ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Alvespt on December 14, 2019, 04:24:46 AM
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Any suggestions for a good setup?
I'm ok with a 2' trailer hitch for the front as well but looking for something that I could easily bolt on. I don't have metal working tools.
I came across the following which I think is a pretty neat setup:
http://imageshack.com/i/exqCpCtLj (http://imageshack.com/i/exqCpCtLj)[/url]
Is anyone familiar with that mounting plate and/or know where I can get one?
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I haven't seen a hidden winch setup for the trackers before.
ZOR makes a front bumper for the 99+ Trackers, and I have never had an issues with their work.
http://www.zuksoffroad.com/ZOR-Paramour-Front-Winch-Bumper-1999-04_p_1587.html (http://www.zuksoffroad.com/ZOR-Paramour-Front-Winch-Bumper-1999-04_p_1587.html)
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Drone637,..Thanks!..I checked those out as well..got pretty excited until i read the following: "Heavy Duty frame brackets are provided that have to be welded on the front of the frame. Welding is a MUST-NO EXCEPTIONS"
I don't really have any welding tools,..and was not looking to buy any either. Contracting that out would significantly increase the cost of the setup,..I believe.
I really liked the hidden winch setup!..In a way,..I wouldn't even mind just a trailer hitch setup either so I could have more of a modular (front/rear) winch solution.
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I've seen the winch plate you linked to in the first post on line, but just can't remember where - it's possibly European made - you can take look at Taubenreuther - they do bolt up mounts, but, they don't come cheap and importing from Europe will probably make the concept of contracting out the welding seem cheap.
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I don't know of a mount specifically made for our vehicles but I bet if you pulled up to a metal fab shop with the front bumper cover already removed and told them what you wanted, they could whip something up for you very easily in an hour or two. Or like someone said, just get a front hitch.
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fordem - Thanks. I took a look at their site. Those Euro's can get pretty expensive specially when I'm paying in US dollars..thanks for the recommendation.
Olija - I haven' really considered a metal shop as I was hopefull for something "bolt on" that I could mount myself. I did considered the front trailer hitch. My google searches have only led me to Curt products for which i found the below:
FRONT MOUNT HITCH WITH 2" RECEIVER #31016 MSRP $182.86 USD
ttps://www.curtmfg.com/part/31016
HITCH-MOUNTED WINCH MOUNT WITH HANDLES (FITS 2" RECEIVER) #31009 MSRP $235.17 USD There are cheaper mounts out there though...
https://www.curtmfg.com/part/31009 (https://www.curtmfg.com/part/31009)
Amazon is also offering both combined: $370.59 with Free shipping...
https://www.amazon.com/Curt-Receiver-Handles-Chevrolet-Express/dp/B07L3YSQ5S/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=curt+31016&qid=1577193441&s=automotive&sr=1-3 (https://www.amazon.com/Curt-Receiver-Handles-Chevrolet-Express/dp/B07L3YSQ5S/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=curt+31016&qid=1577193441&s=automotive&sr=1-3)
I really liked the setup in the original post however,..If I can't find it,..the above will have to do.
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I don't see any reason why they need to charge so much for such a simple product. A quick google search found me this, alot more in line with a Suzuki-oriented budged IMHO: https://www.harborfreight.com/hitch-receiver-mount-for-winches-69106.html?_br_psugg_q=winch+plate (https://www.harborfreight.com/hitch-receiver-mount-for-winches-69106.html?_br_psugg_q=winch+plate)
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For the folks that are following, I finally came across this:
https://www.jimnybits.com/grand-vitara-99-05/grand-vitara-recovery-winch.html (https://www.jimnybits.com/grand-vitara-99-05/grand-vitara-recovery-winch.html)
It's been almost one year looking for something like this,..So, I'm hopeful this will work as expected.
Jimnybits and team run their operations out of the middle of UK,..£167.89 GBP final price which includes shipping. It's that kind of play/funny money, ;-) .price in USD will depend on the rates/method/time at purchase.Mine = $228.85 USD.
I'm going to have to do some bumper cutting,...but I knew that from the beginning and I'm ok with that.
Now,.. waiting delivery.
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I'm having a hard time visualizing where the winch is going to end up with that - any pictures of the installed product?
My guess is the two brackets at the back are facing the wrong way and also flipped "left for right", I suspect they bolt on where the existing bumper box structure does, and it looks like it might be possible to install them with the box structure in place - my problem with it is it appears to mount the entire winch in front of the bumper.
More forward than I care for, more exposed than I care for, more cantilever than I care for.
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FORDEM,
It sits right below the metal bumper. Go here for a couple of pics of installed product:
https://www.jimnybits.com/grand-vitara-front-hd-winch-plate.html (https://www.jimnybits.com/grand-vitara-front-hd-winch-plate.html)
It does look like it will sit a little lower,..but it has to if one wants to keep the integrity of the metal bumper; which I do at this point.
I expect it to look something like what I listed in this original post:
https://imageshack.com/i/f0tzFmoij (https://imageshack.com/i/f0tzFmoij)
But lower..it is a similar setup however,..if you navigate the pics, you get a better idea how the solution bolts on..
I will make sure to share pics of the final product..
Still waiting for delivery..right now,..I'm dealing with alternators going bad,..I'm on my second - picking up/installing my third tomorrow. I hope I'm just dealing with a bad batch of alternators and not something I can't trace/fix.
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Ok - that does not bolt to the frame where I thought it did, and that potentially presents another issue - the need for "crush tubes".
The four "long" bolts in the picture will have to pass through the chassis rail, when you torque them down, they will pull the sides of the rails inwards - it's normal to use what is known as a crush tube to prevent the rails from bending and to help keep the bolts tight - but - if the bolts are that far in on the rails, getting crush tubes in will be a challenge.
Mind you - I don't know where it fits - and as I said earlier, I'm having difficulty visualizing it.
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For the folks that care and or followed this post in the past.
This update is long overdue.
The only limitations I experienced with this setup was with the winch selections. Unless you want to pay a pretty penny,..most winch solutions have the engage/disengage lever on the top side; conflicts with the metal bumper on the Tracker/Vitara. You need a winch where engage/disengage lever is on the side; so you can easily reach it. I ended up with a Badlands ZXR 5000 lb Wire Rope winch + Snatch block from Harbor Freight. You can now get a Badlands 5500 with synthetic rope; same setup.
All easy to install; everything bolted right on. I wired everything directly to the battery with a on/off button/switch instead of using an ignition wire.
For the ZR2 Trackers, installing the factory skid plate will not be possible without some modifications.
There are other considerations between a bumper/winch setup vs. a front winch mount such as this. The focus of this post is only on the latter and not which solution is better; application and funding will play a big part on the selection.
Hope this helps others with their builds.
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Most winches with the clutch lever on top allow the cover to be "clocked" (rotated) so that the position of the lever can be changed to suit the installation, I don't know if this would have allowed you a wider selection - I'm thinking 5000 lbs is a little on the low side - 6000 is the lowest I would consider.
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Wish I knew that ahead of time!. I have another 13K winch but that one does not offer that option. I agree with you,..6K was my initial intent,..but it is what it is at this point. If I came across one that can be rotated (good deal), It should be an easy switch; hopefully!.