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The people at Luverne Truck "highly recommended" not using their Tuff Guard 3" Bumper Guard as a winch mount.


So this won't work for that application.

 

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Here is a hidden winch mounting plate - Fiat Ducato (2014 -)

http://steeler4x4.com/product/en/search?query=DUCATO-R14-PW This website has a lengthy list of winches that can be used with their mounting plate.

This might be relatively easy to fabricate.

 

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Sigh. Why does Europe get all the cool things?

 

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That looks great to me. Anything to get me up the steep hill at my farm.
Untitled by bouteloua, on Flickr

 

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Just ordered the Van Compass Hidden winch mount last night. (Yippee) Hoping this means I don't get stuck on my farm again. I really like Superwinches and have had one installed on the inside of my van for years to pull my carriage inside. No problems at all.

I have never used a winch to pull a stuck vehicle so I guess I should watch some Youtube to see how it is done. Recommendations, anyone?

 

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I have that Superwinch Winch2go - mounted on the inside of my van to pull a carriage inside on ramps. My experience with it (synthetic rope, YES!) has been great after getting over my enormous frustration with several cheap winches. It is hard-wired to my battery so it isn't really portable anymore. And when I use it, I make sure to turn the ignition on to protect the battery.

I don't think it would be enough to pull my van out of a rough spot even if configured as Baxsie shows. It just isn't that big a winch and complicating factors may loom large.

So I have ordered the Van Compass bumper and had it delivered to the local guys who do trailers and welding. I also got this Superwinch 11,500 with synthetic rope. Only a few winches will fit in the Van Compass bumper - Warn and Superwinch. I am already happy with Superwinch and don't need to spend the extra money on a Warn.

So far, I am about $2k into this project. The welder/trailer guys estimate about $600 for their work. I will take it in Monday and report back here with pictures.

 

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Winch and heavy duty bumper now installed.

 

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I am not happy about the notches in the grill. Sort of sloppily done. But after listening to the installer complain how difficult the installation was, I kept my mouth shut. There are only 4 winches that are sized to fit this bumper. 2 Warns and 2 Superwinches, I got the largest Superwinch with synthetic rope because I have had good luck with those in the past,

 

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Recovery usually requires the involvement of another vehicle, unless you want to also carry a "come-along", but also has it's own requirements...

The thing motivating me to add the winch to my van is that I don't want to be dependent on my neighbors to come save me when I get stuck. I love my neighbors but want to be able to get myself up the hill. We all deal with the same terribly steep hill on a county road on my property.

 

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It looks like it almost would have fit. Maybe you could get a grille from a junkyard and then just carefully heat it up in that area with a heat gun and bend up the upper lip of that one fin ?

Alternatively you could just take a piece of sheet plastic -- kind of form that into a little bump, some small amount of Bondo and sanding then paint it silver

You think like I do. I could do that but probably won't,

 

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Right, but what are you going to attach the winch line to on the hill that can safely be used as an anchor point?

Big ol' tree. I have plenty.