Best Hitch Receiver Mounts For Winches – 2021 Reviews

| Last Updated: January 4, 2022

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Do you have an adventurous soul and love to winch your accessories to your vehicle? Or are you in a towing business and need to pull along heavy vehicles?

No matter the kind of work you do or load you drag, you need a hitch receiver mount. It makes the installation of winches easier and that too, without any damage to your vehicle. 

So, read on to found out what kind of a winch you need and what options you have. 

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Allows variety of accessories to be mounted on vehicles
  • Protective coating for longer-lasting durability
  • Up to 9000 pounds of line pull
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  • Heavy-duty, durable construction
  • For most vehicles and recovery winches up to 9000 lbs
  • Easy to install and use
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  • Best for the Money
  • Built tough for heavy lifting
  • Installation is very simple and easy
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  • Covered in dual-layer, co-cured finish for rust resistance
  • Installs fast and easy
  • Comes with all necessary hardware for installation
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  • Anti-rust black powder coat finish
  • Suited for 8000 lbs to 13000 lbs winches
  • Hitch pin and clip included
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Are Hitch Receiver Mounts Important?

Hitch receiver mounts for winches are certainly important as they help to drag more loads. They also let you tie up the weights more securely. So, let us see what else makes them a must-have.

Easier Winching

The best thing about hitch receiver mounts is that they have adequate place for winching, no matter if your car has a drum to support winches or not. If you have a hitch receiver mount, then you can easily attach a winch in it without any major modifications of your vehicle. 

Added Safety

Another great thing about hitch receiver mounts for winches is that they provide additional safety. When you have a great load attached to your vehicle, you cannot take any risks. There can be swerves, and sharp turns on the road too. But, if the load is attached tightly, it will not cause any accidents or misadventures. 

No Damage to Vehicle

Hitch receiver mounts avoid any unnecessary damage to your vehicle too. They avoid scratching and direct rubbing of the winch on the vehicle’s surface. This way, your vehicle stays all new and scratch-free for a long time.

What Makes a Great Hitch Receiver Mount?

A great hitch receiver mount offers ease and comfort to the users. It not only takes away your burden but also makes sure that it lasts for a long while. Here are the features that distinguish a hitch receiver mount to us. 

Motor Performance

The motor performance of a hitch receiver mount should be energy efficient and fast. When on the roads, you need to have more speed and lesser consumption of energy. So, high motor performance is a promising feature in these mounts for winches.

Warranty

Warranty is something that makes people trust a product immediately. As they know that the company is responsible for damages and repairs, they worry less about its life. Another thing is when companies offer more warranty, they tend to produce more reliable products. 

Right Pricing

The price of a hitch receiver mount has to be highly affordable. High prices do not always indicate a high quality of products too. So, you should go for winch mounts that stay within your budget.

Versatility

Versatility is also an important factor for a hitch receiver mount for winches. These mounts should be compatible with all major trucks and other vehicles. 

Review of the Best Hitch Receiver Mounts For Winches

Winches need to have a powerful hitch receiver mount to deal with all the weight they pull. So, you have to be careful about choosing one. Considering this, we have brought you a detailed review of the best hitch receiver mounts.

Best Overall:
Reese 65005 Front Mount Receiver

Reese 65005 Front Mount Receiver with 2' Square Receiver opening , Black

PROS

  • Can handle a line pull up of 9000 pounds
  • Square receiver tube opening is 2-inch wide
  • Greater versatility due to easy change of accessories 
  • Easy mounting of accessories to the front of vehicles
  • High protection against rust with METALSHIELD protective coating

CONS

  • Nuts should be inside the frame
  • Hard to figure out the installation

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers are quite happy with their purchase as this winch mount helped them a lot. They liked the versatility the most. It enabled them to attach the same mount on all of their vehicles. This way, they knew that they would be safe no matter which vehicle they fix it on.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It stands out to us with its metal shield protection the most. This coating does not only make the mount look all shiny and new, but it also protects it. The coating prevents it from all the UV rays and other environmental damage. It also does not corrode, so the winch mount stays around for a long time.

