Mid-Frame Mounted Winch

[Carl2500]

Here's the idea, I'd like to get a 12-16K ton hydraulic winch, and mount it under the body of the truck, in the middle, and have a channel fabbed to the front, and rear of the truck.

The idea is to keep the heavy winch low and balanced with the C.G. of the truck, and be able to route the winch cable either to front or rear depending on the need.

I've seen a setup like this years ago, but can't remember where, if anyone could help me with this project I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
Carl

 

[Ponyracer]

In theory this is a great idea. I've just never actually seen one work in the real world. Say you have your winch cable strung to the front out of your midmount winch, you bury it up to the door handles in slop and all the trees are behind you. How do you move the cable? I'm planning on smittybilt 15k's front and rear, mounted low between the frame rails.

 

[Shiryas]

The Foer's Ibex which is based on Land Rover mechanical's http://www.ibexvehicles.com/ used to offer a center mounted winch. The winch line followed inside the frame rails, and the front and rear bumpers had pulleys built into them to guide the cable on directional pulls. When pulling from either end you used a snatch block with hook. I have an old PDF file somewhere, will look for you but that was a couple of computers ago.

Cheers, Chris

 

[Scoutn79]

I really doubt you need a 12-16K ton winch <G>
I think Sidewinder offered a center mounted winch. You might try a Google search for it.
I tried to design a center mounted winch for my Scout 30 years ago but the issue of getting under the truck and rerouting the cable while mired in the snow or mud made it more of a hassle than needed.
Darrell

 

[njtacoma]

Metcalf

Check out metcalf's thread here:http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/62520-The-center-mounted-winch-thread?highlight=ibex There is good discussion that goes on there.

 

[98dango]

Back in the day Tim Hardy had a center mounted winch in his samuai RAn during Top Truck Challange. He Typicaly doss the odd but no longer uses this pratice,

 

[charlieaarons]

This is common in many heavy wheeled military vehicles. Get a look at a copy of Jane's Military Vehicles (I have 3 editions...).

Charlie

 

[tacr2man]

I had a leyland martian(47000lbs unladen) with a centre mounted winch (ex mil truck) , vertical drum , but they usually need a laying mechanism to prevent bunching and they are accessed between the chassis and body so not a problem to route when vehicle in deep ,apart from the weight of the cable! ,but about the smallest vehicle I have seen with such a setup is a Landrover 101 . I would suggest 2 winches would be more practical on most vehicles .

 

[Carl2500]

Whoops yeah I think a 12-16K LB winch would be more accurate, ha.
Ya'll raise good points with accessibility of the cable when deep in the muck/snow.
Between the diesel motor, and steel bumper, I'm trying to avoid adding an extra 150lbs of winch to the front, where I'd probably use it most often.
I'm curious though how many people in the overland traveling world do actually have two winches vs. one. The price of one good winch is already gonna hurt, heh.

 

[charlieaarons]

I'm curious though how many people in the overland traveling world do actually have two winches vs. one. The price of one good winch is already gonna hurt, heh.

I have 2 hydraulic winches on my U500: a 20K lb DP in front, a 15K Superwinch in the back. I've used the front once, the rear twice "in anger".

Charlie

 

[Rovertrader]

buy one very good winch, and use a cradle and F&R mounts. You can store the winch where ever suits for accessibility, CoG, keeps weight off front and rear, keeps it clean, and will most likely it will never be stolen or messed with- just gotta find a place to store it. Also, do rope in lieu of cable to save more weight.

 

[Byrdseye]

I wanted to do the same thing and route the cable Ibex style.....but after crawling around under the rig several times, I gave up. Just couldn't figure out a workable cable route.
So, I'm now in the process of fabbing up a rear winch/receiver/bumper on the rear for a new Superwinch Talon 18.0 with synthetic line. Hopefully it'll tuck up under the flatbed nicely and still be easy to get to. A front winch is in the works as well........and I'll try to save weight elsewhere

 

[jronwood]

Use more than one mount point, like two reese style recievers, spaced at the,.say the frame width. This truck already has a permanant winch in the back, but look at the top of the frame rails. This is how I make mounting point for just about everything. I may have a removeable back hoe tied into all of the recievers for occasional use here on our property.

 

[Metcalf]

I'm still going to do a mid-mount winch on my Dodge someday soon....maybe sooner now that my Willys is mostly done.

The key to making the mid mount winch work is designing it so that you don't HAVE to re-rig it to pull front or back. The Foers Ibex Vector winch system does this. You always have to pull double line to the rear, but I don't see that as a huge drawback.

The thread mentioned above has some pretty good info....

 

[crazyeyez]

This is common in many heavy wheeled military vehicles. Get a look at a copy of Jane's Military Vehicles (I have 3 editions...).

Charlie

you beat me too it, by far. but very true.

the winch is located about the storage box on the side of the truck. cant remember load rating off hand, but the truck is around 40,000lbs. the cable is routed front and rear via spring loaded pullys and rollers.

buy one very good winch, and use a cradle and F&R mounts. You can store the winch where ever suits for accessibility, CoG, keeps weight off front and rear, keeps it clean, and will most likely it will never be stolen or messed with- just gotta find a place to store it. Also, do rope in lieu of cable to save more weight.

this is exactly the method i am taking with my new SB XRC10. i still have to run the truck side of the quick-conenct cables for power, but i just got out of the field and havent had time yet.

i can keep the winch in the garage till time to go wheeling, then keep the winch in the bed of the truck, under the tonou cover and out of the rain and dust of the trails. and syn-rope is a good idea, mine came with the steel, so that will stay for now.