Winch Mount???

[flyin6]

Just posted on an earlier thread, but concerning the winch mount, I noticed several members running the Warn winch cradle plugged into the front towing reciever. How is that working?
It would save a bunch of cost over the new front bumper to just go with that. How does it look hanging out there?

[Vettster]

Looks and works great. You can detach the winch and store it inside the truck and also attach it to the back receiver.
About the only drawback to this setup is you have to remove it to open the hood.

[CO Hummer]

About the only drawback to this setup is you have to remove it to open the hood.

I disagree. I ran with one for 3 years like that and I'd bang it quite a bit, especially in Moab. I had to take a lot of steep walls at an angle to avoid banging it. It's not all that bad though- but more of a pain than having it nicely integrated. Also - when your winch sticks out like that you get a lot more rain/water, mud, etc in the winch which requires more overhauling. I'd recommend getting a cover for it if you are going to generally leave it on the vehicle.

Just remember - if you take you car to Jiffy Lube, the dealership, etc - TAKE THE WINCH OFF FIRST. I've forgotten about it and had the Jiffy Lube guys at one point pound it with a hammer to try to get it off (long story). I've also locked in the winch to the mount, dropped it off at the dealership, and drove away - only to have to go back later when they tell me they can't get the hood open. :mad:

[flyin6]

That's enough information for me to make a decision not to get the winch cradle thing.
I can go with the warn bumper assembly which mounts it in the vehicle below the radiator, or the tuff country unit or even the H2O unit that integrates it also. The drawback I see to the Warn bumper is that it seems to intrude into the path of the front tire somewhat.
I didn't realize you had to take it off to open the hood, that's a non starter for me.
Thanks for the info!

[WHOSNEXT]

I can go with the warn bumper assembly which mounts it in the vehicle below the radiator,

like this 1?

[flyin6]

like this 1?
Yepper, just like that one!

Would that be yours?

Feedback??

[OrangeCrush]

like this 1?

No, like this...

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f279/orangecrush03/HUMMER001.jpg

Obviously as you can see, the warn bumper setups are pretty popular. I wanted one of Drtyfn custom bumpers but he wasn't making them at the time so I went with Warns.

[WHOSNEXT]

Yepper, just like that one!

Would that be yours?

Feedback??

YA THAT BE MINE.....sorry have not used it enough to give good or bad feedback.

[Adam in CO]

H2O Winch Bumper

[flyin6]

Great pics!
I think I am going to try to keep the weight down, so I believe I'm backing away from the aftermarket bumpers except for the Warn. Can't live with taking the winch off to open the hood, so it has to get tucked in somewhere. The Warn is probably the lightest of the bunch, keeping the plastic (weight reducing) factory stuff on the front end.
I picked up a hundred feet of winchline winch rope to reduce the weight from the steel cable which should help a little.
I'm just coming out of a serious off road project that went from an IFS to a straight Dana 44 axle. I just kept adding weight until the thing was super crawl capable, but sluggish because of all the added steel. I'm going to learn from that project!
Thanks for the posts!

[flyin6]

No, like this...

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f279/orangecrush03/HUMMER001.jpg

Obviously as you can see, the warn bumper setups are pretty popular. I wanted one of Drtyfn custom bumpers but he wasn't making them at the time so I went with Warns.
Which lift are you using?
Looks great!

[Alan06SUT]

I just got the winch cradle and so far so good. Its very easy to remove. It does hurt the approach angle some but I like that I can use it on the back as well. I would recommend it.

[timgco]

FWIW- DRTYFN's bumper is the best design I have seen to date! Hand's down!

I have had three of those Warn Bumpers on my H2's so far. You do loose a slight AP angle. THey do dent where your tow hooks stick through and the powder coating is terrible. All three bumper shells didn;t hold up very well. My suggestion for the cheapest bumper/ winch mount would be to get the Warn one, reinforce those two week spots and re-powdercoat the bumper shell.

If you want to spend the extra dough and not loose any AP angle, Drty's is one of the best.

