Yah, I did research this. Many front grill guards are junk, but the Warn units are very impressively strong, with huge reinforcing brackets that tie into the frame at multiple points. The receiver is indeed intended for a plug in winch, but it is rated for a 12,000 lb winch, so with a double line pull that is 24K. No way is that going to be distressed by moving a loaded Oliver around at 5 mph.
I did talk to the guys at my favorite 4x4 fabricating shop, and the were very adamant that the Warn guards are darned good and would be fine for what I intend.
My objection to most of the other choices of receivers is that they are so darned low down that they make the truck unusable offroad. There is one brand - I can't recall the name this second - that clamps over the front recovery hooks. That is a very stout unit and is high up, but I like the look of the full grill guard better and I need to protect the expensive intercooler and radiator of my Cummins from deer and such.
The Trans4mer guard is used on a lot of forest service and other government vehicles, they would not use them if they had any weaknesses. The receiver crossbar would replace the winch mount shown in this (poor) pic:
It's item E in the following diagram, shown next to the portable winch tray that can go into it....
John Davies
Spokane WA