Winch Capacity for an overland build

So I'm building an overlanding style rig. ARB front bumper, HC rear plate w/tire carrier, sliders, skids, bed rack w/ RTT, Prinsu roof rack, King 2.5s, etc etc.

I'm pretty set on a Warn M or Zeon series winch, but I don't want to blow an obscene amount of money on something that will spend 99.99% being unused. I see a lot of guys running the M8000 which I can pick up for $580. I'm wondering if with my setup I'll need more capacity?? Unfortunately, the jump to an M series 9.5xp or 10 is double or even triple the cost. Interestingly, I found a new Zeon 12, steel wire, roller fairlead discounted at $800. I don't know if the 12 even fits in the ARB bumper and after I pick up the control pack relocation kit and potentially a different fairlead I'll be in the ballpark of $1000 for the Zeon 12. Any overlanders with personal experience using an 8000? I figure overkill is better, but if the 8000 is totally adequate, why drop the extra $400-500? TIA

 

So a winch mount bumper is mostly useful for getting other people unstuck. If you get stuck it is unlikely your bumper mounted winch is oriented in a manner useful for self extraction. Having good sturdy extraction points on the front and rear of the vehicle and a come-along with Amsteel Blue for safety is much more likely to help you self extract and has the bonus of costing and weighing less than a power winch in a front bumper.

 

The rule is 1.5x the weight of the rig. Many 12k winches all retain the common 10x4.5 bolt pattern for mounting. 9 to 10 should be fair.

 

M8000S. Snatch blocks if you need.

 

M8000 has gotten me out of a few bad spots. 99% of the time it sits there like an ornament. The 1% of the time I've needed it *for me*, it paid for itself many times over.