[2359]

I mentioned a while back that I scored an RE8000 for cheap. After chatting with Ramsey I found out that they do not make mounting hardware for this winch any longer. I've done searches and have checked E-bay but nada. The mounting bolts are on the back. Before I begin researching custom fab options I was curious if anyone has any experience with the mounting of an RE8000? I wish to mount it permanently up front.

Front view sketch attached...

Maybe I should just sell it and put the money to good use elsewhere and get a bottom foot mounted unit down the road.

 

[GRQster]

That should be a straightforward and easy project. ANY welding shop can do it and you could also do it yourself. It will probably take some 3/8" angle and flat steel. Make sure the angle iron is not the tapered type. This will give you a flat and square mounting surface.
If you take it to a welding shop, don't tell them you need them to "fabricate and custom winch mount" $$$$

$$$$ I'd go along the lines of "hey buddy, my welder burned up and I need some help, got any heavy metal lying around?"
I would figure that there is a template for the mounting holes and specifications for steel size. Of course I'm just relating my experience with my WARN winch!

 

[Guest]

I agree with RQ it should not be that hard to fab a mount. I can't tell by your sketch where the mounting bolts are or the bolt pattern. If I remember correctly the RE series was for mounting in the bed of a wrecker. I talked to Ramsey about my REP8000 about mounting it upside down and they said it would not hurt anything (I was going to mount it on the rear as I have two winches) so you might ask them if the mounting direction matters on this model. I thought all Ramsey's used the same bolt pattern. Are you sure it is supposed to be mounted with the bolts to the rear? It just seems to me that that would not be as strong since you would be using pull strength on the bolts rather than sheer strength if it was mounted bolts down. They told me NOT to mount my REP in this manner.

 

[2359]

Yeah - I agree. It has 4 bolts on the back side. There is nothing tapped into the bottom. It doesn't seem like the best mounting situation for pulling a 4-5,000 pound vehicle out of the mud. It was originally mounted on a rear frame rail of a utility truck and only ever pulled hoses up from platforms. This sucker is heavy too.

 

[2359]

I figured it would be that easy - I just want something clean and sturdy. Hell, I even buy aftermarket and add-ons that are a PITA to work with and require custom

 

[clffhnger]

This might give you an idea on the base, I used flat plate with spacers to fit the frame. And then you could build your mounting surface on top of that. You would want it back towards the grill with some gussets going forward. Shouldn't be too hard.

 

[2359]

Thanks Tom. I followed the threads for your install and printed it for reference.

 

[2493]

If I remember correctly that is a gear driven oil bath winch. the worm gears are very strong but require oil to stay in contact with the gears ie axle gears. It needs to be mounted like the pic, but I would turn the winch 180 degrees and have the bolts in the frt like a standard winch mount, that way it is pulling on the mount with the body of the winch instead of the body of the winch pulling onthe heads of the bolts then the mount. Just to get ideas on how it will fit,,,, put a piece of plywood over the frame rails so you can eyeball how close it will come to the grill and how far it has to stick out, ect, then you can figure if you can mount it lower or not. good luck, Aaron

 

[2359]

That was going to be my next query to Ramsey. I picked up an FJ40 winch bumper that this thing would work on if I could flip it around. The only problem that I see is that it will have the winch all the way forward and not back towards the grill.

 

[090]

I have a 10,000 Lbs precursor to the RE series on my rig, but loaded it with 150 feet of smaller 1/2 inch cable. Here's a few pics, i have better close-ups, but I am 500 miles from home in San Diego and can't get to them for a couple of weeks.
I used a 3/16 plate across the front with angled bars from the top to the frame, left enough material to protect the motor/gear case from damage. The back has a cross-bar bolted down to a frame cross-member that takes most of the strain produced by pulling.
This winch is slow, and draws a lot of juice, but it hasn't let me down, and ramsey was quick to send me the rebuilding manual for free.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/arborigine/detail?.dir=/Yahoo!+Photo+Album&.dnm=BrushGuard-3.jpg

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/arborigine/detail?.dir=/Yahoo!+Photo+Album&.dnm=BrushGuard-2.jpg