I have a shop force winch that I got for Christmas. It's just a cheap winch that is by means anything special. It has been sitting in my garage for 6 months unopened. I was thinking about throwing it on the front of my truck but if I ever got stuck 4 wheelin, I am not sure how much help it would be. Again, it's just a cheap one that was given to me as a gift.

So I got to thinking, what if I took my bed off (it was off once already to install the body lift), and I mounted it in the center of the bed on the front wall closest to the cab. Right where a tool box would go, below the rear window / 3rd break light. Just underneath the top of the bed.

Ideally, I would want to drop the tailgate, put a couple of ramps on it, hook the winch up to my quad and use it to pull the quad up the ramp into the bed, to make loading it easier. My wife would be able to use it also, as she isn't strong enough to manually push the quad up into the bed.

I figure I would have to take the bed off because there is no way I would be able to get between the front of the bed and the cab to mount the winch. There's only about a 1" 1/2 gap between the two. My questions are:

Has anyone ever done this? Do you think it's a good idea or worth it even? Do you think I would possibly crease the bed and cave the front of it in if the 4 wheeler is too heavy?

I can snap some pics of the exact location if you guys can't visualize where I'm talking about. I just wanted to see what you guys thought... I think it would work but I have my concerns.

 

My thoughts are that unless yo attach it somehow to the frame, you are going to tear up the back wall of the bed.

 

That's what I was thinking also. But, the quad would really be the only thing heavy I would use to pull up into the bed. Really, it's probably the only thing I would pull with it. But you make a good point. That was my biggest concern.

 

any way you could fab up a 4x4 pressure treated frame to lay in the bed with the winch mounted on that so you could remove it later if you ever needed to?- making it less permanent? Know what I mean? I was contemplating that idea so that I could winch one of my jet ski's onto the bed rather than taking my double trailer if I only took out one ski.

 

That's a good idea, if it's possible. Seems like a challenge though to get it in there so it is secure enough to pull something heavy, but also temporary enough to take it out when needed. Have you tried it at all? Got any pics?

The winch would have to be just under the top of the bed I'm thinking so you have enough height to make sure it doesn't rub on the tailgate.

 

I like the idea and had thought about doing something like this. It really wouldn't take too much. Sure the back of the bed either needs to be braced or you need to come from the frame into the bed with the support. It's very possible.

 

I havent done it yet. I was looking online to find racks that go in the bed for this purpose. One thought is to mount a nylon roller- from a boating store- on the back part of the frame near your down tailgate so that the cable rolls over the roller?

 

Do that but mount it to something like a bed extender that way you can easily remove it.

 

But how would you get a jet ski or a Quad in there with a bed extender in there already

 

I think the extender that Thump is talking about is just an extension that lengthens the floor of the truck bed- not taking the place of a tailgate in the up position like an aftermarket actual bed extender?

My idea was to look at and borrow some ideas to build a frame that sits in the bed much in the same way that a bike rack frame sits in the bed. I cant draw it out, but take a look online for pics of the actual framework and build off of that?

 

Les understands what I'm saying. I think a frame on the floor of the bed is probably the best way to do it though. Mount it to the bed bolts, than build a cage at the rear for the winch that's welded to the frame on the floor. It being connected to the bed bolts will distribute the load, might want to think about upgrading the bolts, if possible. Than at the rear of the frame, by the tailgate, make your roller for your winch cable to slid on. The four wheeler would be able to go right over if it's low.

 

yeh, I'll check that out and see if I can come up with any ideas. Thanks for the suggestion guys. I appreciate all the input.

 

I see what you're saying. That seems like it would work. I'll look around on-line and get try to get some ideas as well. I was just wondering if anyone had a set up like this. Thanks for the suggestion Thumper.

 

No problem.

 

real poor link as far as detail goes- but you get the idea. Rather than putting this beast on top of the bed rails- make one smaller that is fabbed around the wheel wells so when you winch the quad- the frame wont slide out of the bed. http://www.truckstuffusa.com/atvcarr...imaterack.html

IN this link, borrow the idea of building a frame in front and around the wheel wells- on the front of the framework you could mount the winch. Might even work mounted down low on the base of the frame. Again- this link is only an idea for how to build in front of the wheel well... http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/bikerack/makerack.htm