I've been looking through some older threads from other people regarding winch mounts for their trucks. The only problem is the answer is usually a new bumper or one of the warn trans4mers, and I don't really want to spend $900+ on something to mount my winch on. I have a Smittybuilt x20 12,000lb winch currently using a front hitch with the slide in receiver. I'm losing too much ground clearance and it looks kind of stupid even after adding a riser to the mount, not to mention it added about an extra foot onto the front of my truck. I'm looking to see if anyone knows of any way to mount a winch on this kind of truck hopefully inside the front bumper. I'm perfectly fine with cutting out part of it if needed. I will attach an image of what I currently have and any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

I do this for a living. The problem is you need a tig welder and would have to get reenforce the frame and create the mount to be at the height you want. I'm running a Warn 16.5ti on my truck

 

When I used the front hitch to mount it I didn't do any kind of frame reinforcement, should I have?

 

Depending on where they have the hitch tied into yes. A heavy side pull and you'll stretch that frame

 

i have the same issue as OP

mine is a 97 and I have a 12k lb hitch just sitting in a box because I don’t want to mount it incorrectly. Do you have any write ups or anything you could suggest for us to get it done? Or is the only solution to take it to a shop or something?

 

Depends on how you want to mount it.... The front receiver, if properly installed/reinforced, works fine, just don't leave the winch there full time. You can even run cables to the rear, so you can use it front, or back..... Put another mount in the bed, so you can secure it there when not in use. Granted, that's a heavy feller to lug around when you need it. Especially in the conditions you are likely to need it... I suppose, the trick would be, leave it off under normal circumstances, but, stick it on there when you are going off-road.

Could mount the receiver between, or even above, the frame rails, and just modify the bumper a bit too.

 

ive read that when using a front receiver it limits the pull weight to like 5k lbs... granted I’m not towing trucks off of cliff edges my main intention is to use it to pull tree logs out of the way from time to time. But also get my wife’s car unstuck every now and again

yea frame rails is what I’ve read about the most just never actually mounted one of these myself so I wasn’t sure. My original plan was to mount a winch channel to the frame rails and just bolt up the winch when I needed to use it and other times just leave it in my toolbox in the bed when not in use..

 

I've seen front receiver hitches rated up to 9000 lbs..... on a straight-line pull, I don't see why you couldn't use that full capacity. (though I get nervous when approaching the limits.....) If you bring along various things, like a tree-saver strap, some weight-rated pulleys, and some other assorted hardware, You can make pretty much any pull "straight-line".... There are even sand anchors rated up to 15000 lbs. (if you are out on the dunes, or whatever.)

 

yep I already have an assorted box of pulleys and have been looking at a tree strap the last couple weeks. I didn’t realize I could Get a 9k lb receiver setup...

I would definitely be ALOT easier to just swap from one receiver to another that bolting and in bolting that’s for sure!

yiuve always got great ideas!

ps hope your feeling a lil better!

 

There really is no write up as I tried and couldn't do it. So you would have to take it to a shop. I don't believe this is something you should attempt. HeyYou had an idea