A friend offered to give me an older Warn 15k winch. It’s on a receiver mount. I want to make a front bumper for the winch. I have a 1997 2500 extended cab truck that I take off road in the deserts of Southern California and Nevada 3 or 4 times a year. A winch could have come in handy many times over the years. I’m going to pick up the winch this weekend. My plan is to go through it this winter and overhaul it so it is in the best condition possible before putting it in a front bumper. Next spring I’ll work on building a bumper for it on my truck.



Does anyone have plans or know of plans for a bumper that can take a large winch? Any info you post is appreciated.

 

I've never seen any plans for bumpers, but I've see a lot of Ranch Hand bumpers that have hitch receivers built in.

 

I shouldn't have said it's on a receiver mount because it could be confusing. I'm going to take it off the receiver mount and put it in the bumper.

 

Any update?

 

I picked up the winch and it is pretty beat. I separated it from the receiver mount which weighed more than the winch. I took it part and found the motor to be a lump of rusted steel. I don't think it is salvageable. The gearbox is in good shape since it was packed with grease. It has no rust inside.

I plan on restoring the winch this winter and working on a bumper next spring. I'll probably go with Move since it will save time and I don't think I can buy the steel for what they charge.

I tried to post pictures but there was an error when I did it. I'll try again soon.

 

After market bumpers must be gold plated....

There used to be an older 2nd gen running around here with a cable and fairlead where the license plate would normally sit thru the stock bumper...looked like a homemade job, but clean and didn't fatlip the bumper out too far like on the Ford's of the same era...

And if I can offer some advice from an old desert crawler, pack a few good ground anchors, where I used to go out in the Mojave there wasn't much to grab on to...

And mount it good. Nothin funnier than when a winch comes off with the bumper and it's not your truck!!

Kurt

 

I bought a used large frame warn 12k winch very similar to your 15k. The intent was to purchase a bumper install the into bumper then mount package on my 2002 Ram 2500. I ordered a bumper from fusion, two reasons: they were close so I could pick it up and I liked the design. I specifically asked the female sales associate. Will a warn 12K winch fit? Yes it will was the answer. Purchased the finished bare steel bumper and took it to a powder coater to have it coat. You can guess where this is going! Winch didn’t fit. The frames on the heavier warn winch’s are larger. No matter how I clocked the winch no fit. Long story short I ordered a new small frame new warn 12k bolted right in. Make sure you are specific about which winch you have! Test assemble prior to paint or powder coat. Learn from my mistake. Your 15k should be perfect for a ram Cummins with a pulley block and some straps you’ll have the beans to extricate yourself.