Winches location

[Fellro]

I know what he wants it for Chris I was commentin on what fellro said.

So can I, but it depends where you want to put it if it is handy to have the wheels turn in the direction you want to plant the hitch. Last I knew, the rear wheels on most trucks do not turn, so if you are tight in a spot that doesn't allow you to back in normally, it can be hooked on the front then, and you can get it there. But if you don't like the suggestion, you don't have to do it... it was just that, a suggestion. I can back a trailer damn near anywhere you want it, except where there is not room to navigate the truck in, like say tight to a wall behind a door that doesn't allow for the front of the truck to come around.

 

[LEB Ben]

Thanks Lee...that was EXACTLY what I was looking for...I just don't have access to Ed or his photos anymore...unless he'd come over here more.

 

[UNRULEE]

That's a shame, because it seems to me that he's a real innovater when it comes to these trucks. I'm not sure but I think that maybe he was the first to do the now popular Superduty spring swap.

 

[Jolly Green]

Ben,

I've wondered about your original idea myself--that is mounting the winch behind the bumper and running the cable through the slot. Maybe a little rhino liner around the slot to protect it? What are the chances of tearing the bumper off? I don't know, I've always though it would be cool as long as it were functional.

As far as mounting the receiver there and hiding it: How about doing the mount that Unrulee posted and cut out the center where the license plate goes. Leave enough of that area left that you can still mount a license plate there to cover it up when you're not using it.

 

[Bricks]

Different year, but this is a pretty slick set up:

 

[LEB Ben]

Ben,

I've wondered about your original idea myself--that is mounting the winch behind the bumper and running the cable through the slot. Maybe a little rhino liner around the slot to protect it? What are the chances of tearing the bumper off? I don't know, I've always though it would be cool as long as it were functional.

Yeah...not really sure if the structural integrity of the bumper would hold up if the cable is all over the place. You'd probably also run into problems of splicing the cable through the slot as the rhino lining wears off.

As far as mounting the receiver there and hiding it: How about doing the mount that Unrulee posted and cut out the center where the license plate goes. Leave enough of that area left that you can still mount a license plate there to cover it up when you're not using it.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was looking for...IIRC, Ed only cut out enough to leave the receiver exposed, and almost flush with the bumper. So when he wants to throw in the pintle, there's plenty of room...if he wants to throw a winch in...he can do that too.

Different year, but this is a pretty slick set up:

Yeah I really like that bumper...and would loooooooove to throw that bumper on Thunder, but I really haven't found an aftermarket bumper that can handle any sort of abuse I like for dentsides.

 

[Skandocious]

Ben I would hope that you wouldn't rely on Rhino liner to protect your bumper from the winch cable... You'd need a fairlead (preferably a 'roller' like on the black bronco above) in order to protect both the bumper and the cable.

 

[LEB Ben]

Definitely not Chris...if I could get to fit behind it. I was just saying the cable still has to come out and can't always get it on a flat plane...so my concern with that would then be cutting/splicing the cable through the slot yadda yadda yadda. It's a moot point anyway, I figured I'd go Ed's route.

 

[m78]

Back in 1980 I was wheelin in the mountains of WV and ran across a guy that had 3 winches built into his 78 F250. One in the front and two on either side of the back.He could lift his truck across a gorge buy letting out from one end and winching in on the other.
That is if he could get the cable across first.

 

[Jolly Green]

Ben I would hope that you wouldn't rely on Rhino liner to protect your bumper from the winch cable... You'd need a fairlead (preferably a 'roller' like on the black bronco above) in order to protect both the bumper and the cable.

I was thinking/asking about the roller being placed behind the slot in the bumper, but still running the cable through the slot all for the sake of concealing the winch.

 

[LEB Ben]

I was thinking/asking about the roller being placed behind the slot in the bumper, but still running the cable through the slot all for the sake of concealing the winch.

I knew what you meant Steve...it's ok...and that's all that matters. HAHAHAHA.

 

[Fellro]

You can get some of the spring loaded license plate holders from a vehicle that had the gas tank fill behind the license plate, then you could simply flip it up/down to hook up the winch base into the receiver.

 

[NOCO77]

You can get some of the spring loaded license plate holders from a vehicle that had the gas tank fill behind the license plate, then you could simply flip it up/down to hook up the winch base into the receiver.

My thoughts exactly - old GM cars like chevelles, impalas, etc. had these and still available from Classic Industries. The front receiver mount used to be available from both Warn and Ramsey, but that's been some time ago now. An improvement to the one pictured would be to still box the front framerails before welding it in there.

 

[Fellro]

Those kinds of mounts were available on GM cars up into the 80's on some GM cars like the Montes and such. May have gone as late as 87 on those.

 

[chuck101st]

All you would have to do is go to any semi parts dept., or chrome shop and they will have a hinged license plate bracket. That is where Peterbilt tow hooks are located. You may have to drill two holes to mount it though.