Double ended winch setup

[Adondo]

I finally got around to getting a winch setup. Harbor Freight had a good sale. I bought a 6000 lb. winch and hitch mount.

Yesterday, I had a buddy who welds for a living fabricate a front end receiver. The Jeep is set up to be towed behind my motorcoach, so there's a Blue Ox framework called a "baseplate" where forks plug in to attach to telescoping arms on the back of the bus. The baseplate is pretty heavy duty, and the forks are 1.5" solid steel.

The new hitch setup is a crossbar that pins to those forks, and gives me a 2" receiver on the front end. we had to set it somewhat low to clear the coach light wiring plug and breakaway switch. The breakaway switch applies panic stop in the Jeep should it come loose from the bus. (The Jeep has a braking system for being towed)

Here it is, all built, and with paint drying.


Another view:


Installed:


From the side. There's gussets that prevent roll-forward.


More...

[LWM]

In a word.... Nice!

[Adondo]

Underneath. The stinger slides a bit past the receiver. It all misses the towing stuff, so we didn't have to spend time cutting things loose and re-welding.


The winch in place.




As low as it looks, it's still 18" off the ground.

I just picked up another 175 amp Anderson connector, with 5' of #0 wire installed. #0 (or 1 ott) wire is the size if a finger. I have a set of jumper cables that's #1 wire that hooks to the battery, then flops up and over the roof rack to the back end. That way, if I get stuck, I can pull myself back and off. With the Anderson installed (tonight) up front, flipping that cable set around will provide a set of jumper cables without opening the hood. They're 20' long, so they'll reach quite a ways.

On edit: notice the ring eye for the hook. On the first trip out, (see the thread about Godman) I had visions of the winch's freewheel release lever getting flipped, and having 85' of cable whipping around behind me on the road. :O If that happened on the front, I'd run over it to disaster. The ring eye is peace of mind.

[Adondo]

Oh yeah, the turn buckles and ring eyes. They prevent up-rolling of the crossbar, and keep things from rattling. On the drive in today, it was quiet, so no movement. The other end of the buckles hook to the baseplate's safety cable eyes.

More photos later when I get the Anderson connector installed.

On edit: If there is anything that sucks about this setup, it's the cotton pickin' wire costs. I'm into the wiring about $255. No wonder thieves are always after copper wire!!! Welding cable is stupid expensive!

Another edit: The pieces of bar stock that go in between the forks is 5/8" thick. The crossbar is 2" x 3" and 3/8" thick - it's about 35 lbs. overall. I didn't use angle iron because the back side is tapered, whereas the L stuff is straight on the back sides. (Normal angle iron is thinner at the back edge)

Now... off to eBay to find a Jeep hitch cover for when the winch isn't there.

[pjmjr508]

Looks great!!!!!!

[Adondo]

Got the cable and Anderson connector installed. Well, mostly. I'll wait 'til I remove the setup, then nut 'n' bolt the connector up to the underside of the plastic bumper. It'll do for now, and we're ready for the New Year day trip. (To where, we don't know yet... it'll be a map-read at the restaurant)

I'm guessing the #0 wire that's only 5' long will give the winch maybe 25% ~ 30% more power at the front end. (Less voltage drop than the rear's 20' of wire)

And, now I can pull out the jumper/winch feed set and jump-start someone right from that Anderson connector without opening the hood.

The circuit breaker on the battery, and 3/4" fat wire attached. The ground is on the OEM ground bolt on the right. The two welding cables (+ & - leads) are run down thru the headlight area, and comes out underneath, where the bumper plastic kind of ends.


The connected winch. Later, I'll mount the connector up tight. It has two bolt holes. The rubber things are covers for when there's nothing plugged in.

[Adondo]

Okay... which cover should I get for the front receiver hole, for when the winch isn't there?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/110770100321...84.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350511847221...84.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400256439346...84.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280102751657...84.m1423.l2649

Or...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280635008847...84.m1423.l2649

[LWM]

#3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400256439346...84.m1423.l2649

[cico7]

Jeep Wrangler Logo Hitch Cover Chrome Stainless Steel

This One

[DetroitMarauder]

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