I'm considering getting a Superwinch EPi9 and mounting it to my stock bumper. I was looking at mounting options and have seen the plate that mounts on top of the frame rails and found a Olympic 4X4 mount on Quadratec that mounts in between the frame rails that does not require drilling. Is it better to have the winch high or low. I would assume having it higher would allow for deeper water crossings. If it was lower it could be protected better from the elements and have more protection around it. I am leaning towards getting the Olympic 4x4 mount on Quadratec. I'll probably have to do some creative cutting on the metal inner bumper and and the plastic bumper, but I think it's very do-able. I was thinking about doing the winch first and then do the Tera Flex 2.5 spring and shock lift second and install leveling spacers at that time. Watcha think?

 

the higher the winch sits the less air is going to teh radiator

 

x2 on putting the winch lower. On many winch bumpers the winch sits in a recess, making the cable roughly in line with frame rails. The force applied to the line will mostly pull the body forward. When the winch is positioned higher it will inevitably produce additional force pushing the bumper down, thus digging the front wheels in and lifting the rear a little. You can actually see it from the side when winching

 

i dont know about you but when i am stuck it is usually in mud and hence the jeep is lower then what i hook to to pull out. so pulling me further down is imposible. Heck go on you tube and let me know how many videos you see of a guy being pulled down hill? i live in florida (hot) and i dont think the winch has any effect on running temp. i went witrh the Rough Country mount system for my stock bumper and i love it. my 2cents worth.

 

I have used winch's in the bumper and on plates above the bumper and never have had issues either way. If you are on a budget find a piece of 1/2" steel that bolts in using the factory bumper holes (use grade 8 bolts if you replace the stock ones) and get a smittybuilt XRC 8 for $299. You'll be good to go for well under $400 total. I don't think you'll have any issues with airflow, I didn't.

If you want to go BOMBPROOF... but another steel plate under the bumper and extend the bolts through the winch into the first metal plate and through the bumper with thick tube cut sections of water pipe for bolt spacers and go through another metal plate under the bumper.... it will be stronger that any WINCH bumper or mount guaranteed... you may need 1 inch spring spacer to offset all the weight though!

Good luck!