- So, I have a Smittybilt Winch (Gen-2 XRC 9.5) that I would like to put on the front of the truck. However, after many searches here, and in general, I have determined that the stock front frame’s cross member is not strong enough for an honest winch mount. There are two heft looking tabs at the front, but not hefty enough for a winch mount i'm sure.

- I have also had a difficult time finding info that’s relative to pre `84 trucks, since it seems most info relates to the late 80’s and 90’strucks. They all weld extra members along the front, and I presume I’d have todo the same, but I’d like some food for thought here.

~ SO… I have come to ask you all here at the Pre `84 group, some ideas for properly grafting a usable winch mount to the front of my truck. I have a fairly good tube bumper that I can re-use after figuring out the winch mount, but for now, lets not concern about the bumper hows/whys, and simply look at attaching the winch in a simple inexpensive manner, that will be strong enough for actual duty.

First I’d ask “How did YOU do yours?” and where did you get the parts/material? How much did it cost you? Down time etc.

Then, if you can, some suggestions for me, taking mind my desire to keep it strong but simple, and inexpensive if possible.

Does anyone make a simple weld/bolt on plate/mount for a reasonable price? – Where?

Some criteria/hurdles for this project:

1) I am on a budget, so how much it costs is a big factor. I’d save-up in order to doit a bit better, but cant do an uber mod either (Time money etc).

2) Ihave basic tools, air compressor, drill press etc, but I am not a “Shop” so any serious welding/fabrication etc, would be outsourced. I can do most of my own takedown and assembly short of the welding. (I have a welder, Im just not skilled enough to trust my own work yet).

3) Iti s my daily driver, so It can only be down for long, I can supplement with my motorcycle… weather/groceries/wife permitting.

4) I’d like it to be simple but strong. Weld on or bolt on, whatever works and has longevity. A pre-made kit would be nice, fabed if needed.

5) I don’t mind dismantling the front grill, bumper etc, but I’d like to avoid taking the whole front end (suspension) apart if possible. Ideally, no more than stripping it’s front end down as much as needed and still drive it. That way I could do all the prep, then take it to a welding shop to fit the mount.

So, I shall thank you all in advance for any food for thought, pics, sources etc. This forum has been a great help in this project of mine.

Note: It’s a mostly stock truck with lift springs/shocks, little bigger tires etc, not a crawler really, slightly different concept for me, it’s being built with long range wasteland survival & recognizance in mind… zombies ya know... They travel and get in to crap… lol.

(sorry about any slurred words. word.doc hates to cut and paste here).

Bat.

 

I found this durring a search, and was thining of something along this nature, but maybe have the top/bottom braces going all the way across, then an extra plate in the front as well -- Hmmmm ? What do ya all think ??

 

I'm pretty sure you could use this, then after you have that on I'm sure you can put tons of different bumpers on. This is my plan when I get to that part of my project.

I would wait until someone else chimes in with what bumpers that will work with though.

 

Awesome! - I had been looking all over for something like that. $45 bucks is doable, then just gotta find a good welder to jig it in there.

TY Kindly.

 

My 81 arrived with a Warn winch attached to the stock frame....I have since sold the setup to another forum member as I had no use for it....no mods to the frame that I remember..

 

Very nice rig 81 Toyo, and I do like that front bumper winch assembly. It does look to me, like there is some sort of bracing setup that extends under the truck from the front bumper, i presume to give it extra strength.

- The problem I am running in to is that there is alot of information about how the fronts need to be beefed up for any serious winching, but not alot of info on how people go about doing it. It seems there are many schools of thought on it, everything from "Run it stock, it's strong enough" to "Tear it down to the frame and brace the crap out of it". Since I'd like to play it safe without going overboard, I'm mostly considering a little extra bar stock, or heavy plate welded along that front brace between the ends of the frame members. That could be done with very minimal tear-down, if any, and I'm sure would give me the strength I need for my intended application. I want to be able to "Use it", get me out of grunge, mud or slippery hills, but have no plans to hike it up the side of a rock face or down a shear face cliff - lol. But, Hey! Kudo's to those who do! Respect.

