63chevyll
1/2 ton status
That does look.pretty cool with the CUCV guard on there
CK5
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TnA Release of Winch Cradle!
- Thread starter CFMi
- Start date
royjones
Trucker upper
ok i thought this was a 73-80 frame?I FINALLY managed to get over to my buddie's place and snap a few pics of the winch cradle mounted to an older frame. The ends of the frame horns had already been cut on his truck, so in the pics they are cut more than is really needed for the cradle. If it was cut right, I think you could get all of the side bolts into the actual frame rail. You will definitely have to drill some new holes too. Here are the pics I could get:
Looks good on there man!!
It is. Doesn't seem like 2 bolts on each side is enough for a winch cradle. TNA needs to fabricate one for the 73-80 frames.
Yeah it looks like it is. I would find a pic of an untouched frame horn but Google image seems to not want to work with me right now. I know Martin has some pics of them.
it's better to cut the 73-80 frame horns on a 45. Then you can use two bolts from the side and one on top (total of 6 bolts). I had to do this for my 73-80 frame with a 81+ winch bumper.
something like this
something like this
63chevyll
1/2 ton status
So whats the Meth Church?
Well, I'm back in town again, and while I was gone apparently this thread really took off, lol!
Answering some questions, in no particular order....
1. Yes, the frame horns on the the truck demonstrating the "early" style was previously cut way back for a different bumper. Normally, you could cut it so that you could get all three side bolts in there (you'd have to drill holes though) and also the top bolt. That would give you the same 4 total per side plus the 4 where the anti-sway bar mounts. Thanks go out to skunked for those pics!!!
2. I was working a ton before I left town, and apparently got my year ranges confused for different products. Apparently I shouldn't quick-reply to a post (or 2) when I'm tired, lol. Sorry about that guys.
3. In order for Richcz28 to mount that brush guard on top of the cradle, he used two of the existing front bolts. THESE ARE NO LONGER PART OF THE NEW CRADLE DESIGN!!! However, nothing says you can't simply drill two holes where they would need to be! See the pics of the new design below...
4. There is 8.75" of clearance height-wise, and 23.5" clearance OVERALL width-wise (but remember that your winch cable isn't usually centered in the width of your winch, so keep that in mind). For pictures, see post #28 (comes in on page 3 for me) of this thread. As far as the ZEON goes, it shows it to be a little wider, but don't forget that the electric motor sits up off the mounting plane, and some will actually fit over the lower framerail without mods so you CAN fit a slightly wider winch in there. Others require trimming the frame. Others may not fit at all. I can't give you a direct answer on that exact winch as I haven't tried to install one yet. I leave that up to you to decide if you'd like to try it.
5. The Meth Church sign was awesome, made me laugh out loud. Literally. Thankfully it's only a Minor Meth Church and not a Major one! Or wait, does that mean it's for minors? That could be really bad.
6. THIS CRADLE IS NOW A ONE-PIECE DESIGN!!!!!! I swear I already posted this up on this forum, but I'm either on crack and don't know it, or I forgot to hit the "Post" button. I'm assuming the latter, since I don't see my post coming up.
The new one-piece design is a little stronger than the three-piece design, but it gives no lee-way for frames that are bent out of shape. Basically though, I've found that doesn't matter much. The cradle is so much stronger than the frame horns that if they are too close together, when you bolt this up it'll easily pull them back into shape. Like-wise if they aren't perfectly vertical, this will pull them back where they should be. IF, however, they are too far apart, you'll have to bend them back in with your preferred method of doing so (most just use a BFH) in order to get this around them.
Here are some pics, I think you'll all like it!!
-Darren
Answering some questions, in no particular order....
1. Yes, the frame horns on the the truck demonstrating the "early" style was previously cut way back for a different bumper. Normally, you could cut it so that you could get all three side bolts in there (you'd have to drill holes though) and also the top bolt. That would give you the same 4 total per side plus the 4 where the anti-sway bar mounts. Thanks go out to skunked for those pics!!!
2. I was working a ton before I left town, and apparently got my year ranges confused for different products. Apparently I shouldn't quick-reply to a post (or 2) when I'm tired, lol. Sorry about that guys.
3. In order for Richcz28 to mount that brush guard on top of the cradle, he used two of the existing front bolts. THESE ARE NO LONGER PART OF THE NEW CRADLE DESIGN!!! However, nothing says you can't simply drill two holes where they would need to be! See the pics of the new design below...
4. There is 8.75" of clearance height-wise, and 23.5" clearance OVERALL width-wise (but remember that your winch cable isn't usually centered in the width of your winch, so keep that in mind). For pictures, see post #28 (comes in on page 3 for me) of this thread. As far as the ZEON goes, it shows it to be a little wider, but don't forget that the electric motor sits up off the mounting plane, and some will actually fit over the lower framerail without mods so you CAN fit a slightly wider winch in there. Others require trimming the frame. Others may not fit at all. I can't give you a direct answer on that exact winch as I haven't tried to install one yet. I leave that up to you to decide if you'd like to try it.
5. The Meth Church sign was awesome, made me laugh out loud. Literally. Thankfully it's only a Minor Meth Church and not a Major one! Or wait, does that mean it's for minors? That could be really bad.
6. THIS CRADLE IS NOW A ONE-PIECE DESIGN!!!!!! I swear I already posted this up on this forum, but I'm either on crack and don't know it, or I forgot to hit the "Post" button. I'm assuming the latter, since I don't see my post coming up.
The new one-piece design is a little stronger than the three-piece design, but it gives no lee-way for frames that are bent out of shape. Basically though, I've found that doesn't matter much. The cradle is so much stronger than the frame horns that if they are too close together, when you bolt this up it'll easily pull them back into shape. Like-wise if they aren't perfectly vertical, this will pull them back where they should be. IF, however, they are too far apart, you'll have to bend them back in with your preferred method of doing so (most just use a BFH) in order to get this around them.
Here are some pics, I think you'll all like it!!
-Darren
**Question for everyone**
*** QUESTION FOR YOU ALL ***
Hey guys!! I'm sure that this might be difficult to get, since if someone has purchased one of these, they would rarely come back to this thread, but I'm going to ask anyways....
Has anyone successfully mounted one of my winch cradles on a 1-ton frame? If so, is there a frame-height difference at the front that causes any problems? It's not something that I have paid much attention to, since I don't own any 1-ton GMs and this has typically been marketed to K5's and 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks.
I know some have mounted these on Suburbans, which in my mind I would think to have a taller frame due to the length and weight of the body. But is it actually any taller? Are even the 1-tons any taller at the front frame horn? Or are they hugely different? I have absolutely no idea. Send me some of your Wisdom guys!!!
-Darren
*** QUESTION FOR YOU ALL ***
Hey guys!! I'm sure that this might be difficult to get, since if someone has purchased one of these, they would rarely come back to this thread, but I'm going to ask anyways....
Has anyone successfully mounted one of my winch cradles on a 1-ton frame? If so, is there a frame-height difference at the front that causes any problems? It's not something that I have paid much attention to, since I don't own any 1-ton GMs and this has typically been marketed to K5's and 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks.
I know some have mounted these on Suburbans, which in my mind I would think to have a taller frame due to the length and weight of the body. But is it actually any taller? Are even the 1-tons any taller at the front frame horn? Or are they hugely different? I have absolutely no idea. Send me some of your Wisdom guys!!!
-Darren
socoinslo
1/2 ton status
Here it is on my 3/4 suburban. Sorry though, im not sure if there is a difference between this and a 1 ton.
mckustomfab
1/2 ton status
I am almost sure that the front sections are they same, in the pic the left one is for a later blazer and the right is for the one ton crew cab. Both pics on on the same scale and things like axle center line to the front of the frame are the same. Hope this helps. Also i would be willing to "test fit" one!
The very front of the frame will use the same stock bumper brackets for all C/K 5, 10, 20, and 30 models. I have used CUCV bumpers and shackle mounts on both a K5 and K20 in the past. The frame is taller towards the rear after the front axle. If your kit uses the same mounting surfaces and bolt holes as the factory brackets I would not expect an issue.
I Have an 84 cucv m1008 and plan on ordering one soon, so i too am wondering if it will bolt right in or not?
It bolted right in for me.(m1009). I removed the tow hooks for now. I hope to cut some holes and reinstall them at some point in life.
Thanks for all the responses guys! I've not personally installed one of these on the 1-ton trucks but I'm pretty sure it'll bolt right on, and given the number of them I've sold without any coming back I can't imagine that they haven't gone on a 1-ton yet 
-Darren
-Darren
Darren,
Are you still making these?
Also I thought that I read on here some where that you might make these a DIY kit?
If so I might be interested in getting one in a DIY fashion. I am interested in the kit but I have some mods that I will need to do with it to make it work on my setup which is just like the cucv1009 setup with the frame extensions and shakles. So, I will need to do some mods and make the tabs mount on the inside of the frame instead of outside which will also mean that I do not need the shackle mounts.
Thanks!
Are you still making these?
Also I thought that I read on here some where that you might make these a DIY kit?
If so I might be interested in getting one in a DIY fashion. I am interested in the kit but I have some mods that I will need to do with it to make it work on my setup which is just like the cucv1009 setup with the frame extensions and shakles. So, I will need to do some mods and make the tabs mount on the inside of the frame instead of outside which will also mean that I do not need the shackle mounts.
Thanks!
KansasTwister
1/2 ton status
Mines being made right now 
