Description

Back when we started using these vans for travel we made a winch mount bracket that sat between the chassis rails where the spare wheel sits when using the standard 14″ wheels that came with the van from factory. The reason for this was to have the winch mounted upside down in that dead space where most of us that explore and run bigger wheels have on our vans. Because we fitted the winch upside down this allowed a more direct route for the winch line to run through the front of the van and through the fairlead.

The prototype we made back then almost fit but not quite. It was good enough to function but some of the mounting holes were off if we were to use the location off some of the pre drilled holes in the vans chassis and it hit the gear leaver protector. We made adjustments to it so it worked but it was a far cry for anything we could offer as a production product. Back then CVC was in our fledgling stages and now we have access to a fully equipped engineering shop with metal folder and CAD we can make a production product that has been seriously tested and not just the one time. This product has ended up being our longest tested product that has been in development and being tested for strength for almost 15 years!

Mounting position pros and cons…

Most of you will already have seen our CVC Produced HD Front Winch Mount Bumper,  This set up is hands down the most user friendly set up on the market.  The ability to plug in a hand controller, free spool the winch by hand and keep an eye on the winch line and how it is spooling onto the winch drum makes it a joy to use. The reason we decided to introduce this chassis mount option is for people who don’t want a fancy cool looking front HD winch mount bumper and don’t want the weight of the winch way to front and for the winch to be tucked further back under the van and out of the way. However, this does mean that if you didn’t want to just have a remote controlled winch, you will have to mount t the winches  control box and winch controller plug somewhere that you can get to easily. We actually fitted the prototype controller in front of the drivers side seat box. With an under mounted winch you also loose the ability to reach under the van when the front is bogged down to turn the free spool leaver so to wind the winch line out you do have to use the controller. On some winch models you will need to remove the free spool lever so it doesn’t touch the vans bash plate (if fitted) when the levers turned to the free spool position. If you don’t have any type of front bash plate or spare wheel clam shell then you are golden and don’t need to worry about that one!

What size winches does this bracket take? 

Well you can actually use two types of winch with our mount. For all of you Syncro folks and the folks who push their 2WD vans to the limit, there is the standard mounting fixing bolt pattern for the standard 13500lb winch. (Bolt Pattern: 10 inches by 4.5 inches (254 mm × 114.3 mm) arranged in a standard 4-bolt rectangular footprint.)

For all of you 2WD folks that may want a winch fitted just to get you off some we grass, light mud or the ocasional time you find yourself on your own in that tight spot you can fit a much lighter ATV winch that is rated to 4500lb and uses the pre drilled holes in this winch mount that has four threaded mounting holes arranged in a rectangle measuring 3.0 inches (76 mm) front-to-back and 6.6 inches (168 mm) side-to-side.

So there are your options for this set up.

 

Chassis-Mounted Winch Bracket

When we first started using these vans for travel and exploring, we designed a winch mount bracket that sat between the chassis rails, in the space where the spare wheel is located when running the standard 14″ wheels fitted by the factory.

The idea was simple: use that otherwise dead space to mount the winch upside down, keeping it further back underneath the van rather than hanging it off the front. Mounting the winch upside down also gives the winch line a much more direct route through the front of the van and out through the fairlead.

From Prototype to Production

The original prototype we made all those years ago almost fitted — but not quite.

It worked well enough to prove the concept, but some of the mounting holes didn’t line up with the factory-pre-drilled holes in the chassis, and the bracket also interfered with the gear lever protector. We made the necessary adjustments to get it working, but at that stage it was a long way from being something we could confidently offer as a production product.

Back then, CVC was still in its fledgling stages. Fast-forward to today and we have access to a fully equipped engineering workshop, including CAD design and a metal folder. That means we can now take the original concept and turn it into a properly engineered, production-quality product.

And this isn’t something we’ve rushed.

This is arguably the longest-tested product we have ever developed. The original concept has been in development and being tested for strength and durability for almost 15 years.

That’s a lot of real-world testing before putting our name on it.

Mounting Position – Pros & Cons

Many of you will already have seen our CVC-produced HD Front Winch Mount Bumper.

For us, this remains the most user-friendly winch setup on the market. Being able to plug in a hand controller, free-spool the winch manually and physically see the winch line as it feeds onto the drum makes it incredibly easy and intuitive to use.

So why introduce a chassis-mounted option?

Quite simply, not everyone wants a large, heavy, front-mounted winch bumper.

Some owners want to keep the standard front end of their van, while others want to keep the weight of the winch further back and tucked underneath the van, where it is better protected and out of the way.

This chassis-mounted bracket gives you that option.

The compromises

As with any mounting position, there are some compromises.

Because the winch is mounted underneath the van, you lose the easy access to the winch controls that you get with our HD winch bumper. If you don’t want to rely solely on a remote-controlled winch, you’ll need to mount the winch control box and controller socket somewhere that is easily accessible.

On our prototype, we mounted the controller in front of the driver’s seat box, giving easy access when needed.

You also lose the ability to reach underneath the front of the van and manually operate the winch’s free-spool lever if the front of the van is buried or bogged down. To spool the winch line out, you’ll therefore need to operate the winch using the controller.

Depending on the winch model you use, you may also need to remove the free-spool lever. On some winches, the lever can come into contact with the van’s bash plate when operated into the free-spool position.

If you don’t have a front bash plate or spare-wheel clam shell fitted, then you’re golden — you won’t need to worry about this particular issue.

What Size Winches Does the Bracket Fit?

One of the great things about this bracket is that it can accommodate two different types of winch, giving you options depending on how you use your van.

13,500 lb Winch – Standard 4-Bolt Mounting Pattern

For our Syncro customers and those of you who really push your 2WD vans to the limit, the bracket incorporates the standard mounting pattern for a 13,500 lb winch.

The mounting pattern is:

• 10″ x 4.5″
• 254 mm x 114.3 mm
• Standard four-bolt rectangular mounting footprint

This gives you the option of running a full-size, heavy-duty winch for serious recovery work.

4,500 lb ATV Winch – Lightweight Option

For those running a 2WD van who simply want a winch as a bit of extra insurance — perhaps for getting yourself out of wet grass, light mud or the occasional tight spot when you’re travelling alone — the bracket can also accommodate a much smaller and lighter 4,500 lb ATV winch.

The bracket has four pre-drilled and threaded mounting holes for this style of winch, with a mounting pattern of:

• 3.0″ front-to-back (76 mm)
• 6.6″ side-to-side (168 mm)

This gives you a much lighter and more compact winching solution without the need for a full-size recovery winch.

So, There Are Your Options

Whether you’re building a serious Syncro recovery setup or simply want some extra recovery capability on your 2WD van, this bracket gives you the option of mounting the winch further back, underneath the van and out of sight, while making use of space that would otherwise be largely wasted.

It’s a product that started life as an idea almost 15 years ago, was tested in the real world, refined over the years and has now finally been developed into the properly engineered production product we always wanted it to be.

Almost 15 years of development and testing — now available from CVC.

Product includes 1 x mounting bracket and fixing bolts. Winch NOT included. For off the road vehicle use only. Some drilling and cutting required.