Got my hands on a winch and have set about getting it mounted. After some mental sketching followed by some CAD, I ended up with a plywood prototype. Plan would be to draw it up and have it cut from 1/2" plate, then weld together. I didn't do any FEA on it, instead using the brute force engineering method of figuring 1/2" steel can carry the static and dynamic loadings it might enounter- certainly as much as the bolts securing the winch to it.
As it sits, it is effectively a "bolt on" fixture to mount on the shackle points, making it i(in theory), removable. If I ever needed to tow the rig, it would be removed, but beyond that, it will stay on. I haven't priced it out yet but would anyone be interested in something like this for their truck? I can leave the holes out of the base plate so you could put the correct pattern in as needed. Also may be able to furnish a winch if someone was interested (Superwinch, 18k, 24V).
Blue tape area would be additional steel for triangulation. Forward shackle points would be extended slightly and use box tube instead of solid bar, tying into the upper bolt area in double shear for additional strength.





Also fits the A1R bumper:





After working on this version, also thinking about a rev 2 which would require cutting into the bumper and relocating the gladhands, but would recess the whole assembly ~4" back into the bumper.
Thoughts?
As it sits, it is effectively a "bolt on" fixture to mount on the shackle points, making it i(in theory), removable. If I ever needed to tow the rig, it would be removed, but beyond that, it will stay on. I haven't priced it out yet but would anyone be interested in something like this for their truck? I can leave the holes out of the base plate so you could put the correct pattern in as needed. Also may be able to furnish a winch if someone was interested (Superwinch, 18k, 24V).
Blue tape area would be additional steel for triangulation. Forward shackle points would be extended slightly and use box tube instead of solid bar, tying into the upper bolt area in double shear for additional strength.





Also fits the A1R bumper:





After working on this version, also thinking about a rev 2 which would require cutting into the bumper and relocating the gladhands, but would recess the whole assembly ~4" back into the bumper.
Thoughts?