Suggestions for putting a winch on my F150-

[CP]

Lots of options out there and I’m not sure which way go.  I need a winch to pull downed trees out of the woods, possibly (hopefully) to pull game out, and to pull my truck free next time I high center it in the snow.  How big, how to mount, where to buy, etc.

[pd]

CP, a lot of guys will tell you to go with Warn.  Nothing wrong with that, of course.  But here is an option for you from Rough Country.  They make a system especially for F-150.  Watch this video.

http://youtu.be/ufJ686W4rkY

[CP]

Thanks for that link.  It looks like a nice clean installation.  Unfortunately they don’t appear to have one for older F150s.  Mine’s a 1997.

[raydog]

I have never heard someone say "Hey that winch is to big". For a half ton I would suggest 8000lb plus

[Kittman]

Ramsey is made in USA.  All the rest these days come from the same production line at the People's Winch factory.
 

[jrebel]

I know very little about winches...with that said I just bought a 12000 lb winch for my jeep.  I couldn't justify a warn winch so looked at some reviews and went with a bandlands winch from harbor freight.  I payed $299.99 for it.  It gets great reviews and was published in an off roads magazine.  I believe it was made by a guy that use to work for mile marker winches. 

Anyways.....two thoughts:

1.  If you plan on using it a lot spend the money and get a quality winch (maybe a warn).  I don't plan on using my to tug trees.  You probably want to research one that has a long "duty cycle" if you are using it for anything other than a recovery. 

2.  Go big or go home.  I went with a 12000 lb winch for a jeep.  Remember whatever the rating is....is usually for the first spool of cable.  the second and third spool (depending on how much you have to spool out) is significantly less.  You can always snack block it to double your pulling capacity, but then you cut your cable length in half. 

Good Luck. 

[wildmanoutdoors]

Tugging trees and constant duty burns them up fast. The good thing is most can be re wound resonably. Logging with my Ramsey results in 150 rewinds once in a while.

[mikeybuck]

I had a mile marker 8000 lb winch on a 2000 Chevy 1500. I used that winch many times for pulling logs out of slash piles. If I was pulling a bigger tree and didn't anchor my truck to a stump or tree, that winch would drag my truck.

I even used the winch a few times to pull myself out.

Now, almost ten years later I still have the same winch, but now it is mounted to my Toyota wheeler. Few weeks ago, buddy had his 3/4 ton dodge Cummings stuck in the sand. I anchored my truck to a tree and had no problems pulling him out after that.

Look into a front hitch mount, that way you have the options to pull forward or backwards.

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[KFhunter]

I would suggest doing a removable mount.


Wish I'd have done that. 

[bearpaw]

Another interesting option is to mount a winch on a receiver tube so that you can exchange the winch on the front or back of your truck and store in a box in the back of your vehicle when not in use.

[mazama]

Winch you can choose your brand,the bumper or style of attachment will be hard part because of year1997 I believe was a changeover year for ford.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

WARN makes front receiver mounts which is nice to have WINCH on a cradle and move from front to rear and other vehicles. Usually when stuck you need to go backwards not forward.

[follow maggie]

Depends on what kind of mount you want. I went with a bumper and have been real happy with it. It's tough and gives me apace to stand when fixing it or getting unstuck from the deep stuff and is non skid thanks to the linex on it. The bumper is a TrailReady made in Everett navy the winch is a 9500 lb Mile Marker.  Been a great combination for me, never any problems.

[follow maggie]

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