Has anyone installed a winch with the stock set-up? Jeep service told me that a winch and winch bumper will add 180 lbs to the front end. This will cause 'plowing' under normal braking and it will completely change the handling dynamics. They recommend new shocks at the very least. Its hard to imagine a jeep can't handle this additional weight.

 

What about only a winch on a mounting plate? How would that handle?

My question is do you really need a bumper for mild winching? Also, does anyone from Chrysler if this would void the warranty?

 

Using a bumper designed for a winch will not void the warranty unless they determine it was abuse. There may come a time when you need to do more then 'mild winching'.

The question is 'can the stock suspension handle the weight'?

 

Ok but can you use the factory bumper and add a winch mount in order to save on the bumper?

 

There are people here way more experienced then me. Start a new thread.
My gut tells me it would be a mistake to mount a winch on the stock bumper. I'm sure someone could fabricate something.

This was not my topic.

 

I installed 2 inch lift to front only and put on the LOD bumper and T Max 10000 winch... My front end went down over half an inch... Weight is noticeable... Its a 4 door X and the springs are not as stout as rubicons... Good luck and have fun with it!!!!!!!!!

 

And thats the whole reason why I havent installed my bumpers and winch yet, until I buy and install a lift, they're just sitting on my garage floor looking pretty

 

yes. Warn makes winch plates that you bolt to the frame, not the bumper. Your winch doesnt rely on the bumper to hold it on. SO this way u can keep the stock bumper and have a winch

 

Thanks for the precision. Do you think a frame mounted winch plate is a good setup if you cannot afford a bumper?

 

I Just Installed A Mopar Winch Bumper And I Will Be Installing A Winch Soon. I Have A 4 Door X Model, I Picked Up Some Rubicon Springs On Ebay, Will These Be Enough For The Added Wieght Of The Bumper And Winch?