Lilchubby
Registered Member
Do you have ideas for a winch? Mount it on top, or is there room inside?
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The restoration/modification of Daisy.
- Thread starter muddysub
- Start date
the winch is actually going to mount on a cradle behind the bumper. I originally designed the bumper with a hitch mounted winch in mind, after carrying around an M12000 on a hitch mount I decided against that. so I'm going to have to design a cradle to hold the winch because there is no room to mount it on top or inside of the bumper.
Nice, I'm really interested in how this winch mount is going to be. I still need to make mine and I'll probably follow your lead.
Lilchubby
Registered Member
That's right where I'm at, follow the leader. HaHa
the winch is actually going to mount on a cradle behind the bumper. I originally designed the bumper with a hitch mounted winch in mind, after carrying around an M12000 on a hitch mount I decided against that. so I'm going to have to design a cradle to hold the winch because there is no room to mount it on top or inside of the bumper.
I've spent the last few weeks staring at the front end of my truck, not sure what I want to do about tubing or the winch. For the time being, I've set the tubing issue aside to handle mounting the winch.
My original plan was to hitch mount it and just put 2" receivers in each bumper. After carrying an M12000 on a hitch mount I decided that i should just mount it to the front of the truck, it's heavy. The problem with that is the fact that the bumper isn't designed to mount a winch. I thought about a cradle that would span from the bumper to the first crossmember and bolt on where the sway bar used to be. I notched the bottom of the frame rails to stick the winch in there and start taking measurements to build the cradle. Herein lies the problem. The M12000 takes up every bit of space between the frame rails, hangs 3" lower than the bottom of the bumper and the drum is off set to the passenger side 1.5". This means that the fairlead would have to be off center on the front of the truck, a detail that would drive me insane every time I looked at it. I spent the money on all new grille parts, lights and took the time to design a bumper that looks the way I want, I know its just a primered old Suburban but I really do are about aesthetics like that. Also the fact that it hangs lower than the bumper would bother me, it would always look like an afterthought in my eyes. (admittedly, it is) Mounting the fairlead off center with the drum is probably not a good idea, it would cause the rope to scrape against the edge of the winch and drum when puling off to the driver's side. I thought about buying two steel fairleads, cutting them apart and welding them into one wider one, to mount it centered on the truck but that doesn't fix the rope abrasion issue, just the cosmetics.
My best option right now seems to be hitch mounting. Yes, it has it's down sides, like carrying the winch back and fort, added wiring on the truck and the fact that most receivers aren't designed to handle side loads. I can beef up a receiver mount to handle all the side load I want though so I don't see the as much of an issue. There are upsides to hitch mounting as well, I can put the winch wherever it's more useful, I can leave it at home when not wheeling and it's much less likely to be stolen or damaged inside the truck than on the front bumper. Also, the big connectors at each end of the truck would make jump starting vehicles easy.
What's everyone's take on this situation? How often do you really use a winch? Would hitch mounting it be a stupid move? Should I just build a new bumper?
My original plan was to hitch mount it and just put 2" receivers in each bumper. After carrying an M12000 on a hitch mount I decided that i should just mount it to the front of the truck, it's heavy. The problem with that is the fact that the bumper isn't designed to mount a winch. I thought about a cradle that would span from the bumper to the first crossmember and bolt on where the sway bar used to be. I notched the bottom of the frame rails to stick the winch in there and start taking measurements to build the cradle. Herein lies the problem. The M12000 takes up every bit of space between the frame rails, hangs 3" lower than the bottom of the bumper and the drum is off set to the passenger side 1.5". This means that the fairlead would have to be off center on the front of the truck, a detail that would drive me insane every time I looked at it. I spent the money on all new grille parts, lights and took the time to design a bumper that looks the way I want, I know its just a primered old Suburban but I really do are about aesthetics like that. Also the fact that it hangs lower than the bumper would bother me, it would always look like an afterthought in my eyes. (admittedly, it is) Mounting the fairlead off center with the drum is probably not a good idea, it would cause the rope to scrape against the edge of the winch and drum when puling off to the driver's side. I thought about buying two steel fairleads, cutting them apart and welding them into one wider one, to mount it centered on the truck but that doesn't fix the rope abrasion issue, just the cosmetics.
