Front mount receiver tube style winch mount

[firefighter_2000]

I'm considering a winch for my truck, but I don't want it permanently mounted out front. I'd really like to have something. Really super heavy duty like in this thread, but Kleinbus probably isn't making them to sell!
https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ermanently-mounted)-box?highlight=Front+hitch
Are there any decent commercially made front hitches that a winch can be used with?
Opinions? Ideas?
Thanks
Craig

 

[OldRetiredAFGuy]

Craig,
Curt shows a front mount receiver hitch for your vehicle: PN 31015. 5,000 lbs rating, with a 9,000 SLP (Straight Line Pull) rating for a winch. Then just mount your winch in one of the many available winch cradles, and run a set of cables to your batteries with a set of the high amp quick disconnects. I've had this set-up for years; I can use my winches on any of my trucks (Front and Rear), and all of my trailers which I've installed a receiver hitch on.
Mike

 

[firefighter_2000]

Mike,
With my truck being a 2500 4x4 mega cab, do you think there would be any problems if it became REALLY stuck? I don't plan on even going off roading into something that I might get REALLY stuck anyway, but just want to be sure that it would be an adequate mount. That was my plan as well, using the cradle. I have a quick disconnect on my front bumper for my jumper cables already. What size winch do you have/recommend?
Thanks
Craig

 

[jkern]

Craig, I recently ran into Kleinbus' thread that you referenced above as well. I would love to have that setup. He did a very well thought out, engineered, and professional looking job for the front mount.

There are quite a few different manufactures that offer a front receiver type hitch for our trucks...none as nice as his though!

 

[CBari]

He send me his drawings on it I would ask him for them it was really pretty simple. I wanted to do make one for my 03, but haven't gotten around to it.

 

[mfurrh55]

I have a mega cab 4X4, and i pulled out in the pasture to turn around and front end sank in mud to the axle, I took my 12,000 lb. winch off the front receiver mount put it on the rear and pulled myself out, there was nothing to hook for the front end, had to pull backwards out, but the front receiver is a pretty good mount and easy to install, Monte

 

[OldRetiredAFGuy]

Mike,
With my truck being a 2500 4x4 mega cab, do you think there would be any problems if it became REALLY stuck? I don't plan on even going off roading into something that I might get REALLY stuck anyway, but just want to be sure that it would be an adequate mount. That was my plan as well, using the cradle. I have a quick disconnect on my front bumper for my jumper cables already. What size winch do you have/recommend?
Thanks
Craig

Craig,
I have three that I use depending on what the job is:

1. Superwinch 1500. I mounted it on a straight tube of 2" receiver stock and drilled a 5/8" hole for the pin.
2. Ramsey REP 5000 on a cradle. My primary winch, mainly because it's light enough for me to handle. (Ain't old age just a b____h!)
3. Ramsey RE 8000 on a cradle. The extra heavy duty, worm drive beast. I don't use this one much, mainly because I can't pick it up without help.

You can always use a Snatch (Pulley) Block to double the pulling power of any winch.

A little story. We were in the middle of a 2 year drought here in N. Texas. I was returning from Arkansas with a load of round bales for the cattle. 2002 Dodger 3500 dually, 40' GN flatbed with 18 round bales. We had a freak rainstorm the night we were gone. Next afternoon we returned with the rig loaded with aforementioned hay. Turned into the gate, and just as we cleared the road with the tail of the trailer, the dually sinks into the mud. Fired the the JD tractor up, got out the 3/8 Grade 70 tow chain, and hooked it to the front receiver on the truck. Put my wife in the drivers seat and said to "Steer it in a wide arc" as I pulled the rig to a place where the mud wasn't too bad to unload. Looking back, I saw that the whole rig (30K) was moving, front wheels turning, but not the rears. My wife had not released the parking brake!

So the front receivers are quite stout, if you don't abuse them.
Mike

 

[Damage-Case]

AFGuy, which type of mount put up with being towed around with the emergency brake on; the under the bumper style mount to frame or the in-the-bumper/grill version that mounts where the tow hooks are?

