Front winch mount

fatkins

fatkins

New member
I have a portable warn winch that I'd like to mount on my 05'. I know curt offers a bolt-on model 31367 for 06' -09' with tow hooks at 45 degree however my hooks are 90 degrees.
I understand I can install the curt mount using longer bolts but at the expense of pull weight.
I've reviewed all the pics on this great site looking for close-ups of tow points for 06-09' models. I'm guessing I can't bend my hooks rather I'll need to do some welding?

Advise/pics would be appreciated.

Thx
 
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Chaz,
Thanks for the links. The first looks interesting as a permanent mount. Thinking more of a portable mount like the second link. As mentioned I'm familiar with the Curt mount however haven't figured how to deal with the different tow hook arrangements. The 06'-09' have tow hooks welded to the middle and tilted down 45 degree while the 05 hook is welded to the bottow pointing straight out at 90 degrees.
Anyone have a close up pic of the 06-09 tow hook?

Thanks again for the links.
 
a post on the last link says this> I have an 04 and put this hitch on. You are on point about the tow loops. The tow hook mounts on the hitch are at a 45 degree angle. You can actually put the hitch on without attaching to the tow loops, but those add strength and are necessary. The solution is to cut out the gussets on the hitch's tow loop brackets, heat up the weld on theses brackets and bend the bracket down to a 90 degree angle(perpendicular to the face of the receiver socket) and re-weld them to the hitch. This way the brackets are now in the same plane as the tow hooks on the 04(and assuming 05 here), and you can bolt the hitch mounting brackets to them. They actually line up quite nicely. I too am buying a portable hitch mounted winch plate and a warn M8000 in the near future. I you are not comfortable using an O2/acetylene torch and a mig welder I would take it to a shop with these capabilities. It is not hard to do, but does require access to these tools and a comfort level using them. hope its of some help. i think MOMO mounted the hitch into the front bumper
 
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Thanks for the pix Travis, certainly different tow arrangement than my 05'

Curt,
Reworking the winch mount sounds like the way to go. Will check localy to see if theres a shop willing to do the welding. Should be less expensive than the Rata or Lucrum options, as well, portable so I can switch the winch front to back as needed.
 
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front winch mount

fatkins said:
Thanks for the pix Travis, certainly different tow arrangement than my 05'

Curt,
Reworking the winch mount sounds like the way to go. Will check localy to see if theres a shop willing to do the welding. Should be less expensive than the Rata or Lucrum options, as well, portable so I can switch the winch front to back as needed.
Click to expand...

Here are pics of Curt 31367 installed.
 

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Sorry to pull from an old thread but Im in the same boat. How has this receiver done with winching since modifying the gussets to work for the 03-05 hooks?
 
4runr30 said:
Sorry to pull from an old thread but I'm in the same boat. How has this receiver done with winching since modifying the gussets to work for the 03-05 hooks?
Click to expand...

Haven't really had to put it to the test.
A couple of points:
Be sure your portable winch mount has sufficient reach to clear the bumper including side flex under load.
Side pull reduced compared to a permanent arrangement.
Obviously reduced approach angle/departure angles.
Pros of course are portability front to back and less weight when not carried.
 
CBI is also releasing a front receiver. It hides behind the license plate and doesn't decrease the approach angle so much as the Curt one does. I forget what he quoted me for a price but here it is:

38449d1296058318-cbi-offroad-fab-introduction-dsc00035.jpg
 
That is great - I had a similar setup on my explorer and it worked great - it was custom by a welding shop. Did a bolt on one like the Curt one and first time out got hung up with my winch stuck in the dirt.
 
3TonMike said:
^^^^^^^ I so want one of those. Any pics of how that bolts up.
Click to expand...

No sorry, they got removed from my inbox. I'm sure if you PM CBI Offroad Fab he will send you the same ones he sent me.

I believe it attaches to the frame around where the bumper brackets bolt on because he said I'd have to modify my light bar or attach it to the hitch. The light bar mounts using those 4 bolts on each frame rail.

edit: I PMed Nathan about this thread, maybe he'll chime in here and post the pics. Also, he didn't send the pics to me, he said he'd post them in the CBI thread but I couldn't find any
 
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Cool, that's totally what im looking for in a mount. I daily drive my runner.The idea of lugging a winch everywhere doesn't appeal to me. Nor does a heavy front bumper.
 
fatkins said:
Haven't really had to put it to the test.
A couple of points:
Be sure your portable winch mount has sufficient reach to clear the bumper including side flex under load.
Side pull reduced compared to a permanent arrangement.
Obviously reduced approach angle/departure angles.
Pros of course are portability front to back and less weight when not carried.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. I wanted to do a custom fab that went behind the bumper like the CBI but Im tired of messin w it. Plus I wanted to keep my faux push bar. So Im instead goin the curt receiver route.
 
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