Adding a Winch to a Bumper

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Hey guys, hows it going?Well, a little while back I build a custom bumper for someones SUV. It was purely decorative, no winch on that build...But it was a fun project and Ive started looking for others to take on, right now I have someone interested in a functional winch bumper build for his Ram. He wants a simple (read: cheap) design, but strong. He doesnt know what size winch he wants to use. Yes, I realize that would come in handy here, and Ive also searched the site but to no avail. Anyway, what separates a "winch" bumper from a "decorative" bumper? Id assume itd have a heavy frame for starters. How "heavy" does a good bumper need to be to not bend when this truck gets buried and needs to be pulled out by the bumper? Just looking for any imput here, thanks everyone. Have a good weekend [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Like you said, a good bumper for a winch is one that is strong. It has to divert the tension stresses to the frame of the vehicle. . As far as engineering just look at what is available for purchase in after market catalogs for the vehicle in question.Welding everything, from the crack of dawn to a broken heart.
Reply:The winch mounting plate and how it's mounted to the mounts, and how the mounts are attached to the frame are the important parts. This should go without saying, but make sure that all welds are full penetration, quality welds.just go down to the local accessory shop/4x4 shop to see how thick of a plate you'll need for the winch. I don't remember off the top of my head, but I know it was substantial all things considered. I want to say 1/2".There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Depends on the size of the winch.On the extreme end of things. size the winch to 2x the weight of the vehicle (allows you to pull it up a cliff if you need)http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5215_200485215That piece claims to be 7/8" and good for 12,000lbs or so.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:I would just build a good stout bumper and put a reciever hitch in it. That way he could use the winch, both on the front, as well as the back. I know there are some mud holes that I want to winch myself back out of and not keep going forward.
Reply:It is only as strong as the bolts holding the winch to it. Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:lol, thanks guys!! So... Like a big ole' piece of 4x4x1/2" angle going across inbetween the frame mounts, with a 1" plate welded to it? And then a "skin" built around that?[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:I would use some 8" (3/8 wall) channel and cope it to adapt it to the frame. Also miter it off center at a decent angle to wrap the headlights (pie the top and bottom and gouge the front with a cut off wheel and bend with a pipe wrench). Problem with winch bumpers and the side loads that they might see, they need to be gusseted. When I build bumpers I always try to put in some sort of first fail type of safety, to not cause frame damage. Its a tradeoff.14' PowerMig 210 MP13'Burntables 5x10 CNC Table14' SAE300 HE on a 12' Ram 4500 60 CA 4x4. Custom bed/bottles/reels.87' SA250d, 78 SA200,11' Ranger 250 GXT AC/DCThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 8112' Lincoln Precision Tig 22508' LN25
Reply:i used 1/4 inch for the top an the front and 4 inch strap that was 1/2 inch think dont know what side winch im gonna go with.
Reply:Originally Posted by 98rampoweri used 1/4 inch for the top an the front and 4 inch strap that was 1/2 inch think dont know what side winch im gonna go with.
Reply:For me the challenge would be to keep the forward profile to a minimum and the whole affair as flush as possible. All the newer trucks have such a protruding front any more, dodge being the worst I think. I see some of these trucks that by the time they add the big axxed bumper/winch combo on there it's almost disproportionate. Plain oogly to me. I'd like to see one where the winch line just comes out from no-where underneath there some place. Nice and hidden."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by con_fuse9Depends on the size of the winch.On the extreme end of things. size the winch to 2x the weight of the vehicle (allows you to pull it up a cliff if you need)http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5215_200485215That piece claims to be 7/8" and good for 12,000lbs or so.
Reply:Lanse,here's a pretty good primer on the strength of material:http://ewhighered.mcgraw-hill.com/si.../chapter29.pdfAlso, the "secret" isn't in the thickness, it's how you reinforce it.Has anybody here really thought about what they were saying??  Has anybody here really seen a mfgr'd winch bumper, or tray even, made of 1" steel??  What's the average thickness of a truck frame??  Why the hell am I up at 3am???Last edited by dubl_t; 11-04-2012 at 06:30 AM.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....