Front bumpers and winch mounting, high or low?

[BadA$$Rubi]

Hey Jeep Brothers, Is there any twisting/bending of typical front bumper if a winch is mounted above the frame centerline? Do front bumpers that have a recess to mount the winch closer to the frame centerline better/stronger? Thx.

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[Fouts]

Most winches pull from the bottom of the spool which is very close to the attachment points on the frame. I have never seen a winch twist or bend that was mounted to the top of the bumper, not to say that it couldn't. Most of the guys I run with, TJs, JKs, and JLs have there winches mounted on top of the bumper.

 

[sourdough]

I got a low mount winch bumper. Lower CG and better air flow to radiator.

 

[ExpeditionBuilds]

I got a low mount winch bumper. Lower CG and better air flow to radiator.

I'm a fan of this set-up, low, down between the frame rails. A good bumper will have a well designed base plate that nearly does three sides of the box for strength.

It keeps the grill open so as not to restrict airflow through the radiator.


-Steven

 

[Roky]

Agree with both of the posters just before this one.....

Having it mounted between the frame rails is stronger. Is it necessary? No....but it does give exactly what the others said.

Nice welds......... you’re probably skeptical, we all are of our own work, lol, but you did a good job there.....

 

[PA-Punkn]

I got a low mount winch bumper. Lower CG and better air flow to radiator.

This looks great! What make/model bumper please? And are those OEM LED fogs? Thanks!

 

[sourdough]

This looks great! What make/model bumper please? And are those OEM LED fogs? Thanks!

https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-90248.htm
Yes, OEM fogs bolt in.

 

[1996cc]

Don’t use Hanson’s Offroad products, their winch mount (on their bumper) twisted like cardboard on my JK. And they had no interest in helping solve the issue.

 

[wibornz]

I like the winch tucked in between the frame rails. I like a clean tight look. I think that the winch on top of the bumper looks gaudy and that the designers just didn't want to take the time to put it between the frame rails. Is it better, probably does not matter.

Me I like the hidden winch look.

 

[BadA$$Rubi]

Agree... down low, between the rails, clean and tight!

 

[_thewick]

Agree... down low, between the rails, clean and tight!

That looks great! What bumper did you end up going with? I think I'm in the camp of tucked in between the frame rails too (to be honest it's more about the clean look for me above anything else), but I'm having a hard time finding the "perfect" one for me.

 

[BadA$$Rubi]

That looks great! What bumper did you end up going with? I think I'm in the camp of tucked in between the frame rails too (to be honest it's more about the clean look for me above anything else), but I'm having a hard time finding the "perfect" one for me.

Front bumper: Rugged Ridge 11540.32 HD Stubby with 11540.61 HD X-Striker Grill Guard & 18003.61 Skid Plate
WARN 95960 ZEON 12-S Platinum™ Winch with Synthetic Rope
The 12k is a very tight fight. I had to do a little die grinding of the bumper to open up clearances at the corners of each bell housing. I believe the Warn 10-S has a smaller foot print if you want to avoid bumper modifications.

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