Installing a Winch on a Trail Boss

[vezePilot]

The Front Receiver has been delivered today. AND ... it is a different model than what I first ordered. (I have replaced the screen-shot of it above in this thread.) That original one was discontinued by Draw-Tite, so we cancelled that order, and I ordered the new one, model DT45MR. It is a little different in geometry, but mounts to the truck exactly the same. Was only about $5 more expensive.

One thing I had not thought of: this thing is Sturdy and HEAVY. Several years ago, I installed a rear receiver hitch on my 2011 Silverado, and I don't recall that being nearly as heavy as this front receiver. And this is good, IMHO.

I'll need to run up to my hangar and fetch my ATV/Transmission Jack. There's no way I can hold this Front Receiver with one hand and put bolts in with the other. Also the little floor jack that I keep here may not hold the odd shape of the receiver. So I'll go on that errand, and will post new photos probably tomorrow RE installing the Front Receiver.

 

[Remanaz]

How heavy is the winch and carrier mount? Do you think the weight could be an issue if you had to try to insert it into the receiver blindly like say the receiver was under water or mud?

Not sure if you considered using the 13mm nut for the positive but it is usable for this. It is a more straight shot thru the routing channel and the nut is easier to not loose since it sits on the horizontal plane and is bigger.

 

[vezePilot]

How heavy is the winch and carrier mount? Do you think the weight could be an issue if you had to try to insert it into the receiver blindly like say the receiver was under water or mud?

That is a good question. The winch and mount weigh about 80 lbs. The winch is advertised as being waterproof/water resistant, but I'm not sure how that would effect the synthetic rope. My opinion is that it would probably be more difficult to get the receiver Pin through the holes than to get the mount into the 2 inch receiver.

It IS DEFINITELY a pertinent question. I watched a video where that Russian guy Bud Nikson drove his Jeep into a stream hidden in deep snow. That instantly buried his winch hard into snow and water and mud. The video does NOT include how much trouble it was to get at the winch and unwind it, but he did need to, because that is how he got out.

Regarding the 13 mm bolt on top, now that I am routing the cable back through the channel, as your photo shows, I might change it. I did not use the 13mm because at first I was routing the cable straight up through the plastic cover, and it could not make that bend. It's a good suggestion.

edit: and I got the jack.

 

[Remanaz]

I hope it would not do any harm to the rope. They are on many people's vehicles that stay out in the elements 100% of the time.

Fatigue may come into play when you have to wade thru water/mud to get to the tailgate, then have to pull it out of the bed, not to mention if you have to climb into the bed just to get to it, then wade thru the water/mud back to the front without any place to set it down for a moment. It may not be possible to place your container on the ground in front to allow you to rest it while sliding it into the receiver. In such a case, and depending on your height, you may now have to squat down to get low enough to line up with the receiver. With two people this should not be a concern at all. Really only applies if you are by yourself and will also depend on one's strength/endurance levels.

Any chance you can get a pic of it at holding height vs the receiver?

 

[vezePilot]

I will certainly post more photos, once the rig is complete. Regarding the horror story you describe (wading, mud, really stuck, etc.) a person has made so many mistakes just to get to that point ... I just hope I do have someone else with me to keep me from driving so far into that much stupid.

However ... with the scenario of driving into a stream, that is a really good reason to be able to use the winch from the rear of the truck. The majority of winch rigs (BY FAR) are on the front. Having a winch on the Back, to pull oneself back out of stupid, makes a lot of sense, IMHO.

edit: oh, as far as having to "climb into the bed" for anything ... my next "Secret Pro Tips Revealed" will show the solution to that.

 

[Remanaz]

Certainly a worse case scenario one hopes to never be in.

 

[vezePilot]

I worked all day today attempting to install the Draw-Tite Front Receiver. It does not fit. There is a good chance that no currently produced front receiver will fit a Trail Boss. The geometry underneath the front and the holes for fasteners are not like a Silverado 1500. It may be that a receiver intended for a 2500 or a 3500 would fit.

I am also considering a Curt brand front receiver. One that looks as if it would fit the bolt holes is ultimately positioned WAY TOO LOW under the front.
My plan for that is to cut the part, grind the welds off, saw new square holes and re-weld it. Actually a neighbor of mine who is a very experienced welder would do the welding. Reworking a front receiver does not have the potential for problems like fabricating a trailer hitch would have.

 

[Remanaz]

That seems odd that they would use a different frame??? Are you sure the one you received is the one that is confirmed to fit T1 1500's? Also, what about that pic of the Trail Boss with a front mount hitch in your first post?

 

[vezePilot]

It may be that many changes were made to Trail Boss trucks during 2019, 2020 and 2021. The seller (etrailer, good folks) could only confirm that the front receiver will fit a 2019 - 2021 Silverado 1500. There is no discussion nor confirmation that I could find online of any receiver that will fit a Trail Boss. Installation videos on utoob show that there are significant differences through those years and different models.

