X5 Winch mount Question

[2005_x5]

Is it possible to mount a winch behind the stock rear bumper (i know cutting the bumper will be required) but i was wondering about the bumper bracket or will a new one need to be custom fabricated.

[upallnight]

I have a winch mounted to a plate welded to a 2" square tube that I can fit in my trailer hitch. I use it sometime for winching the boat out of the water when I don't the X to back too deep into the water

[2005_x5]

Ok, I see I probably should of specified I was talking about mounting it behind the front bumper for off-road.

[Joshdub]

If you plan on using it for recovery, which it sounds like you are, you are probably going to need something beefier than the stock bumper (not cover).

[ants_oz]

The stresses imparted on a winch mount are massive. I don't imagine the engineering involved is not something that would be discussed readily on a forum such as this... I don't say this to be mean, but this really is a case of "if you have to ask, then you probably should leave it to the pro's". The frontal structure of an X5 would need substantial strengthening in order to allow winch mounting. You would need to tie the mount in to the front body brackets (which are not the same style of chassis as per a traditional ladder frame truck). Be careful with it - you could do all kinds of damage - not just to your X, but to yourself or any bystanders as well.

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by ants_oz

The stresses imparted on a winch mount are massive. I don't imagine the engineering involved is not something that would be discussed readily on a forum such as this... I don't say this to be mean, but this really is a case of "if you have to ask, then you probably should leave it to the pro's". The frontal structure of an X5 would need substantial strengthening in order to allow winch mounting. You would need to tie the mount in to the front body brackets (which are not the same style of chassis as per a traditional ladder frame truck). Be careful with it - you could do all kinds of damage - not just to your X, but to yourself or any bystanders as well.

Bingo.

This guy made a "rock crawler" e53. Looks like he has/had a winch on there.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...3-3-0l-13.html

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by 2005_x5

Ok, I see I probably should of specified I was talking about mounting it behind the front bumper for off-road.

I thought in your original post you did specified the location.

Originally Posted by 2005_x5

Is it possible to mount a winch behind the stock rear bumper (i know cutting the bumper will be required) but i was wondering about the bumper bracket or will a new one need to be custom fabricated.

[2005_x5]

Originally Posted by upallnight

I thought in your original post you did specified the location.

My fault I meant front bumper don't know why I put rear. Must of had the rear bumper guard on the mind that i have been trying to locate