Anyone built your own winch mount?

[Jswente]

Bought a mid 90's conquest and need to put a winch on it. I have a 4K super winch setting here but don't have the mount. From the pictures it looks like the mount is pretty whimpy. 3/16" bottom plate and 3/4-1" tube bent up? I was curious if anyone had built a beefed up model or if the $260ish is worth it for the avoided headache.

[Vance in AK]

I have a 2" steel angle iron wrap around the entire body bolted through the hull every 18". I welded a piece of 4" channel about 18" wide (about 2" wider than my 4k superwinch Terra 4) to the front of that and bolted up through the angle for the two rear mount holes and the channel for the front 2. When I use the winch it's pulling on the entire tub including across the back. It hasn't stressed anything yet. If you want some pics pm me a email or # I can text them to.

[Noel Woods]

I've made several, all have at least 3/16th plate, with another plate inside the hull, carriage bolted together.

[Jswente]

I wasn't planning on taking the top off. I was thinking a reinforced version of factory. I would be curious to see pictures of your mount though. Jswente@gmail.com

[Jswente]

Noel do you have pictures of how you did yours? Did you run down to the frame like the factory mounts. With that small tube it just seems like sh*% would get bent when winching out of deep mud or winching an elk out of a ravine in my case

[Dozerlarry]

I've made several, all have at least 3/16th plate, with another plate inside the hull, carriage bolted together.

same here except I used 1/4 inch.

[Noel Woods]

http://://www.6x6world.com/gallery/max-6-wheelers/p7440-modified-max2.html][/URL]

This is one style from My Max2, I've got a similar type on a Super Swamp Fox. I actually have a couple of Argos with factory mounts, and I believe the sandwich style mount is just as good.

[Jswente]

So to get this right you just cut 2 pieces of plate to fit the rectangular flat part on the front of the hull (where the Argo logo is) and sandwich them on the inside and outside and drill/bolt them together? And the hull is strong enough to winch on like that?

[curtisbyrne]

It has to be around the whole vehicle. When that is done you can pretty much winch out sideways if you want to

[Noel Woods]

So to get this right you just cut 2 pieces of plate to fit the rectangular flat part on the front of the hull (where the Argo logo is) and sandwich them on the inside and outside and drill/bolt them together? And the hull is strong enough to winch on like that?

Yes. The stock Argo mount just has a couple of arms that mount to the frame. UHMW is even tougher than HDPE, so I think the sandwich construction is more than tough enough.

[Vance in AK]

Yes. The stock Argo mount just has a couple of arms that mount to the frame. UHMW is even tougher than HDPE, so I think the sandwich construction is more than tough enough.

We stuck a friends machine with the standard mount pretty good (Ok REALLY god in the tundra when the meat trailer broke through. We started winching & the machine started popping... Popped rivets across the front & tore the tub around a couple rivet holes. Turned out the problem was he hadn't tightened the bolts on the bottom of that light hoop... That hoop makes a HUGE difference. Tightened the bolts to the Argo mount hoop, replaced the rivets & no problem since. With my full wrap I'm not connected to the hoop but I think I will tie it in. Can't hurt.

[ARGOJIM]

We stuck a friends machine with the standard mount pretty good (Ok REALLY god in the tundra when the meat trailer broke through. We started winching & the machine started popping... Popped rivets across the front & tore the tub around a couple rivet holes. Turned out the problem was he hadn't tightened the bolts on the bottom of that light hoop... That hoop makes a HUGE difference. Tightened the bolts to the Argo mount hoop, replaced the rivets & no problem since. With my full wrap I'm not connected to the hoop but I think I will tie it in. Can't hurt.

Agreed, have had many Conquests, early Vangaurds/Twins, and Magnum and I/C's. Most all Conquest style fronts at extreme winchings have popped some rivets if the hoop flexed. The hoop seems to do it's thing, a second stiffening tube worked in somehow to keep it's form would be key. The wrap around band with the winch mounted to it sounds good as it pulls the entire tub as opposed to just pulling on the face.
Dragging a Moose uphill with a winch will put them all to a test (perhaps hook it to the trailer hitch), the key to winching and not hurting the body is to keep a slight wheel spin so you are not dragging the machine but pulling it.

[Jswente]

I think I'm going to start with a modified hitch winch mount. I am going to take a 6" drop and flip it with a plate welded to it. Most anywhere I would get stuck I can winch backwards just as easy as winching forward. The rise should get me well above the mud and snow and keep from dragging. Then if I find I need it I'll look into a custom front mount or a factory tube style. Thanks for the input. I didn't want to separate the body but it may be necessary from the sounds of it.

[Rabbit929]

I've been looking into the same thing.
Make sure you post pictures of your build, I'm really curious to see how it works. I'm trying to figure out a design as well.

Loads of scrap, short on money. At least trying to keep the budget down.
Trying.

[gotrippedoff]

I am also looking to build my own winch mount as it seems no one here or online knows where to buy one for a late 70's base model 6x6.
Any build plans or videos you guys come up with I would love to see.