Winch cradel!

[suzuki boy]

Me and adam penfold off here are gunna make me a bar!

BUT i want to get the actual winch cradel made up so i know all the welds will be sh!t hot and i don't have to worrie about it and we have something to build off!

Can you just buy them? Do i have to take my winch to an engineering joint?

Does any one have pics of one i can take in and show them?

CHEERS GUYS!

[+dj_hansen+]

Speak to The_Wazza in Sunbury... should be able to sort you out no dramas.

[tna racing]

good point dj ill speak 2 him

[suzuki boy]

Adam you on it or do you want to shoot off a PM?

[TOY-08V]

many bullbar manufactors do make steel winch cradles to suit their alloy bars like ARB and TJM, u might wanna speak to one of these such companies.

[suzuki boy]

Cheers mate will give it a go!

[tna racing]

its hard atthe moment he's at the alpine challenge

[Gwagensteve]

many bullbar manufactors do make steel winch cradles to suit their alloy bars like ARB and TJM, u might wanna speak to one of these such companies.

ARB haven't made an alloy bar since about 1982, when they stopped production of their alloy F100 bar. It did use a steel winch cradle though.

Suzukiboy - just track down an ARB bar for your sierra. There was one in Brisbane for $200, and a member in Vic got one a couple of years ago for $150 out of country vic. It's not worth the effort to make a bar unless you have unique needs.

Take this from someone who has made some bars.

In regard to a "cradle" - there's no need. Bolt the winch down to a flat plate using the factory captive bolts. The only part that needs "supporting" is the fairlead. There is no requirement for a weld to take the full winching force.

If you modify the front crossmember and ditch your steering damper (or mount it to the axle) a winch can be made to fit between the chassis rails with the mounting plate level with the bottom of the rail. This will place the winch lower and further back than ant bull bar/cradle could permit. this is certainly true for 6000lb RC9.0 warns.

Steve.

[suzuki boy]

Cheers mate you always bring up things i hadn't thought of!

Um does the stock arb bar use the standard mounts though cause mine are cut off to let the swampers flex up in there thats why i had written that one off!

As for getting the winch right back do you cut that front brace off between the chassis rail and weld it back ferthur? Don't really like the idea of that!

The winch bein lower i think would piss me off as if you at a ledge or something or in mud getting in under there would be a prick?

Maybe secure the winch to angle iron and sort of mount like a high mount on top of the bar?

I still have alot of decisions to make!

[tna racing]

Cheers mate you always bring up things i hadn't thought of!

Um does the stock arb bar use the standard mounts though cause mine are cut off to let the swampers flex up in there thats why i had written that one off!

As for getting the winch right back do you cut that front brace off between the chassis rail and weld it back ferthur? Don't really like the idea of that!

The winch bein lower i think would piss me off as if you at a ledge or something or in mud getting in under there would be a prick?

Maybe secure the winch to angle iron and sort of mount like a high mount on top of the bar?

I still have alot of decisions to make!

did u want wazza's number ?

[Gwagensteve]

Yes, the ARB bar bolts to the the bumper mounts and the chassis ends, but if you want a bolt on solution, then you will have to add enough strength to the chassis ends to deal with this anyway, it's just that if you don't buy an ARB bar, you will have heaps more fab to do, it will be heavier for less strength, won't look as good, and you'll curse the day you ever tried making your own bar.

Additional mounts will need to be made, along with reinforcing the chassis end mounts.

Custom made bars are normally at least as expensive as an ARB bar.

To get the winch deep into the front, no, you don't "cut the brace of and weld it in further" you can modify the brace to mount the fairlead and set the winch behind it. Yes the winch will be very low, exactly where it can do it's best work to lift the front of the car.

The weight it also brought back further and lowered where it can have less negative effect on the handling and behaviour of the car.

Will it be hard to get to? Personally, I don't think so, it least the fairlead would be level with the front crossmember, so you'd pick up masses of approach angle, which means you'll need the stupid winch less anyway.

You can count on me to always come up with the hardest way of doing a simple job

PS I hate winches on sierras. *awaiting hate mail* build the car to drive it, go driving with others, you won't need the stupid winch in the first place.

Steve.

[suzuki boy]

Cheers man!

BUT i love the look of some tube bars on zooks i have been searching and the way my bar is mounted now is symple as and has been strong enough the 1 time i have had to winch!

As for the winch thing it was on it when i brought it if it wasn't on there i wouldn't have one! Has been used once on the ROCKFACE just to get my rear wheels up about 40cm ! THATS IT!

But it's peice of mind having it there and i never go wheelin by my self but if your all stuck im not hand winchin!

[YB.LOW4]

Cheers man!

BUT i love the look of some tube bars on zooks i have been searching and the way my bar is mounted now is symple as and has been strong enough the 1 time i have had to winch!

As for the winch thing it was on it when i brought it if it wasn't on there i wouldn't have one! Has been used once on the ROCKFACE just to get my rear wheels up about 40cm ! THATS IT!

But it's peice of mind having it there and i never go wheelin by my self but if your all stuck im not hand winchin!

i believe that winch was used at wombat wasn't it? the fact that the car was almost on its side doesn't matter!

[tna racing]

it should be good wen its done

[Dee]

But it's peice of mind having it there

To me, if your doing some serious offroading, i reckon its almost worth buying a winch outright, even if only for peace of mind.

It would probably end up getting me stuck/rolled though. "pfff, ive got a winch, just drive it"

[tna racing]

there good 4 thick mud

[PJ.zook]

A winch in any offroader is a good idea really. Ill be getting one purely for the fact i have to make a custom bar, so may as well have a winch in it. Plus i dont like having to rely on others.

[suzuki boy]

Cheers man!

BUT i love the look of some tube bars on zooks i have been searching and the way my bar is mounted now is symple as and has been strong enough the 1 time i have had to winch!

As for the winch thing it was on it when i brought it if it wasn't on there i wouldn't have one! Has been used once on the ROCKFACE just to get my rear wheels up about 40cm ! THATS IT!

But it's peice of mind having it there and i never go wheelin by my self but if your all stuck im not hand winchin!

i believe that winch was used at wombat wasn't it? the fact that the car was almost on its side doesn't matter!

If you recall it didn't work cause that fuse blew and we had no idea what was goin on...... BUt yeah it had to get used that time as it was on its side..... Gunna try that track again after the tracks open with the new set up should able to just scrape along now with the gearing...

The winch has been used TWICE sorry(YBLOW4 has a good and crap memory!) But yeah it's there and can get you out of the poo!

[cj]

To me, if your doing some serious offroading, i reckon its almost worth buying a winch outright

As opposed to leasing it or hire purchase? Layby would be a bugger if you actually needed it.