VPLEP0489 steps 1-22)
5 hours - Warn VR EVO 12S Winch install, & Wiring, and Remote Control Box Relocation (VPLEP0489 steps 23-24)
9 hours - Bumper modifications, reassembly (VPLEP0489 steps 25-55
3 hours - Bull bar installation (VPLEP0448 all steps 1-18)
So, subtract the winch and it's about 25 hours. I did not install the genuine LR winch (Zeon Platinum 10 or 12) as it seemed complex without the functionality I wanted (requirement for a wired backup). So the VR-EVO 12S I mounted, and relocated control box underhood, has wired and wireless (and has since been recalled by NHTSA, but ... I digress).
PS have another car to drive. I had a couple weeks of the Deefer parked with bits all over the garage. Mostly because of incorrect parts (JLR's fault) and broken parts (my fault).
I tracked my time on my computer as I was interested in whether or not the LR dealership's $5,600 labor quote was rational. An indy here in town had quoted me $3,000 (ish). I'd say both are actually quite fair quotes given the amount of time it took.
However... what will kill you is if something goes wrong. Which for me, it did.
-- JLR sent the wrong winch tray... so I had to R&R it because I only noticed this after it was completely installed, with winch.
-- And then in the process, I screwed up my front bumper. Which is now being replaced fully and at the paint shop because the gloss black bits only come primed (annoying JLR... annoying... half of the Defenders have gloss black and the side trims do come pre painted gloss black from JLR).
-- I also mangled the radar harness as the connector would not come apart. When I did get it apart, the pliers I used (oops) tore right through 2 of the very small gauge (like 18-22 gauge) wires, that break if you breathe on them - boo. This btw, can be fixed, I put a new genuine connector on it, repinned, good as new however it took weeks to get the parts.
So now just have the bullbar / winch on without the bumper.
*ps I have a long recap of my install experience that eventually I plan on posting up here.. Also I had a text message support group in @2OceansOverland
It was kind of simple install, especially with the included instructions and a temporary subscription to JLRTOPIX. It is very involved, but the defender is built like Legos and came apart easy enough. But you definitely need the correct tools. I did use PowerfulUK’s videos to guide me with the wiring.
Zero issues, zero new noises, the winch pulls like a champ. I installed it when the defender had under 1,000 miles, I’m at 31,000 now with lots of off-roading and winching.
I did install the Front Undershield at the same time since I had the front end apart.
Please feel free to DM if you have further questions.
I had it imported from Australia by New Defender Mods.
It came with all the necessary installation parts as follows:
Bull Bar
-VPLEP0448
Bull Bar Mounting Kit
-VPLEP0449
Crush Cans
-VPLEP0431
Camera Bracket
-VPLEB0437
I did have to buy/install black parking sensors on the front, the factory two are silver to match the original bumper, I installed the black so they blend in.
Black Parking Sensors (x2)
-LR137889
The flip up license plate bracket is from Tuffy that I modified to fit the AU Bullbar.
I purchased the LR Warn Platinum 10-S from a Florida dealership, I called about 2 dozen dealerships before I found one in stock, back in August 2021 before I took delivery in October 2021. I wanted the factory Warn winch because it came with Defender specific wire harness and other parts.
08-16-2021, 09:06 PM
