Shade Tree Winch Bracket

[56FordGuy]

56FordGuy, Are you going to mount a connection on the front and back of the truck?

Yes. I have receiver hitches on both the front and rear now, and am planning to add a removable receiver hitch to my trailer and the flatbed of my truck. Planning to run power cables to the front and rear of the truck. I have a long jumper cable with the SB350 connectors on it that I can use to power the winch when it's on the bed of the truck. I haven't run any power cable yet, trying to figure out where to attach the plug near the front hitch. I know where I want to put it on the rear, but need to get a long piece of cable to use.

 

[two_bit_score]

Yes. I have receiver hitches on both the front and rear now, and am planning to add a removable receiver hitch to my trailer and the flatbed of my truck. Planning to run power cables to the front and rear of the truck. I have a long jumper cable with the SB350 connectors on it that I can use to power the winch when it's on the bed of the truck. I haven't run any power cable yet, trying to figure out where to attach the plug near the front hitch. I know where I want to put it on the rear, but need to get a long piece of cable to use.

Do you have a replacement front bumper with a receiver or a bolt on receiver on the front?

I'm trying to determine if I want the expense of replacing the front bumper or try to fit a bolt on receiver up there. I've got a shop that says they have a front bolt on for my truck but t he trailer was my first priority.

Sounds like you are going to have a good set up with receivers on the bed and trailer.

 

[56FordGuy]

Do you have a replacement front bumper with a receiver or a bolt on receiver on the front?

I would love to have a full replacement bumper and brush guard with a receiver hitch built in, like a Ranch Hand. Unfortunately, they run anywhere from $800.00 and up for my truck. For now, I went with a Draw Tite front receiver hitch from Etrailer.com. It mounts behind the factory bumper, and was only $190.00.

My big thing for the bed and trailer was that the receiver hitch had to be removable. I haul a lot items on pallets, and a 2"x6" piece if tubing welded to the floor would be in the way when trying to fit them side by side.

Did you use 175 or 350 amp connectors? I was a bit surprised to see that under full load, my winch draws almost 360 amps. Might be something to check on.

 

[two_bit_score]

I just bought what they said I needed to use with a Warn M8000 on my truck. :ashamed:


How do you plan to mount the receiver to the bed so will be removable? That sounds like an interesting job.

 

[two_bit_score]

Here's where we were test fitting it after building the bracket.

 

[56FordGuy]

I just bought what they said I needed to use with a Warn M8000 on my truck. :ashamed:


How do you plan to mount the receiver to the bed so will be removable? That sounds like an interesting job.

I would imagine you should be okay. The winch pull rating for any of the front hitches I looked at, even the full replacement bumpers, was only 9,000 lbs. You can always use a snatch block to double line it and cut the load in half. My concern is hard side pulls. I don't forsee ever being in one, but you never know for sure.

As for the removable receivers, that was a big deal for me. The trailer doesn't have a rail like yours, and the jack is mounted right in the center at the front of the bed. Even if I wanted to weld a receiver on, there wasn't a really ideal spot.

Since I didn't want a receiver all the time, and didn't have anything to tie it into even if I did, my solution is a removable crossmember. I'm planning to use some 4" square tubing with a 1/2" thick wall that will go across the width of the trailer. I can weld some rectangular tube or channel onto each end that will drop into the stake pockets of the trailer (or flatbed on the truck) and secure below the stake pockets with a pin. I can attach the receiver to that, and simply lift the entire thing out of the way when I don't need it.

 

[two_bit_score]

Sounds like a good plan. Look forward to seeing the pictures.

 

[mikegt4]

nice job Two Bit

You will find that it has other uses too. I have hauled several small boat trailers with questionable tires, bad wheel bearings or no tags by using the receiver tube to do what it was made for, a hitch. Just haul the bad trailer up on to the deck then remove the winch, put in the ball and hitch up the trailer. Don't forget to tie down the back of the trailer as well.

 

[CowboyRon]

nice job Two Bit

You will find that it has other uses too. I have hauled several small boat trailers with questionable tires, bad wheel bearings or no tags by using the receiver tube to do what it was made for, a hitch. Just haul the bad trailer up on to the deck then remove the winch, put in the ball and hitch up the trailer. Don't forget to tie down the back of the trailer as well.

Now that is a great idea.

 

[two_bit_score]

nice job Two Bit

You will find that it has other uses too. I have hauled several small boat trailers with questionable tires, bad wheel bearings or no tags by using the receiver tube to do what it was made for, a hitch. Just haul the bad trailer up on to the deck then remove the winch, put in the ball and hitch up the trailer. Don't forget to tie down the back of the trailer as well.

Not something I had thought if but it could come in handy for that. Thanks!