Who runs one, and is it worth it?
I am about to build my new bumpers soon and am wondering if I should put a reciever on the front bumper. I dont have a winch yet, so I am wondering if I should just build the bumper now without any provision for a winch, then when I finally get a Warn, make an addition to the bumper for it. Suggestions?

I was kinda thinkn the same thing. I am pretty set on making a front hitch but would like to see a pic of the mount. BTW anybody have an idea how to incoporate a hitch into a 4" tube bumper.

I have an HS9500i on a multi mount. I will have 2 different wheeling trucks, so I figured I only needed to buy 1 winch instead of 4. I also wanted to keep the weight down in the front and add it to the back instead (V8 and fiberglass bed). It works great. I need to build a hitch in the bed of my trucks for storage, but other than that, its great. YOu can remove it from the hitch and not have to worry about someone stealing it from you. I dont have any pics right now, but can take some if you want.

if you can take some pics of the front, that would be awesome.. I have a design in my head, but I would like to see what others have. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0">

No pics, but the one I have seen was something like 4 inch tube for the front and rear bumper with what is essentially a verticle tow hitch in each. So all that the guy had to do was pull the pin and move the hitch to the back. The one downside was the hitch was just sitting out front with no protection except for the rollers.

Milan

I was going to buy one the other day until I say the goofy handles and how wide it is. I am going to try and get to the trailer place today and buy the receiver and hitch stock and some thick plate and make my own. Here's the pic of the warn unit.

http://www.4wheelparts.com/images/wimultmt.gif

http://www.directcon.net/kurtz/Frnt_bmpr.jpg

I even made the receiver myself(incl. the wrapped piece that is larger). Just notched out the tubing with a chopsaw and then torched out the remaining.

**** words of wisdom, if you use a torch to cut the remaining out, you must straighten the tubing before welding in the receiver****** It will cup down on you from the heat. The first one I did cost $15 to straighten because I don't have a press. I can post a close up if need be! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by FattyCBR:
<STRONG>The one downside was the hitch was just sitting out front with no protection except for the rollers.

Milan</STRONG>

Wouldn't you carry it in the back or a trailer until you need it. Then hook it up and remove it again? I think that is part of the idea behind it.

I have front and rear recievers on my toy. For the front I built up and reinforced the front crossmember, then put on the receiver hitch. I plan on making my own cradle for the winch when i can afford to get one. I don't especially like the warn design either.
Go ahead and build the reciever into your bumper. Even if you're like me and can't afford a winch yet, the reciever will come in handy.

I'm gonna do a reciever winch deal also, The one thing I have not figured out yet is which winch is best for this application?? I know a Warn 8000 weighs in at 70lbs the 8274 at 110lbs is definately to heavy to lift in and out of recievers. And of course me with my bad back want the lightest winch possible. So who makes the lightest winch but still decent enough to pull a 5000lb rig??

Here is my winch and mount. I was planning on building my own mount, but this one came with the cables and everything and I was feeling lazy at the time so I payed the $150 and bought the mount.

<IMG width=360 height=284 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/winchtrek01.jpg">
<IMG width=360 height=273 SRC="http://www.pirate4x4.com/ubb/uploads/winchtrek02.jpg">

No winch yet, but here's my spot for one...

http://home.off-road.com/~bibelheimer/images/xmember.jpg

Originally posted by SweetCJ7:
<STRONG>Wouldn't you carry it in the back or a trailer until you need it. Then hook it up and remove it again? I think that is part of the idea behind it.</STRONG>

This guy didn't have a tailgate and didn't know the meaning of less than full throttle (he's always talking about momentum). He blew out his knuckle (on a 44) before we even got to the fun part. So it probably wouldn't have stayed in the back. Although he built his receiver vertically so it sat higher and was about mid grill, so it was better protected than if it had been lower.

Milan

Hey, For the Ramsey REP style winches with the seperate solenoid box, can you hard mount the solenoids somewhere (like under the hood) then have only the winch itself removable? Anyone done this?? Hows it work?

