Hitch mounted winch

[Sleblanc63]

I flat tow my Jeep behind the coach. I have the roadmaster base plate installed - see pic. My wife and I go off road as much as possible. It's just the two of us, retired - so we're out there goofing off when everyone else is at work, we need a winch. My local installer says he can't put the smittybilt X20 in the front bumper as it needs to mount where the base plate is mounted.

I'm considering this hitch mounted cradle...

http://www.smittybiltdepot.com/Smit..._c=18&t_s=126&t_pt=5147&t_pn=S/B2811#QAHeader


Then I'd have to haul it around strapped down behind the rear seat and hope my receiver was not buried in whatever I'm stuck in...

THOUGHTS? Other suggestions?

I flat tow my JL. I installed the roadmaster base plate.

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[ECHO]

I have seen people using them and they worked well... Your concern about having to clear out the receiver is real if your mudding. Also lifting the winch and cradle mount will be heavy and awkward to mount up .. If you go that route, get a winch with a synthetic line, they are much lighter and will make it easier to maneuver around

 

[Jondrew]

I’ve seen people with BlueOx flat tow setups and warn winches. The etrailer site says you can’t do that but obviously people do.

I have my winch mounted using a Rusty’s winch plate and that should work with a Smittybuilt and a tow plate. Obviously you need to confirm that.

 

[Sleblanc63]

I have seen people using them and they worked well... Your concern about having to clear out the receiver is real if your mudding. Also lifting the winch and cradle mount will be heavy and awkward to mount up .. If you go that route, get a winch with a synthetic line, they are much lighter and will make it easier to maneuver around

Thanks. I'm a Jeep noob so I had not seen or heard of their use.

 

[Mrjimmystewart]

Thats the reason I installed a Blue Ox towing baseplate and a Rustys winch plate. I have a stock steel bumper. Both Blue Ox and RoadMaster said that I couldn't add a winch and use their baseplate. Roadmaster was right, Blue Ox was wrong. Blue Ox baseplate is totally compatable, no mods needed at all.
These are the pics of my setup before I reinstalled the bumper. FWIW, Jimac on this site also has the same setup on his gorgeous Red Rubicon.
I guess this does not help you at this point since you already have the Roadmaster installed. Unless you sell it and put the Blue Ox on.

 

[BigJimSlade]

I have seen people using them and they worked well... Your concern about having to clear out the receiver is real if your mudding. Also lifting the winch and cradle mount will be heavy and awkward to mount up .. If you go that route, get a winch with a synthetic line, they are much lighter and will make it easier to maneuver around

I'll echo what ECHO said. I use a 12,000 pound wire cable winch in a cradle in the front hitch of my pickup. It's about 98 pounds. Synthetic line would help a lot. You would definitely want to strap it down well inside the Jeep. It'd be a wrecking ball bouncing around in there.
*Edit* If you can permanently mount a winch in your bumper that would be optimal.

 

[American Adventurist]

For an occasional pull the receiver mount winch is ok.

For any serious recovery operations and hard winching, I can’t recommend it. Since you wheel alone, I’d recommend sorting out a real, solidly mounted and wired front bumper winch. And a Deadman or PullPal for self recovery.

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