Front hitch

Flashman wrote:
I have the tow hook mounted front receiver and want to put a bike rack on it. I will probably use a drop hitch from etrailer and a conventional bike rack.

We tried a drop hitch before modifying the Ikuram bike rack. The drop hitch introduced way too much play. Whenever we went over a bad bump the bikes (along with the bike rack) would slam up and down a good 6-8". There's very little movement with the modified Ikuram inserted directly into the front receiver.

otrfun wrote:
We mounted a Reese/Draw-Tite front receiver on the front of our '16 Ram 3500 (rated at 500/5000 lbs.; tongue/tow capacity). It's mounts between the front tow-hooks and the front frame mount. Only wanted to haul 2-3 bikes (about 100-125 lbs. inc. bike rack), so we didn't need anything substantial. The tow-hook mounted front receiver does mount a bit high. If you use a standard bike rack it will place the bikes in your line-of-vision. We purchased an Ikuram hitch-mount bike rack and cut-out about 10-12 in. of tubing from from the main telescoping tube. All we see are the very tips of the handlebars (can't see the seats). The bike's tires still have 10-12 in. of road clearance.

No issues with engine cooling even when carrying 3 bikes under heavy load in 110 deg. heat. If you were to place something in front that substantially blocks wind-flow, like a large cooler, that may be another issue.

As for compromising the strength of the tow-hooks with this receiver, we just had our truck winched up a flat-bed truck at a 15-20 deg angle---no problems. Just be sure to keep the pull purely horizontal.

I have the tow hook mounted front receiver and want to put a bike rack on it. I will probably use a drop hitch from etrailer and a conventional bike rack.

Be sure to post back with whatever you decide to build for the truck

We mounted a Reese/Draw-Tite front receiver on the front of our '16 Ram 3500 (rated at 500/5000 lbs.; tongue/tow capacity). It's mounts between the front tow-hooks and the front frame mount. Only wanted to haul 2-3 bikes (about 100-125 lbs. inc. bike rack), so we didn't need anything substantial. The tow-hook mounted front receiver does mount a bit high. If you use a standard bike rack it will place the bikes in your line-of-vision. We purchased an Ikuram hitch-mount bike rack and cut-out about 10-12 in. of tubing from from the main telescoping tube. All we see are the very tips of the handlebars (can't see the seats). The bike's tires still have 10-12 in. of road clearance.

No issues with engine cooling even when carrying 3 bikes under heavy load in 110 deg. heat. If you were to place something in front that substantially blocks wind-flow, like a large cooler, that may be another issue.

As for compromising the strength of the tow-hooks with this receiver, we just had our truck winched up a flat-bed truck at a 15-20 deg angle---no problems. Just be sure to keep the pull purely horizontal.

Slownsy wrote:
Hornet28 nice setup.
Frank.

Thanks

I am no engineer but from what I have read one should select a winch with 2 times the weight pulling capacity of the vehicles weight, and there are plenty out there, the one I am considering is the Sherpa 17000 lb from memory weight is only about 70lb. I have read test of a great range of winches and this had the great stamina and used less A than most others. It is unlikely that the full potential pulling power will ever be used as after all vehicles is rolling on wheels and has still got some power. I will also have extra straps rope and pulleys to help.I do also have max tracks Extraction boards. I have had the pleasure of digging out my F. Truck as well as being pulled out by others, and simply think the winch is less hard work.
Frank.

What do you hook the winch cable to that will stand up to 17K pull?

PA12DRVR wrote:
FWIW....I've had front hitches on 2 pickups in the past. Mostly used for spotting trailers and the like. Very infrequently (in the past) used to slide in a "hitch mount" winch for getting un-stuck.

If the pull on a front-hitch-mounted winch is not fairly close to straight ahead, remember that there's a couple feet of moment arm between the attachment points and the force of the pull: sideways pull puts a pretty significant strain on the cradle and attach points.

For self recovery I would for sure want a place to mount the portable winch on each side. A pull close to the frame rail will put less strain on things. But with that big of winch might be better to make a permeant mount for it. The winch, and a mount strong enough to hold it to truck will be a chore to manhandle. Maybe a smaller winch, pullies, and extra line would work better.

FWIW....I've had front hitches on 2 pickups in the past. Mostly used for spotting trailers and the like. Very infrequently (in the past) used to slide in a "hitch mount" winch for getting un-stuck.

If the pull on a front-hitch-mounted winch is not fairly close to straight ahead, remember that there's a couple feet of moment arm between the attachment points and the force of the pull: sideways pull puts a pretty significant strain on the cradle and attach points.

I guess, “gauge” no pun intended, how beefy the off the shelf front hitches appear to be.
There’s plenty of winch bumpers that are supposedly rated for hogging out a big truck out of a mud hole and they’re presumably limited by the truck frame and mounting hardware.

Keeping it in perspective, one would assume that you’re not trying to drag your truck and 5ver through clay mud up to the doors, front to back. There’s also a limit to where you’re going to take a 1ton with a big trailer.
And if you’re in that proverbial worst case scenario, are you building a setup for zombie apocalypse type stuff or for help to get through some sand or mud?