Should be watched in all cases - could be so close that it seems tight, washer doesn't move, for example, but the bolt bottomed out at the same time.
I'm going with a 9500 rated winch.
Depends - on how it's structured. If it's a flat plate with no other reinforcement, sure, but these also have trusses on the bottom - notched in, welded in. It's not a flat steel plate like some others. The brackets on the side are part of the plate, not bolted on, and the front mounts behind the bumper mounting ears. I'd be really surprised if you bent this plate.
Shape/design are almost as important.
I am not sure if I can access mine to do any measuring, but when I compared to my cheaper plate that came with the bumper, seems to me I got just about 1/4" with a micrometer. Granted, that includes the powder coating.
Take a look at the pics - there's not a lot of just plain flat plate to it. I'd bet it would hold to a full pull. Shape, design, and the welded on reinforcements on the bottom......... both the front and rear edges are also rolled/bent upward, both being close to the winch.
It's possible Warn's specs are generic - to count for various sizes and ways of mounting. It's narrow between the frame rails, and that matters. A wider plate mounted to a wider frame would need to be thicker or have some more reinforcement.
My bottom line is - when you specify how "thick" a plate should be - you have to cover all sorts of shapes and sizes and mounting methods. A smaller footprint means less chance to bend or flex.
Several reviewers say that have used their winch multiple times. I guess I have no fear or worries due to how it's made, which is just as important as a generic "must be xx thick". I wonder what an engineer would say about how the shape and welded reinforcements impact strength.
This is where the thick piece of steel is welded to the bottom - preventing the plate from bending or even flexing at all - you ain't gonna bend this unless you are abusing your winch or Jeep.
With a 9500 lb rated winch, it would be a good idea to carry a snatch block with you. Remember that the 9500 lb pull rating is only on the first wrap of the drum. A snatch block will double your pulling power.I'm going with a 9500 rated winch.
I thought about this before I hit the buy button also. Thanks to Shadowspapa for his explanation and pics.
Yep on a snatch block. I have all the recovery gear. Used it mostly at Yellowstone in the winter... Once on a Subaru went off the road just inside the park at the Cooke City entrance and another close to Tower where some guy almost went over the edge at one point in the road and pulled him from the precipice. And another guy I pulled close to home...
