I'm looking for some advise on purchasing a Winch that mounts to a Hitch Receiver.

I know a lot of you will advise to avoid them, I've read about the potential bad things already...but for my needs it seems like an ideal solution. I mostly will be using it for light pulling, mostly getting others out of the ditch in the snow on the side of a road and pulling myself out for occasional light duty off roading in the mud....not up to windows deep mud, just half way up the tires type of mud.

Ideally, I would like to have a Hitch Mount Winch so that I can put a hitch receiver in the front and back, as well as running wires so that a single winch could be swapped from the front or back of my JK. I would also like to be able to easily take the winch off my vehicle when I'm not using it. So a Hitch receiver mounted winch seems like it would fit my needs best.

So my questions are:

Q1: Which brands of winches do you recommend and/or which brands should I avoid?

Q2: Which models from these brands are best suited for a Hitch Mount application, or what characteristics should I look for to best fit a hitch mount?

Q3: How many lbs torque rating Winch should I shop for?

Q4: What is a good Hitch Mounting Winch Kit to get?

Q5: Are there any additional kits that I could get to help reinforce and increase the strength of the hitch receiver, to try to reduce the risk of twisting the hitch?

Q6: For safety reasons, I would like to get a winch with synthetic rope. When shopping for a winch, do you usually look for a winch which comes with the synthetic rope, or do you get the winch and just swap out the cable?

TIA for any help!!!

 

I can't answer all your questions but I can say that I have a warn xd9000i which is a portable winch and came with a hitch mount. It has a in line disconnect on the +/- cable so you can mount it in the front or back. I have this one hard mounted to my stock bumper. It's been a great winch with no problems. Not sure what other companies are offering though. Hope this helps

 

Q1: Which brands of winches do you recommend and/or which brands should I avoid?

I have an Engo 12k I got brand new shipped to my door for around $350. It got the best value award on the 4wheel magazine winch shootout and it was 1 of only 2 that survived the masacre. I usually go for the "best for my money and needs" instead of the "Brand Name X is the best"

Q2: Which models from these brands are best suited for a Hitch Mount application, or what characteristics should I look for to best fit a hitch mount?

Hitch mounts are fairly standard size but just make sure the bolt holes from the mount and the winch match.

Q3: How many lbs torque rating Winch should I shop for?

The hitch mount bolted to the Jeep is rated up to 9k lbs line pull, as are most mounts. Winches only pull their rated capacity on the first spool of the drum and goes down after that. With the weight of the Wrangler even 9k is overkill but I'm the go big or go home kinda guy.

Q4: What is a good Hitch Mounting Winch Kit to get?

For the receiver Hidden hitch/ Draw Tite is rated for 200 extra lbs of vertical weight over the Curt. 9k line pull is the same on both. Go to Cable Yard for the cables, for a two door I used 50 ft of cable 2 AWG for my 2 door. You will need the connectors, go to Our Deals Rock and to ebay for 30 ft of 1/2 inch split wire loom

Q5: Are there any additional kits that I could get to help reinforce and increase the strength of the hitch receiver, to try to reduce the risk of twisting the hitch?

I don't know of any but there is no much force trying to twist the hitch. I'm presuming you mean like a prop on a plane.

Q6: For safety reasons, I would like to get a winch with synthetic rope. When shopping for a winch, do you usually look for a winch which comes with the synthetic rope, or do you get the winch and just swap out the cable?

Because I got a 12k winch and there are still no synthetic ropes strong enough to handle 12k lbs that I know of or I'm willing to pay for. I had to get the cable. When the time comes I'll switch to synthetic, which you can do if you buy a winch with a cable. You can also buy one with a synthetic rope from the factory if you want.

Its nice to leave the winch and all the weight at home and just take a minute to install when I think I will need it. I know it's not getting rained on, nobody can steal it from the vehicle and I have a front or rear winch when I need it. Let me know if you have more questions.

 

Thank you so much Goaterguy!!! You sound like me...where I'm usually just looking for the best bang for my buck. I don't need to have the name brand, greatest thing out there, but I at least want to know it's not gonna crap out on me after using it a few times and it will get the job done.

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!!!

I don't do rock crawling (I know blasphemy for some ), so I don't think I need the biggest/baddest winch but I do like getting out there in the snow and mud.

I really like your setup and that's exactly what I'm hoping to achieve.

I guess the reason I asked about the reinforcement kit is because, that is the one thing I read about having a hitch installed winch, which could go wrong, where the hitch could twist due to the pulling torque of the winch and the last thing I want to happen is to see my hitch twist and F everything else up.

Are you using a Type 3 or Type 4 rated hitch? I was looking into front hitch kits, and wanted to go with a Type 4 just to reduce my paranoia but I couldn't find a Type 4 rated for the JK, but Type 3's seemed to be more available.

One other question...if your don't mind.

Are you using a dual battery setup or is one battery getting you by? I already purchased a Sears Die-Hard Platinum Marine battery and I plan on having the engine running whenever I use the winch. So I'm not sure if that is enough, or if I need to go the dual battery route like so many do. I'm not running any external aux lights.

 

Class III is what you can get for the Wrangler.

I have the OEM battery, I don't even know if you can get a dual battery setup for my 2012. My winch will draw 210 amps at 6k lbs and 360 amps at 12k lbs.

 

Rednroll - We think a bit alike on this:

Hey fellas, don't know if this is of any interest as you've just about covered it, previously, but I thought I'd show you my set-up. Nothing original by any means! - .

Happy-to-say, my present project is to change my 'dangling-wire-mess' to a cleaner look. I'll soon be installing a 2nd battery under passenger seat (not my idea, but I a fellow JKer's idea & will use it: GKR), and use the plug-in cables for power. As my after-market bumper is well-attached-to-frame, I've really have had no problems using 'hitch', as such. (Tho they're not Sequoias, they're 'good-size-trees & been pulling logs from property for 2 years: No Damage to hitch/bumper).[

My Rampage Recovery Bumper had a place for a bumper/winch plate...so I knew a wanted a "front hitch"..and decided to do this: (See last photo)

The plate fits perfectly in the 4 (predrilled holes) in bumper. Secured plate with Grade 8 bolts...and Wella!

I'll just remove clevis and insert Warn 8000# Portable when needed. It's well attached to frame, as well...so I'm confident in the hitch's ability to perform well...and under considerable stress.

 

Very cool setup. I still have to clean up the rear quick connector a little bit so it's not hanging out there and make it flush like the front one. I will have to wait until it gets warmer so it's easier to twist two 1/2 inch cables!

 

Well, I see no one has posted on this thread for a long time, but I'll throw my question in here anyway. I just installed a hidden hitch/draw tite front receiver on my JK and it is not dead level. It tilts slightly upwards and I was wondering if anyone else noticed the same thing? Once the hardware was installed loosely I put my bike rack into the receiver and had a helper hold weight down on it to level it off as much as possible so I'm certain it won't move any more unless I wallow out the mounting holes a bit. Anyone else notice this? do anything about it? I appreciate any response.