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csc Member Date registered: Dec 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Vehicle(s): 2014 G 550 Posts: 17 | DIY Winch Mount for under $300 I finally had a weekend to put my plan into motion. I wanted a winch mount for the G, but was not willing to spend $1,500 to do it. After looking at how the tow pin and Europa bumpers were done, I figured I could make a front receiver. So here goes. First, relocate transmission cooler with G55 bracket. About $75 for part and shipping. Second, I purchased a new 2" receiver hitch for a Ford F150. I chose this one because of the round frame and the receiver is inline with the pipe. $130 including shipping. Since I relocated the trans cooler, I already had the skid plate and bumper removed. The fab. 1. Trim the receiver to 27", inside dimension of bumper brackets. See Photo-1 2. I trimmed off the wide part of the receiver because of the length and to make a smaller opening in the bumper. See Photo-2 & 3 3. I trimmed off the eye loops on the hitch designed for the trailer chains. Also to make the hole in the bumper smaller. 4. Dry fit the hitch inside the bumper to locate the opening in the bumper slats. Mine only required cutting out the top two slats. I had to do some minor grinding on the slats to get the receiver to slide through. See Photo-4 5. Mark and cutout the slats in the bumper. I cut from behind to prevent over cutting. Touch up raw metal. See Photo-5 6. Dry fit the hitch to make sure the opening is adequate. I had to grind a bit on the ends to get it to drop in. See Photo-6 7. I had to cut away some steel from the bottom of the hitch because it was double thick from the loops. Now it would drop in. Paint raw steel. See Photo-7 & 8 8. Took it to a local welder and had the receiver welded to the bumper brackets. In my case I went to a trailer hitch shop. Welding $50 See Photos-9 & 10 9. Reinstall bumper and skid plate. See Photos-11 10. Install receiver hitch winch mount. Photo 12 & 13 Winch to be installed when I figure out how to wire it to the insane battery location. (photo-1.jpg) (photo-2.jpg) (photo-3.jpg) (photo-4.jpg) (photo-5.jpg) (photo-6.jpg) (photo-7.jpg) (photo-8.jpg) (photo-9.jpg) (photo-10.jpg) (photo-12.jpg) (photo-13.jpg) Attachments ---------------- photo-1.jpg (169KB - 5 downloads) photo-2.jpg (176KB - 3 downloads) photo-3.jpg (81KB - 3 downloads) photo-4.jpg (143KB - 3 downloads) photo-5.jpg (117KB - 3 downloads) photo-6.jpg (118KB - 3 downloads) photo-7.jpg (102KB - 3 downloads) photo-8.jpg (83KB - 3 downloads) photo-9.jpg (85KB - 3 downloads) photo-10.jpg (112KB - 3 downloads) photo-12.jpg (141KB - 3 downloads) photo-13.jpg (130KB - 3 downloads) | ||
#208989 | |||
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drey Extreme Veteran Date registered: Sep 2012 Location: Scottsdale AZ Vehicle(s): 04 G500 Posts: 364 | Re: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 That is cool! You pretty sure the mount is strong enough to support the pull of a 9k winch? Only thing that concerns me are those little welds.... Can you post a pic of where the trans cooler went and the bracket? | ||
#208991 - in reply to #208989 | |||
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thebigblue Date registered: Jan 2012 Location: Vehicle(s): | RE: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 Looks neat. From what I see in the pictures the two bumper brackets will take all the load, Is it correct ? | ||
#208994 - in reply to #208989 | |||
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csc Member Date registered: Dec 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Vehicle(s): 2014 G 550 Posts: 17 | RE: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 I missed a picture. The trans cooler relo is on here is some other threads. I'll post a couple of pics when it stops raining. I basically mounts above the skid plate. It's an easy deal once you figure out which way it goes. I'm not worried about the welds breaking. I think the bracket will fail before the welds or the bolts will shear. The brackets seem to hold on the Europa bumpers and I think the tow pin uses the same brackets as well. I guess only time will tell! I'll try not to winch it up a tree or anything. Chad (photo-11.jpg) Attachments ---------------- photo-11.jpg (118KB - 4 downloads) | ||
#209008 - in reply to #208989 | |||
