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meh_kick · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:59 am

I posted this in the Ohio section, but others might want to see it as well. I know there's a debate about hitch mounted winches, but for me, I think it will work well. Sams Club has had this winch for a while. I figured, for as little as I hope to use it, and the fact that it will be stored out of the elements, I can't go wrong for under $400.

It came with the 10,000 lb winch, hitch mount, power cables for the front and rear, 12' remote, 85' cable and hook, and a snatch block.

Routing the rear power was a little tricky, I sent it over the gas tank skid, and over the rear ball joint, along the fuel line, over the t-case, above the cat converter and then into the engine bay below the steering linkage.

Mudder · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:08 pm

Looks nice. How long did it take you?

ridenby · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:19 pm

Sams you say,been looking around for winch. like you probaly won't use it much.like being able to pull from rear too.Nice.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:52 pm

If you successfully use that one time it will have paid for itself. If it lasts for a few uses it was well worth the $.

tjkoen01 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:58 pm

i've seen that at sam's myself and it looks pretty decent for the money....even better on the kj! does the tailgate shut with it on the rear? looks like there's be some interference.

meh_kick · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:23 pm

Mudder wrote:

Looks nice. How long did it take you?

Took about 20 minutes to assemble the winch and about 2 hours to install the wiring. I was trying to be very careful to only have to run it once.

tjkoen01 wrote:

i've seen that at sam's myself and it looks pretty decent for the money....even better on the kj! does the tailgate shut with it on the rear? looks like there's be some interference.

If I pull the spare, the tail gate will shut with no interference.

riptricket · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:25 pm

no it shouldn't shut... the spare is really just not in the best spot on the KJ.
I noticed that last night while pulling stuff in a friends trailer.

cj7jeepguy · **Joined:** Tue May 06, 2008 7:32 pm **Posts:** 27

It is a pain to have to remove the spare when I tow my boat or popup camper. I do not do a longer hitch because with the weight I like it in close. My small trailer I can put on by just opening the door latch the lock on the trailer then shut door. The winch is nice. Mine is mounted in the front arb bumper. Would be nice to be able to pull from behind at times. Only problem I wonder about is the strength pulling on the hitch pin. At times my winch hits 16000 lbs. of pull power. I use a block actually pulled a 4x4 tractor out of a deep hole that was buried to the belly of the tractor. The tractor had a front blade and bush hog attached . Have pulled a big ole tree out of the ground to. The winch was maxed out so much the alternator light lit up. Not to shabbey for a 8000 lb chicago winch of 4 years. Just to pull your libby out yours should do great.

Inc · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:38 pm

How do these work exactly? I mean, if your KJ's tow hitch is rated at 5K and your winch is at 10k, will you have issues with the mounting?

CRDMiller · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:13 pm

As far as the ratings go, frankly your taking it upon yourself every time you operate any winch. the hitch is a six bolt landing with only about a foot per side in contact with the "rail"

The thing is though, how much pressure do you think your putting on that hitch when you nail a speed bump? that's way beyond 5k lb.

I would not be surprised to find contact pressure over 20k lb/inch with just a 5k trailer.

the front end mounts are unarguably weaker than the rear end, and we have not see any trouble yet, i'd sleep soundly. That does not mean you can go crazy.

Do what it takes and NOTHING more.

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:29 pm

Sweet, Mitch. That is the same set-up that I am looking at (except doing it with a synthetic line and hawse fairlead).

Who was the winch manufacturer? Anyway to tell or was it too well store-branded?

I may need to ask you about the rear wiring at some point... :wink:

meh_kick · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:03 pm

Cobolt-60 wrote:

Who was the winch manufacturer? Anyway to tell or was it too well store-branded?

Champion 10023

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm

i dont think this is the ideal situation by any means... but any winch is 100 times better than no winch. are you going to keep it inside your jeep at all times? or put it on your hitch when you wheel.. or just in the back when you wheel?

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

CRDMiller wrote:

The thing is though, how much pressure do you think your putting on that hitch when you nail a speed bump? that's way beyond 5k lb.

Isn't this thing removable? Just unplug the cable and take it out of the hitch when your not using it. Store it in the back. I personally wouldn't trust my life with a hitch mounted winch, but in certain circumstances I can see how it could be useful.

riptricket · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:02 pm

I have seen that at sam's also, but someone on here once told me that it's not good to pull from the rear...

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:19 pm

Looks good, just watch yourself on any pull, tow hitch hooks ups are for totally straight pulls only, watch your angles, it will come off. Otherwise good luck, thats a great deal

ObiHann · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:21 am

Looks great!

meh_kick · **Posted:** Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:34 pm

JJsKJ wrote:

If you successfully use that one time it will have paid for itself. If it lasts for a few uses it was well worth the $.

Pulled a fellow KJ up a hill this weekend. One down....

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:46 pm

meh_kick wrote:

JJsKJ wrote:

If you successfully use that one time it will have paid for itself. If it lasts for a few uses it was well worth the $.

Pulled a fellow KJ up a hill this weekend. One down....

Mike went down this hill only to find out there was no way he could get back up, in the picture he is maybe half way down if that and its steep! and then Mitch to the rescue!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

Strapped his front to a tree, and let all of the cable out, two 30 foot straps and started the pull

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:10 pm

tommudd wrote:

Mike went down this hill only to find out there was no way he could get back up, in the picture he is maybe half way down if that and its steep! and then Mitch to the rescue!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

Strapped his front to a tree, and let all of the cable out, two 30 foot straps and started the pull

So from the sound of it, it sounds like Mitch did the pull with the winch connected to the rear receiver hitch. Is that true?

Now I really want to see more pics of this!!!! :wink:

Good job to all!!!

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