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Winch/Bumper recommendations

5K views 36 replies 15 participants last post by  S_Scavo 
#1 ·
Hey everyone, With tax season upon us, I have clearance from the boss (wife) to finally buy a winch/bumper. The problem is that there are just too many options out there.:atomic: I have been asked to keep the combo under $1000.00. I like the look of the RR XHD and the Bestop High Rock Narrow bumpers the best. Some of the bumpers on the market just look too chunky for my taste. I would actually just prefer a 2x6 C channel cut to frame width with D rings. As for winches, I was looking into one of the Quadrapacs to get the RR XHD bumper and a Q9000 winch for a decent deal. Or I have heard the Engo winches are a good value but I feel like they are pretty much the same as the Quadratecs, very similar specs. I know with this combo I will be increasing weight substantially over going with a syn cable winch. Which will lead me to needing a leveling kit and put me over budget. As for syn cables I have been looking at the Smittybilt XRC 9.5K Gen 2. It seems pretty hard to beat a synthetic cable winch, thats waterproof, and a lifetime warranty for $300. I know there is a lot of loyalty and preference to get a Warn but I just cant swing it. So I need to look at a quality winch and bumer combo that wont break the bank or add too much pork to my JK.

Do you guys have any suggestions to help me make a decision?
 
#3 ·
I just went through a similar exercise on my LJ, trying to reduce the weight up front. The change in steering and handling is definitely impacted. Front bumpers can range from 40lbs to 100lbs and winches range at 40lbs to 70lbs. Difference in synthetic vs. steel rope is 10lbs+. You could end up with an extra 100lbs up front if you go with a heavy setup. Also make sure whether the winch plate is integrated into the bumper.

I had the Engo 9000s for a year and had no problems with it, but then went back to my old SuperWinch and sold the Engo. The Engo performed great, but is very loud. Here's a great article on a winch shootout, where the Engo placed 4th. Massive Multi-Winch Shootout - Four Wheeler Magazine
 
#4 ·
A friend of mine has a Smittybilt 10K with syn line on his Taco and has had a good experience so far. Any issues ( bad selnoid) he had have been taken care of promptly by Smittybilt. I think the Smittybily 9.5K weighs about 45 pounds or so and from what I gather the HighRock bumper weighs around 60 pounds. To me 105 for bumper and winch is pretty damn good. I believe the stock bumper on a JK is about 35 pounds so a net gain of 70 pounds is really good in my opinion. The HighRock also would not require the relocation of the vacuum pump - not that it would be a big deal, but one more thing to buy and do.
 
#5 ·
I'm running a Superwinch 11.5k synthetic line. It's been great and I got a great price on it. They are always having sales on the company's website. Superwinch was the first company to bring synthetic lines to the market. My two buddies are running the 9.5k version on their JKU's and have had no issues. They picked them up for $299 on the corporate site. Mine was $349. It's mounted on a LOD Stubby bumper that I love!
 
#6 ·
#7 ·
#8 ·
So many options!!!:pullinghair:

I got a quote from 4wd hardware for a Smitty x20 9.5K with synthetic and the High Rock 4x4 narrow bumper for 750 or so and I'm now waiting on a quote from Quadratec for the RR XHD bumper with a Q9000 synthetic winch.
 
#11 ·
Wow, that is cheap. Ive been looking at Engo or superwinch. $284 is to cheap to pass up.
 
#19 ·
Harbor Freight has a 12K winch for $300.00 on sale quite regularly. Just sign up for their newsletter.
I bought one for my YJ plus their winch mount plate for $45.00. I had to open up a couple holes slightly to get the plate to bolt directly to my frame. I haven't installed the winch yet. I am resolving a couple other minor issues, then the winch goes on.

Customer input on the HF website rates it as very good. But, that is on their website.

Has anyone here bought one or know someone that has one? What experience have you had?

Good Luck, L.M.
 
#20 ·
Harbor Freight has a 12K winch for $300.00 on sale quite regularly. Just sign up for their newsletter.
I bought one for my YJ plus their winch mount plate for $45.00. I had to open up a couple holes slightly to get the plate to bolt directly to my frame. I haven't installed the winch yet. I am resolving a couple other minor issues, then the winch goes on.

Customer input on the HF website rates it as very good. But, that is on their website.

Has anyone here bought one or know someone that has one? What experience have you had?

Good Luck, L.M.
My brother has a friend who owns a towing company. They only use Harbor Freight winches and think they're great.
 
