Winch mounted on 60 series with stock bumper (1 Viewer)

[gvtxcruiser]

I have an 86 60 series that is mostly stock. I had lofty ideas for upfitting, but after falling in love with the originality, I couldn't bring myself to get rid of the stock chrome bumpers, but still wanted a winch. I got a 13,000# winch from OpenRoad 4WD, and had to come up with a plan. I found another I8MUD build forum that did it, and one on YouTube. So, I set out to try it myself. After a few months of weekend work and learning a little bit. Here are a few pics of the finished product. Control box is mounted under the hood.

More build details and photos to come.

 

[88Retired62]

That is one of the cleanest, most minimal and at first look, practical stock winch mounts I’ve ever laid eyes on. At the moment, I’m going to assume the practicality matches form with function in any environment other than the most extreme offroad demands. I’m particularly interested in the design & strength potential of your frame mount, so please, continue!

 

[gvtxcruiser]

I have searched far and wide to find people that have put a winch on a 60 with a stock bumper. Hat tip to *Waggoner5 and the Project X2 build thread, post #590. This was the closest and best place I found to start.

I purchased the OpenRoad 4WD 13,000# winch back in June (2023). This was my starting point. After identifying the footprint of the winch, I removed my bumper and used some ¼” plywood to mock-up a platform to come up with a sketch for the winch mounting plate.

At this time I also mocked up the bumper to see how far I would need to push it out to receive the winch, and how much bumper I would need to cut out.

The plate many people get from Harbor Freight appears to only mount on through the bottom of the plate, which I didn’t feel would be enough. I’ve seen another MUD member make a plate that wrapped “around” the cruiser frame. I opted for a plate that would slide inside the frame c-channels. My plate was made from ¼” plate, so my fabricator was not able to bend both corners as tight as the bend in the frames c-channel. If I did it again, I’d use 3/16” to match the frame thickness, and get the bends as tight as the frame.

 

[gvtxcruiser]

Once I had the mounting plate, it was time to start the hard work. I had to remove the bumper frame horns by drilling out the factory rivets. I used a bunch of drill bits. (NOTE – I did not use cutting oil. I definitely should have!) The bumper horns will be remounted to the frame at the new location, approximately 2 ¾” farther out.

With the bumper horns removed, I dry-fit the mounting plate into the frame c-channels, and put the winch on it to determine where to mount without rubbing on the valence.

 

[gvtxcruiser]

Once I had the placement confirmed, it was time to start drilling the winch plate for mounting bolts. I drilled four holes in the bottom to mount the winch, and six holes in each side to mount to the frame and bumper horns. I had to drill some new holes in the frame c-channels as well. (NOTE – I used cutting oil for this. Wow, what a game changer!)

Now I can monnt the winch plate and bumper horns. The plate has four bolts into the frame on each side, and four bolts into he bumper horns. (2 bolts overlap the horn and frame)

 

[gvtxcruiser]

I used washers to fill the space of the frame c-channel at the extension, but I will ultimately get some 3/16” plate to fill that in.

Time to put the bumper on. I had previously cut the bumper when it was dry-fit, but didn’t like the lines, so I re-cut it with straighter & cleaner lines. Even though I sanded and softened the cut edge of steel on the bumper, I still wrapped it with door bumper vinyl from Amazon.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Great write up and nice work! I live i Rowlett. Where abouts are you in DFW? Always keen on meeting fellow cruiserheads.

Not sure what bolts you used. Consider grade 8 strength.

 

[duncanrm]

Superb work, I really like it. Thanks for the detailed write up and photos! You're very clever.

 

[MarkBC]

Post deleted

 

[Flavien52]

You and I had the same considerations at the same time. I did not want to get rid of the stock chrome bumper as I love the look of it. I came up with a similar design out of 1/4 flat stock and corner pieces, that I welded this week-end. I might post some pictures if you consider this is not highjacking your thread.