HYRYSC

Well, after looking and weighing the options that were out there and searching for something that would fit my needs, I decided on grabbing a Rusty's front trail winch bumper. It is lightweight, still made out of the 3/16 inch steel that most others tout, tucks up nice and close, has decent approach angle and has a hidden winch mount.

I am certain that there are stronger bumpers out there, but having wheeled with my stock bumper and never having an issue, I think this one will work out just fine since won't be changing my off road habits much in the foreseeable future.

On to the poser pic. I still have to clean up some of the hanging front fenders.

Phoenixashes

Looks pretty decent! Any chance you could grab a pic of how it bolts to the uniframe?

HYRYSC

Really don't need a picture, it bolts to the same holes as the factory bumper. I wish that it had a bit more, but it will be fine for my uses.

Phoenixashes

ah gotcha thanks!

Xj88

Stock 3 bolts for a winch bumper? Big no no

HYRYSC

3 bolts? My factory bumper had 4 bolts down the frame rail on each side. Granted it is just one additional bolt on each side, but I have friends that have a similar (or exact) setup on their XJ's with winch bumpers and have never had any issues.

Xj88

I would not trust a winch pull from something that mounts like a stock mount. Unsafe and stupid.
Below is what a factory mount looks like, and what a tie in should look like.

HYRYSC

Well no reason to call names here.

The Rusty's mount (and what my factory bumper mounts looked like) is more like the one on the bottom. I had the factory tow hooks if that makes any difference, but it mounts along the frame rails. It is NOT like the first one pictured.

blakexcore

Here's a pic from the rustys site. I wouldn't trust it.

PocketsEmpty

Well, it does seem to have some sort of tie-in there. Anything is better than just those 3 stock bolts. That would be a no-no to winch just from that.

HYRYSC

Ok, I am confuse a bit, so please help me understand. I am new to winching from the unibody XJ's, am used to driving a framed YJ and CJ before that.

I have been pulled out (and pulled others out) by using the tow hooks under the front of the XJ's. I never had an issue with using this recovery point, and it is bolted up to the uni-body of the XJ with less structure than this bumper. Wherein lies the difference?

The good thing about metal is it is easily welded, so I can add some structure to the frame tie-in if needed.

Tom95YJ

Having used rustys stuff in the past and every component failed after a relatively shorty period of time , and them not standing behind their product passing the blame on suppliers ect ....... I wouldnt trust a bumper and those tie ins are kind chincy .


I like my Rigidco Tie ins ..............

HYRYSC

Ok, so yours is better than mine, I get it. But back to my original question.

"I have been pulled out (and pulled others out) by using the tow hooks under the front of the XJ's. I never had an issue with using this recovery point, and it is bolted up to the uni-body of the XJ with less structure than this bumper. Wherein lies the difference"

Tom95YJ

a winch will put much more stress on the mounting points, especially from an angled pull you'll want something to tie in the entire front cross member as one unit . The sheet metal is very thin like 16-18 gauge so it will eventually tear once it tears you are ****ed and better off getting a new xj rather then repairing

HYRYSC

Thanks for the reply.