Scout Rear Winch Lifted Mount

[Gman757]

I installed the rear winch mount kit on my Scout and it seemed a little low once I got the winch pinned on so I was trying to think of a good way to raise it. I didn't want the expense of having something fabricated so I decided to use a receiver hitch riser.

I had it cut and drilled at a machine shop for a more custom fit and I think it is going to be good setup for using the winch for rear pulling in wet areas. My plan is to use a snatch block and hook the cable onto the D ring so that some of the pulling force will be transferred back to the hitch where it is mounted to the frame. I can leave all of the parts in place and still use the rear rack braces but they have to be put up out of the way when installing the winch.

I have no experience winching so if anyone here sees an issue with this setup please let me know.

This is the height of the winch with the stock kit.



This shows the difference in height with the hitch riser installed.

[rgoat]

Hey Gman, nice looking set up. I can appreciate wanting to get that winch mount up and out of the muck. On its own I'd be a little worried about torquing the rear frame plate that the stock receiver is bolted to. With the snatch block I'd be more worried about tearing the whole thing out of the frame. With a 3,000 lb pull winch, you're capable of putting 6,000 lbs back through that receiver with the snatch block. It's a light unit as far as Argo's go and getting stuck is hopefully not something you encounter frequently but I'd suggest using the snatch block only as a last resort. Happy riding! Get out and get that thing dirty!

[Gman757]

Hey Gman, nice looking set up. I can appreciate wanting to get that winch mount up and out of the muck. On its own I'd be a little worried about torquing the rear frame plate that the stock receiver is bolted to. With the snatch block I'd be more worried about tearing the whole thing out of the frame. With a 3,000 lb pull winch, you're capable of putting 6,000 lbs back through that receiver with the snatch block. It's a light unit as far as Argo's go and getting stuck is hopefully not something you encounter frequently but I'd suggest using the snatch block only as a last resort. Happy riding! Get out and get that thing dirty!

I'm not too concerned with muck but the winch looked pretty low at the hitch location and it seems it could become an issue with regard to water. I realize I am doubling the winch rating with the snatch block but the intent was to get the cable back down to the D ring and not rig a single pull point from the winch. I figured it would be better to pull from both points as that would lessen the torque effect from the higher winch location. (The offset is only 6 inches higher than the standard hitch mount location.)

I have no experience with these things but from what I have seen the best way to get out when you are stuck is most likely the way you went in. With that in mind it seems that a rear pull with the unit assisting would not require a lot of pulling force. Most likely just enough to get traction and then just back out.

Hopefully I can get out and get it dirty real soon....

[philipatmaxfour]

I installed the rear winch mount kit on my Scout and it seemed a little low once I got the winch pinned on so I was trying to think of a good way to raise it. I didn't want the expense of having something fabricated so I decided to use a receiver hitch riser.

I had it cut and drilled at a machine shop for a more custom fit and I think it is going to be good setup for using the winch for rear pulling in wet areas. My plan is to use a snatch block and hook the cable onto the D ring so that some of the pulling force will be transferred back to the hitch where it is mounted to the frame. I can leave all of the parts in place and still use the rear rack braces but they have to be put up out of the way when installing the winch.

I have no experience winching so if anyone here sees an issue with this setup please let me know.

This is the height of the winch with the stock kit.



This shows the difference in height with the hitch riser installed.

Thanks for the pics Gman. That is a great idea. Funny that nobody I know of had thought of the hitch riser, I do know of a couple of guys who hand fabed a hitch riser right up to the rubber ring on the Argo, but they were pretty heavy. Up here its the cold water in a half frozen swamp that makes hooking to a stock,low mounted winch that is under the ice a no fun trick. I say "Don't worry about the stress on the hitch mount with a snatch blocked 3500 lb winch. The winch is rated to pull a trailer of way more than a 1000 lb. up and down hills ,over logs and through mud and I have never seen an Argo hitch fail yet in our club. Not recommended but I have seen a second Argo winching the hitch of a first Argo who was winching a stuck pickup. I was afraid that the ball on the first machine would become a projectile but their luck held out.

[Andyman]

Nice work

[philipatmaxfour]

Argo Scout

Hi Mr. Gman757, Have you got any hog hunting pics. of your new Scout for us?

[Fox Valley Argo Sales]

The rear winch mount is a great idea,and Gman,looks like a very solid extention,and IMO don't think that it's going to create too much torque to cause damage.
However,even with the extention,the winch mount, in most cases,when stuck, especially with an aggressive track type,it will be submerged,and makes it difficult and messy to attach the winch to the mount if it isn't on there already.
Another issue that happens pulling out backwards, is now you are forced to change directions,or go around the hole,and in thick brush, or timber might not be an option.
When i am forced to pull backwards, I run the winch line over the top of the unit,and am careful not to rope burn anything,but would only do this with synthetic cable,as a last resort.
The best place for a rear winch mount is at the same height as it is in front, however,there is no internal framework inside the argo to handle all that torque.

[Gman757]

Hi Mr. Gman757, Have you got any hog hunting pics. of your new Scout for us?

I have gotten a few. I shot 4 about a week ago hunting out of the Scout. It is working very well as a portable shooting blind.

This large sow was the biggest I shot.