Hitch Mounted winches

[79'K5]

Anyone have any experience with them? Are the hitches able to handle a 9klb winch without shearing off of the frame?

thanks!

 

[abig84]

Yeah they are fine. I got a warn 9000 with mine and have stopped that winch a few times and have used it for a tow point many times

 

[lar300mag]

I got the Warn 9.5 Ti multimount and love it, it goes from the front, to the rear and on the trailer without any issues

 

[79'K5]

awesome

I got my winch in today. its the Superwinch EPi9.0 and its a heavy SOB. With the hitch mount it probably weighs in over 100 lbs. I was quite suprised at how heavy it was.

But thanks for the responses guys, I appreciate your input.

Actually its 130 lbs, i just checked....

 

[thebird00]

I lug a Warn 16.5 around on a piece of 5/8 inch angle. It's nice being able to swap it front to rear though. Definitely one heavy son of a bitch. One man carrying it will cure you of having kids.

 

[73k5blazer]

I love my Warn 9.5 multi mount. I've had it for a number of years and it works quite well.
It is heavy. I do plan to swap to synthetic cable, that should drop the weight quite a bit.

 

[79'K5]

I love my Warn 9.5 multi mount. I've had it for a number of years and it works quite well.
It is heavy. I do plan to swap to synthetic cable, that should drop the weight quite a bit.

Yeah I would imagine that the cable is more than 50% of the weight.... those nylon ropes are finicky though arent they?

With sunlight and weather i think. I would also be more nervous about it snapping before a metal cable, although I've seen some faily small straps be used along with a come-a-long to pull a truck out of a rut....



also, you mention having it a number of years.... if you dont abuse a winch and take reasonably good care of it how long should they last? about 10 years or so?

 

[resurrected_jimmy]

The synthetic ropes are just as strong as steal in pull rating. Working on tow boats and barges made me a believer out of them. The only issue i have seen about the synthetic line is abrassion resistance.

 

[73k5blazer]

I've had mine, oh, I think just about 9 years now, it still operates pretty much the same as when I bought, it sits in the garage mostly. I think the fact they aren't exposed to the elements like perm mount winches really extends their life quite a bit.

I planned on using it on my K2500 and my K5, but it's just been used on the K2500 since my K5 build is dragging on and on and on, never for any hardcore offroading stuff rock crawling stuff, just pulling cars/trucks out of ditches, dragging giant logs around and up on trailers, the occasional stuck in the mud on a trail, stuff like that.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Yeah I would imagine that the cable is more than 50% of the weight.... those nylon ropes are finicky though arent they?

With sunlight and weather i think. I would also be more nervous about it snapping before a metal cable, although I've seen some faily small straps be used along with a come-a-long to pull a truck out of a rut....

As for weather, most (if not all) synthetic rope was designed to be used as rigging on ships. You won't find a much tougher environment for rope than being used outdoors and in salt water all the time.

I have heard that mud that gets embedded in the rope can wear it out quicker if you don't wash it out.

As for strength, synthetic winch rope is stronger than its steel equivelant.

My 3/8" synthetic winch rope is rated at 26,500 lbs, 3/8" steel cable is 14,400 lbs.

also, you mention having it a number of years.... if you dont abuse a winch and take reasonably good care of it how long should they last? about 10 years or so?

The same Warn 8274 was been on the front of my truck since 1984, its been used MANY times and it still works great. So a good winch will last a very long time.