Changes in Performance with Bumper and Winch

[PyrPatriot]

Seems like up to a point you lose 1mpg per 150lbs of weight.

From the dealership: 21-23mpg
Rock sliders (100lbs) and horse stall mat for the bed (another 90lbs): 20-21mpg
32" Falken MTs with steel wheels (heavy combo, probably 100lbs each): 19mpg
Added 300lbs of gravel to bed for better traction during rain: 17mpg
Mopar steel bumper, skid and Winch, and winch plate (200lbs): 15mpg
Removed gravel, swapped tires for 35" Falken MTs on alloy wheels (same 100lbs each): 16-18mpgs

My area is rolling hills and a mix of highway and city traffic. The numbers improve by 1mpg if it is strict highway.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Just switching from the stock highway tires to A/T tires dropped my MPG by about 1 or so. SAME EXACT size tire except about .7" wider than the stock Dueler tire. Weight isn't much different.
Even the tire people told me I'd likely lose some MPG in the tire swap.

I noticed the biggest drop when I put all that weight up front for the bumper, skid plate and winch.

 

[BAT]

Yes, that, too. Forgot to mention it did go down a bit.

Thanks for info. No plans anytime soon to bouncing through fields mostly just hauling kayak to back road launches or beach and towing small trailer occasionally. Other than that just daily driving and hauling occasional project junk for the home, etc in the truck bed. I just figured it might be best to install the winch same time am changing the bumper out, etc. I'm sure I will figure a use for it down the line. I could have used it a couple times awhile back to pull some heavy stuff from resting spot to where it could be more easily loaded. Damn near wrecked my back and knees on that.

 

[obrianmcc]

I have a similar set up ... added RR Arcus with Warn Evo 10s ... handling is fine. Front end settled maybe a 1/4"

 

[Terry]

So am changing out to a RR Arcus Bumper and Badlands Apex 12000 lbs winch this weekend. Running Stock Sport S Max Tow with Rubi take off tires and shocks. Was thinking maybe someone else out there has made similar change and could advise if the changes altered the handling or performance of the truck much. I guess I might have to look at it after the change and see if any leveling or such needs to be done but I don't mind some rake in the front to offset when I am hauling and towing things.

On my Rubi, I added a Mopar Steel Stubbi front bumper, Mopar off road lights, Mopar skid plate and winch mounting plate and a Warn vr EVO 12-S winch and got absolutely NO vehicle rake, difference in handling, fuel economy (not that fuel economy is synonymous with a Jeep) or vehicle performance. None, zip. nada.........

 

[AmishMike]

I agree with Terry, I added a Warn EVO 12S and Warn mount to my plastic bumper, no difference in ride etc.. (Otherwise stock JTR)
If you have a winch, you will find uses for it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Rubicon is generally already a heavier truck with heavier front springs so I'd expect either less difference or minimal difference with a Rubicon vs. Sport or Overland.
I could definitely feel the weight out front especially after just putting it on. Granted I'm used to it now and I don't really know any different because I don't have a stock Sport or Overland to jump into and compare.

 

[LostWoods]

The Sport is already fairly light. If you run fast on dirt the added weight hanging off front end will be very noticeable. For crawling it would not matter so much.

I honestly had zero issues with it and while it's clearly there, it's not an issue in the AZ desert. That said, I have full steel skids and a cap in the back so an extra 120# off the front is pretty balanced on my truck. It would probably be more noticeable if I didn't have a static 300# in/on the bed at all times so definitely something to take into account.

 

[BAT]

I lost a couple mpgs and I think the front went down by like 1/2", as others have noted in my thread
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/loss-in-height-from-adding-a-winch.31382/



Per RR: Winch plate, hooks, bumper and all hardware is about 68 lbs
https://ruggedridge.com/p/rugged-ridge-arcus-front-bumper/

Smittybilt X20 10k winch with synthetic line weighs about 65lbs

Had to push back my bumper, etc install as I decided to change out my headlights first before putting on the bumper and winch. Waiting for them to ship. Figure it will save me a bit of headache doing that first. Gave me some time to do some numbers and think I am gonna pass on the badlands and go with the lighter Smittybilt to save some weight
(20 lbs) and space upfront.

