How much weight on front end is ok

[RDakota]

I have a 2023 Mojave that I got about 4 months ago and I’m looking to add a front bumper and winch. I’m not looking to add a lift so I’m concerned about the weight I will be adding. I’ve looked at the Barricade alloy bumper which is only 54 lbs, so maybe 20 lbs over stock, to keep the weight down. I‘ve also looked at some that are 79 lbs and am thinking a winch with synthetic line would add another 50-60. So my question is, how much weight could I add before it affects the ride, suspension, etc? And at what point would I need to add different springs?

i had a 2012 Rubicon wrangler that I added spacers but from what I understand spacers are not the best route to go to compensate for front end sag, springs are a better solution.

thanks for any help I can get.

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[Mr._Bill]

If you are sticking with the stock suspension, you will want to keep any weight additions to a minimum otherwise the ride is going to suffer.

The diesel engine adds about 400 pounds to the front end. This is way more than the Mojave suspension was designed to handle, so diesel was never an option.

To not have any noticeable effects, I would guess any weight addition needs to stay under 100 pounds.

 

[Zachanadandy]

You'll be in to the bump stops more often for sure. The easy solution is add a 3/4" or 1" spacer up front to get it back to stock height. I'd rather have the winch and have to deal with a little sag than not have it and deal with waiting for recovery personally. I added a stubby bumper and winch and it sagged about 3/4", but I'd already added the AEV 2" lift so I've run it as is since. Considering dealing springs out over winter but it has worked well on and off road for 22k miles so far.

 

[Minty JL]

You'll be in to the bump stops more often for sure. The easy solution is add a 3/4" or 1" spacer up front to get it back to stock height. I'd rather have the winch and have to deal with a little sag than not have it and deal with waiting for recovery personally. I added a stubby bumper and winch and it sagged about 3/4", but I'd already added the AEV 2" lift so I've run it as is since. Considering dealing springs out over winter but it has worked well on and off road for 22k miles so far.

Same here and what he said

 

[RDakota]

Thanks for the info. Would about 100 lbs extra on the front end create any noticable sag? I’m wondering at what point I would need to look at different springs or possibly a spacer?

 

[Minty JL]

Yes, 100# is huge in suspension and handling

Add 100# to your body.........same shit, huge difference

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks for the info. Would about 100 lbs extra on the front end create any noticable sag? I’m wondering at what point I would need to look at different springs or possibly a spacer?

I removed my plastic bumper and put on a steel Rubicon type bumper, an 80 pound winch and winch plate.
Dropped about 3/4". No issues with steering, driving or handling at all.
When I put the snow plow on, I did go with Synergy 2" springs up front.

Did the same with my 2020 when I owned it - I easily had 100+ pounds on the front of my Overland with the steel bumper, skid plate and winch and it wasn't a problem. I added

Drove both all over the country with the steel bumper and winch - handles like a dream.

Mojave isn't an overland, so can't totally compare. But - the Mojave X comes with a heck of a lot more weight on it, and a lot of people put winches and steel bumpers on the non-X mojave.

 

[MikeVeee]

I replaced the stock plastic bumper on my 2022 Mojave back when it was new with a steel full-width bumper + 12s winch (Net add ~100# to front). My experience was ZERO driving/handling differences & only a 1/4" drop in the front height from original.

However, it is my sole transportation, so I tend not to be constantly pushing the limits to see what I can break, but I do like to go out into the middle of nowhere and don't want to be stuck without a winch and have no way to get myself out.

 

[Reddog]

I have a 2023 Mojave that I got about 4 months ago and I’m looking to add a front bumper and winch. I’m not looking to add a lift so I’m concerned about the weight I will be adding. I’ve looked at the Barricade alloy bumper which is only 54 lbs, so maybe 20 lbs over stock, to keep the weight down. I‘ve also looked at some that are 79 lbs and am thinking a winch with synthetic line would add another 50-60. So my question is, how much weight could I add before it affects the ride, suspension, etc? And at what point would I need to add different springs?

i had a 2012 Rubicon wrangler that I added spacers but from what I understand spacers are not the best route to go to compensate for front end sag, springs are a better solution.

thanks for any help I can get.