Regarding the photo of a front receiver fitted, I have already cut that Hole in the lower bumper area, just like shown in that photo. When I had the only two bolts out of six that would fit installed yesterday, the receiver was four inches too low to fit that hole. (Gotta love those ratcheting box-ends.)

Perhaps I don't have the skills to do the install ... ?

Aircraft mechanic & electrician in the Air Force, worked on B-52G & H and KC-135 aircraft.
Technician assembling mechanical and electrical systems for industrial electronics firm in California.
Mechanic working on personal vehicles for decades.
Mechanic and electrical engineer at Colorado Teardrops Trailers a coupla years ago.
Fabrication, installation and modification for my two homebuilt canard airplanes (currently installing new Panel, Electrical & Engine in one.)
Installed Axle-back exhaust, Cold Air Intake, Bilstein shocks, Z51 torsion bars and own-design Trans Cooler install in my Corvette.

I took photos, and I'll make a dimensioned drawing of why the Front Receiver does not fit a 2021 Trail Boss, and what it will take to fabricate a receiver that does fit.

 

[PHXPHOTOG]

It may be that many changes were made to Trail Boss trucks during 2019, 2020 and 2021. The seller (etrailer, good folks) could only confirm that the front receiver will fit a 2019 - 2021 Silverado 1500. There is no discussion nor confirmation that I could find online of any receiver that will fit a Trail Boss. Installation videos on utoob show that there are significant differences through those years and different models.

Regarding the photo of a front receiver fitted, I have already cut that Hole in the lower bumper area, just like shown in that photo. When I had the only two bolts out of six that would fit installed yesterday, the receiver was four inches too low to fit that hole. (Gotta love those ratcheting box-ends.)

Perhaps I don't have the skills to do the install ... ?

Aircraft mechanic & electrician in the Air Force, worked on B-52G & H and KC-135 aircraft.
Technician assembling mechanical and electrical systems for industrial electronics firm in California.
Mechanic working on personal vehicles for decades.
Mechanic and electrical engineer at Colorado Teardrops Trailers a coupla years ago.
Fabrication, installation and modification for my two homebuilt canard airplanes (currently installing new Panel, Electrical & Engine in one.)
Installed Axle-back exhaust, Cold Air Intake, Bilstein shocks, Z51 torsion bars and own-design Trans Cooler install in my Corvette.

I took photos, and I'll make a dimensioned drawing of why the Front Receiver does not fit a 2021 Trail Boss, and what it will take to fabricate a receiver that does fit.

With credentials like that you can work on my truck anytime!

 

[Remanaz]

Did you confirm that this is the correct part?

This pic is from your first post. It shows an already installed hitch on a Trail Boss.

The hidden winch set up from RC fits both non Trail Boss and Trail Boss as confirmed by RC's own pics and a fellow member on here. It bolts up to the same location. I really wonder if they sent the wrong one.

 

[Remanaz]

You said that they sent you a different one than what you thought you were ordering. The original one you showed looks like it would be higher than the second one which is what it looks like you received. It is possible that they have moved it down so customers wouldn't have to cut the plastic. You also said it does bolt up just that it is 4" lower than the hole. This lines up with the differences in the pics. The non Trail Bosses have a lower air damn than the Trail Boss and Draw-Tite probably used that as their model to build to. Again this isn't the trucks design at fault. Draw-Tite changed their design making install lower than the origina one.

Send that one back and find a seller with this one. Hopefully someone has old stock on hand.

Here ya go: https://www.crofttrailer.com/65082-drawtite-front-mount-receiver-hitch-silverado-1500/

 

[Remanaz]

Looking at the installation instructions for both, they show different cutting locations. The lower one has you cut the air damn which we do not have and as you showed earlier in the thread the higher one shows to cut higher in the bumper. This is not an issue with you or the trim level, this is completely on Draw-Tite as they changed the design.

 

[vezePilot]

That Front Receiver, Draw-Tite #65082, has been discontinued by the manufacturer. Also, even if it were available, it will not fit because there is an interference in the shape of those "ears" on both sides. Where the sides Angle downwards, there MUST be a notch there to get under a large, heavy crossmember (perhaps for the radiator?). The Truck in that photo is very likely, almost certainly, not a 2021 model year.

Also, for that lower rear Hole in this part ... there is no hole corresponding to that in the truck frame. AND, drilling one would be detrimental to the frame geometry. The fit of the Receiver, less than 2 inches under the license plate, is just where we want it. There is no frame component getting in the way of it being that high up. Cutting the lower plastic bumper area is a concern (my wife does not like that part) but it is a practicality.

For a 2021 Trail Boss, as opposed to a 2019 or a 2020, I have become an expert on the pertinent geometry. Unfortunately.

 

[Remanaz]

I see what you are saying. Luckily there is a third frame location forward of that lower hole for you to use if you go forward with modifying this hitch.