 

[seven30]

I really haven't found any good reviews on the effects of bumper weight on faster off-road driving. Yet.
Traditionally it didnt matter as most vehicles with winches were not running fast off-road.

 

[BAT]

I really haven't found any good reviews on the effects of bumper weight on faster off-road driving. Yet.
Traditionally it didnt matter as most vehicles with winches were not running fast off-road.

I'm not so much concerned about off road running as I just have done a few trails and some beach running but hoping to expand out to some other areas but not rock climbing. More just want to make sure that additional weight doesn't put the front end down to much more than it is otherwise would need to look at something to balance it. But I also do want some rake in the front since I tow things and haul things and don't want the JT staring at the sky either. Saw one the other day was appeared to be a lifted and leveled model rubicon. Had a heck of a load on the back that thing was looking up (LOL).

 

[mrmo]

Seems like up to a point you lose 1mpg per 150lbs of weight.

From the dealership: 21-23mpg
Rock sliders (100lbs) and horse stall mat for the bed (another 90lbs): 20-21mpg
32" Falken MTs with steel wheels (heavy combo, probably 100lbs each): 19mpg
Added 300lbs of gravel to bed for better traction during rain: 17mpg
Mopar steel bumper, skid and Winch, and winch plate (200lbs): 15mpg
Removed gravel, swapped tires for 35" Falken MTs on alloy wheels (same 100lbs each): 16-18mpgs

My area is rolling hills and a mix of highway and city traffic. The numbers improve by 1mpg if it is strict highway.

I know this is an old thread but dang! I wouldnt have thought the mileage drops off that fast. Im assuming this was a gas motor. I have the diesel so im thinking its not as bad. Getting ready to add ACE rails, bumper, and 12k winch

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I know this is an old thread but dang! I wouldnt have thought the mileage drops off that fast. Im assuming this was a gas motor. I have the diesel so im thinking its not as bad. Getting ready to add ACE rails, bumper, and 12k winch

It's not going to be linear or as simple as he's got it there. Doing ONE thing (A) will make a different difference than doing something else and then doing that same one thing (A) later.
In other words if all you did was adding 150 pounds up front with a winch and bumper it might change 1 mpg but if you did something else and then added the bumper and winch later, the bumper and winch may make only .5 mpg difference.
I doubt it has the same impact on diesel as it does gas - for one thing, if it was a change in "1 percent" - because diesel gets so much better to begin with that 1 percent change would be less of a drop than 1% with a gas engine.

There are so many variables anyway - where you live, temperatures, humidities, terrain, how you drive and more. But it's a fact of physics, change the weight it has to pull and you change the mpg. That's why they struggle so very hard to make vehicles lighter. It's why the use of aluminum, magnesium, high strength steel (it can be thinner and lighter and have the same "strength" for a frame, for example.
Weight matters.

 

[hjdca]

So am changing out to a RR Arcus Bumper and Badlands Apex 12000 lbs winch this weekend. Running Stock Sport S Max Tow with Rubi take off tires and shocks. Was thinking maybe someone else out there has made similar change and could advise if the changes altered the handling or performance of the truck much. I guess I might have to look at it after the change and see if any leveling or such needs to be done but I don't mind some rake in the front to offset when I am hauling and towing things.

I have a JT Rubicon that came with a plastic front bumper. When I switched to the jeep steel bumper and added my warn winch, I started bottom out the bump stops on the front too easily when off-roading. I had to slow down. This accelerated my desire to lift the truck and change springs and shocks -- which I did...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This accelerated my desire to lift the truck and change springs and shocks -- which I did...

Sounds like you were right there at the edge of the cliff already and feather could have pushed you over the edge LOL
Come on, admit it - you were gonna do it anyway. That's just a way to justify it to your friends, right?

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