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View Full Version : Winch mount idea



Wrecker
06-08-2009, 04:32 PM
I have seen the ones that mount to trailer hitchs. I was thinking about making one that would be attached by chain. That way you could mount to anything with 2 hooks. I would want it to have 2 D rings. The vehicle would also need 2 hooks to keep it straight. Before anyone says something about chains breaking and such. A good chain will not break unless jerked. Think how nice it would be not having to have to find front hitchs. All you would need to out fit a new ride is hook and a hookup for the battery. Let me know what you think.

limegreentj
06-08-2009, 04:43 PM
im still not fully getting the idea..

CESCO
06-08-2009, 04:45 PM
Personally I don't want to lift my winch around, it's heavy. It probably would work, but just not something I would want.

Wrecker
06-08-2009, 04:59 PM
Mount the winch to a plate. On the back side you would have 2 d rings. You would use a chain wrapped through them and around either clevis or hooks on the vehicle. This way you can munt front or rear. On any jeep or truck. All you would nees is to hook up to the battery. I would use the type on removeable winches. I know it would be heavy but you could put handle to help that. Also keep si out of weather and thefts. Also no need to carry it all the time.

skeebs
06-08-2009, 05:00 PM
I don't think you could get all the slack out of it and the winch would have some play to move around. Winches are serious business and could twist a frame of a vehicle if mounted improperly (from what I've heard). I'd say it would lead to an EPIC FAIL, take a video if you attempt it Steve :023:

limegreentj
06-08-2009, 05:01 PM
ohh ok...i get what your saying now...but dont know how well it would work

Wrecker
06-08-2009, 05:16 PM
I would not think you would bend the frame. I have alot of time with recoveries. In the case of my Jeep and pickup I would be using the factory hooks on the pickup and the hooks on my Jeep are tied in better that some after markert bumpers. In the back I would use d rings welded to the hitchs. The moving around is what makes me wonder. My thinking is once the chain tightens up that would stop. You know the shortest distance is a straight line thing. I think if you only used 1 point of attachment it would get ugly. Just looking for some imput. I have been thinking about this for sometime now.

jackb1
06-08-2009, 05:41 PM
Check the warn works series of winches. I think they make a plate for this.

jackb1
06-08-2009, 05:47 PM
Found what I was thinking of. Looks like it is rated for a light load but gives you an idea:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200317459_200317459

MF Steve!
06-08-2009, 06:15 PM
Its kinda like an electric come-along...

DiGGeR
06-08-2009, 07:54 PM
Here is what I did...
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/DiGGeR77/DSCN0497.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/DiGGeR77/DSCN0495.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/DiGGeR77/DSCN0500.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/DiGGeR77/DSCN0498.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/DiGGeR77/DSCN0501.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/DiGGeR77/DSCN0496.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/DiGGeR77/DSCN0499.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/DiGGeR77/DSCN0502.jpg
http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt154/DiGGeR77/DSCN0505.jpg
The winch comes off in seconds!
Don't look at the welds, I'm going to grind them down once I get a stinger bent up and install some inbumper lights and heavier D-rings.

Wrecker
06-08-2009, 08:19 PM
The plate is kinda what I am thinking. I really do not want to put receivers on my Truck. Also I am thinking it would be cool if you are in a situation where is is hard to get one Jeep to sit still to pull because of mud.

joshs1ofakindxj
06-08-2009, 09:53 PM
I'm kind of digging it. Hell you could wrap the chains around a chain and connect them to each other and then just run power from a jeep. That would avoid chaining the jeep with a winch to the tree.

jim91303
06-08-2009, 10:04 PM
i believe it would work fine ... but you will quickly change your mind after using it afew times.

personally i would mount one to the bumper or frame and buy one of those snatch blocks and shackle and pin with a strap to anchor to a tree. you can always anchor rear of rig to some thing if recovery rig starts to slide.

Wrecker
06-09-2009, 06:43 AM
Chaining the other end while winching is a good way to bend a frame.

CESCO
06-09-2009, 08:07 AM
I don't know what kind of shape your frame is in but I have a 9500lb winch that I had to snatch block and never had a problem with the frame.

another thing to think about is I wonder how well it will spool the cable back on the spool with the winch being able to move around?

Wrecker
06-09-2009, 09:11 AM
Bending a frame because one end is anchored happens. Trust me I have seen it. If you do this be careful. I have seen pictures of brand new trucks bent. Maybe you have not had something really stuck you were pulling.

RedRaider
06-09-2009, 11:26 AM
another thing to think about is I wonder how well it will spool the cable back on the spool with the winch being able to move around?

This was my thought. You'd probably have to have someone hold the winch still while you spool the cable back on. Sounds like a real pita

Personally, I'm not a fan of receiver mounted winches. Probably because I'm lazy and don't wanna pick up a heavy winch, but I've also seen cases where people can't open their cargo door (only applies to suvs) to get their winch out because of an obstacle, tree, etc.

gilly95
06-09-2009, 11:52 PM
truly i see no major problems if its set up right... depending on how much your planning on using the winch it might not be the best idea for high demand... but using it now and again then storing it, just use your knolage and stop befor things go tits up ...

jeepxj3
06-10-2009, 02:43 AM
I dont want to be anywhere near you....

Wrecker
06-10-2009, 07:55 AM
I dont want to be anywhere near you....

And I am OK with that. ;)

dan58
06-10-2009, 07:59 AM
This sounds like a disaster. The shock loads are going to be brutal. When you are winching, you'll see slack, and the winch spools it right back in. This is just a BAD idea. Mount it like it belongs and buy a snatch block. I have never seen a situation where a regular mount winch and a snatch block didn't handle the situation.

