What did you buy today

[rusty_nail]

Its a fair thing to suggest you won't use the capacity until you do. In the engineering field, you design the structure to suit the max load the winch can develop, and then whatever factor of safety. Look up some load recovery factors for bogged to the floor board vehicles, and see how the load magnifies. Ultimately your call at the end of the day, just don't let the recovery ops get away from the stated capacity of the bar - yes, your words say 12000lb max dimension, but ultimately you have a beast that supposedly can generate 17500lbs single line pull. If you do pull the chassis out of alignment or something lets go on the winch bar or mounts, could be an interesting conversation with the insurance company at best. If it was me, I would be guided by the capacity of the bar, rather than the assurances of the boilermaker next door.

fair call mate. i guess im never going to put this car into the position it will be bogged, or winching two vehicles out in situ, at max load ill be pulling over a tree in my yard, clearing a track or pulling the car loaded with firewood up a hill thats too slippery to drive. ill keep in mind your comments.