Can you mount a winch on a non-winch bullbar?

[Rackers03]

Hi all,

Just wondering if you can do this or not? I'm looking at a few cars and they come with bullbars, but doesn't say they are winch bars (and can't see mounts). Just wanted to see what people think and what I have to do.

Thanks,
Hugh

 

[Neddysmith]

Short answer is no you cant, they are either designed to fit a winch or they are not.

Long answer is if it is a non winch bar you may be able to modify it and fabricate some brackets and mounts which bold onto the chassis rails and cut a whole in the front to mount rollers or letterbox for cable to come through, but you would want to know what you are doing if choosing this path.

Far easier to just get a winch compatible bullbar IMO.

 

[phs]

Hi all,

Just wondering if you can do this or not? I'm looking at a few cars and they come with bullbars, but doesn't say they are winch bars (and can't see mounts). Just wanted to see what people think and what I have to do.

Thanks,
Hugh

Done it before,
We fabricated a winch cradle from C channel steel and bolted it to the chassis then cut front of bar for exit point

it was an older vehicle, newer vehicles have a lot of compliance issues for such modifications

 

[Rackers03]

Done it before,
We fabricated a winch cradle from C channel steel and bolted it to the chassis then cut front of bar for exit point

it was an older vehicle, newer vehicles have a lot of compliance issues for such modifications

Would it be possible to do this to a 1999 GU patrol?

 

[megamung]

you wont need a winch in a GU.

 

[Bomber2012]

Why not buy a winch compatible bar ??? .................simple.

 

[billolga]

you wont need a winch in a GU.

Your not trying hard enough @megamung

 

[Triton14]

Done it before,
We fabricated a winch cradle from C channel steel and bolted it to the chassis then cut front of bar for exit point

it was an older vehicle, newer vehicles have a lot of compliance issues for such modifications

You do make it sound easy in the first sentence but how many people know how to fabricate & fit a steel cradle to a non winch bar??

Its a pretty precise & skilled job.

I know what you meant though, it could be possible.

I do feel though it would be way easier to go out & buy a winch compatible bar.

The issue your going to come into if you want to fit this yourself is if you have airbags, knowing how the bar is set up to still be airbag compliant.

 

[phs]

You do make it sound easy in the first sentence but how many people know how to fabricate & fit a steel cradle to a non winch bar??

Its a pretty precise & skilled job.

I know what you meant though, it could be possible.

I do feel though it would be way easier to go out & buy a winch compatible bar.

The issue your going to come into if you want to fit this yourself is if you have airbags, knowing how the bar is set up to still be airbag compliant.

I think anyone who works on there 4wd and can weld would have a fair idea

Though it’s 100% easier to buy a winch compatible bar,

You definitely need to understand how is it done in a safe manner, most that have been under the front of 4wds would have seen how the engineered ones are mounted which gives you a fair idea, but not really something to try on a modern 4wd, crumple zones, air bag compatibility could all be compromised.