Hidden Winch

[Trail_Boss_6.2]

Just to provide some ideas - when I installed my RC hidden winch setup on my 2010 Silverado, it came with a bar that connected to the winch clutch that extended up under the hood, it was binding up so I brazed a RC Car Universal Joint towards the winch side to make it move freely. Might give someone an idea on how to better access the clutch on a TB with a otherwise hard to access clutch handle. (Sorry second pic is a little blurry).

 

[JP20TB]

winch sold separately, eh?

Did change fairlead and went with dark bronze tow hooks to match wheels

 

[Cabin 4]

Something to consider when your looking at adding a front winch is weight of the winch and everything else to mount there. A good strong winch for these trucks alone is going to weight in around 85/89 pounds. Add a cable, new heavy bumper/guard, ect and you add like 200 lbs or more net weight add all in the nose of the truck. If you already have a rake, you'll have more. If you dont have a rake, you may have one after. Just something to consider.

 

[Trail_Boss_6.2]

That is so true. After installing my FF Matrix bumper and 10k winch, my front end dropped 1/4”. Measured at the center of the wheel well. Now I have a reason to install a leveling/lift kit

 

[Gangly]

Something to consider when your looking at adding a front winch is weight of the winch and everything else to mount there. A good strong winch for these trucks alone is going to weight in around 85/89 pounds. Add a cable, new heavy bumper/guard, ect and you add like 200 lbs or more net weight add all in the nose of the truck. If you already have a rake, you'll have more. If you dont have a rake, you may have one after. Just something to consider.

Very true.
Mine dropped very little initially, but over the next few weeks it settled a little more. I probably have between 1/4 and 3/8 drop from the winch plate and winch.

 

[Cabin 4]

That is so true. After installing my FF Matrix bumper and 10k winch, my front end dropped 1/4”. Measured at the center of the wheel well. Now I have a reason to install a leveling/lift kit

Well, the good news since all that 1/4 lost is just body drop from compression, leveling back up to gain that 1/4 inch is really a straightforward move. UCAs, balljoints, CVs etc are not in play.

 

[Gangly]

Did change fairlead and went with dark bronze tow hooks to match wheels

Probably best to cinch up that cable. You can get rattles between the hook and attachment when off road and it gets VERY annoying, but more importantly somebody could unhook you. There are numerous stories of people having their winch line unhooked, or connected to something while parked as a practical joke.

I've never personally had it happen to me, so I may be way more concerned about it than I should be, with a very real possibility that it's the old guy mentality getting to me as I age, HA.

PS, the bronze tow hooks look good.

 

[JP20TB]

Something to consider when your looking at adding a front winch is weight of the winch and everything else to mount there. A good strong winch for these trucks alone is going to weight in around 85/89 pounds. Add a cable, new heavy bumper/guard, ect and you add like 200 lbs or more net weight add all in the nose of the truck. If you already have a rake, you'll have more. If you dont have a rake, you may have one after. Just something to consider.

True , which is why an opted for the synthetic line …. Doesn’t freeze here where I’m from and winch is behind my bumper which helps from direct sunlight…. Then again larger tires did add additional weight….upgraded to Bilstiens all around which seems to help with front nose weight…

 

[vezePilot]

Something to consider when your looking at adding a front winch is weight of the winch and everything else to mount there. A good strong winch for these trucks alone is going to weight in around 85/89 pounds. Add a cable, new heavy bumper/guard, ect and you add like 200 lbs or more net weight add all in the nose of the truck. If you already have a rake, you'll have more. If you dont have a rake, you may have one after. Just something to consider.

My 9500 Winch and its Receiver Mount weigh 82 lbs. These ride in the Bed until needed, and can be used at the rear or in my Front Receiver. It is true that my receiver mount has become very slightly bent from heavy use, so it will be a few pounds heavier after I weld on some reinforcement and remove the handles.

In the Wyoming recovery job, the snow was nearly 18 inches deep for several miles off road, and there were two creek crossings going in and coming out of the forest. In snow and ice, the creek crossings were vertical drops of about a foot into icy water, down one side and up the other.

I am trying to fairly imagine how another 200 lbs of winch/bumper would do in these conditions.

 

[JD319]

Has anyone that has mounted a winch system had to make any changes to the suspension to handle the extra weight?

 

[mrcolieman]

Has anyone that has mounted a winch system had to make any changes to the suspension to handle the extra weight?

I'm running stock suspension and added a steel spacer on top of the struts to offset the weight of my bumper/winch...

Winch bumper

The center section for the Move winch bumper I ordered arrived today for my 2019 Custom. I ordered the weld together classic winch bumper with 4 pod light holes, winch upgrade and full grill guard. It's going to house a Warn 12K winch with synthetic rope. When I get started I'll update the...

www.trailboss.org

What did you do to your Trailboss today? 🛠️

Is the catch can noisy? Like air escaping sound. I have the exact same catch-can and haven't noticed any sounds. But I do have a pretty noisy exhaust and cold air intake lol.

www.trailboss.org

 

[Gangly]

1/4" drop is not a big issue, its the decreased compression and rebound that are the main issues. Your suspension, particularly if its a stock suspension, will feel noticeably softer and react slower after the added weight. The vehicle will be more apt to bottom out if you hit a trail and come in a little hotter than you should

 

[Trail_Boss_6.2]

This is a mockup before I secured everything, but this is how I ran the supply to the controller that was mounted on the passenger side fender well. I used a VICE Designs harness extension to run from the controller to the winch.

View attachment 6630

Ended up using aluminum angle 2"x2" 5mm thick. Utilized two existing screws that were for the fender.
Just need to finish customizing cable lengths (shorten), connect to controller, attach ground and install shut off switch for the Positive.
I'll post pics once completed.

 

[Trail_Boss_6.2]

Only have a few minor things to clean up (wire ties, AUX Beam breaker, some wiring...) but here is the (almost) completed version.
I have installed a power switch so the controller/winch has no power until needed.

 

[Gangly]

Only have a few minor things to clean up (wire ties, AUX Beam breaker, some wiring...) but here is the (almost) completed version.
I have installed a power switch so the controller/winch has no power until needed.

View attachment 6717

I have been considering a power switch as well, possibly a Perko. Nice Job!