Rear winch clearance

[James Morse]

Would I be correct in assuming that if I put a winch (a good one) on a hitch that's under the rear bumper, that if I wanted to carry the winch on the back for lack of space otherwise, I wouldn't be able to open the tailgate all the way without it hitting the winch?

Generally I don't like adding weight so far back but I'm just saying, could I. I think it'd be iffy depending on height of winch and its carrier.

 

[Blmpkn]

Nothing stopping you from doing that but yeah probably wouldn't be able to drop the gate with it slid in the reciever.

 

[4x4prepper]

I never regretted having a winch in the bed of my truck (last one on a F-100 and it was only a 5k boat winch). BUT, I am doing a 3" body lift on my 1989 F-150 I am restoring and with the bed raised that much, it looks like I can fit a winch under the bed Though there is no gas tank there, just the spare tire which I am moving, so, I have some space to work it out. Though I am boxing the rear frame.

 

[Shran]

You might have enough room, it depends on how far your hitch drops down and how tall the winch is. It would be pretty close.

Putting one back there permanently on a daily driver I don't know about though... lots of mud and salt spray in that area. Hard to keep it clean, probably wouldn't work when you need it to.

 

[dvdswan]

mounting a rear hidden winch mount - Google Search