Vehicle & Technical > Defender

The basics of winch mounting...

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Jimbo:
Not how to, but how do I (please !)

I'm assuming that all winch mounts (be they bumpers, plates or whatever) only fix to the existing (factory) bumper to chassis mounting points. If this is so (and in basic, laymans terms) can I mount my winch onto a big lump of steel plate, and then mount that onto the front of the 110, using the bumper to chassis mounting points ?

What I want to achieve is a more discrete system for mounting my RPH8000 hydraulic, as at the moment it's on a huge, industrial galvanised bumper/girder thing - which sticks out 12" from the front of the truck.

I have seen ads for 'winch mounting trays', can I assume that these are big lumps of steel plate (my laymans terms again) that bolt onto the chassis/bumper points. Would I then be able to fit a standard Defender bumper on as well ?

I'm also planning (assuming that the 'tray' thing works) on cutting the front grille so that the winch gets recessed back towards the radiator as far as poss - thus improving my non-existent approach angle !

Ta,
Jim

Jimbo:
This is what I mean by 'industrial'.........

http://members.mud-club.com/profiles/Jimbo/gallery/Delivery/0/231383-1117549394./

Jim

bullfrog:
Crickey, You were not kidding ! :shock:
A plate mounted to the chassis would work well and allow you to move the winch back a bit.
I would say 6mm plate as a minimum with large washers on all mounting points.

Range Rover Blues:
Holy smoke that looks like an armoured truck!

Part of the thing with 6mm steel in winch bumpers is because they are spanning a large area with flat plates of steel, with little reinforcing.  Th3e chaasis you are bolting to is made of much thinner steel but beacuase it's a box section it is inherantly strong.

The weakest link will often be the mounting points, not the bolts themselves but the erea around them, probably on the winch plate (which I'd prefer).

If you consider how much (read how little) strength there is is say a JATE ring mounting and yet you can safely winch onto one, you get some idea of how big the overkill is one winch bumpers.  Mostly because the winch pulls off-line with the base plate and generates a huge bending force in it.

Anyway, how does this help you, well I find that most winch bumpers use the bumper mounts plus a 3rd bolt either side through a hole level with the front body mount (RRC and Disco especially) although a stronger mount would be the steering boc tie-bar mount and it's redundant friend on the LHS, just check out a pair of Jack-Mates if you can't picture it.  Anyway, these mounting points should be adequately strong for your winch with a well designed winch tray.

I have a demountable winch in a back-rack from Goodwinch and you should see how little metal is required, yet it is rated at 9,000lb.

Jimbo:
Cheers for the replies.

It looks like I'm going to buy the 'build-your-own' bumper bits from Southdown (ala Dave Landy's 90), and then modify the winch tray to take the Ramsey winch - which reminds me, Dave...PM for you !

Jim

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