Suspension / front winch questions

Researching what will need for a front winch.

2021 OR, KDSS, no lift
Winch & bumper would be about 120lbs net additional weight (95 if I go with aluminum bumper)

How much droop would I expect with stock suspension?
Would front spacers alone solve it?
If I have to upgrade suspension: shocks only, coils only, or both?

Would like to preserve ground clearance and on-road handling as much as possible, without overspending -

Any advice / guidance is much appreciated -

 

FYI Plenty of vendors make hybrid/slim bumpers that are maybe 1/2 or 2/3 the weight of a full bumper, as well as a few companies make a hidden bumper mount just to install a winch. Either of those options could cut down on net positive weight you have to manage.

But to your question, gotta say sounds pretty strange to look at having the equivalent of a St Bernard or Newfoundland permanently hanging off the front of your runner with no change to your suspension. Spacers will absolutely not cut it to curb the way your suspension will react. With stock shocks I'd expect a good 1/2-1" of droop, limiting your suspension capacity a decent amount.

If youre swapping parts, probably consider higher spring rate springs but equivalent length, shocks you could consider different valving depending how involved you want to get. Again you're considering throwing extra weight on the front and looking to keep the same handling characteristics - something has to change to accommodate that.

Off the top of my head, OME, Bilstein, Ironman4x4, Dobinsons all should have parts to get you where you want without breaking the bank (aka Icon, Fox, King, Elka, etc)

Let us know your thoughts

 

Thanks for the info -

the quoted weights are for a slimline bumper (Victory). Looked into the hidden winch mounts but wasn’t too impressed. I figure for only a little more work I might as well get the benefits of the metal bumper.

 

I added a c4 LoPro paired with a Smittybilt X20 and lost about 0.5" of lift, if that help. Not that I had a lift already at the time but it should be comparable to a stock setup as far as spring rate goes.

 

Thanks that does help

 

My experience..1st thing was a Cornfed 1" spacer. Loved the stance. Nice and level. Installed a Warn winch bumper and a 12,000 lb. winch and it went back to the factory stance.
After the Dobinsons lift I gained 1 3/4"- 2". I did not reinstall the spacer. I was surprised I gained all of that lift. Currently sitting at 21 7/8" from the center of the hub to the wheel well with sliders and full steel skids.

Before I ordered the lift kit, I got out the floor jack and played with different heights so I could see how much lift I really wanted.

 

Was there any noticeable effect on drivability (excessive diving etc.)?

 

The ride was a bit "floaty". But that may well have been the nature of the stock suspension. I had the 4R for 2 weeks before the spacer was installed, maybe 300 country/hiway miles. I did not have enough miles (i.e. braking sequences) to notice any change in nose dive.

But it did dive a little bit.

 

OK - thanks for the info

 

Do you have any pictures of that?