Winch Mounting??

[bduff77]

I want to put a winch on the front of my 1998 2wd regular cab ranger. What sort of weight limit should I look for in the winch? If I will really just be using it to get my own 3000 pound truck moving, do I need anything too much higher than 3500 or 4000 pound winch? Also, can I just mount it onto my stock bumper, just throw it on and go or is it more in depth? I have seen winch mounts that come up from below and look as though they mount to the frame under the engine bay. Do I need this? I clearly don't know where to begin and need some help/advice...

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

For your truck you will need a minimum of an 8000lb winch and yes it has to be solidly mounted to your frame, your stock bumper will not hold it. Another option is having a receiver hitch mounted to the front of your trucks frame and putting the winch on a 2" receiver

 

[JFA_Spyderman]

Yo,
From what i have read, you should look for a winch rated for about 1 1/2 time the weight of your vehicle. As for mounting it, unless you are good with metal fabrication, i would just go with a premade winch bumper. Warn makes one, as does James Duff, and hopefully so will TRS here before long.

If you want some ideas for making one of your own, there is a thread of winch bumpers in the body/suspension armor forum. Good luck!

 

[bduff77]

Thanks guys! I found a nice looking warn winch mount for my truck for about 100 bucks...don't really like the look of the hitch receiver mounted ones...Is it worth it to spend a lot of money on a winch when my truck is only worth 5 grand, or should I just get something off ebay for a few hundred dollars? I have never used a winch before so I don't know the different levels of functionality

 

[86isuzu]

just get a milemarker for 400 bucks. cant go wrong. a warn mount for $100? is it used?

 

[Carlos Murphy]

winch

Thanks guys! I found a nice looking warn winch mount for my truck for about 100 bucks...don't really like the look of the hitch receiver mounted ones...Is it worth it to spend a lot of money on a winch when my truck is only worth 5 grand, or should I just get something off ebay for a few hundred dollars? I have never used a winch before so I don't know the different levels of functionality

The receiver hitch mount is the lightest method mounting the winch on the Ranger ... I think.
I have a a 8000 lb. winch "receiver'd" to a 1/4" wall 2x4" bumper welded to the end of the frame rails and gusseted.
Also, I can just unplug it from the front receiver and plug it into my rear bumper if needed.

 

[bduff77]

86isuzu...honestly i'm not sure if this is useful at all because the picture is of the mount on a jeep cherokee but... http://www.1motormart.com/parts/1/1...57f0&k=98-00+01+02+03+Ford+Ranger+Winch+Mount ...it's the second picture down...tell me what you think

 

[bduff77]

Carlos Murphy...the hitch receiver may be the lightest, but is it the strongest, or most efficient?? I just want to know I'm spending my money in the best way possible

 

[Carlos Murphy]

mount

bduff77,
If you've found a suitable winch mount for a hundred bucks and bucks count, go for it.

My bumpers were made by Mark Hollar's Auto & 4WD in Minden Nv. cost more than a hundred bucks but they serve double duty, holding the winch at either end of the truck and protection the truck, I've rammed and moved derelict junkers with it just for fun.
Sent you a PM earlier about sending pic's to your email, AFTER Christmas.
C.M.

 

[Will]

You don't need an 8,000# winch on a 2wd. You're truck would do very well with a 5,000# winch. I would buy the best 5,000# I could find. You can't get far enough with a 2wd to need an 8,000#, but you can get far enough to need a 5,000# a lot. No problem, but a piece of shit slow-ass PileMarker Chinese winch will not suffice. I've had 2 8,000# ones of that description.

I have a SuperWinch EPi 9.0, which is really fast, totally sealed solenoids, a great machine. For your truck I would recommend the EPi 6.0.

If you don't really need a winch, anything is fine as long as it looks big enough so you don't embarrass yourself.

A front receiver is the best bet. They are easily strong enough. They make one for your truck. Citoriplus had one on a '98 2wd. I haven't seen Frank on here in a long time.