depending on how heavy the bumper, they will change your ride height, but just barely. i just ordered up a jcr stage 3 without the tire carrier for the back of my jeep and i doubt it will change the ride height much since i use to have 200lbs worth of cargo back there. as for a winch bumper, winchs can help alot with self recoveries. i never really wheel alone and ive got a friend with a winch on his zj so i dont need one but if you ever get stuck alone, youll definitly be glad you had one. a winch is like what they use on flatbed tow trucks to pull vehicles up onto the ramp. theyre capable of pulling very heavy stuff..depending on what winch.

 

I live in mankato where're you from?

 

im in savage which is right next to burnsville. we go down to mankato about once a year to drop off our travel trailer in storage at gag's. ive heard of a few mud bogs down in mankato but they seems to be more for the mud dedicated trucks with the huge lifts and huge tires.