Fitting winch to front on Fiat Ducato?

[Kelso]

Have been stuck a few times on soft ground.
Thinking about fitting a winch to the front of my Fiat Ducato.
Has anyone tried this?
Is it possible?
Is it worth it?

 

[Kups]

Yes
NO

 

[Landy Andy]

Will you also carry a ground anchor? or are you sure there will always be something to winch off.

I would think better tyres would be the best approach

 

[HarryML7]

No, but if you really must. I can see a few trees and fence posts being pulled out.

 

[Lorryman100]

I wouldn't fit a winch however if I was worried about getting stuck I would consider taking along one of these hand winches.

https://vevor.co.uk/products/3-2t-r...wzfXu7jTOH-kdrwb5pKT9vppF7IPy2nAaAnqREALw_wcB

I have yet to get stuck in the Landrover but that is down to tyre choice and checking the terrain prior to driving onto it. A good test is to hop one legged on the area you are about to drive over, if your foot sinks don't bother. Not my idea but German panzer crews during the second world war with a slight deviation, they would have another tank crew member on their back when they hopped one legged.

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[donkey]

Where are you thinking of fitting this winch. I have a Peugeot Boxer and cannot see anywhere that a winch would fit

Geoff

 

[PP Bear]

Think the bracing, anchoring of the winch alone would add many many kg's to the front end.

Love the idea of a winch, but wouldn't fit or want one on the motorhome.

Land Rover-yes, Ducato-no

 

[XxAnthxX]

Why not attach the winch to whatever was to be your anchor point (whatever that might be) and connect the hook to the towing eye already fitted to the van?

 

[Trevor Wbm]

Dropped a back wheel down a 3" deep recess for a grey water drain - van wasn't for coming out again, front wheels spinning. Had to ask Mrs W to get back in the front without making it obvious why ...

 

[68c]

Do not know about modern Ducatos/Boxers, but seems simple enough on earlier vans. The cross member under the radiator is attached by four bolts either side. There is already a tow loop on one side. You could make up a steel plate and attach at the other side with longer bolts. An even better idea would be to make up a triangular tube frame so you could have a central pull, make it collapsible for stowage.

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[John Barrett]

I wouldn't fit a winch however if I was worried about getting stuck I would consider taking along one of these hand winches.

https://vevor.co.uk/products/3-2t-r...wzfXu7jTOH-kdrwb5pKT9vppF7IPy2nAaAnqREALw_wcB

I have yet to get stuck in the Landrover but that is down to tyre choice and checking the terrain prior to driving onto it. A good test is to hop one legged on the area you are about to drive over, if your foot sinks don't bother. Not my idea but German panzer crews during the second world war with a slight deviation, they would have another tank crew member on their back when they hopped one legged.

We used those a great deal in the military: known as Turfor winches/jacks. Brilliant!

 

[XxAnthxX]

We used those a great deal in the military: known as Turfor winches/jacks. Brilliant!

Turfor’s are also widely used in the construction / steel erection industry…….

 

[Lorryman100]

We used those a great deal in the military: known as Turfor winches/jacks. Brilliant!

That's how I got to know about them, great bit of kit.

 

[glenn2926]

Turfor’s are also widely used in the construction / steel erection industry…….

They are, we also carried Tirfors in the fire service. A great piece of kit.

 

[Stanbrook]

AA or RAC membership is cheaper,

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[pappajohn]

Why not attach the winch to whatever was to be your anchor point (whatever that might be) and connect the hook to the towing eye already fitted to the van?

And the 12v to power the winch comes from where ?????

 

[glenn2926]

And the 12v to power the winch comes from where ?????

A long cable I expect.

 

[XxAnthxX]

And the 12v to power the winch comes from where ?????

Well….hand winches don’t need 12v (seen as though the OP never mentioned a powered winch) but you could use a battery like other 12v winches use.

A 12v power bank or an extension cable back to the vehicle would also suffice for the short period of use involved.

 

[The Wino]

Would you need to notify your insurance company? I thought that was why bull bars went out of fashion

 

[XxAnthxX]

I thought that was why bull bars went out of fashion

Legislation that came in 2007 probably has more to do with their demise…….

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[Abacist]

Attachments to the front of vehicles must not compromise pedestrian safety in a crash so best to consult your insurance company before any adaptions or installation or you might end up uninsured! For example Kangaroo/Bull bars no longer allowed etc on vehicles after a certain date.

 

[XxAnthxX]

For example Kangaroo/Bull bars no longer allowed etc on vehicles after a certain date.

Unless they’re approved and carry an e mark, in which case they usually come with a certificate of conformity and can be still be fitted…..insurance wise, they want to know about any modifications.

 

[Landy Andy]

Having had the front end off of my Ducato then I think there would be room, and structure available. You also can then run plasma rope which is much lighter and safer. But it’s still a no from me. The trifor winch is a heavy bit of kit to store, especially as it uses wire rope. At least a vehicle mounted which would be at the very front of the vehicle. A hand winch would probably be stored in the rear of the vehicle where most of us motorhomes struggle with weight.

 

[pappajohn]

A long cable I expect.

Well, I have a 1.5 ton winch.
The cables are larger than battery to starter cable and 3 feet long.... They get rather warm when the winch is working hard.
A 4 ton winch would be needed to pull a 3500kg van through deepish muddy grass so the cable would need to be twice as big and the longer it was the bigger it would be.

 

[XxAnthxX]

Well, I have a 1.5 ton winch.
The cables are larger than battery to starter cable and 3 feet long.... They get rather warm when the winch is working hard.
A 4 ton winch would be needed to pull a 3500kg van through deepish muddy grass so the cable would need to be twice as big and the longer it was the bigger it would be.

Your pulling it….not lifting its entire 3500kg.

Have a look at what’s on a modern recovery truck…..granted a vehicle stuck in the mud will not roll freely.

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[poppycamper]

On a moho I would say a winch would be absolutely useless.
As an ex enthusiastic off roader in a proper 4x4 where 99% of the time there would be a suitable winch attachment point nearby then yes.
Where do you propose to get your moho stuck...rally field.. show ground... beach??? Not many attachment point at these locations.
Get yourself decent tyres or even better rear wheel drive.!!!

 

[jockaneezer]

I'm surprised nobody has made an electric winch that you could just "shackle" onto your towing eye ?

 

[Landy Andy]

There are “boxed” winches so that you don’t need to permanently fix to the vehicle but, they need to be carried. Useful as then you can pull in any direction not just forward.

 

[pappajohn]

Your pulling it….not lifting its entire 3500kg.

Have a look at what’s on a modern recovery truck…..granted a vehicle stuck in the mud will not roll freely.

I don't remember saying lifting it.
I do know what's on a recovery truck, I used to be a recovery driver.
A vehicle stuck in mud will require a lot more torque to start moving than one on dry grass.
My little Suzuki jeep weighed less than a ton.
The 1.5t winch was defeated more than once.

 

[poppycamper]

Agree 100% pappajohn .. that's why kinetic tow ropes were invented... Do you think the front of a Ducato would still be in place using one of those. Front wheels may be unstuck but rest oh moho would still be stuck in the mud.