Ok, I might as well give my whole thought process then if we are getting into it, haha.
So what I
really want if I'm not concerned about a budget is a full steel bumper that retains the factory tow hooks or has full strength tow hooks since I use them for an anchor point a lot, a bumper that can fit a large winch totally enclosed (it is hidden behind the license plate here), and has a front receiver for various trailer maneuvering, or attaching other accessories. The only one I've found that fits all that and actually looks good is the Buckstop Outback, which is a whopping $3,200+.
Then add to that a Warn 16.5Ti winch, basically their biggest and most powerful electric winch. If I'm self recovering while towing the chipper, or pulling out the stuck chip truck, a little winch may not be enough, and I'd also be using it for pulling over trees, lifting fallen trees off houses, etc. Critical situations where you need things to work right, and not strain the equipment. But that winch is another $3,000.
I actually do a good bit of off road driving with all of my trucks (fields, through the woods, dirt "roads") and a winch will absolutely be used, both for stuck vehicles and for tree rigging.
But that's a spendy package, especially to put on a 23 year old truck like mine. My truck is in good condition and I can probably get many more years out of it, but I drive it almost every day, and sooner rather than later I'd like to get into something a lot more modern and especially something that has tighter steering angles so I can back up chippers more easily.
This expensive bumper wouldn't be compatible with the next truck I'd buy, and those kind of upgrades really don't add resale value in the long run either. The winch however, could move to the next truck, so to me that means buy the right winch the first time, instead of having to buy something now and a better one later.
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So the cheaper way to do this (get the abilities a winch would add) is with one of these winch mounts that I'm originally asking about. They are simple, SHOULD be cheap, and have the space needed to hold a Warn 16.5 winch because I've seen them in person with that winch. Unfortunately the one that you posted
@Jehinten is only their "small frame" winch mount and you can no longer find the 'large frame' mount that fits the 16.5 winch, I think because it's a 20+ year old truck and some parts just aren't around anymore. (but I do appreciate your efforts)
The cheaper way (while buying things new) to do this would be to just give up on 'the good stuff' and buy that Fab Fours winch mount and a Badlands 12000 winch and for under $1500 I'd have something. But none of it is the quality or capability I really want. (yes, life is about trade-offs...)
Even just stepping down to a 12k warn would be a lot cheaper than the 16.5 of course.
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I don't know how to weld so I'm not about to try and make something I'd then trust to lift trees off houses for my first time, and while I know one or two guys that have some metal fab skills, that would probably end up costing as much or more as buying one, assuming I can even find one.
Another cheap way to have a front winch is a front hitch receiver installed and then use a winch cradle like you mention
@evo , but man I'm just not into that. Either the thing is sticking out the front of your truck like a big booger on the end of your nose and getting beat up in the elements, knocking your knees into it when you have to walk around the truck, or getting caught in brush when navigating off road. Obviously they are removable, but I don't have another place in the truck to store it and with a good winch that is a 100+ pound item, so you'd end up leaving it at home and not having it when you actually need it. That said, the ability to move it to the rear of the truck and pull that way is neat....
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So all of this brings me back to either spending big money on a nice bumper and winch, or finding one of these full size mounts like originally pictured. Hell, I took that picture, it is on a county truck 6 minutes down the road, I should probably just go steal it
