possible idea to solve my winching "issues'...

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

had an interesting idea/solution to a dilemma of mine...

the problems:

tired of putting the winch (and battery!) on the rear receiver all the time to use it with the jeep. as of late I've used it alot. have to leave the rear hatch open, the door likes to flop/bang around then, and it's just plain anoying. plus I want to be ready to do some winter rescue/recoveries
bought the winch for use on my car trailer to pull the car up on it if I break it at the track. knock on wood I have yet to actually use it for the purpose, but it's only a matter of time.
don't want to buy a 2nd winch.
don't really want to be carrying around the winch all the time either when not needed, hence liking the receiver adapter plate I also got.

possible solution:

get a Detours USA Backbone
re-wire the winch such that it has connectors to disconnect the winch from the solenoid pack (which I'd hide behind the grille) so I can remove it
weld up a 2" receiver to the underside of the Backbone, and have it hidden behind the license plate (or possibly get a receiver mounted plate bracket)

(for those who don't know what a Backbone is)

what that would allow me to do:

remove the winch when not needed, saving front end weight
permit easier use of the winch when I do need it
give me the ability to hitch up to the trailer (to the front of the jeep) to stabilize it, and still allow me to pull the car on the trailer as needed.
yes I'd obviously have to turn the jeep around to load/unload, but that wouldn't be so killer I'd think.

thoughts? comments?

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:28 am

Personally.....
I would talk to Mark and see if he would modify the Backbone to do what you want.
He's a good guy to deal with and might be able to work something out to suit your needs without you buying one and modifying it
Your ideas are on the right track I think for what you want to do

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

phone call certainly wouldn't hurt. :mrgreen:

my other thought was to build something like the backbone but without the actual winch plate on top, and have it just be the hidden receiver up front. I'd leave the winch on the hitch plate, but then it can wobble around during transit, and part of the beauty of the backbone is the nicely integrated shackle points. makes it really easy to double up for a recovery. plus it has to be immensely stronger than any receiver opening could hope to be. that nose pickup test sold me on its strength.

going to let this idea simmer for a while, see what other insanity the brain comes up with.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:44 am

Backbone is well built for sure. I've helped install one and the workmanship and welds are done well.

LostEddie · **Posted:** Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:11 pm

You could fab a front hitch (that is no longer sold). Look at tonycrd hitch pictured in this thread. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=62324
Scan down to the Sep 02, 2011 post. Mounts to the frame where the front tow hooks would.

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:46 pm

Actually the front hitches are back up for sale through curt I think. And why not you the front hitch and fab up something off of it since it is and already solid platform.

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

problem with the standard front hitch is the receiver opening is way too low for offroading use. it wrecks your approach angle and you're very likely to bury it in the ground/mud/bog when you screw up. kind of useless then.

also if I did that how would I then secure the trailer to the jeep so I could safely pull a car up on the trailer? the receiver opening is now in use by the winch.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:31 pm

Another thing to think about which most don't is the fact that the front hitch only uses two bolts per side (I think), now look at the backbone , there are bolts under/infront etc, very stout

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

correct. the curtis front mount uses 4 bolts total, in the same place the tow hooks would go in the frame horns. ironically that spot gets used by a lot of things (like most of the plow kits out there.)

Pippobug · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:21 pm

...mine has 3 bolts per side and it's not low at all, must have been one of the first one built for up to 2005 models before they changed the design of the front bumper and as a conseguence lowed the hitch receiver. I bought mine from the US.

before fitting it:

still i think if you find one this should resolve your problem...would suggest rinforcing it like it did with extra plates.

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

couple things I see...
yours is what we would list as 02-04 model year vehicle (based on the bumper design).
your license plate holder is totally different and alot higher, so that opening the receiver sits in would be obscured by our plate.

if we had a receiver designed like that I probably would have considered it as a more viable alternative than the variant we get here in the states.

nice pictures though. thanks.

Pippobug · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 3:25 pm

Sota
I bought mine from the US, the previous owner had i think a 2006 and didn't want to cut the bumper to allow the receiver to come out at the right place.
My number plate hold normaly covers the hole, I just turned it upside down and it worked nicely. You can always build one to fit.
Fil

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

interesting.

further investigation might be in order. would be very interesting to see if the backbone and that hitch share bolt spacing. if so procurement of one might be the cheapest and easiest method of doing both, if I choose to continue down that path.

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

I think I see the problem and the reason for the redesign.
the 05-07 front fascia doesn't have that trifecta of openings, and is lower/deeper than the prior generation. as such that mount you have would be nearly or totally obscured by the fascia itself, without substantial cutting. although that now brings up an interesting question... could an 02-04 fascia be bolted up to an 05-07 MY vehicle, without significant changes? Grille would need to be changed obviously. I think the front fender flares are different as well, and would be required to carry out such a swap.

candpliberty · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:29 am

Go with the Backbone and have them weld in a receiver tube. That will be the least expensive, easiest solution to your project. 2 mount holes and a third hole for the receiver tube right under the winch plate would be the extent of mods to your facia. 4 bolts and what ever for your wire disconnects and the winch would be off and put away.

possible idea to solve my winching "issues'...

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