Installing winch, would installing a 1.5 inch spacer up front cause any handling problems?

[mr. cob]

Howdy All,

I have read through threads that I thought might give me an answer to this question but haven't found the information I am looking for.

I have the Rubicon, version of the Gladiator. I don't want to actually lift the Jeep, I don't want to use larger tires, I will do occasional towing. I am installing a winch and winch mounting plate, I am using the STOCK plastic bumper to lessen the weight being added to the front of the Jeep, I know that this will cause the front to droop a bit. I am thinking that if I installed a inch and a half spacer in the front suspension that the Jeep should come back to pretty much stock height and that doing so I shouldn't have the problems usually associated with lifts when it comes to track bars and steering components and alignment.

Am I correct in my "assumption" or just engaged in wishful thinking? Thanks for any advice or suggestions you can offer.

Dave

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[Jaxmax]

Try and get a quality light weight winch plate, if using the plastic bumper getting a plate with the fairlead bracket as part of plate or that bolts on and does not use the bumper to hold it is important, two examples are Warn and Grimm Offroad, didn't look too much farther and found that I really, really liked the Grimm version as it is one piece, had cutouts to reduce weight, but the Warn with the brackets that get added works better as I have a front hitch and shares the same four bolts as the winch plates, and has one cutout under winch. What ever you do look at you tube and manufacturer instructions before buying. Check the weight of the winch you are getting, some are heavy, real heavy, how big do you need, 12,000 pound with 100' of cable can get heavy, some old school looking ones between 8,000 to 9,000 can be much lighter, and they can be mounted about even with top of bumper. I bought a light 9,000 pound winch, only 50' of cable, and only 16" wide, so there is a chance that winch and plate will come in at under 80lbs., maybe front sag is not so much then, I'm going for a hidden winch with no cutout in bumper if possible. Not getting a steel winch bumper and actually removing some metal and plastic from the
38 lb. plastic bumper means you are off to a good start. Get the winch on and see how much sag you really have. My plate and winch are not here yet, and then there is a time to install issue for me. Good luck!.....Jack

 

[Prescottmojave]

I just finished the install of a Hard Rock aluminum bumper and a Warn Evo 8s on my Mojave. The complete install only dropped the front end 1/4 of an inch. FWIW

 

[Jaxmax]

Prescottmojave is an example in two ways, wait until you do it and see, and second, don't spell Mojave like it sounds. I think it was actually spelled Mohave, but the "J" is right next to the "H" on keyboard, so someone three hundred years just hit the wrong key! Sorry Bill!.....Jack

 

[Prescottmojave]

Sorry, used to live in Mohave County, 4 wheeled in the Mojave Desert.

 

[OHJeeper]

Howdy All,

I have read through threads that I thought might give me an answer to this question but haven't found the information I am looking for.

I have the Rubicon, version of the Gladiator. I don't want to actually lift the Jeep, I don't want to use larger tires, I will do occasional towing. I am installing a winch and winch mounting plate, I am using the STOCK plastic bumper to lessen the weight being added to the front of the Jeep, I know that this will cause the front to droop a bit. I am thinking that if I installed a inch and a half spacer in the front suspension that the Jeep should come back to pretty much stock height and that doing so I shouldn't have the problems usually associated with lifts when it comes to track bars and steering components and alignment.

Am I correct in my "assumption" or just engaged in wishful thinking? Thanks for any advice or suggestions you can offer.

Dave

I have a 12k winch and the Warn winch plate (and also a Rubicon). I dropped less than an inch total. I would not go 1.5" unless you also want to get rid of the factory rake.

 

[mr. cob]

Howdy All,

Thanks for the replies. I am going with the Warn 12,000 winch with S rope and the Warn winch plate. As I am going to be using the plastic bumper and know that I am going to have to take some of the steel out of it I went with the heavier Warn winch plate as it looked to be very strong and will make up for the strength I am going to take out of the bumper.

I have the sway bar skid plate and the bumper removed, waiting on the winch plate and winch which I hope to receive tomorrow next Monday at the latest. I took a measurment from the ground to the under edge of the front fender in line with the center of the tire, I will compare that measurement to what I get after the winch install and make a decision then as to how to proccedd.

Dave

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