Viejopedorro's 2012 X 5mt hitch winch cargo mods
The ride is called La Tortuga. Haven't had her long--just got her first oil change at the stealership. She gets three for "free," then its back to DIY maintenance and Jiffy-Lube style oil changes for El Pedorro.
La Tortuga's first mod was a Curt 1-1/4" (3cm) hitch receiver.
Second was a Harbor Freight (cheap) 3000lb winch, with about 12 feet (4M) of #4 (8mm) insulated cable from stock battery location to the spare tire tub area, and a 6' (2M) "remote" in/out switch and its relay box. The winch is mounted under the spare tire tub, exposed to the elements but hidden from view and well within the departure angle from bumper to tire contact area. The 12V supply wires exit the spare tire tub through one of two existing 2" (50MM) grommets at the rear of the tub.
Fabrication of the mount was straightforward, and required only one weld. I purchased a 3/8" x 2" (10mm x 50mm) mild steel bar 36" (95cm) long, and cut a short distance off so that it would rest atop the differential subframe and reach within 2" (50mm) of the front of the hollow square tube that is the hitch receiver. I found an unused 1-1/4" hitch drawbar and cut a short section from it. This I welded to the top of the flat bar stock for insertion in the hitch receiver. I placed a short 1/2" (13mm) bolt, nut and lockwasher in the hole in the section of drawbar to secure it against winching loads. Thus, no front-rear loads are transferred to the subframe. Side-to-side and vertical loads are minimal.
I bent the 3/8" bar into a very shallow Z-shape so that it was level where it rested on the subframe, sloped downward slightly to pass just below the spare tire tub, and became level again where the square extension could be inserted in the hitch receiver. Bending was done with a pair of wooden blocks and a BFH.
After trial fitment of the heavy bar and its little hitch drawbar, I finally drilled it for a 1/2" (13mm) J-bolt in the front to secure it to a handy hole in the subframe and chose a likely spot to drill winch mounting holes in the sloping portion of the shallow "Z", somewhat toward the front of the spare tire tub.
The short leg of the J-bolt must be tapered to about 3/8" (10mm) to fit the holes in the subframe. The winch must be mounted on the bar, upside down on the lower side, before final fitment, as there was no room to insert the bolts between the bar and the spare tire tub. YMMV
After final fitment of the winch and its mount, it took little time to connect wiring, ground the winch to the LH strut mount, and try it out. El Pedorro ran out the cable to his "current bush" (power pole) and looped it around. On a direct pull, the cheap little winch was able to slide the car on loose gravel with the parking brake on. With a snatch block, it should be easily able to extract La Tortuga from being stuck in snow, sand or mud, provided that El Pedorro hasn't buried her to the frame (if she had one).
I have photos now but can't seem to attach them with the IPAD. I will have to open my office (an otherwise unused camping trailer) and fire up the laptop, I guess.
"Photos Coming Soon"
El Pedorro
The ride is called La Tortuga. Haven't had her long--just got her first oil change at the stealership. She gets three for "free," then its back to DIY maintenance and Jiffy-Lube style oil changes for El Pedorro.
La Tortuga's first mod was a Curt 1-1/4" (3cm) hitch receiver.
Second was a Harbor Freight (cheap) 3000lb winch, with about 12 feet (4M) of #4 (8mm) insulated cable from stock battery location to the spare tire tub area, and a 6' (2M) "remote" in/out switch and its relay box. The winch is mounted under the spare tire tub, exposed to the elements but hidden from view and well within the departure angle from bumper to tire contact area. The 12V supply wires exit the spare tire tub through one of two existing 2" (50MM) grommets at the rear of the tub.
Fabrication of the mount was straightforward, and required only one weld. I purchased a 3/8" x 2" (10mm x 50mm) mild steel bar 36" (95cm) long, and cut a short distance off so that it would rest atop the differential subframe and reach within 2" (50mm) of the front of the hollow square tube that is the hitch receiver. I found an unused 1-1/4" hitch drawbar and cut a short section from it. This I welded to the top of the flat bar stock for insertion in the hitch receiver. I placed a short 1/2" (13mm) bolt, nut and lockwasher in the hole in the section of drawbar to secure it against winching loads. Thus, no front-rear loads are transferred to the subframe. Side-to-side and vertical loads are minimal.
I bent the 3/8" bar into a very shallow Z-shape so that it was level where it rested on the subframe, sloped downward slightly to pass just below the spare tire tub, and became level again where the square extension could be inserted in the hitch receiver. Bending was done with a pair of wooden blocks and a BFH.
After trial fitment of the heavy bar and its little hitch drawbar, I finally drilled it for a 1/2" (13mm) J-bolt in the front to secure it to a handy hole in the subframe and chose a likely spot to drill winch mounting holes in the sloping portion of the shallow "Z", somewhat toward the front of the spare tire tub.
The short leg of the J-bolt must be tapered to about 3/8" (10mm) to fit the holes in the subframe. The winch must be mounted on the bar, upside down on the lower side, before final fitment, as there was no room to insert the bolts between the bar and the spare tire tub. YMMV
After final fitment of the winch and its mount, it took little time to connect wiring, ground the winch to the LH strut mount, and try it out. El Pedorro ran out the cable to his "current bush" (power pole) and looped it around. On a direct pull, the cheap little winch was able to slide the car on loose gravel with the parking brake on. With a snatch block, it should be easily able to extract La Tortuga from being stuck in snow, sand or mud, provided that El Pedorro hasn't buried her to the frame (if she had one).
I have photos now but can't seem to attach them with the IPAD. I will have to open my office (an otherwise unused camping trailer) and fire up the laptop, I guess.
"Photos Coming Soon"
El Pedorro
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