"Portable Winch" ideas?

SocalBonanza

Aug 28, 2025

Hello All,
Against best practices, I mostly drive trails by myself. (Lots of reasons, and likely not going to change.)

Generally, I limit myself to 3s and 4s, with the occasional 5 (using onX or TrailsOffroad grading). But I know that at some point, I will get stuck and I will need to winch myself out/up/whatever.

Most people seem to install winches on the front, since, I presume, mostly we want to get pulled up over an obstacle. I see some people use a trailer hitch mount for rear mounting winches. (Seemingly, based on YT, to get out of mud holes.) Naively, I would think I want both options. But I don't want to buy two winches. The portable "box" winch options have very limiting pulling capability. As well, I am not sure I want the extra 60 pounds hanging off my nose 100% of the time.

So I was thinking...

What about putting a winch mount on the front, carrying a trailer hitch mount, and leaving the winch in the back of the truck? When the winch is needed, bolt it to whichever mount you need. Naively, I would think I would only need to run thick cables from the front to the back, for when the rear option is needed.

Does anyone do this? Is this a stupid idea? Or rather, is it stupider than riding alone? 😐

Any thoughts would be appreciated...

Jakob1972

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Aug 30, 2025

#20

raqball
Don't think a drone would be very helpful in finding out how deep or bad a mud pit is or how soft and deep the sand is, how steep of an off-camber are you going to be on etc... A drone would be great for identifying downed trees, a very narrow shelf, extreme overgrowth ahead.. You know, stuff like that..

No, use the drone to pull you out is what I think he meant. 😬

Aug 30, 2025

#21

raqball
Don't think a drone would be very helpful in finding out how deep or bad a mud pit is or how soft and deep the sand is, how steep of an off-camber are you going to be on etc... A drone would be great for identifying downed trees, a very narrow shelf, extreme overgrowth ahead.. You know, stuff like that..

You find out how deep the mud is by sending a Jeep first. oh wait I have a Jeep. . I got it we'll send a Toyota yeah yeah thats the ticket.
If you can't see the roof the mud is too deep.
or put a probe on the bottom of the drone to measure the density of the mud.

A 250g drone won't have sufficient thrust to effectively pull out a vehicle mired in goo. But program a couple thousand to work together you could lift the vehicle clear.

Joined May 29, 2020 Member 546
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SocalBonanza, raqball

Aug 30, 2025

#22

Bronco V-8
You find out how deep the mud is by sending a Jeep first. oh wait I have a Jeep. . I got it we'll send a Toyota yeah yeah thats the ticket.

Nothing wrong with sacrificing a Taco for the cause... 👍

onX Trail Guide & Tread Lightly Member
2023 Badlands 2 door in Hot Pepper Red 🌶️ 🌶️

Deano Bronc

Aug 31, 2025

#23

Bronco V-8
You could avoid a lot of this winch headache by scouting ahead of time, maybe use a drone...
😂

Good advice. I was at a stream once with my 80 cj. Out alone, I got out and walked across the stream. It felt good but had a steep departure. So of course I ignored everything I knew to be wrong. What’s the worst thing that could happen? I broke through the bottom water up to my chest. Couldn’t go either way. Nothing to winch to. Commence to dig a dead man . 4 hours later. Walked in the house covered head to toe in mud. Had to change oil in everything. Tranny. Transfer case . both rears. Lesson learned.

Deano Bronc, SocalBonanza

Sep 02, 2025

#24

Bronco V-8
or put a probe on the bottom of the drone to measure the density of the mud.

I have seen one of my friends do this. He wire ties a length of wooden dowel to his Mavic drone with a piece of red tape at his no go depth. If the red tape stays clear after a few dips with the drone he sends it , lol.

2Dr Badlands - MIC - Area51 - 2.7 Auto - MGV - Headliner - High Pkg
Reserved 7/20/20 Delivered 5/6/23
"Ford said, hey we're gonna fulfill all reservations and pre-orders before we build stock units."

Deano Bronc, Jakob1972

Sep 02, 2025

#25

APG has a rear mount winch kit-

https://automotiveperformancegroup.com/product/bronco-hidden-rear-winch-mounting-plate/

I have struggled with finding a good winch set-up for the Bronco. Lots about this rear mount to like, but some problems too.

I think the main down side (like a couple folks said above) is figuring how you are going to stow the winch when its not on the receiver.

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

Wed at 9:42 pm

#26

Mal
APG has a rear mount winch kit-

https://automotiveperformancegroup.com/product/bronco-hidden-rear-winch-mounting-plate/

I have struggled with finding a good winch set-up for the Bronco. Lots about this rear mount to like, but some problems too.

I think the main down side (like a couple folks said above) is figuring how you are going to stow the winch when its not on the receiver.

Some problems such as you need a new bumper and a new exhaust system? 😀

And it does look like a great design.

Thu at 3:02 pm

#27

SocalBonanza
Some problems such as you need a new bumper and a new exhaust system? 😀

And it does look like a great design.

Yeah, those would be the ones. 😀 I really like the APG pre-runner truck set up, but that's not something mere mortals like me can swing financially.

I have plans to replace the stock muffler this winter/coming spring, and have pretty much talked myself into a climber- style exhaust. I am not slinging a winch under there, but I am looking forward to the giant stock muffler being gone.

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

Thu at 8:46 pm

#28

We did something like the original request on our previous 4x4...and we tow behind an RV, so we had a towing baseplate in front to weld a receiver to, and a towing receiver in back. Put a second battery in back, ran 00 gauge to all with continuous duty high current solenoids front & back so we could switch the connectors on & off if/as needed. Mounted the winch to the Harbor Freight receiver mount, and all worked well. The only time I used it was in the Yukon Territory where there was no hope for help, but it worked fine. VERY glad I had 100'+ of tow strap and a remote winch operator. As folks have said, know your limits and use the winch for the heck of it occasionally so you're familiar with how it works. Been off-roading a little over 15 years, and mostly solo. We also carry a CB radio so we could call out if need be, many places have no cell towers.

Deano Bronc, SocalBonanza

Thu at 10:08 pm

#29

Bluestreak57
Check this one out… Maximus 3, I believe

I was going to suggest this. I had a hard mount on my 2 door WT but sadly left it on for the trade-in for my 4dr WT. I am going to buy this rig myself, and mount a 12k to it. Then, you can just haul the winch in the rear purposefully during off road trips. The mounts and frame supports seem pretty well designed and provides a place for d-rings. Removable winch mount, that isn't a hitch mount. I like it.

Deano Bronc, SocalBonanza

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