M38A1 winch

Jack Innes · #1 18-03-12, 18:29

I have an M38A1 and about a 1960 CJ5 chassis with a factory winch & rear PTO. Will this winch setup fit directly on the M38A1? Was there any military application for the rear PTO? Is the transfer case PTO different to just drive the winch - other than 2 levers? Thank you for any information.

rob love · #2 19-03-12, 02:48

Your set up will work, but you will have to modify your exhaust and depending what bellcrank you have, you might have an issue there.

The military used only the Ramsey 50 and 50R winches with a smallish Ramsey PTO and slim U joints with a hanger block at the bellhousing. These parts are expensive and hard to find, and were particular to the military.

I think there was a welder mounted in the back of some of the early M38s that might have used the rear PTO, but I won't say for certain. The ramsey military PTO had a flange on the back which could have been used for alternate applications, although it was only controlled by 1 lever.

I have had both styles of winches, and there were two manufacturers for the basic civilian jeeps. They were Ramsey and Keonig. I have found the keonigs to be a little more difficult to install as well as not as good a quality as the ramsey.

maple_leaf_eh · #3 21-03-12, 04:40

I remember the winch as a Ramsey. Gear lever in the cab with a little hinged Y fork for a lockout, and the engage/disengage/reverse lever up front on the winch body. There was also something different about the front bumper, or maybe I am remembering the fairlead rollers?

Jack Innes · #4 22-03-12, 23:24

Thank you Rob & Terry for the information. The winch I have is a Ramsay but for now it looks like quite a modification to mount it. I think I will leave it on the chassis as it is for now. This is a display chassis with 41 miles on it from new & perhaps it should remain as just that.

rob love · #5 22-03-12, 23:40

The usual winch on a CJ was the ramsey 200. The winch is wider and longer than the military winch, and is a bit of a tight fit in the M38A1. The installation of the 50 series military winch did not require any front bumper change, whereas the 200 series civilian winches usually had a bit of a bumper extension. Otherwise it would be a very tight fit.

Phil Waterman · #6 22-03-12, 23:49

Hi All

One of the guys in our MV Club has found some winches for the M38 believed to by the military version. No other details yet available but will keep you posted.

Cheers Phil