I use my winch once or twice a year to help someone else, never myself, so it's probably not worth it by that measure alone... But I like how it looks and I like having the assurance when I do challenging tracks.
YMMV but I noticed a difference when I took off the winch and just ran the stubby bumper for a week. Even though my springs and shocks are tailored to a heavy AEV front bar and winch, it felt better on-road with the "lightweight" front-end.
If you think that a winch is for you, then I agree 9000lb is the ideal capacity winch on a JK and anything less wouldn't be practically useful and more can't hurt as long as the winch isn't much heavier. You won't find any meaningfully lighter 9000lb winches because that weight saving would have to come from less material in the motor, gearbox or drum (the casing is very light alloy).
I second winch rope because regardless of the weight saving, it's so much easier to work with.
If the winch has been sitting unused for a while, then it might benefit from a service. If you haven't done it before, it's actually pretty easy and I found this video series very helpful:
If you want to mount it behind the bumper, have a look at the AEV winch mount instead - it's strong, well priced and comes with a vacuum pump relocation bracket for the 3.6 models. Install video here:
I used
this "high mount" winch plate for around a year and I didn't have any issues with it but it won't fit with many aftermarket bumpers. There's a pic of it in the
front bumper roundup thread.
That winch plate you linked might work with some M12 class 10.9 or 1/2" grade 8 bolts but I'm not sure I would ever fully trust it.
Winch put on or not?
XJ Cherokee
HG Premier