Utilitarian and strong, not uber-core works for me.

 

I'm pretty sure that if you don't plan on hard off-roading or mudding, and don't plan to use a pulley when winching (double's the strength) then you don't need anymore re-inforcements, but that's my opinion!

 

I bought a 2 inch receiver bracket from Sportsman's Warehouse for $65 then built a bracket using a piece of 2 inch receiver tubing from Tractor Supply and 2X1/4 angle iron that bolts to the four bolt holes on the front of the frame where the snatch hooks are mounted and the first 2 bolt holes in the skid plate. I wired it using 2/0 welding cable from a local welding supply company and 400 amp quick connectors from NAPA so that the winch can be used from either the front of the truck or the rear bumper receiver hitch. This way, the winch and brackets don't interfere with the stock bumper and no cutting or welding had to be done to the frame. If I was more tech savvy, I would post pictures.

 

The winch is bolted to the bracket from Sportsman's Warehouse so all you have to do is unplug the electrical cable, pull the pin and move the winch from front to back, or remove it from the truck and store somewher until needed. My fabricated bracket uses 6 existing bolt holes in the frame so no modification of the truck was needed to install it. Those six bolts should be plenty strong enough to pull you out of anything. My truck is a 1980 4X4 longbed.

 

Thank you mwisham for the idea. After reading you posts, i looked at the mounting points your refering to, and I see the potential there. I may simply fabricate a bolt on mount and see how it goes. I'd rather weld on a removable part than weld my truck, however, the afore mentioned weld on brace may still be added for GP-strength and future mounting points etc. but I'd have it professionally done. A bolt on bracket I could do myself and feel good about it.

So then, after looking under the truck, I was thinking heavy 2"x1/4 angle-iron welded in a rectangle (triangulate the corners), and drilled for all the mounting points. I think the bolts would be the weak-point there, and that'd be good... rather break a bolt than a frame. Also, I dont want mine removable, as I plan a smaller winch in the back (maybe a 4,00lb pull). So I am going for something strong enough to use with a pulley if I have to, and permanant seems tougher to me. Also harder to steal, as I's likely tap a lil-weld on the end of one of the bolts for theft protection.

I do like your concept though, great food for thought, I might build off the idea.

TY Guys. And if anyone has any ideas on this, chime in - more food for thought the better.

Bat.

 

do it right, do it once.

install one of these front crossmember/frame braces to beef up the front end. it will have to be welded on, but the rest can bolt on. if you show up with bumper removed and prepped area, a fab shop could install it in 10 min.

http://www.4xinnovations.com/84-95-F...port_p_50.html
only stronger option is more bracing/triangulation to the frame with more brackets or with tubed/caged fenders connecting to the bumper. some of these are necessary for "real support" when you start adding in deer killer upper rails, etc.

then you can install whatever winch plate/bumper you wish.

TG winch plate is pretty cheap option for building off of:


The Addicted Offroad winch plate is another affordable option:


get either one of those and you can easily expand off of it into whatever style of bumper you like. i've even seen people just use the center winch plate, spliced into the stock front bumper - ends up looking similar to the "pushbar" style of winch setups, like the Warn one pictured earlier.

another option is to weld on a receiver hitch to the front of your rig and use a removable/portable winch cradle, such as the one below. some people just get any tow hitch from a vehicle, chop/modify it and weld it in there behind their stock bumper. Nice thing about this option is you can take off winch and put it in rear for rear winching. You can also remove it if you DD the rig and don't want the attention of a full winch bumper.

 

i could be wrong, but i'm fairly certain that if you installed one of those crossmember/frame braces, that your stock bumper will still mount over it with zero interference. it's a fairly non-intrusive addition to your rig.