Most Bronco owners buying a winch stop shopping the moment the winch itself hits the cart. The fairlead guiding the rope through the bumper opening and the shackles connecting a strap to the recovery point matter just as much, and picking the wrong one undoes part of what the winch was built to do in the first place.
Bronco Forge carries two fairlead styles, a cover plate for bumpers running without a winch installed, and a rated D-ring shackle built for standard recovery mounts. Here's how each one works and which fits a given setup.
In This Guide
What a Fairlead Does
A fairlead sits at the bumper opening and guides the winch rope as it spools in and out at an angle, rather than letting the line drag across a raw edge of steel. Without one, an angled pull works the rope against the opening's edge, and synthetic rope wears through fast under that kind of friction. Two fairlead styles cover this for a Ford Bronco, and which one fits comes down to how the winch mounts and whether the rope is steel or synthetic.
Hawse-Style vs Pocket Fairlead
DV8's Xtract Winch Fairlead sits at the bumper face in the traditional hawse style, guiding rope through a fixed opening. It costs $224.99, carries an 18,000-pound working load limit, and measures 11.75 by 3.25 by 1.25 inches at the base plate.
The Pocket Fairlead tucks into a recessed opening instead, at $260.99 with a 20,000-pound working load limit and a slightly deeper 11.75 by 3.5 by 1.25 inch base plate. It stores the hook inside the pocket when the winch isn't in use, keeping the bumper face cleaner between pulls. Both are machined from hard anodized aluminum and install in about 30 minutes.
Fairlead Cover Plate for Bumpers Without a Winch
Some Bronco owners buy a winch-ready bumper before they buy the winch itself. An open hawse opening left uncovered exposes the winch tray and the inside of the bumper to dirt, rocks, and trail debris. DV8's Winch Fairlead Cover Plate closes that opening with a fitted steel panel finished to match the bumper, measuring 11.5 by 2.3 inches and priced at $26.99.
Verified fitment covers DV8's front bumpers only. It doesn't fit DV8's rear bumpers, so measure the opening against the plate's dimensions before ordering.
Rope Compatibility: Synthetic Only
Both the Xtract Fairlead and the Pocket Fairlead are built for synthetic rope. Neither is rated for steel cable. Running steel cable through either one isn't a fitment question so much as a design mismatch, the opening and edges are shaped around synthetic rope's properties, not steel's. Bronco Forge doesn't currently carry a roller-style fairlead built for steel cable, so owners running steel need to source that piece separately.
D-Ring Shackles: Rated Capacity and Build
DV8's Elite Series D-Ring Shackles sell as a pair for $89.99 in four finishes: black, red, gray, and pink, with identical specs across every color. Each shackle is forged steel, 1-1/16 inches thick, rated for an 8-ton working load limit with a 72,000-pound breaking strength.
The 7/8-inch chromoly pin sits flush with the outside of the shackle body once tightened. A 3/8-inch ratchet-driven pin head makes tightening and removal faster with gloves on than a standard hex pin would. Rubber isolators, four at 1/8-inch and four at 3/16-inch, ship in the box to stop the shackles from rattling against the mount while driving.
Matching Shackles to Your Recovery Points
The Elite Series shackles are built for standard D-ring mounts, the same universal mount style used on the recovery points built into most rear bumpers in the DV8 and ADD lineups. They don't fit proprietary or non-standard recovery points without an adapter, so confirm the mount style on the specific bumper before ordering a set.
Adding a Winch to the Factory Modular Bumper
Owners running the factory Modular Steel bumper, standard on Outer Banks, Black Diamond, and Wildtrak, don't need to replace the bumper to add winch capability. Turn Offroad's Modular Bumper Winch Plate bolts onto that factory bumper and accommodates winches up to 12,000 pounds, priced at $349.99.
Two D-ring mounts ship built in, and the plate relocates the factory parking sensors during install rather than covering them up. It's also designed to work with Turn Offroad's bull bar, Baja Bar, and grille guard for the same bumper, and it carries a lifetime warranty, longer than the 1-year coverage on DV8's fairleads and shackles.
Price and What's Included
Pricing across this lineup ranges from $26.99 for the cover plate to $349.99 for the Modular Bumper Winch Plate. The Xtract Fairlead costs $224.99, the Pocket Fairlead $260.99, and the Elite Series D-Ring Shackles $89.99 per pair regardless of finish. Every part ships with its own hardware kit, so nothing beyond the part itself needs sourcing separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a hawse fairlead and a pocket fairlead?
Hawse-style fairleads like the Xtract sit at the bumper face with a fixed opening. Pocket fairleads like DV8's Pocket Fairlead recess into the bumper and store the hook inside when the winch isn't in use, at a slightly higher working load limit and price.
Can I use these fairleads with steel cable?
No. Both the Xtract and Pocket Fairlead are built for synthetic rope only. Bronco Forge doesn't currently carry a roller-style fairlead rated for steel cable.
Do I need a fairlead cover plate if I haven't bought a winch yet?
Yes, if the bumper is winch-ready and the opening is currently uncovered. Without a cover plate, dirt and trail debris get into the winch tray and the inside of the bumper.
Are the D-ring shackle colors just cosmetic?
Yes. All four colors, black, red, gray, and pink, share the same forged steel construction, 8-ton working load limit, and 72,000-pound breaking strength.
Will these shackles fit any Ford Bronco bumper?
They fit any standard D-ring mount, the same mount style built into most DV8 and ADD rear bumpers. They won't fit a proprietary or non-standard recovery point without an adapter.
Can I add a winch without replacing my factory bumper?
Yes, if the Bronco runs the factory Modular Steel bumper. Turn Offroad's winch plate bolts onto it directly and accommodates winches up to 12,000 pounds.
Shop winches, fairleads, and recovery gear for Ford Bronco.
For help choosing the winch itself, read how to choose a winch for your Ford Bronco, or see the full trail kit in 8 things every Ford Bronco owner should keep in the truck.
About This Guide
This was put together by the team at Bronco Forge. Our founder spent time as a Ford salesman before launching Bronco Forge, giving us firsthand knowledge of how Broncos are sold, what buyers get wrong, and what dealers don't always tell you. We sell aftermarket parts exclusively for the Ford Bronco and spend time in Bronco owner communities tracking what owners experience. Questions about fitment or anything Bronco-related? Reach out at contact@broncoforge.com or (909) 772-8050.
