Front and Rear winch carrier for my diesel burb!

It always made sense to me to have the ability to winch from the front of the vehicle and the rear. With the new hitch I installed behind the front bumper and my rear hitch I thought a portable winch cradle would be best. I fabb'd up something and pretty happy on how it came out!
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[@calholli]

Might need to make a little extension that lets you put your tire carrier on the front once you're on the trail or camping; that way it keeps your rear doors ready for use. Then when you need to get back on the highway, just slip it on the back again. I mentioned it to you awhile back about a portable winch setup like this. I seen it on Andrew Camarata's channel a few years ago; It's a great idea. You can now put a receiver at the front of your trailers also, and that same winch can easily mount to your trailers and pull cars on, etc. (just maybe have another temporary jumper/ cable extension that will plug into your rear plug setup, but still reach the front of the trailer.) Plus, you don't have to worry about it being stolen- because you can just slip it off again and toss it back in the truck or in the garage, etc. Modularity is king.

[@MerricksGarage]

exactly this. Although I did just receive a 12000 winch from a Chinese company for testing. Might add that to the trailer...

[@Mr.Thermistor7228]

Totally agree, just the other day I had a moment with myself thinking back on how much I love that front end, all time best looking front clip in auto history

[@wheelinchronicles]

I might have to borrow that idea. I’m in the same boat of wanting to keep the Burb front end & that totally solves the issue. Great idea man.

[@MerricksGarage]

Thanks! With the front license plate on you can’t even tell

[@christophersanders5007]

If anybody pulls in front of you with that Suburban, and you hit them...they are dead meat. I have this old Desert Dynamics 10,000 pound winch. The thing is a beast. It is actually known for being a wrecker winch more that an off road winch.

[@MerricksGarage]

lol, its to pull the other car off of the front of your truck!

[@h.h.legacydiesel6724]

Way to go ! Great idea 💡 👍🏻. You can always build a similar receiver on either side of the Burb ! No reason to not be able to pull from the side 💡. Yes l was on the same wave as to the front and back, and sides, now l might have to mount one where the spare tire use to be, make it so it is accessible from all points. 😛🤘👍🏻🌬 ❄️ 🌧 🇨🇦.

[@Cy993C2]

G’day James . . . good to see another vid of progress on the Burb. If you’re considering other fab products to sell, count me interested in the light cross bar. Been looking for something subtle like that. I’d like to take off my push bar with light mounts but don’t want to drill the bumper.

[@MerricksGarage]

good to hear. I have a couple of others who have expressed interest. Let me look into it! I do really dig it as it just disappears on the bumper. And no new holes into the steel

[@davidadkins5176]

Currently working on a 1978 K5 Blazer I have two square bodies and love them

[@steelmill]

It would really help to wrap the ends on your welds.I think the portable winch is a great idea,you could fabricate a mount for your trailer also to accept the winch.

[@paulgutierrez4505]

Can you dive a little deeper for someone who has no concept of what that means, thank you!

[@steelmill]

@Paul Gutierrez Jr Yea Paul it's a common mistake people make when welding. When you get to the end of a weld joint on a plate you continue the weld around the end of the plate or weld joint instead of just stopping the weld bead and leaving the end not welded.It creates alot stronger structure in the end.I noticed the winch plate had some beads on it that just stopped without "wrapping the ends".I worked Submarine work for almost two decades and I was a welding instructor so I am familiar with the welding processes.I hope this comment helps alot of KZbin welders out in the end and keeps someone from getting injured.

[@MerricksGarage]

this is great information. I should have wrapped the ends, I knew exactly what you were talking about when I saw the comment. Im still learning. Thats the thing about being self taught, you never stop learning!

[@rbljackson]

LOVIN that burb!! VERY Nice ride

[@BigBurb]

Very cool idea to move the winch around!

[@waynewilhelm1199]

Mires factor is up to 3 times the weight of the truck if it's above the fender line most will never deal with that but it is possible always use a 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 never use a straight pull unless you have to if your stuck enough to need a winch your stuck enough for a 2 to1 it saves your winch

[@brokenwrench404]

Sweet! Self made multi mount 👍🏼 we had one on our old 98 dodge. You just have to remember it’s out front at night. That crap hurts when you kick it 🤣🤣 not really a issue with your burb since the winch is at waist height

[@MerricksGarage]

lol, I have taken it to the hip already.

[@dougr.6734]

Nice job!

[@yehudaegert2276]

A+ for the ingenuity

[@davidadkins5176]

I Did the same thing on the front of my 2004 Cummins Dodge built a custom Mount mounted where the tow hooks were now I can use it the winch on my trailer and the back of my truck and the front of my truck

[@PeterHatch-mx7zc]

Good one thks

[@michaelgiorsetti9385]

Love this vid man the parking light I’ve been wondering what they were looks rad

[@MerricksGarage]

yea that was a stealth mod I did a while ago. I have a couple others too. Installed a killer 12" sub and amplifier and speakers a while back too. The burb hits hard!

[@michaelgiorsetti9385]

@@MerricksGarage definitely going to put a nice sound system in my burb but not a priority as of right now lol

[@BuckeyeHitters]

You should do a video on what type of wire you used for your winch and where you ran it. How long you needed,etc

[@corymollak2093]

Your channel is the holy grail of info and if there's a heaven for squarebodys...it's your garage! Keep sharing the knowledge, my friend! Q: How difficult if possible, would it be to swap a drop-down tailgate with double doors on a 1980 GMC 'Burb K25 w/ a small block 400 (the engine is irrelevant, I know...i just love saying it)? It's about 95% similar body as your white 'burb. Also does the nylon winch rope hold up...I was hesitant?

[@MerricksGarage]

yea the winch line will hold up fine. It is actually stronger than cable. Just not as abrasion resistant. I don't think the tailgate conversion is that easy. The top channel for the glass vs the doors is very different.

[@joshslackslack8115]

I would put a hitch or mounting point on the top of your rock sliders

[@erickaaustring4803]

Nice job suburban

[@vicc6744]

What size wire did you use FROM the battery?

[@OilersOTD]

Do you have the link to those power pole connectors?

[@paulgutierrez4505]

Kudos to you for the winch capabilities, well done! I have a question concerning why you are choosing or prefer KC lights versus other companies such as Rigid Industries?

[@MerricksGarage]

I have always had a soft spot for KC's as they were what I always saw on old Squares. I just gravitated to them. The reality is at the price point that Baja Designs, Rigid, and KC play you are gonna get an amazing light regardless.

[@charleshall6676]

Sir, may i ask where you got the rubber strip on your front bumper.

[@MerricksGarage]

it came on the bumper! Im pretty sure LMC has stuff

[@charleshall6676]

@@MerricksGarage thanks

[@jamescason7783]

Hell ya dude, so I have decided to rebuild my 4l60e myself. Waiting on getting all my parts in and then getting started. First time for this but my wife need the suburban and I can blow at least 2 up before it starts to get close to what these transmissions shops charge. So this should be interesting 😂 What is the visor thing called above the windshield? I’d was looking for some about a year ago but couldn’t figure out what they r technically called. Looking forward to more stuff🤘

[@Cy993C2]

It’s a Lund Sun Visor. I believe they’re no longer in production but you can find them used on eBay. My Suburban came with one and it works well.

[@brokenwrench404]

@@Cy993C2 yes. Lund had the vent visor and then the interior shelf that went between the roof and the visors so you could store more crap.

[@MerricksGarage]

It’s a summit visor. Lund used to make them but summit is now

[@Cy993C2]

@@MerricksGarage Cool . . . good to know!