I’d like to install a receiver on the front of my truck. It will be intended for a removable winch, however I’ll probably use it for everything else under the sun too (Storage rack, skidding logs, moving trailers, flame guard incase I get behind a new 6.4L, and so on).

I see Hidden Hitch appears to have one that mounts under the bumper to the frame, however I’m not too thrilled about having something hang so low in the front.

I found another one that I think mounts to the tow hook mount holes. I guess this means you loose the factory tow hooks (which are pretty darn good); unless you could mount the factory tow hooks to the receiver somewhere.

Maybe I should just build one myself. Has anyone installed one of the aforementioned products? Pictures? Anyone have any ideas?

 

Mitternocht, I've got a brand new Warn front receiver hitch, check it out on their website. If your interested, PM me. It doesn't hangdown any lower than the front skirt. I was just getting ready to put it in the classifieds.

 

I think you've seen the options. I have the hidden hitch but use it to hold my "surf basket". I wouldn't consider it a good winch mount due to the low mounting.

 

Yea, how about it. By the time I'll need the winch that receiver will be buried in the mud/show.

 

I have the hidden hitch. The reciever is the only part that hands below the facia. Haven't had any issues with snow. The axle would be a problem long before the hitch would be. There is no cutting other than two very large holes in the frame to get the large carriage bolts inside of the frame. You'll need a larger step bit for that. It doesn't look bad. It also appears stronger looking than the warn.

 

The front receiver is a problem when you nose down into a low dip during off road travel. It usually hits into the ground as the nose come up out of the dip with my truck. Of course I have a stock suspension which is pretty low anyway. The hitch out of JC whitney comes with a kit for no drilling or cutting. I didnt like it though and welded the front mounts ...but still used the bolt on back mounts. Used it for lots of things but mostly hanging weight.

 

I think the highest rated front hitch you can get is only good for 5k lbs. You need at least a 10k winch for these trucks so that could be a little dangerous.

 

Explain your reasoning with you statement becasue Im thinking a little different on this.... but dont want to say it quite yet till I hear why you think this would be bad.

 

Using a 10k+ winch attached to a 5k rated hitch to recover an 8k+ truck just seems like asking for trouble.

 

I guess everybody has their own opinions, needs, wants etc. But I can never understand why somebody would pay for a hidden hitch or like product instead of installing a Full Front End Replacement like a Ranch Hand or Buckstop etc. They just offer SOOOOOOOO much more protection from whatever you come across....Deer, other cars backing into you etc. And, they typically include a front receiver already built in. I am sure they are more expensive than a hidden hitch, but to me....they are well worth it.

 

I agree w/ you but it's $900 vs. $200!

 

Yea well I wish I could have a full built tranmission. But the cost is a bit much. I purchased my hitch for $95.00 to carry two bikes. That wasn't to much of a problem to explain to my wife. But I might have had a bit of trouble explaining your hitch, Which is beautiful by the way TexasCTD

 

This was a scratch and dent so it was even less than that. And, you don't have to have a winch ready model. With the non-winch models you still keep your factory tow hooks and get a 2'' receiver. I think I paid $700 installed, but sold my stock front bumper for $150 or so to help off-set the cost some more.

I agree that they are not cheap. But neither is hitting a deer as my sister found out recently......$9500 in damage to her Ferd Fusion. Insurance covered it, but she was still out $500 deductible plus a rental car for 2 weeks.

 

my ramsey front hitch is rated for 9500lbs. i checked all the manufacturer's before i bought my ramsey-at the time, ramsey was the only one that did not require any drilling.!!! all the front hitches sit right under the front bumper (including warn) except for bodiak front hitches. the one from bodiak actually mounts onto the front to hooks. i did not care to mount mine on the front tow hooks!!.

 

If you had hit the same deer with your truck/bumper I bet it would have still done at least $500 in damage. Have you ever seen one of those aftermarket bumpers get pushed into the hood/grill/fenders? Maybe if the deer went under the truck it would cause minimal damage, but not if it hits higher up on the grill guard part.