Been awhile since i posted, bought a smitty bilt xrc bumper thought I'd share.

 

Looks good. I almost bought that bumper.
You have a winch for it yet?

 

I've got that bumper as well. it looks pretty sweet, and works with all year xjs. I personally like the older models more than the new, but I put it on my rig which is a 97 for obvious reasons. I also have the xrc8 winch to go with it. Haven't had to use it though.

 

No winch yet. I've been trying to figure out which one. I haven't been wheelin in awhile so i keep putting it off. I like the 97 and older to. Seems to have less of a gap. How did you like that plate on the passenger side with the wire?

 

Pre 97 is what i meant. I've been drinkin lol.

 

FWIW, I like my XRC8 winch. Used it quite a bit when I had it on my K5, I'm waiting on my bumper for the XJ now so I can put it on the Jeep. I definitely recommend the Smittybilt winches, good quality at an affordable price.

 

I've kinda been stuck on the xrc8. I thought about going cheap and doing the hf winch, but the smitty bilt is so close in price i figured id be better off going name brand. For the price of a warn ill buy 2 xrc and keep a spare or put a hitch in my rear bumper.

 

I've personally seen two HF winches fail the first time they were used. Which is why I didn't buy one. The Smittybilt is very close to the same price, but mine works every time, which is more than I can say about the HF.
Its worth it to spend a little more on a winch that you know will work when you need it.

 

For the mounting bracket bolts? That thing was pretty sweet. We bent. The wire in and out of the way once it was all said and done. I was also able to unto bend it and use it again when I switched jeeps.

 

Looks good, but sticks out pretty far.

 

Agreed, the departure angle isn't great. And actually the first thing that hits is the bottom of the fairlead, which is right where the e-clips are. They can pop off if they get hit right. Other than that, the bumper is 3/16" and has multiple gussets, I wouldn't think twice about bumping it onto a rock.

 

Yeah she sticks out. Kinda looks like the ol jeep has a major underbite.