Front Winch Mount?

[RallyDude]

Any body have any good ideas on front winch mounts? I'm picking up a Recon rope winch: http://www.gorecon.com/product.php?p...Winch&p_cat=77
It's been out for 2 years and has all good reviews so far and it is very well made. They only make 2 winches, so they save money on tooling as most winch suppliers sell twenty different winches. They are made in Australia, so no Chinese BS. Lots of bells and whistles. It's waterproof, rated 10,500lbs, wired and wireless remote, and the rope, which makes the unit weight half of their cable winch at 62lbs. They sell direct, so pricing is very reasonable. On Ebay they sell for about $460 shipped, with a three year warranty.

I've got a safari push bar that someone could weld a winch mounting plate to, but I'm not sure how well it is attached. The best way would be to mount it on a 2-1/4" reciever, so it could be easily moved to the front or rear depending on the situation, but that may get a bit complicated. If I end up with a custom bumper, I would want a hidden one behind the cladding, with just the receiver poking thru.

Thanks,
Paul

[IRONVIKING]

Yeah I was just looking at mine to mount a hitch up front too.
I looks like anything up there may lessen your approach angle.
If you made some custom mounts maybe you could put it up
higher in the cladding.?
Theres not a lot of room under there.
But 10000lbs pull for 62lbs carry weight is a good trade off if you ask me.

[RallyDude]

The push bar that I have on there doesn't eat up much approach, just a few inches that protects the superficial skid plate, the cladding, the radiator & AC heat exchange, and the grill. I think it's well worth the few extra degrees for the protection. I know it's on there pretty good, but 10,500lbs worth? I guess worst case scenario is that I pull the push bar clean off. Then I know it needs some more welding. I'd still have the rope to get pulled out by someone on the trail.

Their other winch is rated at 17,500. but it isn't waterproof, and with a steel cable it weighs 125lbs + mount. That's just too much weight to be positioned so far up front. And if you did have to move it to the back, it would be much more reasonable to move the rope winch.

[etlsport]

i know more than one person has mounted a winch inside the front bumper with only the fairlead sticking out. search around for that!.. also know someone (i think bigmeatVX) used to make hitch recievers for the front that just stuck out where the license plate normally would

[Luna X]

better yet... If your 4wd hi-lo shifter still works, but the machine in lo and drive on out....

[Marlin]

better yet... If your 4wd hi-lo shifter still works, but the machine in lo and drive on out....

As for moving it front and rear, the cable you need for power to run that winch off the rear end is gonna be some bucks!! The current draw is gotta be huge, without checking speqs I would guess somewhere in the 40-50amp range? You are gonna need 00 or bigger from front to rear, and a breaker just in case. Thats not gonna be cheap. Go for it!! I saved my hot tub power line just for that reason, IIRC its 3 wire 8ga conductor in a chemical resistant sheathing. Just wire all three together, and voila, a decent rear winch mount power line. I eventually gave up on the idea, too much work, and I carry a come-along if a strap won't do.

But I wouldn't even think about mounting it on that push bar. That thing can't be thicker than 12ga steel if that, and it will just fold on itself. Then you are out the bar, if you can even replace that...

[Diogenes]

etlsport,

I saw a picture of just such a winch setup somewhere here. I was thinking of doing the same thing (having the winch hidden behind the front cladding with a lead coming out in that gap above the license plate).

Also need to hook up with Ldub and see where he got these "knobbies" and how well they handle on road, as well as off.

http://www.rocky-road.com/media/vehicross3.jpg

Those are VERY cool tires!!.. ;0)


Dio

[RamAirZ]

I'm working on one behind my bumper, should be finished next week and I am taking alot of pics

[VXorado]

IIRC, aciender has some pics in his gallery of the in bumper mount. Its not complicated but requires some good thick metal and some welding. A hitch reciever would be about the same amount of work, you would just have the reciever cut through the bumper rather than the winch fairlead roller.

Also, winch size is a limiting factor when installing the winch in the bumper.

Good luck, this is also on my list of mods. I already have the a friend welder ready to help and the metal plate, just need the winch.

[Triathlete]

I've got a safari push bar that someone could weld a winch mounting plate to,

If you were to mount your winch to your safari bar, the first time you attempted to use it your safari bar, winch plate and winch would no longer be attached to your VX nor would it be in one piece. Those safari bars are made for mall crawling and mounting a few lights to. There are several people here who have had various types of "contact" on their safari bars who can attest to that. If your going to mount a winch and plan on using it invest in a real mount.

[rowhard]

You are gonna need 00 or bigger from front to rear, and a breaker just in case.

INSERT 2 CENTS:
If you buy it at Home Depot or Lowes (bulk) I think it would be affordable. It wouldn't be the multi strand like you would use on a power amp, but signal noise isn't a issue

[Ascinder]

That winch actually looks really similar to my T-max(Aussie brand too). Almost like it's a slightly smaller version.

[Marlin]

INSERT 2 CENTS:
If you buy it at Home Depot or Lowes (bulk) I think it would be affordable. It wouldn't be the multi strand like you would use on a power amp, but signal noise isn't a issue

I didn't think about that, Romex feeder would be great! Easy to bend and put in place. 10gage is about buck a foot, so figure 2 bucks or so for triple wire 8 or 6?

[RallyDude]

Thanks for all the input. If I get stuck it isn't a matter of throwing it in low, as I probably had it in low already. Trails around here can get pretty technical.

I'll have to see how this goes. I can see that I might have to spend a lot more on the mount than on the winch. That T-Max looks like a nice winch (on the outside anyway). Have you had good luck with it? The color would match my Kaiser, and the ribbed top would look good with the ribs in my fiberglass non-skid plate and the ribbed doors on the VX.

I don't want to lift it and go with huge tires, as the driving around here is all twisty mountain roads. I want to keep the superior road handling, yet still have a competent off-road ride. Without the big tires and a lift, maybe the winch isn't needed. I've never got so stuck that I haven't been able to get out, but it would be a blast to pull out a stranded jeep. I pulled a full-size truck out of the ditch on its side once with an old 250k miles subie. The look on the owner's face was priceless. I agree, it's all about the tires, but I have a new set of 285/60-18 Cooper Zeon LTZ performance all terrain-tires.

[Ascinder]

I think you'll be fine with the recon winch personally. The T-max was bought because I got a really great deal on it and I was planning to install heavier duty running gear in the future. It's a bit big and hard to fit in behind the cladding. I had to chop the fan mount support and remove the stock electric fan and put in something more low profile. The winch is mounted right up against the very front frame crossmember right up against the radiator. It's pretty tight. Works like a champ though.