Winches?

[mjseiler]

Hi Gang!

I have a 1997 Susuki Carry. I have Sport Trak 12 X 7 rims with 23" Carlisle All Trails. I have no Front or Rear Bumpers except the stock front. For the finishing touch and to get me out of an OOP's I want to add a Winch! I am interested in ANY and ALL suggestions! Thanks for your time and thoughts...Mike

[jimhoodag]

I bought a wireless controlled 3,000 pound winch on Ebay for abour $130. Since putting it on, I have heard that the 3,000 is not strong enough to pull these size trucks out, so I bought a block to go with it. I will find out if it works soon.

I had to fabricate every part to build the winch bumpers. I removed the tow hooks from the front of my Diahatsu HiJet. In their place, I bolted fabricated brackets in a u-shape form over the front uni-body frame. I bent a 18 inch long x 2 1/2 inch wide x 3/8 inch thick flat bar into an L-shape and welded it to the U-shaped mounts and bolted them onto the uni-body frame. I re-enforced the the flat bar by welding angle iron onto the flat bar. I fabricated the angle-iron winch bumper and bolted it onto the flat bars on the front.

The rear bumper was much easier. I bolted two angle irons onto the frame at about a 45 degree angle sticking out the back. I a six inch wide piece of channel iron for the rear bumper. I cut a hole in the bumper and welded a two inch receiver hitch and welded the bumper onto the angle iron.

Since I am a novice welder, it took me about four days to do all this. I welded D hooks on the front and back bumpers to use as tie-down points and winch hooks.

If you are serious about doing it yourself, email me and I'll try to take some measurements and make some pictures to send you. I am sure others in this forum have better specs.

Jim