Hi-

I'd like to put a winch on my cherokee, and I've been looking at bumpers onto which I can mount one. It seems that there are two types available, a big one-piece bumper like a Warn, and a slimmer tube-type bumper like an OR FAB (just as examples - I'm not too concerned about brand at this point).

The big one-piece bumpers seem like they would provide good support for rigorous winching, stiffen up the unibody, and hold up well in an impact. However, they seem pretty bulky and heavy. The tube-type bumpers appear lighter and lower-profile, but look like they wouldn't hold up as well under a load or in an impact.

I know I'm supposed to evaluate my needs and do some research, but I've been looking for information and comparisons on the bb and elsewhere and haven't found anything comprehensive yet. Does anyone have any recommendations about which type would be better, or have any links to good information sources?

Thanks for any help!
Jon <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Most bumpers do not actually have the winch mounted to them. A winch mounting plate is mounted to the front frame rails. There are a couple of bumpers (Hanson makes one) that the winch can actually mount to the bumper.

If I had one of them wagons I'd be putting a hiddon front hitch on it and a rear hitch and I'd be keeping my winch INSIDE on the trail and out of the wagon when NOT on the trail.. Best of all worlds..
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I've never seen a hidden front hitch.

Many afermarket front bumpers have a 2" receiver built into them. Some of them are made so that a hinged license plate frame/bracket covers up the receiver when not in use.

Now you have!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hidd...goneer_W0QQitemZ8069722970QQcmdZViewItem
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

My aftermarket front bumper has a receiver, I just didn't know they made hidden ones for the front of vehicles. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I'm with jim on keeping the winch inside when not in use, not sure on how you wheel but in most cases the winch is used on rare occasions and keeping it dry and out of the mud only lenghtens it's life. One wheeler I know of had the winch mounted every day for over 2 years with no protection just to keep the bling factor as high as possible and finaly when it was time to winch out of trouble it was a no go. All the salt and crap from the roads seized up the winch or crapped out the relay.

The only winch I'd trust inside my bumper would be a hydraulic or a PTO powerd one.


This is one way of keeping the winch in place and minimizing rattle and sideways movement.

After considering everyone's advice, it seems that keeping the winch inside is a really good way to go, if I'm not going to be using it everyday and I want it to last. So, I'm going with an aftermarket bumper with a receiver, that also has reinforced attachment to the unibody to hold up under a load, and I'll have to find a multimount winch and carrier.

Thanks all for your help and info!
Jon <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />