Why winch in front?

[CyberSniper]

I could be wrong here but isnt a winch multimount system only as strong as the pin holding the winch in place. Or am i picturing the mounting system wrong in my head? Im seeing it as the winch mounted to a reciever just like a reciver hitch would be. Seems to me that the winch is just as strong as the pin holding it in place.

Actually, the weak point becomes the tube on the winch plate. The pin is in double shear and 5/8" in diameter whereas that tube is in tension and has only about twice the cross sectional area of the pin. If you use a solid tube then the weak point becomes the receiver tube.

My multimount winch is a MileMarker E12000 bolted to a piece of 1/2" plate surrounded by 2x1/4 angle iron welded to a 20" long piece of 2"ID 1/4 box steel. It weighs in excess of 150lbs. I can only carry it 50-60' before I get tired. It's a chore to move when it's a muddy walk. It's cake to carry for two people if one of them isn't a wimp. http://www.wrath.com/vehicles/84k10/winchrelated/winch_082304.jpg


I think the ultimate for mud running is a hydraulic winch on the front and then a multimount electric winch that has a home in the bed but can be pulled off to be put on the front or sides (roll yourself back over). Running just one winch in the bed is satisfactory if you've got a PTO winch.

 

[dontoe]

Ramsey makes a 9000 pound quick-mount winch that I am considering for my '73... the idea is to use the four bolts in the bed that previously held the spare tire carrier (gone when I bought the truck). I would fab up an adapter plate that would hold the winch securely enough for use, but would also allow easy removal. Then, with a class 3 receiver front and rear, I could move the winch as needed.
The winch is about 110 pounds (I think, the 8000 is 105) so it is 'man-portable'. Not easy, but when you need it, you will lift it ;-)

My Warn is a 9000 lb one, does it actually weigh that much? Doesn't seem like it. Try to think to throw it on the scales at work sometime.

 

[DPI]

My Warn is a 9000 lb one, does it actually weigh that much? Doesn't seem like it. Try to think to throw it on the scales at work sometime.

I run a Ramsey Patriot 9500 on a multi mount that I fabbed. The winch and mount weigh in at 78 lbs or so. Using the synthetic rope and aluminum fairlead dropped the weight by 23 lbs.

It's really nice to be able to move the winch to the back.

I was on a tight trail in Hot Springs trying to make a 90 degree turn on the side of a hill while the a$$ end of my K5 slid closer and closer to a tree that had no bark on the trail side of it... I moved the winch from the front to the back and pulled the K5 up and away from the tree as I made the turn. Then I let rope out as I pulled away from the tree. It basically saved my drivers door and all the sheet metal from there back...