Bubbley11 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I would like to have my grille guard be able to hold and mount a winch. So far it is held on by the stock bumper and a bracket under the frame. I would like some idea on how to support the upper part to the frame so the winch doesn't pull the upper part down, and how to mount the winch to the guard. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverton Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Unless you can find a way to strap the upper mount point to the frame, I wouldn't even bother and just buy an ARB bumper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 There was a light-duty Nissan winch available that fit onto a version of the brush guard--IIRC ahardb0dy posted brochure pics of what that looked like. So it has been done. I also remember seeing a carnage shot on here from somebody who tried to pull his rig out of a mudbog by the top rail of the guard and tore the thing completely off the truck so clearly there's room for improvement. The little (10mm?) bolts holding the guard to the bumper brackets look like a weak point. Also I'd be concerned about the brackets themselves bending under side loads (if you winch at an angle). Make a second set of mounting tabs for the guard (inboard from where the tabs are now), beef up the brackets to hold the new bolts and brace side-to-side, and IMO you'd have the top more or less solid. Bigger bolts would probably help, too. The bottom looks like it's connect by a single bolt per side as well. I'd want to beef that up too, and not because the bolt would go, but because it's got a spindly little connection that can kink in the middle (especially, again, under side loads), which could allow the whole mess to pretzel and tear away from the top mounts even if the bolts themselves don't give out. Again, you could probably build better brackets for it. Or it might not be an issue at all, I don't know. Then there's mounting the winch itself. If you put it between the guard's mount points they'll share the load; if you put it on top of the bumper you'll put a lot more stress on the top mounts. Kind of depends on how you mean to use it and how much trust you have in the upper mounts. It would never be as good as a proper winch bumper, but for a lot less money and a little work it would probably hold up to light duty stuff. I wouldn't try to climb any trees with it though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nismopathy93 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I would just fab up a new bumper so you dont rip it off the frame. those arbs are sweet but cost a small fortune 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cvdloc Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 (edited) I have been thinking about this because well, I kinda like the stock bumper, here is that I have been thinking... Since a couple of my friends are iron workers then took some angle beam and just used 2 structural bolts with a shear point of 20,000 pounds + the body will fly off before that bumper budges. Anyways make that my main bumper then just weld on the stock bush guard to the front, strengthen as needed I think that would look sick, you'll have an excellent platform for a winch of any size, I can post a photo if you'd like he kinda has the look I'm thinking of, he has a bush guard welded on the front Anyways that's just what I was thinking? That stock bush guard is held on with brackets and it would be hard to make it structurally sound to handle even a small duty winch, also nissan bumpers are next to useless, personal opinion Edited January 11, 2014 by cvdloc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nefarious Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 take some pics, i would be interested to see his setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cvdloc Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Those are the only 2 good photos I have, I never got a chance to take a photo of his brackets and how he bolted it to the frame. Unfortunately he works 800km east of me and I won't see him for a couple months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauitrailguy Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Do you have welding capabilities. I made my own bumper, if you would like I can send pics of mine on my 88 and my wifes on her 01 frontier for you to reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbley11 Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 Yes I can weld, I myself don't have the welder. But im proficient in most arch welders. Tig mostly but mig, stick and flux are close. If you can send those I would appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauitrailguy Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Frontier Pathy Mounted straight back to the frame with 3/16 plate. I hit a deer going 40 and it didnt even phase the bumper, there was some hair in the d-ring. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbley11 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauitrailguy Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 No problem, If you need some better shots of the mounting points let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RF600 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I made my own grill guard. It was a small guard. I reinforced the back of the bumper with some square stock. Maybe this will give you some help. http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/36216-push-guard/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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