Damage while using winch on improperly installed Rough Country High Mount

[Bronkey]

There’s very little that Rust Country makes that isn’t hot garbage.

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[Tricky Dick]

The black steel stamping with nuts welded on is the only thing that was behind my Capable bumper. I assume the Modular mounts the same way.
You need similar parts to 7,8,10,11 seen on the Havoc bumper installation guide.

Yup, looks like a good idea. Similar to the LoD but even beefier.

 

[Rick Astley]

After looking at LOD brackets and not knowing the thickness of them I would do a small 1" weld on the back edge of bracket to frame. If you ever need to remove later, you can always grind it off. Once the brackets are bolted in place, I would consider also maybe adding a top plate to tie both brackets together and seam weld in place. Once again if you ever have to remove, both sides would come off as one unit, and go back on as one unit once you weld in the top plate. Just my 2¢ worth of past experience talking. Good luck what ever way you decide. Make sure you post up the final result.

I'm not sure you could weld on a top plate while mounted to the vehicle.

As others showed later in the thread from your post, Havoc has some tacos on their bracket which seems like a great way to go to strengthen the area.

Given LOD's style I'm not certain if I could mount these in one at a time without having to fully dismount the bumper, which would be disappointing but realistic. Will have to take a look tomorrow.

Note that the JCR full front bumper locates the pull line approximately horizontal to the mounting brackets and also squared up straight over them from the vertical view.

 

[BroncoTrail]

Which part is the frame horn(s)?

 

[sjudas]

Ohhhh... yeah. That makes more sense—don't know why that didn't occur to me.

Definitely sucks, and it confirms my fears. One of the reasons why I've been hesitant about the JCR mount is for the same reason. I had a feeling if you got a winch pull at the right angle you could bend something.

Just seems like a complete bumper replacement is the right way to go so you don't create a level-type setup that'll bend the front end. I just haven't seen an aftermarket bumper I really liked yet.

I am waiting for my JCR to be delivered. The JCR bolts to the frame where the existing recover points are now. This shouldn't happen with the JCR. His looks to be bolted to the bumper and the bumper itself rotated. You should be fine.

 

[new to bronco]

That's the problem when winches are "Sticking out on a limb" without proper support. They are beasts at doing their job (pulling) but if not anchored properly, can cause vehicle damage.
When I installed the winch on the jeep, I installed a 3/8" thick winch mount plate in between the frame, tucked low, not cantilevered forward/up away from the frame...

 

[RubyRedGT]

What prerunner bar is that? I want to do the same but I wasn’t sure about fitment. Do you have a side picture?

JCR. I got for only $199 when they first offered them in Nov 2021. Was bitch to install (holes didn’t line up and needed modification) but I like it overall.

 

[techdisaster]

Awesome. Thanks for the pics. This is on my list for sure now.

 

[V1Rotate]

I am waiting for my JCR to be delivered. The JCR bolts to the frame where the existing recover points are now. This shouldn't happen with the JCR. His looks to be bolted to the bumper and the bumper itself rotated. You should be fine.

The JCR and the RC mount in exactly the same place only the JCR uses all 3 bolts on each side at the recovery point vs. 2. Assuming the mount didn’t bend (which he confirmed wasn’t the case) the JCR would do exactly the same thing as it mounts in exactly the same spot putting the same stress on the frame in the same spots that bent

 

[Deleted User 5719102]

The black steel stamping with nuts welded on is the only thing that was behind my Capable bumper. I assume the Modular mounts the same way.
You need similar parts to 7,8,10,11 seen on the Havoc bumper installation guide.

I don't see the real reinforcement with the brackets in these color illustrations. With only 1 bolt securing them to the frame itself (based on illustration), the same result from excessive stress would still allow for oem bumper mount to bend up or down or both. In my view the only way those added brackets would work as intended is for 2 bolts to be used to secure the brackets to the frame. 2 bolts would prohibit the brackets from moving up or down with the oem bumper bracket when stressed under load.

 

[Merc4x4]

I don't see the real reinforcement with the brackets in these color illustrations. With only 1 bolt securing them to the frame itself (based on illustration), the same result from excessive stress would still allow for oem bumper mount to bend up or down or both. In my view the only way those added brackets would work as intended is for 2 bolts to be used to secure the brackets to the frame. 2 bolts would prohibit the brackets from moving up or down with the oem bumper bracket when stressed under load.

Single bolt makes a nice pivot point.

@Tricky Dick, if you make some bolt on brackets I’ll purchase. I don’t have welding skills or welder, but I have no problem with drilling holes in the frame.

 

[Deleted User 5719102]

The big difference between these 2 brackets is LOD is using 2 bolts to mount to frame horn. LOD brackets will prohibit the brackets from pivoting under load stress. If I were to go this route, LOD would be my choice between the two.

 

[Bikeric]

I don't see the real reinforcement with the brackets in these color illustrations. With only 1 bolt securing them to the frame itself (based on illustration), the same result from excessive stress would still allow for oem bumper mount to bend up or down or both. In my view the only way those added brackets would work as intended is for 2 bolts to be used to secure the brackets to the frame. 2 bolts would prohibit the brackets from moving up or down with the oem bumper bracket when stressed under load.

I don't disagree, I think 2 bolts through the frame would be ideal, but using a winch on the factory Ford bumper without replacing that black sheet metal piece with something beefier is asking for trouble. The sandwich effect from the 4 steel pieces on each side of the front bumper, plus sandwiching those plates to the frame is still 1000x better than the factory bumper mount.

 

[Tricky Dick]

The big difference between these 2 brackets is LOD is using 2 bolts to mount to frame horn. LOD brackets will prohibit the brackets from pivoting under load stress. If I were to go this route, LOD would be my choice between the two.

I think I like the Havoc version a little more if you add a second bolt or a weld to prevent possible pivoting. The extra horizontal gusset is good. I'm going to end up doing that with the LoD anyway so it's moot.

 

[Bikeric]

I just went ahead and ordered the LoD brackets myself. I'll be able to compare the differences, plus I'll have something to reinforce the bumper on my Base-Man-Squatch that should be here next month.
I'm sure I'll be buying the TD frame bracket mounts when they become available 6 months from now.

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