Wrecker
06-10-2009, 08:27 AM
How are the shock loads going to be so brutal? Have you seen the rec mounts? I would think this would be stronger. 2 Mounting points. Are you worried about the chain? I am not. In the towing industry, chain is what is always used for pulling or binding. Not jerking. Yeah the line will go slack. But does it not go slack when you have a snatch block on it? Does that come apart?

The mount I picture would have abase out of square stock with a plate welded on. 2 D rings welded on the back. Some handles for lifting. If it was used for steady pulls I cant see the problem. Now if the guy in 1 of the vehicles strats trying to help and gets crazy, then there could be a problem.

And before someone makes some crack that I am a noob that has no idea what I am talking about when it comes to recovery, I have pulled a few stuck things out.

dan58
06-10-2009, 08:33 AM
But does it not go slack when you have a snatch block on it? Does that come apart?

The line does go slack when using a snatch block. The line cannot come out of snatch block, unless you take it out.

Just because you've done many recoveries doesn't mean this is a good idea. Mount the winch like it's supposed to be mounted. If you're on an angle, you have a fairlead for that.

Wrecker
06-10-2009, 09:03 AM
So what makes this so much worse that a reciever mount? When the line goes slack the winch will lower to th ground. If the line goes slack the operator puts tension on line by hand just like they would any other time. I believe I have seen something like this in the logging industry. I really dont see me having the time or money right now to try this. It was an idea.

DMG
06-10-2009, 11:00 PM
If you use two widely spaced vehicle attachement point and are pulling hard enough, you will move them closer together.

If the attatchment points tear off, the winch may fly.

Still, I say go for it.

rubberduck
06-17-2009, 12:19 AM
i say go for it but please do us all a favor and video all recoverys done with this set up. so we can see if it really works from a safe distance

OverkillZJ
06-17-2009, 06:47 AM
I don't understand the unsafe / frame bending arguments. Safety would be no different than a winch mounted in a bumpber.

It would be a huge PITA though, and respooling it would suck.

Krod
06-17-2009, 12:15 PM
I'm not sure I follow the chain part. But I think I have a good understanding of what you're trying to do. Just remember that the chain load increases with the effective angle it is being pulled at if you're using two chains in a \ / setup (or one in a basket style)

Chains are rated by straight line pull, put them at an angle and they will break without being "jerked" if loaded wrong.

This vvvv
http://www.haroldpotter.co.uk/myfiles/image/chain%20sling%20angles%20%28244%20x%20300%29.bmp



Interesting idea for sure!
Would I go through the trouble to lift a winch and run power to it remotely?? No fawkin way...but I'll sure watch you try!!!

Wrecker
06-17-2009, 12:37 PM
My idea would have 2 hook points on the winch and 2 on the truck/Jeep.

I guess what made me think of this, that having a winch mounted to just the front has certain limits. I like options when doing a recovery. The receiver mount has always appealed to me. Keeps it out of the weather and can be used for more that 1 ride. But now you are puting 2 hitches on everything. That and the fact that under a pull with any angle I would be afraid of bending the setup. For someone who finds them self stuck often I would think it would be a pain in the ass.

trailerrails
06-17-2009, 12:58 PM
I have the winch on the jeep mounted on a 2" receiver and it has worked pretty well. I have gotten into situations where I had to move the winch from the back to the front while the jeep was laying on it's side or with slippery mud around and it sucks to carry a 100 ish pound winch around in those conditions. I leave the winch in the back for better weigh distribution, every bit helps. I usually use it there, if I get stuck, I pull myself backward and try again. If I know I am going to get stuck I try to move the winch to the front in an area where it is easy to walk around carrying the winch.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/trailerrails/jeep/for%20sale%20pics/P7010028.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/trailerrails/jeep/for%20sale%20pics/P7010029.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/trailerrails/jeep/for%20sale%20pics/P7010032.jpg

CESCO
06-24-2009, 02:27 PM
I was looking through a catalog last night and noticed that warn had a similar set up pictured pulling a snowmobile out. one nylon strap on each side of the winch and each one hooked to the bumper at about the same distance apart as the winch. smaller setup but same idea. just thought I would let you know

Barillms
07-03-2009, 02:37 AM
Mount the winch to a plate. On the back side you would have 2 d rings. You would use a chain wrapped through them and around either clevis or hooks on the vehicle. This way you can munt front or rear. On any jeep or truck. All you would nees is to hook up to the battery. I would use the type on removeable winches. I know it would be heavy but you could put handle to help that. Also keep si out of weather and thefts. Also no need to carry it all the time.

WHat about all the wires? A winch hanging by a chain?
Not on my Jeep.

OverkillZJ
07-03-2009, 10:04 AM
I think that's the point. It's not always on the Jeep. I think it would work in a lot of situations, for anyone with good tow hooks in the front.

I will still be standing a mile away hearing about the results, though :)

jackb1
07-03-2009, 09:56 PM
Maybe I'm on crack here and I know everyone says not to use chain for a recover, etc. BUT.... if you have chain holding the winch during load, it isn't a shock situation where it will break like when used for many types of recovery. I always thought the real problem with chain wasn't the chain breaking (assuming you're working within its load limit) but if the cable breaks, you've got a chain projectile.

If you mount the winch with chain off of two corners of the winch/plate, going to your anchor (frame, tree, mother in-law, etc.), all you have to worry about is the winch going up and down off of the ground as the line tensions. There isn't any shock. Use some decent chain -I just picked up some 5200# chain the other day at home depot- and you've got 10,400# duty rated anchor on a which that is likely rated for much less. Just don't use a snatch block in a straight line pull with the setup.

Sorry if that isn't clear. The beer tells me it makes sense but sometimes beer lies to me.

OverkillZJ
07-04-2009, 12:16 AM
Beer never lies.