i want to get a front bumper with a winch mount, but are there any pros or cons to having a bolt on option as opposed to it being welded on? thanks

 

Bolt on assuming you bolt through factory drilled holes. Drilling holes in your frame weakens your vehicle. I would weld on before i drilled my frame, but once you weld something, your gunna have a hell of a time getting it off.

 

I'm partial to bolt-on too and that's how I'm goiing to do my sliders so I can remove them with ease if I choose.

 

weld the bumper on it will give it more strength

 

I welded my sliders directly to frame....no regrets. Way stronger than bolts. As for a bumper however, I think I would want to bolt it on. Especially a front bumper as no-matter how strong it is built I guarantee you will bend, or dent it at some point and need to take it off to fix/fab it back together...that is unless it's on a "truggy".

 

Weld it and call it done. My first armor mods started out as bolt-ons using nutserts...my mentors suggested welds...I went against their advice. I guess I was thinking I was wanting to keep it modular for repainting etc.

Halfway through the build...just welded stuff and didn't look back. If you need to do surgery later on just put the Sawzall and grinder to use.

 

weld if your useing a winch ... I keep snaping bolts and then said the hell with it and welded it to the fame havnt had a problem since... course its a 3/8 steel bumper things are just gonna bounce off.

 

I bolted my front bumper on:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_bumpers.shtml#Front

It is plenty strong and I prefer bolting for things like bumpers and sliders. Why? For one thing, they are subject to potential damage and if damaged, they can be more easily replaced. Also, I have had my front bumper on and off probably a dozen times over the last 10 years. And the mounts have been modified 2-3 times over that time to raise the bumper, for adding things like tow hooks and tow bar mounting points, and for access to parts like the steering box/hydro assist fittings, etc. And I have done a fair bit of winching, first time out I stalled the 9000# Warn and another time winched a full size Suburban off the side of a road and caught it as it started to slide over into the ditch. Winch and front bumper did not budge. The key is setting up the bolts properly. For example, I have 4 - 1/2" bolts in shear on the bottom of the bumper and then 2 massive 3/4" bolts through the body mount brackets in tension to hold the winch pull. A few other smaller bolts into existing frame holes add a little strength, but having many different bolts in different planes really helps. Sure, if you just put in the 4 stock bumper mount bolts (all in the same plane), that is probably not enough to hold a winch bumper.

But if you have the absolute final setup on your truck and want something fast, welding does work OK, too.

 

Depends on how good you can weld! You do not want it ripping off because welds were not up to snuff. Very bad for your friend pulling you! Bumper through his windshield makes for a very bad day!!! (Seen it happen)If you go weld on, put a few bolts as backup, 1/2"-grade 8 or better, that should do it. I bolt everything to ensure that I do not rely only on my welding skill alone. A few bolts through the frame will not weaken things very much, and gives good piece of mind.

 

both have their benifits. welded is stronger but is harder to fix if you need to take it off because you have to cut it off. bolt on goes on and comes off way easy but it isn't as strong.