Winch; front, rear, both? Fixed or movable?

[mk216v]

There are some notable exceptions but in many cases an off the shelf front receiver sticks out right below the center of the bumper. The air dam below the bumper (which is usually removed on an off road type rig if not beforehand by the owner then forcibly by the first time the truck is driven off pavement) is trimmed in the center for clearance.

If you get off the beaten path with this setup it will likely be the reason you are stuck. If the winch isn't already fitted, you will have quite a time excavating a hole big enough to insert the winch into the receiver. If the winch is fitted, you'll be digging the fairlead out of the mud so you can get to the hook. For this reason alone you will find yourself using the rear receiver regardless of what your intended direction of travel is.

A portable winch is more of a liability than an asset for self recovery. The only time I've seen one be useful was in a situation where it was left at the shop to be mounted on whatever vehicle happened to be around in case a recovery became necessary. This winch was fitted with a long set of cables with alligator clamps on the other end. It would often find its way on a 2wd truck or even fitted to a receiver on the trailer to drag a broken rig for a haul back to the shop. In this situation it was always mounted on solid ground at the shop and wasn't carried in the vehicle that might get stuck. It could be mounted on anything with a 2" receiver. Often times the recovery vehicle would be dogged off to a tree to make a pull. Not really applicable for overlanding but it was useful to drag out any dumb kids that buried their trucks in the mud anywhere in the area.

Appreciate your thoughts, thx!

 

[mk216v]

Referencing the original post F-350/flatbed: if you believe you’ll really need a winch then go big and permanently mount front & rear and be done with it. Moveable winch for that size rig? Good luck on your upcoming hernia operation.

Would be a "team lift." But if I was alone, yeah, would be problematic to have a 12.5k easily movable unless I start training for strongman competitions.

 

[shenrie]

Moving a 12k winch on a cradle is doable for one person. I can do it by myself but most definitely prefer not to. Believe me when I say I’m not in good shape either. However it’s easier than lifting my 35” spare back onto the back bumper to bolt back onto the tire carrier. Like mentioned though without good footing it would be really easy to hurt yourself no matter how good of shape you were in. If you plan on pushing limits by yourself out in the boonies the cradle mount likely isn’t your best bet.

 

[luthj]

I don't do anything serious with my van. Having a cradle which allows me to move my winch around has saved me a few times. Especially when alone.

If you are looking to push the rig to its limits on technical trails, They aren't the best idea. Heavy, hard to install if you are totally bogged at one end, not as robust a pulling location etc. But most other uses, its superior. Slid into a ditch? Drove down a steep incline and can't back up? Being able to choose the direction of pull matters, especially when you can't turn around, and going forward isn't an option.

 

[mk216v]

Thanks for your thoughts and feedback guys!

 

[rayra]

Would be a "team lift." But if I was alone, yeah, would be problematic to have a 12.5k easily movable unless I start training for strongman competitions.

waaaat, it's only 100#, puny Earthlings.

/just bought my carrier and I am THRILLED that my 50% increase in length (100') with dyneema 'saves' me 11# under the weight of steel cable (65')

 

[60beforetruck]

I vote front mounted in a quality bumper. Need to winch truck out backwards use 3 snatch blocks. I recommend a in cab control set up of some sort. You will be surprised how much you use the winch when you dont have to hook the controller up everytime.
I am also a fan of a front receiver hitch. Good recovery point and you can load a broken truck on a trailer by just hooking the truck to the front bumper.
I use my winch everywhere. It is another tool, use it. I use mine more helping others then in the woods.
No matter how you mount it, use it. The more you use it the more comfortable you will be with it. Get some good gear to go with it.

 

[rayra]

Got the carrier and some nicer bolts, put it and the fairlead plate together. And just got my CURT front hitch this afternoon, but that will have to wait a few days. Been figuring out my power plug locations too.

Los Angeles -Class Attack Sub(urban), Build / Collected Werks topic - '02 k1500 Z71

Wagner makes an Automotive help setup that can spray some bed liners. I believe the system is called MotoCoat or something similar.

www.expeditionportal.com

eta

got the front receiver installed yesterday, got the carrier fitted. But it needs some mods. Carrier is hard against the bumper and barely got the pin in. I want a couple inches of gap between the carrier handles and the vehicle.