New to jeeping looking for bumper/winch opinions

[Mikester86]

Used the new Smittybilt XRC 9,500lb with Maximus-3 winch plate with stock steel bumper. Love it!

How was the install with the Maximus-3 winch plate with stock steel bumper? Straight forward? Anything of note that would be helpful to know? I am thinking of installing the same winch plate with the Smittybilt (98510) X2O Waterproof Synthetic Rope Winch - 10000 lb. Load Capacity.

Is wiring it easy?

Thanks!

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[5Ma]

View attachment 301189 Just finish this installation yesterday. Smittybilt XRC 9.5 with Warn winch plate.

 

[Mall Crawler]

Seeing that you are new to this my suggestion is to by tow straps and find people that are local to you too take you out and as you gain experience in the trailer you will learn what you need and don't need

Part of me believes this is probably the most sound advice, but the other part of me thinks I should do upgrades while I have my wife on board with the idea! lol

 

[Thdoors]

How was the install with the Maximus-3 winch plate with stock steel bumper? Straight forward? Anything of note that would be helpful to know? I am thinking of installing the same winch plate with the Smittybilt (98510) X2O Waterproof Synthetic Rope Winch - 10000 lb. Load Capacity.

Is wiring it easy?

Thanks!

Only issue I had with the plate was the misaligned hole (see pic). A quick widening of it made it right. The wording of the winch is super easy!

 

[Biohazard]

Smittybilt x2o 10k lbs with Maximus-3 hidden winch mount. Ideal. Easy to install, wiring super easy, routes it up behind the right sided inner fender liner for about two inches, then snakes up by the air intake and then to the battery.

I’ve whacked my stock steel bumper pretty hard on rocky dirt while trail riding and other than some minor scratches, it has held up well. Recovery with the smittybilt is great, plenty of power, and the wireless feature is pretty cool, never had that before. Very happy with my set up.

 

[cosine]

i've been looking at the arb classic bumper. now i'm thinking of the rubicon bumper.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Part of me believes this is probably the most sound advice, but the other part of me thinks I should do upgrades while I have my wife on board with the idea! lol

The desert southwest is a great place to explore. Especially in the fall, winter, and spring. Summer...not so much. In the summer, you might want to explore the high country, where it's cooler.

Don't forget to build your "kit". Your "kit" should have the obvious recovery gear, shovel, axe, recovery straps, traction boards, some kind of jack that works in the dirt/sand, and think about a ground anchor (Pull Pal is a good one) for that winch you're gonna buy. But you should always have a couple days worth of water, food, and protection from the environment you're going to. Water is a big one in the desert southwest.

 

[Jeepileptic]

Smittybilt x2o 10k lbs with Maximus-3 hidden winch mount. Ideal. Easy to install, wiring super easy, routes it up behind the right sided inner fender liner for about two inches, then snakes up by the air intake and then to the battery.

I’ve whacked my stock steel bumper pretty hard on rocky dirt while trail riding and other than some minor scratches, it has held up well. Recovery with the smittybilt is great, plenty of power, and the wireless feature is pretty cool, never had that before. Very happy with my set up.

How about clearance between the winch and grill with this setup. Any issues?

 

[Biohazard]

How about clearance between the winch and grill with this setup. Any issues?

nope. Here’s the clearance right after the install.

 

[gm920]

View attachment 301189 Just finish this installation yesterday. Smittybilt XRC 9.5 with Warn winch plate.

Looks good! Is that the new Gen 3?

 

[swimman]

I've got the XRC Gen 2 front bumper and just installed the Harbor Freight Apex 12000 winch. I cannot comment on the winch as it was just installed about two weeks ago and have not had a chance to go wheeling AND get stuck!

I like the bumper other than the additional weight (there are other options that weigh less) although my suspension did not sag much. Install was fairly easy (with a helper) although one of the fog light studs was bent and made it a pain to mount one light.

 

[davidafuller]

Ive got the stealth winch (10,000) , got a dozen recoveries on it now, all kinds of different vehicles. Hasn’t missed a beat. Never once acted like it needed to be more powerful....... I’ve had it almost a year now, no issues....

Completely off-topic, and I do apologize to OP for that, but did you paint your grille trim granite crystal? It looks like it matches the body color perfectly! How did you do that?

 

[Roky]

Completely off-topic, and I do apologize to OP for that, but did you paint your grille trim granite crystal? It looks like it matches the body color perfectly! How did you do that?

are you talking about the trim around the 7 slots? If so they’re the same as around the headlights just a grey color. It might be the lighting.

 

[davidafuller]

are you talking about the trim around the 7 slots? If so they’re the same as around the headlights just a grey color. It might be the lighting.

Yes, the trim around both the headlights and the seven slots. Did you do that yourself or is that stock? Sport? I have a Sahara and the silver trim I can no longer stand. Trying to figure out if I paint them black or try to color-match the granite crystal.

 

[Roky]

Yes, the trim around both the headlights and the seven slots. Did you do that yourself or is that stock? Sport? I have a Sahara and the silver trim I can no longer stand. Trying to figure out if I paint them black or try to color-match the granite crystal.

Mine is Rubi, and it came that way. You can get Mopar color match paint in spray, I used it when I cut my rear pinch seams.

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