#21 ·
Father just installed a HF winch on his 4dr. Only pull so far is up the driveway to re-spool it under load. From what I have heard either they don't work out of the box or they last quite a while. So far, looks like he got a good one. Only issue with install, using their winch plate on factory bumper is the winch sits pretty close to the grill making some of the wire routing a little difficult but not impossible.
 
#24 ·
So, I got a bumper. Ended up going with the Pavement ends JK bumper. I was pleasantly surprised in how it looks. With the winch plate on it I think it looks even better. This is the type of bumper the JK should have come with. Tax money just came today, now I need to decide on a winch. I don't want to gamble on a HF winch since I don't live near any store to return it should it be a turd. I am thinking Quadratec 9k synth, Engo 9K synth, or Smittybilt 9.5K synth... any thoughts folks?
 
#25 ·
Out of those three I have read betters reviews with the Engo
 
#26 ·
Yesterday I pulled the trigger on the Engo 9k with synthetic line. I called up 4wheelonline.com (very helpful and awesome prices) and got it for $399.95 and free shipping. I was skeptical ordering from them since I never heard of them, but seems like they are one of those online vendors that just have stuff drop shipped from the manufacturer and don't charge a whole lot over wholesale. Highly recommend ordering from them. Shipping is pretty quick too, I'll have it by Monday. Stoked.
 
#27 ·
I went with this Barricade bumper (http://www.extremeterrain.com/barricade-front-bumper-j20850.html?utm_content=XT+Bumpers+-+Full+Width|Barricade&utm_campaign=JK%20-%20Years&utm_source=google-pla&utm_medium=shopping&utm_term={keyword}&XTID=J20850)

..and have loved it so far. I honestly cannot believe the markups on some of these bumpers out there. 2 thousand bucks for some steel? Anyway, I've yet to take it on trails but will mention that the SAME day I had it installed (though you can do it yourself with a buddy and the right tools) - a truck kicked up a piece of sheet metal on the interstate (70mph) and this thing completely smashed it. When I got home all I had was a small scratch.

I think for your budget this would allow some serious room for something you don't want to skimp out on (with actual moving parts) - your winch.
 
#28 ·
Flying sheet metal is never a good thing, I was on a highway in TN about 10 yrs ago and a pickup pulling a trailer of stop sign sized sheet metal lost a tie-down and sent stuff flying. It was super scary, we were in a friends mini van and it took a direct hit to the bumper and sustained a slice. There were vehicles that had radiators destroyed. Luckily there was no decapitation!

Bumpers are so over priced its insane, and many of them look like sh*t. My requirements were for something with shackle mounts, light/simple construction, durable, and would accept a winch. The Pavement Ends bumper could have been a DIY project but I just don't have the time.

That aside, I believe the Engo winch out performed a lot of high end winches in the FourWheeler magazine shoot out. The reason the other brands scored higher were for superficial reasons such as instruction manual clarity and packaging. Plus, Warn is a big advertiser in FourWheeler - why wouldnt they be picked for 1st place? We will see when I get it installed.
 
#31 ·
Got everything installed and will post a picture later. The bolts that came with the Engo were almost too short. I think I will be getting some longer grade 8s this week.
 
#33 ·
Packaging was a box with Styrofoam..nothing earth shattering or impressive. The solenoid was not secured well and was missing one of the screws that hold it to the winch, but I had a sufficient replacement so that wasn't a biggie. Instructions were worthless as far as install but they do have info about safe use. Install was fine except for bolt length. I couldn't use the flat washers on the front bolts only the lock washer with my bumper application mostly since the front bolts had to go through the bumper and the winch plate and the rear have to only go through the plate. Install is a no brainer, black to neg and red to positive. Winch fired right up. With my particular application the winch sits very close to the grille. So much that the wires are pressing against it. Not sure how much this bothers me...I may get longer wires to pass them into the grille and out/around the slots. A pretty big bug will need to get up my ass for me to do this, I am not really concerned with paint since its a Jeep and it gets used. For now, everything functions so I am a happy camper.
 
#34 ·
Now I am looking into heavy duty springs for the front. My net weight gain was about 70 pounds, so I am sagging a little. It seemed like maybe .5" after winch was installed. Looking at either Mopar or OME heavy duty springs. Currently I have 17/58s. Quadratec sells the 18s for $86/ea. or OME for $176/pair. I don't want to do spacers.
 
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