Winch Mount

[scenic760]

Hey all!

Finally getting my Suburban back from paint shop…I wasn’t sweating the guy because I had some other pressing issues and he essentially stored it for me for the last year but excited to get her put back together finally!

I have a 12,000lb winch I want to put on the front but admittedly I’m not sure exactly how to mount it!? I’ve seen the hidden mounts but to be honest, I’m perfectly fine mounting in front of the grill for accessibility reasons.

Do I need a mount or can I just bolt it through the bumper/frame attachment?

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[nvrenuf]

You need a mount of some kind, the bumper is not strong enough to bolt the winch directly to it.

 

[Redfish]

There are a few options for you. I just did some research on this very subject and decided...nothing. I got a LOT of pushback from my circle of friends about modifying my '87.

Engineered Vintage has two very good options.
1. The GOAT bumper. This looks a lot like the WARN bumpers of old. Well made but starting around $800 and going waaaay up from there depending on finish and options.

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2. The hidden winch mount. This is still my front runner because you retain your original bumper/original look.

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Both of these add a LOT of strenght to the front of the frame which is also a support for the steering box/broken frame issue.

There is a cheaper front bumper option on eBay and another company makes a hidden winch mount as well. There is also the off chance that you will find an old winch bumper for sale somewhere.



I completely agree with @nvrenuf , you cannot just "bolt" a winch to that bumper. Your winch should have a foot with at least four mounting points as well as the fairlead. You have to have something solid to bolt it to.

 

[scenic760]

Both of these add a LOT of strenght to the front of the frame which is also a support for the steering box/broken frame issue.

So I already put a steering box gusset in (I had an '83 K5 that had the steering box peel off the frame going through Santa Monica mountains- not real fun), do you think these winch mounts are going to interfere with that?

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Also, I REALLY do not want to drill and holes in the frame, do these trays require that?

I found this on Amazon that looked interesting

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[scenic760]

Or this guy seemed to have the right idea?!

$40 HF hidden winch mount - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

$40 HF hidden winch mount The 1969 - 1972 Blazers and Jimmys Message Board

67-72chevytrucks.com

 

[Redfish]

@scenic760 first I cannot say if the Engineered Vintage will interfere. There is information on their website and I would guess they have a technical support service that can answer that question.

Second, your Fab Fours K1200-1 won't fit our trucks.

I will offer you this bit of wisdom. I grew up with a '77 GMC equipped with a Ramsey PTO winch. If you put a 12K pound winch on the front of a truck you want to go First Class. A winch can bend, twist, warp and destroy. Metal will stretch, things will happen that can never be undone. I recently destroyed a poorly welded front bumper on a '73 Bronco with a Ramsey PTO. I broke the metal and bent the front of the frame.

If you intend to use this winch I suggest you do it as well as you can possibly do it.


I liked this one on eBay for $509

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[scenic760]

I appreciate the wisdom Redfish!

I think the thought is that you hope you never need the winch- until you do?!

I looked on the Engineered Vintage website and apparently they require you to purchase their product before they give you a code to watch the installation video, I'm assuming that is in an attempt to avoid someone knocking off thier product?! But if someone was going to knock off thier product, a $500 purchase to send the original to China to reverse engineer wouldn't be that tall of a barrier...

Out here the risks I would run would mainly be stuck in sand and occasionally snow. To avoid a situation going from bad to worse, I will heed your advice and look for something more solid than a bent piece of sheetmetal with some bolt holes.

 

[Redfish]

@scenic760 I apologize. I forgot about that code. I got it when I bought their shackle mounts. Now I remember taking that opportunity to study the directions on their other stuff.

I am in no way pushing their products but I try to be a decent source of information here when I can. I bought their shackle mounts and I am Very Impressed. I may go with their hidden winch mount but I had two issues with it. One was that they want you to lose the air dam that fits under the front bumper. Two was that my old body does NOT like to get down on my hands and knees every time I need to use a winch.

In my youth that hidden winch would have been entirely useless. It would have been under mud and water and inaccessible.

 

[scenic760]

Yep Redfish, exactly the reason I’m not drinking the koolaid on the hidden winch…it’s low and I don’t want to have to reach down through a bunch of gunk to use it when I need it

 

[DonN]

So I already put a steering box gusset in (I had an '83 K5 that had the steering box peel off the frame going through Santa Monica mountains- not real fun), do you think these winch mounts are going to interfere with that?

You must be registered for see images attach

Also, I REALLY do not want to drill and holes in the frame, do these trays require that?

I found this on Amazon that looked interesting

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[DonN]

The steering box brace won't interfere with the winch mount.

 

[DonN]

There are a few options for you. I just did some research on this very subject and decided...nothing. I got a LOT of pushback from my circle of friends about modifying my '87.

Engineered Vintage has two very good options.
1. The GOAT bumper. This looks a lot like the WARN bumpers of old. Well made but starting around $800 and going waaaay up from there depending on finish and options.

You must be registered for see images attach

2. The hidden winch mount. This is still my front runner because you retain your original bumper/original look.

You must be registered for see images attach

Both of these add a LOT of strenght to the front of the frame which is also a support for the steering box/broken frame issue.

There is a cheaper front bumper option on eBay and another company makes a hidden winch mount as well. There is also the off chance that you will find an old winch bumper for sale somewhere.



I completely agree with @nvrenuf , you cannot just "bolt" a winch to that bumper. Your winch should have a foot with at least four mounting points as well as the fairlead. You have to have something solid to bolt it to.

 

[scenic760]

I appreciate everyone's experience on this!

What do you guys think about a front mount hitch/hitch mounted winch setup? Seems like that would increase the versatility of the winch a little?

 

[nvrenuf]

I appreciate everyone's experience on this!

What do you guys think about a front mount hitch/hitch mounted winch setup? Seems like that would increase the versatility of the winch a little?

You don’t want to reach down in mud/muck to operate the winch but you’re willing to potentially need to dig out a spot big enough for a winch cradle? Lets not forget how awkward it might be to stab the 2” receiver you might not be able to see while holding 75+ lbs of weight.

If you don’t want a full bumper then go with a hidden mount and move the control box up under the hood. The engage/disengage lever on many winches can be clocked differently for easy operation and/or probably rig up remote linkage to operate the lever.

The hidden winch is a great option because the winch is between the frame rails where the stress needs to be (instead of up higher creating leverage stress).

 

[scenic760]

Yeah, I thought moving a winch around on a hitch would kind of be silly too..

I guess in looking at all the options the hidden mount is the way to go for me...oh and interestingly enough, Engineered Vintage has the brace question addressed on thier website already, haha.

Is this kit compatible with ORD steering brace kit?

Yes - but this kit replaces the front half of that kit. (The brace on front side of stock cross-member is replaced)