I'm just curious. Trying to decide on a type. And honestly, I doubt I'll ever have a winch on it. But, that doesn't mean I don't want the stronger platform for the simple sake of "ya never know" and basic overkill continuity I doubt I'll ever use it for more than a 5-bike rack or kayak support when pulling our 5th. Both types seem to be rated at 9K straight pull and 500lb vertical. I like the clearance that the in-bumper style offers but seems like the under-bumper design would be stronger by design.

Which one was it? And if anyone else has anything they can contribute from real-world experience comparing the two or something that led you to be a fan of one over the other, lets hear it!
Thanks!

 

[jelag]

etrailer.com used to carry some front mount trailer hitches for those guys who want to watch their boat go down the ramp... that would be perfect... and I'm guessing at a great price... I've done this a few times on some of my trucks for exactly the same thing.. and a couple of times put 2 connectors on the front for a snow plow...

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I was planning to fab a version of the Drawtite version. The Curt model is more like a rear hitch mount, but it hangs low under the front bumper. Some say the Drawtite version blocks airflow to the radiators, but I not found one single source to back that argument.

https://www.etrailer.com/question-145253.html

 

[OldRetiredAFGuy]

AFGuy, which type of mount put up with being towed around with the emergency brake on; the under the bumper style mount to frame or the in-the-bumper/grill version that mounts where the tow hooks are?

I'm just curious. Trying to decide on a type. And honestly, I doubt I'll ever have a winch on it. But, that doesn't mean I don't want the stronger platform for the simple sake of "ya never know" and basic overkill continuity I doubt I'll ever use it for more than a 5-bike rack or kayak support when pulling our 5th. Both types seem to be rated at 9K straight pull and 500lb vertical. I like the clearance that the in-bumper style offers but seems like the under-bumper design would be stronger by design.

Which one was it? And if anyone else has anything they can contribute from real-world experience comparing the two or something that led you to be a fan of one over the other, lets hear it!
Thanks!

Front, frame mount. If I remember correctly, it is rated for 10K. If it's not raining/sleeting with our winter storm coming in, I'll try to get out and snap a couple of photos, hopefully showing the mounting points. I also upgraded the rear hitch with a Reese (Now Cequent) Titan receiver hitch. 14K with a 2 1/2 tube. I realize that is pretty much standard on the modern 3/4 and 1 ton trucks these days, but uncommon on my 2002 Dodge 3500.

 

[MRoberts]

I've looked at these for a long time, back to when I had my first CTD, a 2002. I like the Draw-Tite simply due to where it mounts on the 4 Gen vs the Curt. It has more ground clearance and it fills that giant, rock catching hole. I sincerely doubt that it will affect engine cooling considering how I use my truck, might be an issue if you are towing to capacity.

From my four wheeling days, a long time ago, to today, I have always heard one and one half times your vehicles weight for a winch. So for a CTD, that means a 12K winch. I doubt think Warn makes a portable winch that big and if they did, who could move it around? I would go with a Draw-Tite mount and a 9-9.5K Warn winch if I was buying.

 

[Newsa]

I have a mega cab 4X4, and i pulled out in the pasture to turn around and front end sank in mud to the axle, I took my 12,000 lb. winch off the front receiver mount put it on the rear and pulled myself out, there was nothing to hook for the front end, had to pull backwards out, but the front receiver is a pretty good mount and easy to install, Monte

How do the electrics hook up on this winch? Sounds like a versatile setup.

 

[mfurrh55]

How do the electrics hook up on this winch? Sounds like a versatile setup.

I have a plug in up front and at the back, all connected to battery

 

[LandShark]

Draw-Tite rated for 9000# max winch pull.

 

[MRoberts]

That looks sweet! Was it as straight forward to install as they say?

 

[LandShark]

That looks sweet! Was it as straight forward to install as they say?

Install is very easy. I did not remove grill or any other parts. Maybe took an hour - taking my time. A couple of the bolts were a pain, but a good collection of extensions and swivels do the trick.
I now need to figure out how to route my winch power cables up to the battery - not so easy on these new trucks with the aft mounted batteries and the weird connectors!