Modified Curt front end hitch reciever + alternative installation

[The Stig]

What I did was take a curt front hitch reciever and modify it so instead of it going below the bumper bar, it goes above, thus allowing you use it as a winch mount.

Step 1
Chop it up real good. I cut off the tow points and the part of the hitch reciever that gets bolted onto the fj's tow points.




Step 2 - the slot
Of course there are different ways to cut the slot. (I used a band saw)
Drill holes for a slot



Step 3
cut the slot out. I used a band saw.


Step 4 - Intsallation


To get it on the FJ I had to remove the bumper, move the AC line, then chop a little bit:



Then drill some new holes for the bolts.













The test went well. I pulled on a tree untill it stalled, kind of scary but necessary. I've got a video of it but i need to edit out the swearing(the winch was doing weird things, turned out I had, sort of, screwed up the motor when I wired it, but I managed to fix it in the end)






Hope that was clear... I'm not sure if anyone else would ever try this, cheap but fabrication-requiring, way to a winch mount but I'm pretty dam happy with it.

Could someone who knows alot about torquing bolts tell me what sort of torque I should put on the bolts that hold this thing on?

Here some pics of how it looks with the bumper on.

[Manhattan]

It looks a bit like the winch may have put a bit of a strain on the vertical plate? Just the angle of the photo?

[The Stig]

I was expecting it to flex a bit, you can see, two pictures down, that there is a small gap between this part of the body, and the hitch. Without pull the hitch is just touching that body cross memeber, whatever it is.
I don't think it's a problem.

[DoWork]

It will probably bend alot but it looks sturdy and wont break. My buddy did something similar on his jeep and it bent alot like yours except alot more severe. I would try and rig up a brace if i were you. btw, great build and pics!!!

[volhoo]

Very nice.

Do you also have it all wired up to plug into the back as well?

[The Stig]

I haven't wired up the back yet, I've been wondering if for the back I could have a black wire connected to the body, since the battery is connect to it, or is this a bad idea...
I found these dc plugs
http://www.hrpworld.com/index.cfm?fo...action=product
Went with the 175amp one cos of price and it's just as thick as the cables that came with the winch. prob still a rip of though... I was getting impatiant looking for parts.

[Archy Chris]

Looks good!

[sonof40]

Very nice job. Forgive my ignorance but is the idea to be able to move the winch to either front or rear when needed? Or is this just a way to mount the winch in front?

[DEWFPO]

I hope the 175 amp disconnects will be enough. I've seen numbers as high as 408 amps on a 9,500 lb winch at near stall.

DEWFPO

[chichid65]

Looks Great, good job!