When I 1st got my Jeep, I thought about doing this as well. The more I looked into it, the more I realized it wasn't a very good idea.
Going from memory....problems with this.
- Hitch receiver winches aren't as strong, so you'll have to reduce your winch size below a 9K winch type. I can't remember the exact number.
- Once you're stuck, you never know how you're going to be stuck and pulling a winch off one side and putting it on the other may not be possible. For example, buried in the front, winch is on the front and need to go backwards? How you going to pull that front winch forward through the mud that's directly in front of it that you're stuck in, so you can put it on the back? If you have it currently on the back, are you sure you're going to have enough space to put it on the front receiver?
- Hitch mounted winches decrease your approach and/or departure angles since they stick out further. Thus, the winch can be a contributing factor in causing you to get stuck.
- It's a pain in the behind moving a winch from the front to back.
- The hitch receiver in the front often reduces your front ground clearance and if you get a bumper with a receiver, they're not very strong and can break easily.
What I ended up doing is that I decided to do a front bumper perma mount 12K winch. Then I purchased 3 snatch blocks and tree saver straps so I can do a reverse pull if needed. Go on Youtube, pulling yourself backwards with a front mounted winch is very feasible.
For additional convenience, I'm currently working on installing a small (2.5K) rear hitch mounted winch. My plan is that I will use this for pulling out brush, deer, logs, and cars that often get stuck in ice/snow on my sub division streets before the road crew plows the roads. Using a snatch block, thus doubling its pulling capacity, it should be able to handle smaller pulls. If a smaller rear winch doesn't work for your needs, then there's no reason you can't get a larger winch and hitch receiver winch mount and do the same if you need something bigger for the rear.
I just happen to pick this one up from HF for $35 during one of their sidewalk clearance sales. So I'm going to put it to use by making it portable and be able to throw it on the rear hitch. I also picked up their 3/16th synthetic rope and fairlead for $20 as well, but need to still put the rope on. It came with 3/16th in steel cable and a roller fairlead but I don't like steel cable. If it doesn't work out for me, I'll upgrade to their 3.5K and some 3/8in synth rope but I only spent $60 total on this one, so no biggie.
The HF 12K Badlands winches are good for their price. $279 with their coupon. I would rather perma mount one in the front, and then throw another one on a rear receiver winch mount for the rear if I needed it than try to do a single winch and moving it back and forth.
