Hidden Winch...school me please
- Thread starter deadly99
- Start date
expedition4x4
Explorer
Deadly99 I can remove top access cover if needed but usually I just spray from underneath
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Thanks again. Seems like, for me, hidden is the way to go. A cutout for the clutch and an access panel to get at the rest of the winch. A view of the spool will get incorporated. Some great ideas and helpful information, thanks everyone. Once complete I'll post up some photos.
As for relocating the solenoid...I'll have to wait until the project gets started to determine if its required or not. In a perfect world, hopefully it doesn't. If it does I'll be sure to use the proper sized wires.
As for relocating the solenoid...I'll have to wait until the project gets started to determine if its required or not. In a perfect world, hopefully it doesn't. If it does I'll be sure to use the proper sized wires.
I have a hidden winch as well. Not in your weather band, but cleaning has been easy. There are drain holes in the mount, and the mount is solid as a rock, vs just a tray. I drilled a carefully placed hole to access the lever. Remote mounted the solenoids under the hood to keep them clean. etc. I would do it again.
As much as I like the "look" of hidden winches, I feel the winch needs to be accessible in order to monitor temperature, in order to "dress" your cable, and access the clutch.
Beginning to winch with slack in your cable can lead to bird's nests and loose layers causing either harm to the cable of allowing the cable or rope to cleave down into lower layers. This can be hard enough to get out when your winch is accessible. Just imagine if you can't see it. Having the drum accessible will allow you to dress the cable and then take up the slack prior to beginning your pull - especially with wire which wants to stay straight and not be wrapped around a 2.5" drum.
Good luck with your decision. As much as I don't "like" receiver-mounted winches, it might be a better choice for you.
Beginning to winch with slack in your cable can lead to bird's nests and loose layers causing either harm to the cable of allowing the cable or rope to cleave down into lower layers. This can be hard enough to get out when your winch is accessible. Just imagine if you can't see it. Having the drum accessible will allow you to dress the cable and then take up the slack prior to beginning your pull - especially with wire which wants to stay straight and not be wrapped around a 2.5" drum.
Good luck with your decision. As much as I don't "like" receiver-mounted winches, it might be a better choice for you.
Airmapper
Inactive Member
Here is how much access I have in what I call semi-hidden. I think this is a good compromise. As far as sticking out, I think my recovery points and thimble poke out maybe 4". A different thimble would tuck it in more, but I don't have the same space constraints.
That is pretty much a custom job built in small numbers by a fellow Xterra owner. Since your having yours custom built, you might be able to get some ideas from it, hopefully your Colorado yields itself to a good design.
That is pretty much a custom job built in small numbers by a fellow Xterra owner. Since your having yours custom built, you might be able to get some ideas from it, hopefully your Colorado yields itself to a good design.
I prefer the winch on a receiver myself. With a custom bumper the pin for the receiver can be behind the bumper and the 2 inch hole can be flush .then if you run wire to the back you can use the winch on the rear too. And you can keep the winch out of the elements when not in use
You could also make up a receiver to hold the front plate when the winch is not installed.
You could also make up a receiver to hold the front plate when the winch is not installed.
Typically getting stuck (on trails near where I live) means being stuck in the deep mud. I'm skeptical of shoveling mud to clear room to get a winch installed, more so of getting under the bumper to attach the pin. A bumper mount was a logical choice (keep weight off the front, clean look, keep it out of the salt, etc).
I appreciate all the comments. I've used a winch several times but this will my first. Between the cost of the bumper and the winch its no small investment. How often will it realistically get used? A couple of times a year. That being said I'll feel more confident heading down trails I would normally skip. More often than not I am out exploring without another truck. I see it as a form of insurance and an enabler (if that makes sense).
I appreciate all the comments. I've used a winch several times but this will my first. Between the cost of the bumper and the winch its no small investment. How often will it realistically get used? A couple of times a year. That being said I'll feel more confident heading down trails I would normally skip. More often than not I am out exploring without another truck. I see it as a form of insurance and an enabler (if that makes sense).
Ducky's Dad
Explorer
Makes sense. Enables you to go places you probably shouldn't. Been there, done that.
Imagine how fun your life would have been if you hadn't done all the things you shouldn't of 
LR Max
Local Oaf
Two options with the clutch.
1. Seems like many of these newer trucks have the front grill incorporated into the hood. So opening the hood would gain access to the clutch.
2. Unbolt the clutch portion of the winch and rotate it so the clutch is pointing down. Then you can reach under there and use it. That is what I did with my M12000. Its rotated so the lever is on the back of the winch vs. on top. Worked fine for 10 years.
1. Seems like many of these newer trucks have the front grill incorporated into the hood. So opening the hood would gain access to the clutch.
2. Unbolt the clutch portion of the winch and rotate it so the clutch is pointing down. Then you can reach under there and use it. That is what I did with my M12000. Its rotated so the lever is on the back of the winch vs. on top. Worked fine for 10 years.
Or better still, get someone else out of somewhere they shouldn't have been. Rescued a couple of friends from the mud this weekend. They were stuck but good. Took an hour and a half to get there, they were in the boonies. I'd rather have the winch do the work than the drive train.