Installing RR XHD and Recon 10,500 Winch
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Alamogordo, NM
Installing RR XHD and Recon 10,500 Winch
Hopefully this weekend I will be installing this combo, the skid plate will have to wait for some $$ and some research on the Or-Fab skid plate. The way I figure it, i will be adding approximately 116lbs of weight to the front end, and the possibility of another 25-35#s in the near future. I recognize that this is going to cause some droop in the Rubicon's front end and I am researching ways to counter the droop. For the foreseeable future I will be sticking with the stock tires and wheels, so I am thinking all I will need is about an inch and a half of lift to return to the stock look, I don't really want to level, as I drive this stress relieving beauty every day, and I don't want to lose too many MPGs (I didn't buy it for the mileage, but I hate to lose too much). I am leaning towards the Teraflex, but as I said, I am still doing the research. I try to get the Jeep into the mountains every weekend(just bought after July 4th, used 2010 with 1900 miles, yes 1900), haven't been tempted by anything that would require a winch, but I like the insurance, plus it can come in handy for wheeling in the snow come winter. This is a great website, with some really dedicated Jeepers, the information here is astounding. I do wave, but it seems most of the Jeep owners here in Southern New Mexico do not prescribe to that notion.
Dave
Dave
JK Junkie
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,796
Likes: 3
From: Stokesdale, NC
Hopefully this weekend I will be installing this combo, the skid plate will have to wait for some $$ and some research on the Or-Fab skid plate. The way I figure it, i will be adding approximately 116lbs of weight to the front end, and the possibility of another 25-35#s in the near future. I recognize that this is going to cause some droop in the Rubicon's front end and I am researching ways to counter the droop. For the foreseeable future I will be sticking with the stock tires and wheels, so I am thinking all I will need is about an inch and a half of lift to return to the stock look, I don't really want to level, as I drive this stress relieving beauty every day, and I don't want to lose too many MPGs (I didn't buy it for the mileage, but I hate to lose too much). I am leaning towards the Teraflex, but as I said, I am still doing the research. I try to get the Jeep into the mountains every weekend(just bought after July 4th, used 2010 with 1900 miles, yes 1900), haven't been tempted by anything that would require a winch, but I like the insurance, plus it can come in handy for wheeling in the snow come winter. This is a great website, with some really dedicated Jeepers, the information here is astounding. I do wave, but it seems most of the Jeep owners here in Southern New Mexico do not prescribe to that notion.
Dave
Dave
Congrats on the new bumper and winch!! I love my RECON!!!
One word of advise....get yourself a cover for the winch. The sun will ruin the synthetic winch line.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 473
Likes: 0
From: Columbia City, IN
I am running the Rugged Ridge XHD front bumper and the Recon winch. You will need to install the fairlead, then the winch, then attach the bumper. I would highly recommend going to the hardware store and buying longer bolts for the fairlead. Even a quarter inch longer would be better. It is really hard to get the nuts started on both sides. I also found the some sockets were too thick to fit. The craftsman ones worked well though.
As for the additional weight, I think it will largely depend on which front springs you have. I have the #14 springs on the front which resulted in the front drooping another 1.375". I bought some 1.75" daystar spacers for the front so I am almost level. With the hard-top on I sit about .25" lower in the front than the rear. I don't think you will notice any decrease in MPG. I log all my mileage and fuel fills, I can't see any difference in the data.
Also, my winch came with a cover. I don't leave the hook on the line so I can tuck the end back through the fairlead and under the winch.
As for the additional weight, I think it will largely depend on which front springs you have. I have the #14 springs on the front which resulted in the front drooping another 1.375". I bought some 1.75" daystar spacers for the front so I am almost level. With the hard-top on I sit about .25" lower in the front than the rear. I don't think you will notice any decrease in MPG. I log all my mileage and fuel fills, I can't see any difference in the data.
Also, my winch came with a cover. I don't leave the hook on the line so I can tuck the end back through the fairlead and under the winch.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Alamogordo, NM
Thank you for all of the replies. I am going to install the winch prior to the bumper, and after reading this, I may hold off until I can get the skid as well. I am going to run this as a stubby, NM doesn't have width laws, and I kind of like the stubby look, we'll see in 6 months or so, I may decide I want the ends. I bought the Recon recovery kit, and I think it comes with a neoprene cover, snatch block and tree strap. After 25 years of aircraft maintenance, one thing I do know how to do is read instructions, and I plan on reading these. What size and length of bolt do you recommend for the fairlead?
Dave
Dave
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 96
Likes: 1
From: CT
My Recon came with the right size bolts and fairlead for my XHD bumper...
And I installed the bumper, then winch, then RR skid with no problems...had to grind the cross member which was easy too!
And I'm a chick!
And I installed the bumper, then winch, then RR skid with no problems...had to grind the cross member which was easy too!
And I'm a chick!
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Fort Stewart, GA
Thank you for all of the replies. I am going to install the winch prior to the bumper, and after reading this, I may hold off until I can get the skid as well. I am going to run this as a stubby, NM doesn't have width laws, and I kind of like the stubby look, we'll see in 6 months or so, I may decide I want the ends. I bought the Recon recovery kit, and I think it comes with a neoprene cover, snatch block and tree strap. After 25 years of aircraft maintenance, one thing I do know how to do is read instructions, and I plan on reading these. What size and length of bolt do you recommend for the fairlead?
Dave
Dave