Winch mount blocking from receiver hitch

C

Camo1100

New member
My dad & I had been wondering why we didn't have a front receiver hitch. Today I discovered that we do have one but the winch mounting system is blocking the receiver. There's a piece of angle iron that attaches to the front of the winch and then to the grille guard but covers the receiver hitch. The angle iron has a cut-out for for the smaller ATV size hitches. My thought is that we could remove the angle iron, cut out a larger notch to allow access to the receiver, then re-install it.
Has anyone else run into this situation? Not sure why Kubota would use a bracketing system for the winch when it makes the front receiver useless.
 
I have the Kubota winch kit on my RTV 500 and it leaves my receiver hitch wide open. Are you using the Kubota mount?
 
I'm not sure about the 1100s but with the 500 there's a pile of clearance there, sounds like they must have made the area smaller on the 1100.
 
Or are the 1100's now using a 2" draw bar (as opposed to the 1" that's on our 900's)?
 
I had some problems getting my 4000 lb warn winch mounted as well. Originally on my 900 and moved it to the 11 when I traded.

I believe all newer 11's have the 2" hitch, mine is the 1 1/4" older style. So that makes sense if the opening is too small. Start cutting.

Anyway, we took a 3" x 1/4" piece of angle iron and fitted it so it mounts on the top into the bush guard and on the bottom to the bush guard as well as the curtis plow mounting plate. Then welded some 1" square tubing to it for mounting the winch plate. Keep the tubing inward of the winch mounting holes, leaving enough room to get the bolt in and a wrench on the bolt. Then welded the winch plate to the tubing. You may find it easier to use 1 1/4 square tubing as this will allow more room for the longer bolts. Remember one side of the winch has shorter bolts than the other. Can't remember which side it is, but be sure to check before installing. And cut a big enough opening to get the hitch receiver access.
I tried to make mine fit with the plow on, hoping to not have to remove the winch each plow season. Finally test will occur shortly when I tired to remount the plow.

Picture is a little hard to see the detail, but look closely and you will see the 1" tubing.
 

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I had same problem on my 500 came with a dealer installed kit, but he told me it was for a 900 he had it already in stock and sold the larger winch at the same price as the smaller one and it even came with a remote control. I just removed the mounting plate that had a hole for the 1 inch receiver and ground it out to fit the 2 in. on the 500.
 
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