Winch Installation
 

Hey guys it's me again, I'm interested in installing a winch on my 83 pickup, however, I've never installed a winch before and I'm looking for advice. What would be the simplest way to mount a winch on the front of my truck? Would it be possible to remove the bumper and bolt a universal plate on? Or would I need to get a welder and mount it with that? I would be interested in fabricating a bumper sometime down the road but for now just having a winch would be very helpful. Any suggestions? As always thank you for any help/support.

First Move figure out just what Flavor Winch you want .

Once that is decided figuring out just how to mount it is much easier .

I like my Receiver Mount it allows swapping front to rear or to another vehicle quite easy

After all it is your Truck what ever works best

When I had the 83 Years ago I made a simple bracket held on by Six Bolts

The receiver mount looks handy, and I like the idea of being able to switch front to rear, but how would I mount it on the front, do I need to install a hitch to the front crossmember?

So after looking around I figure I would need a front mount hitch. Is there one recommended for an 83? Or is it something you'd have to make?

Another quick question, does anyone know if it's possible to mount a winch behind the stock bumper? Tube bumpers look cool, but I figure best to avoid extra weight where possible.

sure it is possible but if you want the bumper in the stock location is will have to be a very small winch, not a lot of room behind the bumper
or you are going to need to move the stock bumper out about 4" and in my opinion it looks funky

That's a good point, does sounds like it would look funky. I'm leaning more towards a receiver hitch now, but finding a front mount for it seems like the challenge. Has anyone installed one before and could recommend a place to find them?

no market for a mount like that on a truck that hasn't been made for 35 years.
Check with your local fabricator

Thanks guys. :great:

A lot depends on what you want to do with the winch that will determine what size you need. IMOP there is nothing wrong with mounting a 2000-3000lb winch under the stock bumper as long as you understand its limits. However Most experts will say you need a winch capacity at least 1.5 times the vehicles weight you are mounting it on. The big question you should ask your self is what are you going to use the winch for and how often.

Winch on Toyota truck
 

I share a 12K lb winch between my trucks and have it mounted on a receiver plate. I'm welding receivers to the front of my trucks and also running wiring to the back of the trucks. That way I can use my winch on either truck, front or back.

I personally have a 9500lb hidden winch on my 5800lb F150 and a 8000lb unit for the yota. Both have more then enough pull for just about every thing you should be doing. Keep in mind that if pulling speed is not important you can add a snatch block to double what ever winch you select pulling power.