Who Will Use This Most

This is best suited to the needs of people who are in the towing business. The winch mount can support a weight of 9000 pounds, so it can help in towing most vehicles. It is also great for carrying large vertical loads like fallen trees or timber. 

Bottom Line

To sum up, it is one of the best hitch receiver mounts for winches on the market at present. It has the right features at the right price, making it ideal for a diverse range of buyers. It also has high reliability and durability, so get this one if you want a long-term investment. 

Runner-up:
Eagle King Winch Hitch Receiver Mount Plate

PROS

  • Easy to install due to the winch plate
  • Highly reliable and lightweight at 20 pounds
  • Recovery winch for up to 9000 pounds weight
  • The platform is 24 inches long and 7 inches wide
  • Carbon steel construction provides added strength 

CONS

  • The paint comes off easily
  • Hard to attach vertical line load

What Recent Buyers Report

The people who bought it lately found it to be a great hitch receiver mount on the whole. They liked how it has such a low weight as compared to other such models. It impressed them as even at only 20 pounds of weight, it can support a winch with 9000 pounds. 

Why it Stands Out to Us

It makes it to our list as the runner-up hitch receiver mount due to its amazing features. The carbon steel construction is our favorite feature as it makes the mount long-lasting. It helps in increasing the tensile strength of the winches attached to it. The ease of installation is another feature that makes it stand out to us.

Who Will Use This Most

This is most useful for people who want something lightweight yet highly practical. Its sleek design and the flat black frame help in installing it on your vehicle. The nuts and bolts have an appropriate direction as well. So, it is great for both professional mechanics and tow away folks.

Bottom Line

The bottom line on this one is that it has what it takes to be a great hitch receiver mount. The size and its specifications are what the people need most. So, if you find it compatible with your vehicle, then you should go for it.

Best for the Money:
Guide Gear 2" Receiver Universal Winch Mount

Guide Gear Universal Winch Mount for ATV, UTV, Truck, 2' Receiver, 3500 lbs

PROS

  • Weighs only 5.5 pounds
  • Its tensile strength is 3500 pounds
  • Simple installation for all kinds of vehicles
  • Universal pre-drilled frame for 4 and 2 bolt winches
  • Practical build with 13.2 x 6.5 x 2.5 inches dimensions

CONS

  • Light duty use for vertical pulls
  • Hardware issue experienced with countersunk holes

What Recent Buyers Report

This hitch receiver mount has impressed recent buyers with its price. They love how it has such high quality at such a low price. They like its lightweight frame too, which weighs only 5.5 pounds. However, they wish that it could support more weight, and that would make the winch mount perfect. Apart from that, they don’t have much to complain about. 

Why it Stands Out to Us

It caught our eye with the universal pre-drilled frame, which accommodates 2 and 4 bolt winches. This way, it gives more options to users when it comes to the type of winches. The mount is also super compact, with dimensions of 13.2 x 6.5 x 2.5 inches.

Who Will Use This Most

This is the right winch mount for people who need something practical yet good looking. It does not take much space on the front of your vehicle too. This, along with its bolt positioning, makes it great for modern users. 

Bottom Line

To conclude, this is an incredible hitch receiver mount for the people who need to drag moderate loads. It is not good for very heavy loads, but it does fairly well for the load that needs dragging on average. 

4. CURT 31108 Front Hitch With 2-Inch Receiver

CURT 31108 2-Inch Front Receiver Hitch, Select Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, GMC Sierra, Yukon XL, Fascia Trimming

PROS

  • High resistance against UV damage
  • Can take a tongue weight of 500 pounds
  • 2-inch receiver is ideal for all kinds of towing
  • Dual-layer co-cured finish to prevent corrosion
  • Easy installation on most new and old vehicle models

CONS

  • Quite heavy to carry around
  • Seems more expensive than other similar models

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers came up with a mixed response regarding this hitch receiver mount for winches. They liked the overall construction and its protective features. But they had reservations when it came to its price as it seemed a little too high. At the same time, they claimed that the price was totally worth the features. 