My best option right now seems to be hitch mounting. Yes, it has it's down sides, like carrying the winch back and fort, added wiring on the truck and the fact that most receivers aren't designed to handle side loads. I can beef up a receiver mount to handle all the side load I want though so I don't see the as much of an issue. There are upsides to hitch mounting as well, I can put the winch wherever it's more useful, I can leave it at home when not wheeling and it's much less likely to be stolen or damaged inside the truck than on the front bumper. Also, the big connectors at each end of the truck would make jump starting vehicles easy.
What's everyone's take on this situation? How often do you really use a winch? Would hitch mounting it be a stupid move? Should I just build a new bumper?
God dammit, the more I think about it, the more I want to just build a new front bumper. On the upside, I can sell this one.
socoinslo
1/2 ton status
Hard to tell from pictures, but it looks like you could modify your bumper a little to incorporate a winch mount similar to the TNA low profile winch mount? Again, it's really hard to tell from pictures, and you probably already thought about it, but that winch mount just hooks around the front of the frame rails so it seems like you might be able to make something similar with a little modification to your bumper.
One size smaller winch?
Martin
Martin
I'll keep working on it, I'll post up pictures while I'm at it.
Stepping down to a 10k might be a viable option.
A warn VR10000 is almost 4" narrower. It uses a smaller motor.
Hell a VR12000 is 3" narrower and 2" shorter, it should fit perfectly in there.
Hell a VR12000 is 3" narrower and 2" shorter, it should fit perfectly in there.
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I hate receiver mounted winches. Short of adding a second receiver they will bend. In addition to the fact that in the times a friend has had one bout half the time we couldn't get it on. It takes a lot of room to slide the beast in.
So best option I think is build a new bumper. Why cause I like your bumper it looks great. Usually ones second effort is just that much better.
You oughta be able to sell that bumper for a decent amount.
That's my vote
Well what I actually would vote for is cutting up your brand new grille the bumper and frame, suck it back drop it in. But let's not get crazy
So best option I think is build a new bumper. Why cause I like your bumper it looks great. Usually ones second effort is just that much better.
You oughta be able to sell that bumper for a decent amount.
That's my vote
Well what I actually would vote for is cutting up your brand new grille the bumper and frame, suck it back drop it in. But let's not get crazy
mrwilliamsburg33
1/2 ton status
Is it a possible idea to build your own "receiver and hitch mount" to make it beefier? Even if you have two receivers spaced apart from each other? You could throw some shackles in there for regular running, then pull them out and put the winch in when needed. May be too big or gaudy, but it might work if you were creative enough to make it look good. I have it pictured in my head, but my words may not make sense...
Lilchubby
Registered Member
I'm planning on using the VR10000, but I have a blazer. Not sure how much more your burb weighs. I'm with you on the look, I have made several things twice or three times because they don't come out looking right. I also understand if you do it any other way than what will make you happy, you will cuss it every time you look at it and end up building another one anyway.
My current thought is to look at different winches and their mounting abilities.
If you could remote mount the solenoid would that save you any vertical room?
Out of curiosity are you going cable or rope?
If you could remote mount the solenoid would that save you any vertical room?
Out of curiosity are you going cable or rope?
I feel the same way, a hitch mount isn't near as useful as a fixed front mount. And no, we aren't chopping up the front of my suburban. Haha!
multiple receivers would be the only way to do it "right." I can picture it myself, it would work. I'm going to take more measurements when I get home, I'm almost positive that a VR12000 will fit where I want.
The best rule nice heard is to take your GVWR and multiply it by 1.5. That gives me 12,900lbs. So a 12k winch is about my only option in my eyes. I'm normally all about function over form but if I can get both, I will.
I'm using synthetic rope, 3/8", 100 foot long rated for 18,000 pounds. The solenoid pack is already off of the M12000, it's a small as it's going to get. Based on the measurements I found online and a VR12,000 should work really well. It's 2 inches shorter which allows me to tuck the entire assembly up a little higher into the frame, it's 3 inches narrower which will allow me to center the fairlead on the front of the truck without any alignment issues, it's also 30 pounds lighter.
Anyone want to buy an M12000? Used twice by the previous owner, comes with a beefy homemade hitch mount, 20' of 0ga wire and 125' of 3/8" cable.
How much?
Martin
Martin
$500 plus freight.
Lilchubby
Registered Member
That's a bargain. Shouldn't have much trouble getting rid of that.
That's what I paid for it from a friend. Anybody on CK5, $500 bucks. Craigslist, $600.
