ACCESSORY MOUNTING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS THEREFOR
Accessory mounting systems, and methods therefor are disclosed. A representative accessory mounting system can include a winch and one or more accessories coupled to the winch. The winch can include a frame mountable to a vehicle, a cable drum rotatably supported by the frame, a drive motor operatively connected to the cable drum, and one or more mounting elements carried by the frame. The accessories can be removably coupled to the one or more mounting elements.
1 . An accessory mounting system, comprising:
a winch, including:
a frame mountable to a vehicle;
a cable drum rotatably carried by the frame;
a drive motor operatively connected to the cable drum; and
one or more mounting elements carried by the frame; and
one or more accessories removably coupled to the one or more mounting elements.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power port carried by the winch.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more accessories is electrically connectable to the power port.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mounting elements comprise one or more Picatinny rails.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more mounting elements is attached to the frame.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more accessories are removably coupled to the one or more mounting elements with mounting brackets.
7 . An accessory mounting system, comprising:
a winch, including:
a frame mountable to a vehicle;
a cable drum rotatably carried by the frame;
a drive motor operatively connected to the cable drum;
a control module carried by the frame and electrically connectable to the vehicle's power supply;
a power port carried by the control module; and
one or more mounting rails carried by the frame.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more mounting rails is attached to a housing of the control module.
9 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising one or more accessories removably coupled to the one or more mounting rails and electrically connected to the power port.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more accessories are removably coupled to the one or more mounting rails with mounting brackets.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more mounting rails comprise one or more Picatinny rails.
12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more accessories comprises at least one spotlight.
13 . A method for mounting an accessory to a vehicle, the method comprising:
mounting a winch to a vehicle;
connecting a power supply of the vehicle to the winch;
removably coupling an accessory to the winch; and
connecting the accessory to a power port carried by the winch.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein coupling the accessory to the winch comprises attaching the accessory to mounting rails carried by the winch.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the accessory is a first accessory, and further comprising removing the first accessory and coupling a second accessory to the winch.