BRULE! Question on your front receiver

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 7:39 pm

Would it handle a Warn 8000i? And is it a custom hookup you did? How you do it?

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Jul 21, 2003 8:09 pm

I think I'd beef it a bit more for 8000 or larger winch.

It wouldn't be too hard though.

It may flex on an up or down load. Side and straight pulls it handles really well and would handle the bigger winch.

I did fab and build it for my S3500 winch. It is small but with a pulley block it does a pretty good job. Just enough to get me out of a tight spot if I'm wheeling alone. I dragged a S-10 excab across the lot with it locked in 4x4 and the Ebrake set.

So far it has been a good luck charm, as long as I carry it , I don't need it.

The plates mount under the tow hooks and front skid plate mounts. I used 3/8" plate. The long tube is 1.5x.250 square tube and a short reciever built and gusseted on top of it.

It fits snugly between the front frame rails. I've been thinking about adding a tab to the ends of the main tube to tie into the sides of the frame and eliminate any flex.

It might handle the larger winch, but I like to have things pretty "bullet proof" , I have been acused of overkill sometimes too

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 2:58 pm

Lately there has been a renewed interest in my 2" Hidden Front Hitch.

I did this well over a year ago, and with all the questions, I figured it would be a good idea to get the information updated to include a materials list.

Really wish I had taken the time to take more pictures of it , now

If anyone wants a copy of the endplate template, PM me for the address to send a self addressed stamped envelope.

christian · Post by **christian** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 10:43 am

I have a littl question for ya Brule! Did you install your front hitch before or after your body lift? And if i installed it before a body lift would it be much trouble getting back to the same location after a body lift?

Chris

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 5:12 pm

I do have a 2" bodylift installed and don't know if this hitch would work without one.

The way that I did mine it will only work with a bodylift.

With some modificatios it could probably be built for one without, but I haven't done one.

I'd wait for the bodylift.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 5:13 pm

HenryJ wrote:I do have a 2" bodylift installed and don't know if this hitch would work without one.

The way that I did mine it will only work with a bodylift.

With some modifications it could probably be built for one without, but I haven't done one.

I'd wait for the bodylift.

Conman · Post by **Conman** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 6:06 pm

Hidden Hitch and WARN make a bolt on front hitch for our trucks.

http://www.hiddenhitch.com/images/produ ... s/5001.pdf

Some pics I found on the net with it installed on a s10 blazer:

Blazer with body lift and hitch skid plate installed:

http://users.adelphia.net/~pulse/pulse.html

They down fall is that it the receiver is below the bumper but it's about 90bucks I've seen so not a bad price.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:27 pm

I actually used my front receiver hitch yesterday. It worked out great.
Too bad that it was used to tow my truck back to the shop when the MSD coil died

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 7:13 pm

There are nice heavy duty ones made for our trucks. I want to get one, but not till I can get a winch. It be nice not to have to lug it around on the front. oh, some day.

NTXCrew · Post by **NTXCrew** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 8:58 pm

do you mind me asking why you were dragging a truck across a parking lot??? sounds interesting.

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:01 pm

NTXCrew wrote:do you mind me asking why you were dragging a truck across a parking lot??? sounds interesting.

I guess....because I can?

NTXCrew · Post by **NTXCrew** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:04 pm

was it someone else's truck and did they know about this at the time?

jarhead · Post by **jarhead** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:07 pm

NTXCrew wrote:was it someone else's truck and did they know about this at the time?

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:17 pm

NTXCrew wrote:was it someone else's truck and did they know about this at the time?

Yes, and no.

One of the fleet rigs

NTXCrew · Post by **NTXCrew** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:51 pm

he he. i wanna use my tow hooks and tow strap to move somebody now...

jarhead · Post by **jarhead** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:56 pm

I've omly had the plessure of towing one vehicle so far.

but I had to tow him 4 times in one day. it was my friends 93 toyota he got it stuck once and it stalled in about 3 feet of water 2 times and the last time was when he blew his engine. this all happened in one day.

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 6:29 pm

HenryJ wrote:I think I'd beef it a bit more for 8000 or larger winch.

It wouldn't be too hard though....

Well that time came.
I bought Wamason's 9000lb Milemarker winch, so I need to get rid of the vertical flex I had for the bigger winch.

It was pretty easy , as I thought. I just added two pieces of 1/4" thick 1 1/2" angle and bolted to the frame uprights with two 1/2" bolts.

It is now as strong as the front of the frame

I put a 6' bar in the hitch as a lever and bounced on it. I am sure it is plenty strong enough now.

I should still be able to remove/install the hitch without removing the bumper, if needed.

Please excuse the messy condition of the truck, the weather here has been nasty to say the least.

The full mod page is here: Front & Rear hitches

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 6:50 pm

Always modifying and then modifying work done. Looks good HJ!

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 8:23 pm

f9k9 wrote:Always modifying and then modifying work done. ...

Are you say that I am never satisfied

Well partially right

I am going to have to leave the front bar off for this winch, but the hidden hitch mount and roller fairlead should protect it from brush, so it will not be needed.

My fogs are going back to their mounting positions in the front valance.
I liked the unique safari bar look, but for me function , over form ...this time

Post by **Walt** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 8:04 am

Yea, it's a fairly large beast

I didn't drive my truck with the winch on, but I figure it would handle a bit different with 150 lbs on the front.

Hey Brule, get you one of those receiver skit plates and mounted it to the front of the Winch Plate (It has an enlarged inlet and a pin hole)

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:50 am

Walt wrote:...get you one of those receiver skit plates and mounted it to the front of the Winch Plate

Took me a while but finally did.
I made one from a piece of 3/8" cutting edge and a piece of 2" square tube.

Takes me a while sometimes.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:04 pm

3 1/2 years ain't bad