Which Bumper Winch is the Best

[H2 BULLY]

I have an 2006 SUT, I am thinking of getting a bumper winch installed. I like the hide away look. just not sure which one to go with. I like the one that Dennis and DRTY have but don't know what kind it is. Also I know that Trail duty has one made by Warn. I also saw one on a truck made by road armor Dakar that looks pretty cool too. ( it makes the truck look like it is smiling.) I think Phil D went wheeling with this truck before it is a black SUV.

[PARAGON]

The warn winch bumper that trail duty carries. It mounts via sub-frame system and then has the bumper shroud that you can bang the heck out of and then replace all without damaging the winch or it's mounting system.

Many winch mounts integrate the full bumper with the winch mount.

[DRTYFN]

Originally Posted by PARAGON

The warn winch bumper that trail duty carries. It mounts via sub-frame system and then has the bumper shroud that you can bang the heck out of and then replace all without damaging the winch or it's mounting system.

Many winch mounts integrate the full bumper with the winch mount.

Don't forget the part about drilling.

[H2 BULLY]

I really like the road armor Dakar Bumper. It looks pretty tough. Any downsides to it?

[Alan06SUT]

Phil why do you use the cradle winch instead of a Winch bumper? I'm sure this has been discussed, but FUK off with search comments please! I want some new info after having these set ups for a while now.

[H2 BULLY]

You all have been so awesome. Thanks for all the great input.
I want to get the synthetic line for the winch. Where can I go to switch this over. A 4x4 shop? I think I will be getting a Warn 9.5xp. What all is needed to do this? What brand of synthetic line is recemended?

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by H2 BULLY

You all have been so awesome. Thanks for all the great input.
I want to get the synthetic line for the winch. Where can I go to switch this over. A 4x4 shop? I think I will be getting a Warn 9.5xp. What all is needed to do this? What brand of synthetic line is recemended?

Rockstomper.com has the Amsteel stuff at a pretty reasonable price.

Phil,
You think with a 9500 lb winch you need to go with a 3/8" line? That's what I have on my multi-mount, but I'm think it might be overkill. The rockstomper site says that the equivalent width to the 9500 cable (5/16th) is a 5/16" rope line which is already stronger. Why go to 3/8ths? On the 9500xp you won't get 100' to fit with 3/8th rope. You'd have to drop down the length to 80'.

[CO Hummer]

Oh, an FWIW - DRTY has the best bumper out there. I've seen in up close a zillion times. Best looking, most solid one I've seen. Also, I think it has the best clearance of all of them.

[PARAGON]

[quote=PhilD]

Originally Posted by CO Hummer

Rockstomper.com has the Amsteel stuff at a pretty reasonable price.[/quote[About the going rate by the time you add a hook, although I don't particularly like the ones they offer.

5/16" is fine and about the same strength as 3/8" steel cable.

Not sure i'd say it is overkill. You shouldn't shock load a winch line, but it will happen from time to time and the extra strength of a 3/8" line may be important in those instances.

Not sure about that, but I know people use 3/8" x 100' with the 9.5XP, I'm pretty certain that's what Paragon's got on his also.

I'd personally go for 3/8" line, but it is definitely not necessary and 5/16" will do the job.

Yeppers, I have 100' of 3/8" spooled up and also have a 50' extension.

I had no considerations of doing anything less than 3/8" and I run the Masterpull line which is rated at 23.5K lbs. You would have to get the 7/16" in Amsteel to get the same kind of weight rating.

Also, Masterpull and Trail Duty stood behind their line (not saying no other mftrs do) when I had a failure during Hurricane Katrina.

[CslRkH2]

Originally Posted by PhilD

Shop around, prices vary considerably. A syn line made from Amsteel Blue will be about the cheapest, but is not a very heat resistant line, although with correct use that should not be an issue. Some of the lines available use more heat resistant lines, but you pay for them. MasterPull, Viking, X-Line are all good products, but there are plenty of others.

An entry level 3/8" by 100' line with a sling hook will set you back around $250 or so, a line made from a more expensive rope can be anything from $300 up.

You will also need an aluminum fairlead, which should set you back around $40-50.

You can change the line over yourself, it is really simple.

Why do you need an aluminum fairlead with syn line?

[CslRkH2]

Originally Posted by PhilD

Because a syn line can get pinched between the rollers on a roller fairrlead and get damaged. Steel hawse fairleads are generally not smooth enough, but you could finish one smooth and polish it up.

Would you consider a new WARN steel fairlead smooth enough? It seems very smooth to me but I haven't compared it to an aluminum one yet.

I like that its black

[MarineHawk]

Originally Posted by PhilD

... I really like having the ability to use it on the rear and have used it on the rear almost as many times as the front. ...

???