Could I get some winch pics.

I have been thinking of installing a winch in my MegaCab and wanted to see how they are installed factory in the 2500 chassis. I don't want to get a new HD winch bumper or anything like that. I'd just like to keep it looking fairly stock. I know this'll probably screw up my plans for the Hellas behind the grill but when/if the time comes that I take my Behemoth into the wilderness, I need to know I can get myself out. I figure on getting something like those Champion 12000 winches or something along those lines since it's not something I would really use much if at all. I haven't heard anything bad about them unless you talk to someone who has a Warn or MileMarker winch.

Thanks ahead.

is it a diesel? if so, find a new bumper you like, the intercooler is in the way. if it's a hemi then there is a bracket that mounts the winch between the frame rails. Dodge sells a mounting kit. when it comes to recovery stuff I wouldn't cheap out. The power wagon winch is actually a 15k and a mega cab is a huge bitch so I would stick with the power wagon winch as it is already to small for your truck. In my opinion a 12k is not enough, especially a bargain one.

Like crash said. If you have a diesel. It's winch bumper, because the intercooler is in the way. With a Hemi, no problem.

Mines a Hemi. I just couldn't justify the need or price of a CTD when I ordered it.

I think something like the TuffStuff 12500 would be enough. Again, I can't really justify spending $1000+ on a 15,000lb or larger Warn or Mile Marker winch when the time may never come that I would use it or need it. And, truth be known, it'll probably spend more time mounted to my Bronco. I was just thinking that later this year I'll be taking my son camping and we'll be going to places with the potential to get stuck. He's 5 and wouldn't be much help if it's just me and him out there. Also, I figure I'll have plenty of other recovery equipment so with the proper block and tackle, a dead man or 4 to anchor with along with plenty of straps a 12k winch would be plenty to get me out

Rule of thumb on buying winches. 1 1/2 times the weight of the vehicle. My RC PW weighs in at 7,000 lbs empty. With a load, it would be at the max rating for a 12,000 winch. How much does your Mega weigh?

Behind the stock bumper mounts you can get thru Dodge. Don't know if it mount to other makes of winches.

Thanks. I'll look into getting a factory mount to put one in with. I'll probably still go with the 12500 TuffStuff winch. It's just for insurance against getting totally stuck in the middle of nowhere. It should be plenty to pull me out of a jam if I get into one. I can't justify spending $1-2000 for a Warn or MileMarker that I may never use. Besides, I wouldn't be taking the truck out to some place where I would bury it.

I think the Mopar mounting bracket kit for the warn is over $500...
They say it's for the 3/4 and 1ton trucks only, but all MegaCab's are built on a 2500 frame.

To answer your other question, there is still lots of room for lights behind the grill.

I'd look on craigslist for a mounting bracket. $500 seems outrageous to me, when I was looking at a PW without the winch I found a mounting bracket for like $70 on craigslist...when guys buy a new bumper they don't need the bracket anymore. As far as the winch, you gotta go with the old adage that you get what you pay for. I wish I could find it but somewhere I have an old off road magazine where they compare winches. I'll look around tonight for it, but it talks about feet/sec, heat temp, and stuff like that. Ya gotta think, is it worth paying 3/4 as much for a winch that you'll have to replace parts on in 1/4 the amount of use time. Warn's a little pricey, but ya know what you're getting. Look on ebay, you can probably find a pretty good deal there.

take this for what you want but people always use the excuse "it's only for an emergency" and say it'll be used very little, if at all. But shouldn't that mean the reliability and performance are that much more critical. In this case lets say you bought the cheapest winch off ebay you could find, now your out stuck in the snow, you never even used the thing and now find out that pos winch doesn't work in the cold, or at all, or the motor burns up as soon as it has to do a little real work, etc, etc
If you used it all the time you would know it's limitations, if it was loosing power/ on it's way out etc.
Just an example, maybe you don't get snow or will never be more than a mile from civilization, I don't know, it's just something to think about.
I used to go through the "I don't need it, just for emergency situation" all the time with customers. when they first started putting the gps locators in phones those phones obviously cost more money and nobody wanted to but them because "it was only for emergency's" cell phone signal still sucks out here and was even worse then so if my car is upside down and I'm running through the woods on fire I would have rather spent the extra money on the gps chip than not beable to make a call at all when I need it

couldn't he get a 12k, and to increase the pulling power, loop it through a block and back to the truck?

sure, but wouldn't it be better to not need to. besides the cable is generally pretty short as is and to do that now you have half the length to go and either can't make or hopefully you brought extra strap

There's almost enough room behind the bumper of my truck to mount a hidden winch. I'd love to do it too. Hey john where you going camping? And if your worried about getting stuck, why not take the bronco. Also are you gonna be free the 11th of Oct?

Originally Posted by 05DodgeDakota

couldn't he get a 12k, and to increase the pulling power, loop it through a block and back to the truck?

Yeah, that would give you 24,000. If you got 90ft of cable. You're down to less than 45 ft now. Time for an extension cable.

Well, whatever unit I got, I would also carry the extra gear like straps, block and tackle and a few long rebars for dead man points if needed. I did a little rigging in the Navy for a short period of time....

As for the camping trip, I'll probably be taking the Bronco anyway. It's the only vehicle that Johnny can ride up front in since it doesn't have airbags, also, for a short 2-4 day trip all I'd be taking would be the 2 man tent, a cooler, some firewood and general camp gear. I'd still have plenty of room in the Bronco after all that. If I get it stuck I've got a come-along that heavy enough to help get it out... I just don't have any tow points on it. It's a 92 and has that weird according front end that makes it a pain to get decent tow hooks on.
I'm planning on taking him to Hopkins Prairie are just down from Salt Springs. I won't be able to make it to Ocala for the Don Garlitz get together. I'm on call that day. I really wish I could be there, he was one of my heroes growing up.

Oct. 11th is OSW, it's a new date...

and I'm jealous, I want to go camping up that way so bad, but more near lake delancey

ttt

$370 is well past suspiciously cheap if you ask me. at that price if it's junk you can't really complain so maybe it's worth it, but there is defiantly a safety aspect as well to consider. the Power Wagon winch is actually a 15k not 12 and what are you basing the "factory piece of junk" statement on? expensive sure, but I don't think it's much more than a normal warn 15k? I never heard of gorilla winches, is that another Chinese throw away winch. As long as your buying a quality piece the price doesn't really matter, and if one can be had for that cheap great.
As a matter of fact buy it and keep me updated as to how it works, cuz for under $400 **** it I'll buy one and throw it under the bed, it's the same price as a tire

ttt