Why it Stands Out to Us

It gains our approval due to the versatility of weight-bearing capacity. It easily takes on 5,000 pounds of gross trailer weight, 500 pounds tongue weight, and 9000 straight line pull. In addition, it has a high resistance to damage caused by UV rays and other pollutants in the air.

Who Will Use This Most

This is most useful for those who are on the lookout for something which can drag mammoth trees. It can bear a surprisingly high weight, making it great for a wide arena of uses. So, go for this if you need something durable and heavy-duty.

Bottom Line

To sum up, this is a great hitch receiver mount overall, which brings ease to the users. The installation is so easy that you do not need any kind of assistance for it. It is compatible with both old and new models of most vehicles, so it can be a great choice for you.

5. ECOTRIC 10x 4 1/2 Cradle Winch Mount

ECOTRIC 10x 4 1/2 Cradle Winch Mount Mounting Plate 8000-13,000 Lb Capacity Winch Mounting Hitch Receiver Recovery Winches Foldable

PROS

  • Has a cradle fit mount type
  • Ideal for 8000 to 13000 pounds winches
  • High durability due to steel construction
  • Black powder coat finishing helps it fight rust
  • Greater reliability because of the 1-year warranty

CONS

  • Its handles are not adjustable
  • The welds need modification to suit a vehicle

What Recent Buyers Report

Almost all users found it great for use as it can take on very high loads. They like it for having a cradle fit type of mount, which secures the winches in it. They also approve of the pricing of this model, which is quite low considering its offerings. The only issue they reported was that the handles are not adjustable. Apart from that, they loved this model. 

Why it Stands Out to Us

This has been added to our list because of its heavy-duty steel construction. It enables it to carry weights of up to 13000 pounds, and that is truly impressive. The black powder coat on this winch mount is also great as it helps in fighting off all possible damage. 

Who Will Use This Most

This is best for people who need heavy-duty use. The weight capacity and tensile strength are both suitable for very heavy loads. This, along with the steel construction, makes sure that you can tie almost any vehicle to it.

Bottom Line

The final word on this is that it is worth investing in if you need to carry heavy loads. The warranty of 1 year makes it more trustworthy and reliable. Other than this, the protective coating on the frame makes it last longer too. 

What Do I Need To Know Before Buying?

All of the hitch receiver mounts are different in terms of size and other aspects. This makes it a little tricky to purchase the right one for your winch. So, make sure you compare the following aspects of the available options before making a decision.

Winch Speed

The winch speed of a hitch receiver mount is very important to consider. It determines both the ease of using it and the amount of effort it takes. So, make sure that you go for a hitch receiver mount, which has a fast winching capacity.

Cable Type

The type of cable is also necessary to keep in mind to have a better experience. There are two types of cables available in the market – synthetic and steel. Steel cables undergo more damage, and they add up to the load. Meanwhile, synthetic fibers cause no splinters, and so they do not get any rust too. So, you should prefer cables that have synthetic construction.

Weight Support

The amount of weight that a hitch receiver mount can deal with is also significant. You have to be careful about both the vertical load and the straight line pull. They are best at the values of 500 pounds and 9000 pounds, respectively. 

Conclusion

Keeping it all in view, we can conclude that a hitch receiver mount makes winching easier. But, for that, you have to invest in a reliable mount. The models above are all quite competitive, and they are successful in the market. So, choose the one which fits your preferences the best and keep enjoying smooth winching.

I used to work in construction and landscaping, so I've seen my fair share of ratchet straps, winches, and similar rigging gear. I started Winch Central because I've seen some nasty accidents due to crappy rigging or poor practice. I wanted to be able to recommend good equipment that's SAFE and also provide resources for how its used. I handle the research side of things here as well as product selection for gear reviews.