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Otiswesty Administrator Date registered: Jun 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213 Posts: 3004 | Re: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 The bumper mounting brackets are substantially thicker in the tow pin bumper. The Europa winch bumper are much thicker still. So there are engineering differences to accomodate the use requirements. I do like your concept, very low key and functional. A Warn removable winch carrier would work great here, you do need to be able to access the pin for locking the 2" insert in place, I can't see that very well in your pictures though. | ||
#209032 - in reply to #209008 | |||
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AlanMcR Expert Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: US, CA, Los Altos Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL Posts: 3500 | RE: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 I think some triangular plate going between the tube and a point between the two captive nuts would go a long way towards increasing the strength of the entire unit. This would be especially true for any kind of side forces on the pull. I know that one should always pull straight on, but sometimes that can't be arranged, or the pulled item slips off to one side. To be clear: I think you came up with a good idea, a little extra bracing will make it great. | ||
#209038 - in reply to #209008 | |||
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stevegsmith Expert Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: SF Bay Area, CA USA Vehicle(s): 82 300GD WVO, 06 Jeep Lib CRD B99 Posts: 1301 | Re: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 Slick! | ||
#209042 - in reply to #208989 | |||
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csc Member Date registered: Dec 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Vehicle(s): 2014 G 550 Posts: 17 | RE: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 Once I get the winch mounted, I'll have to do some testing. I took another look at the Taubenreuther, or whatever, bumper brackets and I see they have a gusset by the first bolt. My guess is that is to deal with a pull at an angle. I may have to look into something like that. Attachments ---------------- 16-60050_DE (dragged).pdf (616KB - 13 downloads) | ||
#209045 - in reply to #208989 | |||
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thebigblue Date registered: Jan 2012 Location: Vehicle(s): | RE: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 The steelwork in the Taubenreuther kit seems to me to be around 3-4 mm. in thickness | ||
#209048 - in reply to #208989 | |||
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thebigblue Date registered: Jan 2012 Location: Vehicle(s): | RE: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 Another option: | ||
#209438 - in reply to #208989 | |||
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Otiswesty Administrator Date registered: Jun 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213 Posts: 3004 | Re: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 I still dont see how you can get the security/locking pin in place for the winch mount with the bumper mounted on the G. I suppose you could take the bumper off and mount the winch carrier, replace the bumper and mount the winch. Secure, but not really conveniently removeable, if that was your intention. I still really like the design though. Eric | ||
#209441 - in reply to #209438 | |||
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drey Extreme Veteran Date registered: Sep 2012 Location: Scottsdale AZ Vehicle(s): 04 G500 Posts: 364 | RE: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 thebigblue - 12/4/2012 12:26 PM Another option: Is that a custom job or does someone sell it? | ||
#209493 - in reply to #209438 | |||
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thebigblue Date registered: Jan 2012 Location: Vehicle(s): | RE: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 drey - 12/6/2012 1:10 AM thebigblue - 12/4/2012 12:26 PM Another option: Is that a custom job or does someone sell it? It´s a custom job done by "Desert Service" in Germany on a camper-G. Link: http://www.desert-service.com/start.html | ||
#209502 - in reply to #209493 | |||
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csc Member Date registered: Dec 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Vehicle(s): 2014 G 550 Posts: 17 | RE: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 That looks cool, but is well beyond my skill level. I'll send some photos when it's all together so you can see the pin. Chad | ||
#209709 - in reply to #209502 | |||
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thebigblue Date registered: Jan 2012 Location: Vehicle(s): | RE: DIY Winch Mount for under $300 Maybe Karl will do this at some point, just to go with the rear steel bumper....? | ||
#209758 - in reply to #208989 | |||
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