The bumper Adam and CO posted is great too and keeps the AP angles close to stock too, but is heavier. It's great design.

If you do go the Warn route, you should be able to find the entire setup for $1300.00. BTW- You do have to drill into your frame (4 holes).

Drty's is a bolt on.

H2O's bumper I'm not sure on how it is mounted.

[OrangeCrush]

Which lift are you using?
Looks great!

Thanks flyin, I used Fabtech's 6" kit. Pretty great kit. Took me about 10 hours to install it. Since I can't fit into most garages anyways, I wish I had gone with the 9" kit.

Just for the record, Drtyfn's front winch bumper is by far superior to Warn's setup.

Unfortunately, it wasn't available and even if it was, I don't wheel enough (or at least winch enough) to justify the cost.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f279/orangecrush03/HummerPics030.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f279/orangecrush03/wheels006.jpg

[flyin6]

Thanks flyin, I used Fabtech's 6" kit. Pretty great kit. Took me about 10 hours to install it. Since I can't fit into most garages anyways, I wish I had gone with the 9" kit.

Just for the record, Drtyfn's front winch bumper is by far superior to Warn's setup.

Unfortunately, it wasn't available and even if it was, I don't wheel enough (or at least winch enough) to justify the cost.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f279/orangecrush03/HummerPics030.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f279/orangecrush03/wheels006.jpg

I honestly don't know if that truck of yours looks better dirty or cleaned up! I like it, tasteful and not too overbearing, to the point!

I just had a custom house built. Did a two garages. She got a 2.5 car for the junk %**#$!!&!

I got a 3.5 car with a single 20' X 9' tall garage door. It has 12 foot walls and a cathedral trus with 16 foot ceilings for a 4 post lift. so the H will drive in with whatever lift I put on it! I have a rock crawler Tundrq which is 17" higher than stock with a soild front axle. and a roof rack. It goes right in!!!!!!

Whose bumper is drty?? Is that Dirty?

[flyin6]

[QUOTE=timgco]FWIW- DRTYFN's bumper is the best design I have seen to date! Hand's down!

I have had three of those Warn Bumpers on my H2's so far. You do loose a slight AP angle. THey do dent where your tow hooks stick through and the powder coating is terrible. All three bumper shells didn;t hold up very well. My suggestion for the cheapest bumper/ winch mount would be to get the Warn one, reinforce those two week spots and re-powdercoat the bumper shell.

If you want to spend the extra dough and not loose any AP angle, Drty's is one of the best.

The bumper Adam and CO posted is great too and keeps the AP angles close to stock too, but is heavier. It's great design.

Just read the fine print about that Warn bumper/winch thing. It says that only the 9500TI Warn winch will fit. I own a T-Max 9,000. I did a lot of homework before purchasing this winch a couple years ago. It absolutely smokes the warn unit. Bigger, thicker gears, motor is 6.5hp not 5.5 like the warn! Retrival speeds are all much faster than the Warn, and it's bargain priced. I think something in the upper 500's on Ebay.

So the add says my T-Max won't fit, so the Warn winch mount plate is out. Who knows about this "Drty" unit.

[Michael Baker]

My 2 cents:

Have the Warn cradle and would recommend it. Being able to put it on back or front of car was the clincher.

I do not have it mounted on the front permanently as:

1. Cannot open the hood
2. If you were to go nose-first into a mud pool it would not be much use.
3. It does affect angles.

Instead I have it bolted to the floor behind the second row seat using the same frame as my 2-person third row seat (without the seat in place, of course).

So, none of the disadvantages, all of the advantages.

[flyin6]

My 2 cents:

Have the Warn cradle and would recommend it. Being able to put it on back or front of car was the clincher.

I do not have it mounted on the front permanently as:

1. Cannot open the hood
2. If you were to go nose-first into a mud pool it would not be much use.
3. It does affect angles.

Instead I have it bolted to the floor behind the second row seat using the same frame as my 2-person third row seat (without the seat in place, of course).

So, none of the disadvantages, all of the advantages.

Good Idea!

Food for thought!