I use a multi mount front and rear, I keep it up front on the trails and move to rear if needed! Definitely use the Warn mount, the handles come in very handy...no pun intended...when moving it around. You know the HS9500I gets pretty heavy, especially in off caster situations. The wiring front and rear also doubles for jumper cables f/r or even a welder cable port if you use the right size cable. I run "00" front/rear.
FYI..with a big block under the hood I really didn't want to block the air flow 100% of the time!! I also don't need to carry the extra weight around town if I don't have too. In my garage they can't steal it either....Like who would want a HS9500I??? <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

cant figure out how to post a pic (computer illiterate) so heres wher to see my Jeep.......http://www.jeepersjeepclub.com/Tellico/RobertD.jpg

here.... http://www.jeepersjeepclub.com/Tellico/RobertD.jpg

Well, since I rarely use a winch I think I'm gonna go with a cheapo 8000lb. Like I said something light weight so its easy to lift in and out of the receiver... here's what I came up with.... http://store.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/norm/RWC-111042_m.jpg only $500, using a hause it only weighs 70lbs, hard mount the solenoids under the hood so they don't get damaged during winch removal/install. Small and compact so I can make a mount in the bed of the FJ to keep it out of the way. Sound like a plan?

sounds like a good idea ant, but is that a ramsey I see? <IMG SRC="smilies/puke.gif" border="0"> Thats cool if you go with that, but in my own personal experiences, I have had 2 Ramsey's fail when I needed it most, <IMG SRC="smilies/pissed.gif" border="0"> and now its all Warn for me. <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0">

Hmmmm.. maybe I'll go with the same style Warn model X8000..... I like my Warn 8274, just to damn big and heavy!!

And of course me with my bad back want the lightest winch possible. So who makes the lightest winch but still decent enough to pull a 5000lb rig??
Possibly Mile-Marker -- that hydro set up (with all of the side discussions that it involves) can be way lighter than an electrically-driven winch.... and with quick disconnects, it might work nicely.

Regardless of what winch you choose, Ant, spool it up with Plasma rope -- you'll save major poundage over traditional wire rope. My Superwinch S9000 is almost portable with the Plasma line -- even in spite of its ultra-heavy home-brew dual-receiver tray.

Heavy... <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/smokin.gif" border="0">

Randii

I thought Ants could lift like 100 times thier own body weight!!!, An 8274 is only 76% of your body weight!!! COME AWN!! <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/rainbow.gif" border="0">

Thats for the thought on the hydro winch, hadn't thought of that... I did how-ever think about shortening the winch cable or running plasma rope, I calculated of the 70 pounds those x8000 winches weigh, 25 lbs of it is cable!! So how does that plasme rope hold up?? Is their a less expensive alternative? Climbing rope maybe? Thanks for the comment Patster.... (wise guy)..LOLOL <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

So how does that plasme rope hold up??
Mine took a beating and stood up well last summer, but this year I've only been able to test its UV-resistance. <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0">

Is their a less expensive alternative?
Not of which I'm aware.

Climbing rope maybe?
Gads no. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> Climbing rope is made for dynamic loading -- you want it to stretch when you hit the end of it after taking a screamer. If it didn't stretch, your nuts would burst... as it is, even with the stretch, they are generally smashed flat. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> The Plasma rope is the other end of the design spectrum, as close to zero stretch as is possible...

Randii

I finally broke down and bought some 3/16ths by 5 by 3 by 60 inch tubing today. It is a LOT heavier than I thought. I got a good deal though, $20 for the whole piece. Now the bumper project begins.......

I got a catalog with a $20 winch mount reciever, course I still need the cables..

What catalog???

I love mine. Just be careful how you build the bumper. If you just build a flat bumper, sticking the winch on the front will destroy your approach angle. That is exactly what I did on my first one.

Here is a pic of my second setup where I recessed the mount back a bit...

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1057774&a=13688261&p=53483552

Side:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1057774&a=13688261&p=53482744

little do you know Rockin', you're the reason I started this post. I saw your multi mount a while back when u first posted your pics. That bumper kicks ass. I recently finished my SAS on my s-10, and was looking for my new project. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">