You are right, distance from an axle / wheelbase for the calculation.Yes, old chunky is being partially supported by the rear axle. At one stage I was thinking of working out the exact figure. - but my physics/engineering days are just too long ago i.e. the effect on the front axle is proportional to both the weight of the winch and the distance it is from the axle - the effect will be greater than the weight of the winch.
If a 25kg winch is 600mm forward of the axle and the vehicle WB is 2,922mm (call it 3,000) then there is the weight of the object plus an additional 20% effective weight placed on the front axle = 25 + 5kg (30 total) and a corresponding 20% effecive weight reduction on the rear axle = -5kg.
If a 100kg babi is sitting 1,500mm rear of the front axle "he" will be half way between front and rear axles so 50% = 50kg total on the front axle.
If "he" put the seat forward (because he's a bit vertically challenged) there would be more weight on FA and less on the rear.
In other words, it appears our fellow Dave ( I'm also a "Dave") seems to be correct ... at least when the car is not moving ! So portable winches need not worry.
Off highway driving, with dynamic loading may be a different matter. I too had a vehicle that was fine on highway after a winch/carrier install but bottomed out off highway.at forward
That said, I think it might still be okay without a spring upgrade.
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