Can I mount a Rhino Winch in lieu of a Braden's Winch?

[Chev.franklin]

I received a Rhino Winch with the purchase of my M37's. It appears to be a match for the Braden, but do I need anything special to mount this on my M37?

Rhino Winch, 8000# Capacity, Model No. TM8, Serial No. 77507

[Elwood]

The Rhino TM8 (not the TM8-A) looks like a substitute for the Braden MU-2, not the Braden LU-4 that was original equipment on our trucks. When I bought mine, it had an MU-2 mounted in place of the LU-4, and the MU-2 required some unfortunate modifications to the front end of the frame and the crossmember under the engine. See: http://www.g741.org/PHPBB/viewtopic.php ... ame+repair

[Kaegi]

do you think it could have been mounted lower? or in some way to avoid frame mods? my buddy wants to put an MU2 on his M37 so wondering if it can be done. I wouldn't cut a frame to do it.

rhino winches are an Asian knock off. the castings are weak. seen at least 3 broken over the years. still have a broken one lying around somewhere.

[Elwood]

Here's what was done to my old frame (since scrapped) to mount the Braden MU-2 winch:



The rural fire dept. welded in a hefty channel with gussets between the frame rails to mount the back ends of the MU-2 side frames (the light colored areas on the front of the channel). The front ends of the MU-2 side frames were bolted to the back side of angle iron, which were in turn bolted to the tops of the split bumper halves.

It probably could have been mounted lower, but I don't know if that would have solved the angle of the drive shaft through the engine crossmember.

Here's what the truck looked like when I bought it:



Because the MU-2 mounts fore and aft, unlike the LU-4 which mounts side to side, when they hit anything with the front bumper halves, it tended to spread the MU-4 side frames apart. This eventually bent the cast side frames, and damaged the shaft bushings since they were no longer square.

I would not recommend trying to mount an MU-2 or the Rhino clone TM8 on an M37. Maybe the Rhino TM-8A would work better.

[Kaegi]

that winch is missing the front cross piece which is critical to mounting an MU2. no wonder it spread. when they are mounted correctly that doesn't happen.

[Elwood]

that winch is missing the front cross piece which is critical to mounting an MU2. no wonder it spread. when they are mounted correctly that doesn't happen.

You mean the chain draped across the front wasn't enough?

Seriously, for obvious reasons I never even attempted to power unspool the cable. That winch was disassembled in place, and the few usable parts set aside. The rest went to scrap.