Looking to get a winch

[AuroraGirl]

I have a very custom bumper on my truck and would like to install a winch for summer use. I don't want to remove this bumper (I use it for my snowplow) and wondering if people have recommendations for brands or if anything will fit up front. I would like a winch that can move at least a 5k pound car, and maybe the weight of the truck. So 8k?

I'm gonna be putting this truck to work in the spring and summer since it runs good and the most it would likely move is said 5k car. I gotta clean up a lot on my property

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[AuroraGirl]

Here's more

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[Dmack]

Not sure how your plow is mounted, but if your front frame is available, you can mount a receiver hitch and get a winch in a receiver mount. Then you have the option to use it from either the front of rear, and can remove it when not needed by simply pulling the hitch pin and wiring connector.

https://www.etrailer.com/static/images/pics/b/d/bdw20155_3_1000.jpg

 

[Matt69olds]

Rule of thumb is winch capacity equals at least 1 1/2 weight of the truck. If it’s stuck in mud or snow, you have the weight of the truck, the weight of the mud or snow, plus the suction on the tires the winch would need to overcome. I would say a 8k winch would be the minimum.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I don't want the winch for winter time, mostly moving my own stuff on property but just to have enough strength to move the truck if needed.

 

[AuroraGirl]

Any others?

 

[bigcountry78]

If you want to keep that bumper, I’d say the receiver hitch is about the only option. As for the winch, if it’s just for clean up I would probably go with a cheaper mile marker or harbor freight brand, in the 10-12k range. Winch plus receiver cradle you’d probably be in about $600, give or take.

 

[80BrownK10]

If you want to keep that bumper, I’d say the receiver hitch is about the only option. As for the winch, if it’s just for clean up I would probably go with a cheaper mile marker or harbor freight brand, in the 10-12k range. Winch plus receiver cradle you’d probably be in about $600, give or take.

What I would do. If your not talking about burying it would n mud to winch out. An 8k pound cheap winch will groan if your trying to move your truck much distance on other than flat ground, unless you double up the cable with a block then it will make a pull easier. With a block the 8k will do it all though. Cheaper winches are slower than a better brand.

 

[Arkansas_V8]

I have had the original 12,000lb harbor freight winch for years. It is not the fastest or strongest, but it will do what it is supposed to. $299 was well worth it.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I can make a receiver hitch one for sure work for the rear of the truck, the only thing is I would like to put it on the front. How do those front-receivers work?

 

[shiftpro]

I have had the original 12,000lb harbor freight winch for years. It is not the fastest or strongest, but it will do what it is supposed to. $299 was well worth it.

And it's about $1000 less than the best...!

 

[shiftpro]

I can make a receiver hitch one for sure work for the rear of the truck, the only thing is I would like to put it on the front. How do those front-receivers work?

You would have to off set the receiver up front, as I can see your very custom bumper won;t allow it mounted directly center. But this is not a problem.
Just to mention that as nice as a receiver mounted winch is, front or rear and keep it mounted (stored) in the box right behind the cab, you need synthetic rope so you can actually lift the stinker and slip it into the receiver.

Often on a stock bumper the front receiver is behind the license plate. A hole is cut through the bumper and the receiver is tied into the frame on each side. So the front plate needs to come off in order to stick the winch receiver into the female receiver on the truck. In your case, you can mount the receiver just off center toward the driver side if you wish.

For utility purposes, the winch is better off on the rear f the truck. The reason is that when up front, we have the tendency to also use reverse to pull whatever around the yard. Well this is asking for trouble because it is much easier to break front end parts when pulling in reverse. Just something to consider.

 

[MrMarty51]

YUP, I too have been eyeballing them 300 dollar HF 12,000 winchus.
Nice thing about a receiver on the front bumper, it makes for moving trailers much easier than always backing them around, although, backing a trailer is real easy once a person gets the hang of it. Heck, I have not jackknifed a trailer in several months now.

 

[chengny]

I wanted a front receiver for my 86 Sierra Classic real bad but they were not available anywhere (at least back when I was searching for them - maybe 10 years ago). I finally ended up fabricating one myself. It was a simple design but worked well. I had a Mile Marker 15,000 lb winch (POS BTW) that I kept in the bed and could shove into the rear or front receiver as needed.

It was basically just a receiver adapter that was welded to a plate in the back and with a gusset welded over the top. The rear plate was drilled to accept Grade 8 bolts that secured it to the front cross member:

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It was long enough that it stuck out past the bumper just a bit - but not so much that you'd bang your shin on it:

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Total cost was about $50.

 

[MrMarty51]

I wanted a front receiver for my 86 Sierra Classic real bad but they were not available anywhere (at least back when I was searching for them - maybe 10 years ago). I finally ended up fabricating one myself. It was a simple design but worked well. I had a Mile Marker 15,000 lb winch (POS BTW) that I kept in the bed and could shove into the rear or front receiver as needed.

It was basically just a receiver adapter that was welded to a plate in the back and with a gusset welded over the top. The rear plate was drilled to accept Grade 8 bolts that secured it to the front cross member:


It was long enough that it stuck out past the bumper just a bit - but not so much that you'd bang your shin on it: Total cost was about $50.

YUP, that's how I got one on the front of the K3500.
A place that sells steel should have the 2" receiver tube/box steel to fab up a hitch from. I use a piece that fits over the outside of the 2", about a 3/8ths to 1/2" thick and weld that to the outside end of the hitch just for added strength.

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