CBI Offroad - Hidden Front Hitch Install

Come to the ride at Shoe Creek next month and we'll get you "stuck" and I'll winch you out. While in the process of that you can explain to the other how important it is to be prepared for anything...

 

That front receiver is definitely on my wish list! Thanks for the write up.

 

Sweet bro! I have been droolin' on this front hitch...I will have to get one when I come back from Afghanistan.

 

thats me

 

that's a sweet setup. i'm going to look into getting a front hitch. this is a great way to store the winch. my biggest problem was trying to figure out where to put it when not in use. problem solved.

 

Did you try to put a hitch in it, or just your winch mount? I'm curious if a standard hitch fits.

 

in here???

 

Anyone have a pic of the winch installed in the front?

 

Nice. I've always liked the idea of being able to keep your winch in the bed on a special mount and then being able to simply use it on the front or rear when needed. Nice install pics.

 

Yeah I think that's the setup I'm going to have to go with. The trail bumpers are cool, but I like the factory bumper on a DD.

 

Cool.... I was going to go searching for it but you brought it to me. Where did you find the receiver / plate assembly that you bolted down?

I was thinking about buying a Hidden Hitch 8" extension (2" mount with 2" receiver). I would mount the cradle in the normal fashion and drill a vertical hole through the mount to run a single bolt through the bed (maybe in place of a D ring in front corner of bed). I can imagine the mount and cradle sitting in the bed at an angle coming out of the corner (need to stick it in there to check the fit). This would provide my bed mount and solve my other problem. In the install, I noted that the CBI receiver had large radii in the corners not allowing my standard mounts to fit. I would grind off the corners of the extension mount and use it whenever I wanted to mount my bike rack, or other standard accessories.

Rod

 

Sounds like fun. PM me with the details and I'll see if I can make it.

I have been stuck plenty with my '95 Tacoma. I am a pretty much stock kind of guy so I have never had a lift, my tires are not aggressive, so even with 4x4, it is easy to get stuck. To make it worse, I am usually alone. I have worked my way out of a few difficult situations using anything I can find for traction and my poor man's winch (a come-a-long) and a make shift land anchor (7 long tent stakes and a 10' choker). Usual, I can find a good guy near by to come to the rescue. I have pulled so many guys out myself that payback is expected.

Rod

 

It wasn't clear if you were asking me about the front mount hitch receiver or BrutalRacing about his bed mount for storage.

As for the CBI front mount hitch receiver, standard 2" mount accessories do not fit.

Note large radius in each corner.... interferes with corners of standard mounts.


Here is my standard 2" ball mount.... the corners have tighter radii so they don't fit.



My first thought was to grind my standard stuff to provide clearance at the corners but now I plan to either buy an adaptor (if I can find one) or buy a standard 8" extension and grind or flatten the corners of it (gotta watch the wall thickness so I don't weaken it). This way, I only modify one standard piece instead of every standard piece.

Rod

 

NIce Write up man and it looks good to.

 

i got the hitch for the in bed bolt on...at harbor freight for like $15-20 if i remember corectly.....
and as for standard hitches not fitting your cbi mount thats bullshit....call them......

 

The uhaul hitches fit but Reese's don't.

 

thats crap i never even knew there were 2 diff size 2inch reciever hitches.....i have lots of 2" hitch mounted stuff and they are all the same.....

 

Rodney,
Absolutely beautiful install job and write-up!
My only question is why you would want to hide something so perfectly done? I'd move or get rid of the front plate!

 

I don't think there are two different sizes per se it's more just the tolerances.