Hitch-Mounted Winch? Front and REAR?

crazyeyez

Crazy EyeZ
I have a CBI front receiver and a rear receiver. The front is wired up, the rear I haven't gotten around to yet. Going to the sticks, the winch rides in the bed, strapped down with chain and turnbuckles. Moving from the bed to the front of the truck is a non-issue (WARN M8000 w/ synthetic line), and if I need more bed space, the winch can ride in the front or rear receiver, locked in.

Around town, no need to carry the extra weight, the winch just stays home. It's very handy, to say the least. Eventually I'll wire the rear and use a Deep Sea 2-position battery switch for a manual disconnect under the hood.

this right here.

i havent used my XRC10 since i got it, but before i got it there was two time i reallllllly needed it. first time the rear of the truck was sunk into the edge of the lake. front pull wold have gotten me out. second time was when i burried the front of the truck. rear pull would have gotten it since my buddy who was with me that time couldnt get traction in the sand.

and yes, the thing is heavy, the winch with steel cable is almost 100lbs, plus almost 20 for the cradle. i would like to switch to syn rope at some point too.
 

toymaster

Explorer
You'd only save a fraction of the weight by switching. Maybe 10-15lbs of savings max. from what I could tell.

Sorry but you are removing 35-40 pounds and replacing it with 2-3 pounds. If you ever get the chance hold a wire cable and roller fairlead in one hand and a syn rope w/aluminum hawse in the other. The difference is quit impressive. My warn HD power plant with viking syn rope is shockingly light.
 

off-roader

Expedition Leader
Sorry but you are removing 35-40 pounds and replacing it with 2-3 pounds. If you ever get the chance hold a wire cable and roller fairlead in one hand and a syn rope w/aluminum hawse in the other. The difference is quit impressive. My warn HD power plant with viking syn rope is shockingly light.

We're both wrong actually. The number for me is closer to 23lbs, not 10-15 (I'm using 3/8"x100' steel line which I recently replaced with Masterpull's 3/8x100 synthetic.

5. How much weight will I save by going with synthetic?
By switching from steel cable to a synthetic winchline you will reduce the weight as follows:
- 5/16" x 100' of Steel Cable weights 18 lbs vs. 2.7 lbs for Synthetic, saving 15.3 lbs.
- 5/16" x 125' of Steel Cable weights 22.5 lbs vs. 3.375 lbs for Synthetic, saving 19.1 lbs
- 5/16" x 150' of Steel Cable weights 27 lbs vs. 4 lbs for Synthetic, saving 23 lbs.
- 3/8" x 100' of Steel Cable weights 26 lbs vs. 3.6 lbs for Synthetic , saving 22.4 lbs.

This is taken from Viking's website at http://www.winchline.com/faq.html
 
Last edited:

toymaster

Explorer
^^^^^ Would you care to know how much a roller vs aluminum hawse weighs? I also run 125' so increase your number by 25%, count the fairlead weight, and see what you get. :ylsmoke: I have both set-ups in my shop; just about 7k miles from it though.
 

Bergum

Adventurer
You have all forgotten the best thing about having it in a cradle.
If there is an accident, and you have to pull in an angle that is not possible, you can take it off the car, and with a battery, you can winch from any angel/place...
That is, in your garden, cellar, boat, and even lift your heavy piano from the ground and up to 6th floor...

B4x4.no
 

NH Moto Expo

Adventurer
Hmm....just a question here that no one brought up...but will you ever tow with your rig? That's the biggest reason I see for just front mounting it permanently. I just don't know how often I would be pulling from the rear.
 

KIRK!

Amateur Philosopher
Hmm....just a question here that no one brought up...but will you ever tow with your rig? That's the biggest reason I see for just front mounting it permanently. I just don't know how often I would be pulling from the rear.

Why wouldn't you be able to tow?
 

JIMBO

Expedition Leader
:sombrero: I tow with my jeep all the time and since I CARRY BOTH WINCHS IN THE TRAILER--


Hmm....just a question here that no one brought up...but will you ever tow with your rig? That's the biggest reason I see for just front mounting it permanently. I just don't know how often I would be pulling from the rear.

HOW CAN THAT INTERFERE WITH A MOBILE WINCH OPERATION ??

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO
 

GrassCat

Adventurer
:sombrero: I tow with my jeep all the time and since I CARRY BOTH WINCHS IN THE TRAILER--




HOW CAN THAT INTERFERE WITH A MOBILE WINCH OPERATION ??

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

What's up with all the shouting in your posts?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
189,923
Messages
2,922,215
Members
233,083
Latest member
Off Road Vagabond
Top