1994 explorer front hitch, brush guard

[madmongodog]

I have a 94 explorer eddie bauer with a brush guard on the front. I would like to install a front mount hitch to the vehicle for a winch. Could I beef up the brush guard to accept a winch? The brush guard attaches to the INSIDE of the frame rails. In looking through front mount receivers the curt #31545 receiver looks like it mounts to the OUTSIDE of the frame rails. Can anyone help me out? I don't want to buy a hitch and not be able to use it. The brush guard I was going to beef up with 1/4" plate, will this work? Thank you for your time, Jim

 

[deamon3]

The brush guard will just bend even when beefed up , mount it to the frame.

 

[92exp4x4]

If you will have a receiver on the front of your truck, just get a reciever mounted winch. You are buying a ready made receiver for the front, right? A brush guard will never have the strenth to act as an anchor for a winch because of the leverage. A winch should almost always be mounted in line with the frame and the pull direction.