Help with rear winch mount...?

[dogteam]

The first thing I see that this machine (my new 2007 Avenger) needs is a rear winch. I'm told there's a setup that slides into the hitch receiver, but that seems pretty low to be of much use? Any tips on a way to mount one higher on something other than plastic? Maybe mount one of those "winch-in-a-bag"'s to the outboard transom?

Forgive me if this is an old question, I did search but came up empty....

Cheers,
dt

[Bazooo guy]

I made a mount and welded it to my frame inside the tub.
Check out the pics in my gallery.

[BW3]

The Argo Frontier we got came with the factory rear hitch mount , basically you unpin the front mounting plate and winch and pin it to a similar plate that mounts in the receiver hitch ... as you noted it is lower but this is due to it must be connected to the frame. If you look you will see that the front winch mount has been braced down to the frame. Short of making a custom mount that angles up and away from the receiver hitch to gain more height ....but at what trade off to strength and drive-ability ? ... I see little that can be done ... JMHO
Bill G.

[Rock Doctor]

Rear winches are not common around here, but there are some around. Lots of guys build front pushbars and rear racks for their machines..... Typically mounted to the "splitline" lips of the upper and lower tubs. Build them right and they are actually very strong. some guys mount a rear winch to their rack.

Not sure if I can do this with iPhone, but here goes:


If that don't work this might:
Mobile Photobucket

My thought on it is..... 99% of the time, it only takes a minor little pull or push to get out of a bad spot. So as long as you don't pull crazy hard, a winch on the back is fine.

RD

[dogteam]

Thanks guys. I suppose I'm paranoid...you know that when you need to winch, there's never anything to attach to except directly behind you.
Bill, the winch on my Avenger appears to uncouple, but I don't have the receiver plate and I dont see any wiring at the back. It just seems to me that if you're stuck in a bog, that winch would be submerged...that can't be good.
Maybe limit the size of the winch so that it doesn't (can't) damage the tub...and attach to the lip.

Thanks Rock Doctor and Bazooo for the pics...food for thought.....!

Cheers,
dt

[thebuggyman1]

Another option is to carry an extra winch cable, extra tow straps, or anything else that could extend your winch cable out to that tree that is beyond the reach of the cable on your winch. I usually carry a long strap or two just because I don't want to pull 40' of winch cable out when 5' of pulling is all it takes to get unstuck.

[Rock Doctor]

Good point Jim, I carry extra straps for the same reason.
Another option is a swamp anchor, there are various styles available, or you can build your own.

RD

[dogteam]

Another option is a swamp anchor, there are various styles available, or you can build your own.
RD

I wondered about that! Details?
I'm thinking about the sloughs/beaver ponds around here...trying to imagine what one would do if they were stuck in the loon s*** in the middle of one...get out and you'll sink up to your waist in the equivalent of quicksand...just how do you deal with that?
Just stay out is the only solution I can come up with...

[JoeMeg]

Another option is to carry an extra winch cable, extra tow straps, or anything else that could extend your winch cable out to that tree that is beyond the reach of the cable on your winch. I usually carry a long strap or two just because I don't want to pull 40' of winch cable out when 5' of pulling is all it takes to get unstuck.

My sentiments exactly.

And,like Rock Doctor says,it usually doesn't take much to get unstuck,just a little nudge.

Joe.

[Rock Doctor]

I wondered about that! Details?
I'm thinking about the sloughs/beaver ponds around here...trying to imagine what one would do if they were stuck in the loon s*** in the middle of one...get out and you'll sink up to your waist in the equivalent of quicksand...just how do you deal with that?
Just stay out is the only solution I can come up with...

I don't own one, but if I was to get one, or build one, it would be something like this little "Fortress FX-7". It's small and light enough that you could throw it, it will straighten itself out as you pull on it.


I've had to do the "Dead Man" Anchor a couple times, but normally I can get out without getting to fancy.
RD

[dogteam]

Another option is to carry an extra winch cable, extra tow straps, or anything else that could extend your winch cable out to that tree that is beyond the reach of the cable on your winch. I usually carry a long strap or two just because I don't want to pull 40' of winch cable out when 5' of pulling is all it takes to get unstuck.

That, of couse, is excellent advice. No vehicle I own would be without a good quality tow strap, so the Argo would be no different. I'm thinking about amphibious / semi-amphibious use here, and trying to think ahead of times about how to get out of trouble, since I'll be on my own (mostly) and won't have anyone convenient on shore to toss a line. I'm wondering about an emergency paddle?

[Bazooo guy]

When i get stuck the rear winch pulls me out fine and a snatch block and strap to a tree works great.
My winch mount is welded to the frame and bolted thru the fiberglass body.

[glen1971]

The rear winch mount from Argo seems to work out just fine for me.. It fits in the 2" receiver and is easy to move..

[montague]

I have a new (to me) 2004 Avenger with a front winch. Like other posters, I carry an extra long strap, a snatch block and also a Massadam rope puller and a ground anchor that is kind of line a short, narrow spade that pounds into the ground to hook onto if no available trees.

I figure that will cover my winching needs going forward or back. As for getting wet if stuck in the middle of a bog, well I honestly don't think that can be avoided..............

[RUON]

Whether with or without tracks, 90-95% % of the time that we are stuck, we’ve chosen to either winch forward or have shoved twigs and branches under (and between) the tires. The other 5-10% of the time, we chose to use go in the reverse direction using a continuous rope come-a-long (works with 5/8” line) with 5/8” rope. A few of the times, we've also used a shovel. We also carry a few hundred feet of 3/8” line and block and tackle in case more extraction force is needed (whether using the winch or come-a-long).

We no longer carry an anchor. I could see the advantage of using an anchor when going up hills if the ground was hard and no trees are available. The anchors that we’ve used were pounded into the ground … and we found that if the ground was too soft for the Argo … it was also too soft for the anchor to hold. IMO, time is better spent getting twigs under the tires (or tracks if running the tracks) than making a more substantial anchor.

We’ve been carrying the rear winch bracket for the past year and never used it. Probably not take it with us anymore. Plus, I'm more concerned that we would lose mounting hardware when moving the winch from the forward to rear and from the rear and back to forward locations. Another 100ft of 3/8” line would take up less space and be more helpful.