Gary_in_Indiana
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2002
- Messages
- 3,373
- Location
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Tractor
- John Deere 4200 MFWD HST w/ JD 420 FEL w/ 61" loader bucket & toothbar & JD 37 BH w/ 12" bucket
For wh
Winch mounting systems
- Thread starter fishman
- Start date
- Views: 2614
Gary_in_Indiana
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2002
- Messages
- 3,373
- Location
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Tractor
- John Deere 4200 MFWD HST w/ JD 420 FEL w/ 61" loader bucket & toothbar & JD 37 BH w/ 12" bucket
For what it's worth, the red ones are the type which come with the winch. If you want to go with the higher rated green ones you'll need to change the OEM connectors, too.
If you do, let me know as I'll be happy to have your red take-offs. And, of course, if I'll end up with those, I heartily encourage you to upgrade immediately. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
If you do, let me know as I'll be happy to have your red take-offs. And, of course, if I'll end up with those, I heartily encourage you to upgrade immediately. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
dltimmons
Bronze Member
Fishman,
I had the hidden mount system on my 96 Chevy Tahoe, with a Warn M8000 winch on it. The mount system works great and is a nice clean way to mount the winch to the front of your truck. A couple of things to keep in mind. The winch is pretty low to the ground, as it is under the bumper, and below the frame in a cradel. The fairlead comes out through the plastic/rubber skirt below the bumper and the lever to engage/freewheel the winch sticks out next to it. In deep snow, or mud, you get to lay down in front of the truck to connect the electric control lead and let out cable, or disengage the gear lever. Also, since the winch is hidden, it is very difficult to clean and tends to collect a lot of road crap in it. It does look good, and the kit from Warn is well thought out.
When I traded off the Tahoe, I removed the winch and have since gone to the front/rear receiver set up others here have been talking about. I got the mounting cradel from Warn, the front receiver from Hidden Hitch, and the front/rear wiring kit from Warn. The wiring kit has a starter type solenoid that the front rear positive cables are connected to, and the battery lead is connected to the other side. It has a switch which I mounted under the dash on the truck that controls the solenoid. The switch is wired so that the truck must be on and running to turn on the switch, only when the switch is on are the cables to the front/rear for the winch "hot". The kit came with the short leads and connectors for the winch, and the long leads connectors etc. for on the truck. A little pricey but a nice wiring kit. I am looking into buying some more of the connectors to use for jumper cables, and on my tractor, but Warn wants something like $39.00 per pair (male/female) for these connectors, and my budget is a little low right now.
I agree with the majority opinion that having the receiver mount for the winch gives you the most utility for the money.
Take a look at the Warn wiring kit, then see what it would cost to make your own. You can probably save a bunch of money buying your own cable and connectors from the welding supply house.
Good luck,
DT
I had the hidden mount system on my 96 Chevy Tahoe, with a Warn M8000 winch on it. The mount system works great and is a nice clean way to mount the winch to the front of your truck. A couple of things to keep in mind. The winch is pretty low to the ground, as it is under the bumper, and below the frame in a cradel. The fairlead comes out through the plastic/rubber skirt below the bumper and the lever to engage/freewheel the winch sticks out next to it. In deep snow, or mud, you get to lay down in front of the truck to connect the electric control lead and let out cable, or disengage the gear lever. Also, since the winch is hidden, it is very difficult to clean and tends to collect a lot of road crap in it. It does look good, and the kit from Warn is well thought out.
When I traded off the Tahoe, I removed the winch and have since gone to the front/rear receiver set up others here have been talking about. I got the mounting cradel from Warn, the front receiver from Hidden Hitch, and the front/rear wiring kit from Warn. The wiring kit has a starter type solenoid that the front rear positive cables are connected to, and the battery lead is connected to the other side. It has a switch which I mounted under the dash on the truck that controls the solenoid. The switch is wired so that the truck must be on and running to turn on the switch, only when the switch is on are the cables to the front/rear for the winch "hot". The kit came with the short leads and connectors for the winch, and the long leads connectors etc. for on the truck. A little pricey but a nice wiring kit. I am looking into buying some more of the connectors to use for jumper cables, and on my tractor, but Warn wants something like $39.00 per pair (male/female) for these connectors, and my budget is a little low right now.
I agree with the majority opinion that having the receiver mount for the winch gives you the most utility for the money.
Take a look at the Warn wiring kit, then see what it would cost to make your own. You can probably save a bunch of money buying your own cable and connectors from the welding supply house.
Good luck,
DT
dltimmons,
Thanks for the insight into both systems. It always helps when somebody has been there and done that and takes the time to tell folks about it.
One question: Did the wiring harness from Warn come with the switch you are talking about, or is that an add-on? I like that approach. How were the directions with the wiring kit? I would be tempted to pay the premium price if there were good instructions.
Thanks for the insight into both systems. It always helps when somebody has been there and done that and takes the time to tell folks about it.
One question: Did the wiring harness from Warn come with the switch you are talking about, or is that an add-on? I like that approach. How were the directions with the wiring kit? I would be tempted to pay the premium price if there were good instructions.
dltimmons
Bronze Member
fishman,
The kits I bought included the solenoid, cable for the rear, switch to activate solenoid, and the connectors w/ dust shield.
Try this link to look at the cable kits available, they don't show the solenoid/switch, but refer to it as the power interupt which is included. http://www.warn.com/truck/accessories/quick_connect_all.shtml
If you have a local 4-wheel drive accessorie dealer in your area, they may have them on the shelf for you to look at.
The kits are pricey, but include all you need for front, and/or, rear hook up of the electrical to the winch.
Warn also offers a front receiver hitch. On my Ford F-350, I went with the Hidden Hitch receiver, it comes out through the middle hole of the bumper, Warns' comes out below the bumper through the skirt on these trucks. I wanted the higher hitch location, just personal preference.
If you look around on the Warn web-site, you can find the cradels to mount the winch into to hook into a receiver also.
Good luck, have fun, spend lots of money,
P.S. The instuctions that come with the kit are good. It is really fairly simple, and takes longer to route the rear cables through the frame of the truck, keeping them away from sharp edges, and/or hot exhaust, than to install the rest of it.
You wont have any trouble if you have any mechanical ability at all.
DT
The kits I bought included the solenoid, cable for the rear, switch to activate solenoid, and the connectors w/ dust shield.
Try this link to look at the cable kits available, they don't show the solenoid/switch, but refer to it as the power interupt which is included. http://www.warn.com/truck/accessories/quick_connect_all.shtml
If you have a local 4-wheel drive accessorie dealer in your area, they may have them on the shelf for you to look at.
The kits are pricey, but include all you need for front, and/or, rear hook up of the electrical to the winch.
Warn also offers a front receiver hitch. On my Ford F-350, I went with the Hidden Hitch receiver, it comes out through the middle hole of the bumper, Warns' comes out below the bumper through the skirt on these trucks. I wanted the higher hitch location, just personal preference.
If you look around on the Warn web-site, you can find the cradels to mount the winch into to hook into a receiver also.
Good luck, have fun, spend lots of money,
P.S. The instuctions that come with the kit are good. It is really fairly simple, and takes longer to route the rear cables through the frame of the truck, keeping them away from sharp edges, and/or hot exhaust, than to install the rest of it.
You wont have any trouble if you have any mechanical ability at all.
DT
Thanks dltimmons. The comment about spending lots of money looks to be spot on. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif However, it sounds like the utility of that setup makes it well worth the added cost of the additional wiring harness. Unfortunately, there isn't a dealer near me listed on the Warn web site. Oh well, there's plenty of online merchants. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
