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I am continuing my idea search on winch mounting and figured I'd start a new thread (old thread from last winter here). I'd like a cradle mount that I can swap between the front and back of the truck. My question here is on front receivers.
The Fab Four front bumpers/grill guards are nice and have an optional receiver that bolts in place of the "winch". I don't know that I want that much of a mount, though.
I'm thinking of a simple bar style mount that bolts in where the stock tow hooks are in the front so I can leave the stock bumper in place, and also so the bracketry doesn't stick down below the bumper any.
Thoughts? Does anyone have such a bracket/receiver? Is it custom made or is there a manufactured product out there that does this?
The only thing I have seen....and have.....Is a front receiver hitch that bolts into the frame. It is just below the steel bumper, but not below the rubber dam.
Is that the Curt receiver? If so, it has flanges that stick down pretty low. If you get the camera level with the underside of the truck the brackets are below the air dam. I don't want to eat up any clearance down there.
What winch is that, by the way? Have you used it much? How does it work? Have you found any limits with it?
Is that the Curt receiver? If so, it has flanges that stick down pretty low. If you get the camera level with the underside of the truck the brackets are below the air dam. I don't want to eat up any clearance down there.
What winch is that, by the way? Have you used it much? How does it work? Have you found any limits with it?
Yes the Curt receiver........If I remember correctly, the hitch could be installed two ways. Right side up or upside down. I did it so the assembly was as high as possible. I can't check......I sold the truck....
The winch was from Harbor Freight Tools.....18K lbs.....Low duty cycle...Other than "playing with it" I never needed it.....only one winter.
I have a front mount reese or draw tite hitch. Much tighter against the bumper than the curt. The reese is about one inch below the chrome bumper and much sturdier one piece design. I am willing to sell mine to you with the front air dam already trimmed if you are willing to send me yours. Pm me if you would like. I bought mine from etrailer about a year ago to haul my scooter on while towing the fiver. Worked great but the scooter pushed to much air away from the radiators. So it's been used once to haul a 300 lb scooter. I also have a nice motorcycle carrier, rage motorsports if your interested.
If I remember correctly, there was someone on here that fabricated a custom receiver for the front. I can't recall how long ago the thread was, but I do remember it attached around the tow hooks. You had to remove the front lp mounting bracket
If I remember correctly, there was someone on here that fabricated a custom receiver for the front. I can't recall how long ago the thread was, but I do remember it attached around the tow hooks. You had to remove the front lp mounting bracket
This one?
Originally Posted by smoky_diesel
The link above is for 99-07 and wont fit an 11+
I know this one will fit, almost done
Originally Posted by smoky_diesel
I welded the gap shut on the receiver tube, just to look nice. sanded and painted
To fit 'correctly' I notched and boxed the tube for the coolant line. I thought the hard line on the left side would be OK, but I ended up notching it too.
Attached using the 6, 12mm factory bolts and 2, 1/2" bolts. I had to bend a jog in my trans cooler shield to get it to fit properly.
All finished, bumper back on. Not too shabby. total cost, about $50
That would certainly do the trick. The hard part - it isn't a manufactured bracket and, as much as I like to fabricate stuff, I don't have the resources right now to do so. I am probably going to make my own cradle but I have an idea for that which bolts together = no heavy welding required. I don't know that I would trust my welding for a winch mount, anyway. There could be some serious loads on the welds trying to drag a 1 ton truck with a decent load through any tough spot.
The new winch is on the way - Superwinch Talon 18.0SR. I will check a couple options on fabricating a front hitch and check around to see if I can find a manufactured version. I have time - it doesn't have to be on the truck until about half way through December.
Here are few photos of the Curt front hitch installed. Does set lower than I would have preferred, but for as often as I will need it, it will do it's job well. Not to mention easy one person installation and only $149 delivered from Amazon prime.
I had the front receiver on my '09 6.4L and had a winch cradle just like what was pictured above. I have not shopped for a new front receiver yet for my '15. Too many other projects right now.
Here are few photos of the Curt front hitch installed. Does set lower than I would have preferred, but for as often as I will need it, it will do it's job well. Not to mention easy one person installation and only $149 delivered from Amazon prime.
Thanks for the pictures. That is what I want to avoid. The brackets hanging down on the sides (middle picture shows it, but hard to see) is going to be an issue = too easy to hang up on. The air dam will give if it hits something, might crack, but the mount that low will cause more problems.
After looking at the pictures.........I must have used a different brand of Front Hitch. My Receiver Tube came through the air dam at the top. the underside brackets that bolt to the frame did not hang down below the cross bar and the whole unit was higher.
I do not remember the brand......I do remember getting it from eTrailer.
After looking at the pictures.........I must have used a different brand of Front Hitch. My Receiver Tube came through the air dam at the top. the underside brackets that bolt to the frame did not hang down below the cross bar and the whole unit was higher.
I do not remember the brand......I do remember getting it from eTrailer.
Draw tite/reese part number 65049 for $208 at etrailer is the better one. Everything is well above the air dam
If you look at the photos of the Reese/Draw-Tite front hitch it exits through the air dam at the same position as the Curt hitch does. However granted that the Reese hitch frame work does not hand down as low as the Curt hitch.
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