Answer is probably 100 lbs or less. Don't fool with spacers. If you like the ride height, get some aftermarket springs that are stiffer than the current stock junk. My Rubicon was so sloppy when I drove it home I almost turned around and took it back to the dealer. And that was empty. With weight in the JT it was worse. I got an AEV standard 2.5" lift and it drives very well now. Unless you like the way it drives, get new springs, not spacers.

 

[Billkowski]

I wouldn't mess with the springs on a Mojave, they are specific to the exceptional ride(for a Jeep) that it has. A 1 inch hockey puck will solve any squat you may get.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Answer is probably 100 lbs or less. Don't fool with spacers. If you like the ride height, get some aftermarket springs that are stiffer than the current stock junk. My Rubicon was so sloppy when I drove it home I almost turned around and took it back to the dealer. And that was empty. With weight in the JT it was worse. I got an AEV standard 2.5" lift and it drives very well now. Unless you like the way it drives, get new springs, not spacers.

He's got a Mojave - I'd not swap springs on that one. I'd go with spacers.
Otherwise, he's mixing different springs with those shocks. It's a different animal.
One reason if I traded my Overland for another I'd go Mojave is the ride. Even with a snow plow, I'd find some way to deal with keeping the stock springs on a Mojave.

 

[Whiteoak323]

I removed my plastic bumper and put on a steel Rubicon type bumper, an 80 pound winch and winch plate.
Dropped about 3/4". No issues with steering, driving or handling at all.
When I put the snow plow on, I did go with Synergy 2" springs up front.

Did the same with my 2020 when I owned it - I easily had 100+ pounds on the front of my Overland with the steel bumper, skid plate and winch and it wasn't a problem. I added

Drove both all over the country with the steel bumper and winch - handles like a dream.

Mojave isn't an overland, so can't totally compare. But - the Mojave X comes with a heck of a lot more weight on it, and a lot of people put winches and steel bumpers on the non-X mojave.

Mojave X does have different spring PNs. Presumably to keep the suspension at height with the weight of the steel bumpers that are added from that package.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Mojave X does have different spring PNs. Presumably to keep the suspension at height with the weight of the steel bumpers that are added from that package.

Yes, with a much smaller payload as well.
Those bumpers, and the rock rails, are heavy.
but then - even among Rubicon and other Gladiators of the past, there have been different spring numbers. I know of 3 different spring numbers for 2020/2021 Rubicon Gladiators.

With luck maybe some day I'll find out how well a Mojave X handles the weight of a winch and my snow plow brackets.......that mounting bar and frame brackets have to be at least 30-40 pounds and sit right up front there.

 

[Jaxmax]

I have a Mojave and added a 54 pound warn short drum winch , 20 pound winch plate to my plastic bumper, added up all the parts and hardware I put on subtracted what I took off and in the end I added 70 pounds to the front with no sag, and I already had a front receiver on it for surf fishing rod holder. Only time I really noticed it was when I had the cooler rack on with a cooler with drinks in it, still not bad but when going through the ruts on beach it would bounce. Life changed ,parking spot at beach changed ,fridge in back, built just a rod holder and is much better. Rest of the time with cooler off was fine. Honestly When doing my LOD winch plate I also ordered LOD front frame braces for each side at five pounds each , probably not needed in hind sight, but would drop total installed weight of winch to 60 pounds. I can’t imagine too many winches would be in the 54 pound (including all hardware and remote switch)weight area, and mine has only 50feet of line. I agree stay under a hundred pounds and you will be good but that is a hard number to get down to my friend!…..Jack

 

[Jrgunn5150]

No idea what it weighs, but it's steel, and I'm not dead, nor did I lose my Ferrari-like handling

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