Haha your cutting out a section to run the cable threw not mounting a winch to the plastic bumper cover. A hidden winch mount is great if you like the factory look. And many of us do and don't want or need the extra weight of steel bumpers.

 

HaHa I realize that. The issue is offroading where you are in need of a winch a fair amount and trying to use the stock bumper. That bumper cover wont last long and your setup will look like crap real soon. The metal portion of the bumper under the cover is pretty weak for any offroading where you might need to attach anchor points, etc. Straight pulling with the winch would not be the issue. I am not the most car savy but I just replaced my stock bumper for this issue and have seen what one is comprised of. Heck my cover was broken this summer by a rock flying off the tire of a semi, I can't imagine what using it offroading would look like with the end caps getting riped off, much less holes knocked in the main cover from offroading. Just buy a steel bumper and be done with it IMO.

 

The currently made mounts are not very strong, ruin you approach angle and require new shoch and coils or your front end will be too low in the front.

 

I have to admit, I do like the clean look. But if it is not strong enough, I'd hate to have it fail while on the trail. Also, LOVE the tire choice on that rig.

 

I have been in the trails quite a bit with my truck and never rubbed my bumpers guess its all about how you treat your truck.

 

Look at all the posts that show people with tore up stock bumpers. Yes, I agree it is on how you are going to treat it, but IMO if you are adding a winch you are going to start risking where you drive due to you have a winch to pull you out. That kind of off roading is bound to lead to ripped up bumpers. Like I said, heck mine was busted just driving down a road when a rock flew up and hit it. Strapping a winch behind it, is not going to turn it into an offroad bumper. It was built to protect soccer moms from a collision, not pull them out of a swamp.

 

One of the biggest advantages to adding a full bumper is you gain the ability of doing dynamic recovery. Which you CAN NOT do with the stock bumper, unless you mount jate rings in the frame horns.

 

Thanks guys for the input, its a consideration to spend christmas money on.