Winch Mount ???

[mossman381]

I have a 97 max 2 and I want to add a winch. I want to make my own winch mount but am not sure how to mount it to the body. Is there a place that is strong enough on the body that I can just bolt it to? Then add a backing plate. Or will I end up breaking the body with the first winch pull? Do you have to tie the mount into the frame? I have the same questions about a roll cage. Can I bolt it to the body or do I have to tie it into the frame somehow? The bodies on these machines are tough. Thanks

[argohunter]

The HDPE is strong stuff but it is not unbreakable. Any winch mount that is put on the Max front should be engineered well enough to allow winching without causing the tub plastic to break.

If you are uncomfortable with designing and fabricating your own winch mount, you may want to consider purchasing a winch mount designed and made for the Max II. There are factory winch plates and aftermarket winch plates available.

I have made two winch mounts for a Max II. Both distribute the stress of the pull over the entire front of the Max and the stress is not just focused on the "grill" area of the Max. They have have backing plates in front of the gas tank. They tie into a front bumper. I did not tie them into the frame. Thought about it but decided against it for certain reasons.

You could tie a roll cage/bar into the frame if you wanted but it's going to be difficult w/o cutting into that HDPE and getting in the way when you open the tub for service. Mounting a cage to a steel frame around the tub lip seems to be the way a lot of people go.

You might want to read the posts of a recent topic "Steel frame around MaxIV".

[mossman381]

I don't want to put the roll cage on the lip of my max. I want to put it where the factory puts the roll bar. I think it looks better that way. If you have seen the black max in the pics section, that is basicly what I want to do. I was wondering if the factory bolts thier bar on the body or they tie it into the frame. If the factory just bolts it to the body, I would just bolt mine to the body.

[argohunter]

I sent you an e-mail.

Tory G's Max looks nice. He could probably tell you how his cage is mounted.

[Mike]

Here's two pictures of where the factory roll bar mounts. It doesn't mount to the body: