Ever since one particular snow run with my friend, I've wanted a multi mount winch. However, I knew the drawbacks too...I didn't want it sticking out too far. So I came up with a way to tuck the winch in as close as a normal winch bumper but yet still able to move it to the rear hitch. By the way, this is the first time any of us bent any tube. The bends came out surprisingly well.



I hot hitch material (sort of) and welded it to the winch mounting plate then fabbed a cradle to wrap around the mount. The winch mount sits in the cradle with 2 hitch pins securing it to the rest of the truck.


The winch slips in from the top.


Here's the finished product


To move it to the back I use 2x2 tube and slide it into the winch bracket.




And then just plug it into the hitch receiver in the rear.






I still need to get the wire and wire it all up.

Here are more pictures of the build up: http://www.robinhood4x4.com/gallery2/Front%20bumper/
This is best viewed with IE so you can see the thumbnails.

And yes, the tranny cooler will be moved.

 

That is freakin' awesome! Nice work.

 

NICE, steve! can't wait to see it in person

 

Very cool. I believe I see two different winch types. You could tie them together underneath the truck and give yourself a wedgie!

Up too early here, so my sense of humor may be a bit warped. And besides, I sometimes seriously miss the winch on my '67 landcruiser.

Nice job.

 

Nice job! I really dig the design

 

Wow, that came out really nice. That is the best idea for a multimount winch that I have ever seen.

 

Is it just me or did the truck go from IFS to SFA while making this bumper?

Old dirty IFS:


Shiny new SFA:

 

Looks very nice. Creative design.

My first thought is theft. If it is that easy to take off, it might walk off (the winch).

Second, I only counted (6) bolt holes holding the front bumper on and it looked like there would be (2) in tension and (4) in shear when exectuing a pull? Hard to tell what the (4) in tension are secured to?

The IFS to SA swap in the pictures (mentioned above)...

 

Thanks everyone.

No that's the same winch, only 1.

I don't know what you're talking about, it looks the same to me...
When I started the bumper, I wasn't planning on doing the SAS.

Brian, I've thought of the theft thing too. I'm going to see if anybody makes a lockable hitch pin that is long enough to clear everything. If not, then I'll figure something out.

There are a total of 8 bolts, 4 in tension and 4 in shear, with an option for a 9th in the center. I'm not sure if I want to put that one in though since it will be taking a disproportionate amount of the load. The 8 bolts use the factory captured nuts, but the ones in tension have been reinforced with a 1/4 inch plate like the front range reinforcement. On a side note, it's fricken hard to find metric graded bolts around here. I had to special order those from Fastenal and all they had were those allen head bolts.

 

Lockable hitch pin would do it I think and (8) bolts sounds good.

www.mcmastercarr.com has all the metric bolts you want and very fast delivery. Their website is top notch as well. I look there first for everything cause if they don't have it, nobody makes it.

They ROCK!

 

I am not sure how long you need, but i have seen many length hitch pins with the lockable ends.

That is really slick. Very, very nice.

 

Look at the pics, one truck is IFS and the other is SAS. Two trucks or one?

 

As luck would have it, a side effect of building a front bumper is that it automatically converts you to SFA.
That is the whole point about me saying that he did an SAS at the same time as a bumper. :pat:

 

Wow, your truck is coming along quickly! Looks great.

 

Looks great, and with that double pin setup you remove most of the things I dont like about multi-mounts, but keeping all the good points.

Hmm, front bumper requiring a SFA, I might need a new bumper... :-)

 

Just like the rest of the truck...loving it!! Great job Steve

 

Wow, I never wanted a multi mount winch untill just now. Very cool.


Does it have enough play in the mount to viberate or anything?

 

Awesome idea, great execution. Where did you get the bender? I've been looking at a similar one on Ebay. How did it work?

Also, the ONLY thing I'd change... and this is pure asthetics... would be to weld a small plate on the front bumper to cover up the hole of the receiver trough. It looks like it would just act like a scoop for mud and other debris.

 

I love the SFA..... www.SFAboston.com

 

that is REALLY awesome!

did you make the winch tray or buy it like that?