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What Did You Do With Your Rig Today?

Lanlubber In Remembrance

Lanlubber In Remembrance

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

JCWages said:
I had a colonoscopy then went home and saw FedEx dropped off my new Freedom Offroad UCAs so I took a nap then installed them. Install was relatively easy but GM placed the nuts for the UCA bolts inside the spring mount so I had to unbolt my coilovers to shift them around and make room for a wrench. If not for that step I'd have been done in 30min instead of 2hrs. lol

I'm testing these very inexpensive units to see how they hold up to abuse. They run $380. The next cheapest brand is $750 and they only go up from there. I have not read of any failures yet.
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Damn man, that's a lot of work for a guy who had a colonoscopy event in the same day. Your supposed to take it easy the rest of the day don't you know. Was it a mistake on the part of GM INSTALLATION or is it just the way they build them that made it harder for you and lets their rate books show a longer repair time so they can get more of your blood ?
 
19mystic96

19mystic96

Rank III

Enthusiast III

JCWages said:
I had a colonoscopy then went home and saw FedEx dropped off my new Freedom Offroad UCAs so I took a nap then installed them. Install was relatively easy but GM placed the nuts for the UCA bolts inside the spring mount so I had to unbolt my coilovers to shift them around and make room for a wrench. If not for that step I'd have been done in 30min instead of 2hrs. lol

I'm testing these very inexpensive units to see how they hold up to abuse. They run $380. The next cheapest brand is $750 and they only go up from there. I have not read of any failures yet.
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Nice! Those things look way beefier than the stock ones!
 
RoarinRow

RoarinRow

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

JCWages said:
I had a colonoscopy then went home and saw FedEx dropped off my new Freedom Offroad UCAs so I took a nap then installed them. Install was relatively easy but GM placed the nuts for the UCA bolts inside the spring mount so I had to unbolt my coilovers to shift them around and make room for a wrench. If not for that step I'd have been done in 30min instead of 2hrs. lol

I'm testing these very inexpensive units to see how they hold up to abuse. They run $380. The next cheapest brand is $750 and they only go up from there. I have not read of any failures yet.
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Holy crap those are monstrous! Your truck will break before those do!
 
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eagle_A40

eagle_A40

Rank VI
Launch Member

Member II

Lanlubber said:
284 #'s I think you said, I sure hope you have some help ! Paint job look real good.
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I'm sorry. I'm a dummy. :flushed: The shipping weight was 220 lbs.

The weight of the bumper and radiator skid plate combined is 138 lbs. The winch is 64 lbs. So total is 202 lbs.
 
Lanlubber In Remembrance

Lanlubber In Remembrance

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

eagle_A40 said:
Yes, those were my words.

I made a mistake on the actual bumper weight. I was looking at the Bill of Lading.
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For shame... That weight sounds better and I couldn't tell , it looks pretty heavy to me, but looks are deceiving. Still--- it looks very nice, clean and well built. I'd buy it if I could afford it. What size winch are you using ? The steel cable is heavy and people tell me the nylon is better in many ways other than saving a lot of weight.
No rust and less tangles sounds like a winner to me.
 
JCWages

JCWages

Rank V
Launch Member

Pathfinder I

Lanlubber said:
Damn man, that's a lot of work for a guy who had a colonoscopy event in the same day. Your supposed to take it easy the rest of the day don't you know. Was it a mistake on the part of GM INSTALLATION or is it just the way they build them that made it harder for you and lets their rate books show a longer repair time so they can get more of your blood ?
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It's my 4th colonoscopy so I'm not a virgin. LOL

It's just the way GM designed them. I think there is more space with the OEM springs or they just have a flatter tool that can fit in the gap. You can see a bolt end where the pesky nut is if you look at the right side of the UCA inside the spring mount.
 
JCWages

JCWages

Rank V
Launch Member

Pathfinder I

Lanlubber said:
How did you determine what size you need ?
Most every one I know is using either 900# or 12,000 #. The one I have eye balling is 9000 #.
Am I thinking too small ?
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Manufacturers suggest a minimum of vehicle weight x 1.5. After watching many episodes of 4wdAction and other recovery based YouTubes where even decent sized winches struggled or had to rest for long periods to avoid overheating I think vehicle weight x2 should be minimum. This assumes you can fit a bigger winch. I couldn't. So 10k is what I got for my 5,300lb truck.
 
eagle_A40

eagle_A40

Rank VI
Launch Member

Member II

Lanlubber said:
How did you determine what size you need ?
Most every one I know is using either 900# or 12,000 #. The one I have eye balling is 9000 #.
Am I thinking too small ?
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I purchased the 17K winch for my previous truck(2006 Chevy 2500HD Duramax at 6000 Lbs. dry weight). The truck's GVWR(gross vehicle weight rating) = 9200 Lbs.

What size winch to buy for your vehicle? Multiply the GVWR by 1.5, The math for my truck's GVWR came out to 13,800. A 14K winch would be what I needed at the time. I found a 17K at a good price. I sold that truck prior to installing a HD front bumper and winch. No need to buy another winch since this one fit within the new bumper for my present truck.
 
Lanlubber In Remembrance

Lanlubber In Remembrance

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

JCWages said:
Manufacturers suggest a minimum of vehicle weight x 1.5. After watching many episodes of 4wdAction and other recovery based YouTubes where even decent sized winches struggled or had to rest for long periods to avoid overheating I think vehicle weight x2 should be minimum. This assumes you can fit a bigger winch. I couldn't. So 10k is what I got for my 5,300lb truck.
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I'm not too far off then. My LRD2 weighs 4500 # according to my title x 2 would be 9000#.
That was the same guide I learned a hundred years ago but this will be the first bumper winch I have ever bought. I have always used a 3000# portable hitch mount and doubled the line to make it 6000#. That always worked for me in sand, never been stuck in anything else. I did pull my son in law out of a snow bank once when he was bellied out on snow and could get out by himself.
Thanks for the input.
 
JCWages

JCWages

Rank V
Launch Member

Pathfinder I

Lanlubber said:
I'm not too far off then. My LRD2 weighs 4500 # according to my title x 2 would be 9000#.
That was the same guide I learned a hundred years ago but this will be the first bumper winch I have ever bought. I have always used a 3000# portable hitch mount and doubled the line to make it 6000#. That always worked for me in sand, never been stuck in anything else. I did pull my son in law out of a snow bank once when he was bellied out on snow and could get out by himself.
Thanks for the input.
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I was really focused on regular weight and then started thinking about those circumstances where weight is multiplied like when a rig is burried in mud or sand. In hindsight I should have got the 12k since it shares the same chassis as the 10k. Next time. :) Until then, snatch blocks will have to do like you mentioned.
 
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