DIY Hidden Winch Mount v2.0

[tobyw]

Unlike the hidden winch mount I built for our '22 Badlands with the Lux package, our '22 Wildtrak has the High package which means no adaptive cruise and the winch could be mounted between the frame rails where it belongs

The previous owner of this WT had already installed a DV8 front bumper, which I'm not visually mad at, so starting from scratch seemed a bit excessive. Instead, I booger welded a winch cradle to tuck inside the bumper and grab as many factory holes as I could:

I built a little shelf bracket to mount the control box under the hood using some existing holes in the radiator fan assembly:

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[orion]

Awesome! Good job...

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Very nice! You feel like making me a mount..?

 

[Aonarch]

excellent!

 

[broncobase1]

It looks great! On a side note I don't care for adaptive cruise.

 

[Hemisfear]

Nice job, but to be honest, I'd never put a winch behind a bumper for many reasons...

 

[kevin.gt]

Nice job, but to be honest, I'd never put a winch behind a bumper for many reasons...

your “…” has me on the edge of my seat, obsessively refreshing b6g, hoping to see your list of reasons

 

[tobyw]

Nice job, but to be honest, I'd never put a winch behind a bumper for many reasons...

I know that I had a couple concerns with my first one being completely hidden... so I'll bite here, what are some of your reasons?

 

[Hemisfear]

your “…” has me on the edge of my seat, obsessively refreshing b6g, hoping to see your list of reasons

Pictures or it never happened! lol
I'm not suggesting anything other than think before you commit!

 

[Wickedbronco]

Fantastic work! Why don’t more companies do the same?

Did you has to move the intercooler?

 

[Tricky Mike]

Nicely done. That's where mine is and I've noticed no ill effects to the performance from blocking the IC.

 

[mike8675309]

That's excellent work, and I think it should do pretty good. One thing I really like is that also becomes a cross bar for the frame adding support to the horns that otherwise isn't actually supported.


As for the other that shows concerns with one by the bumper, I think my main concern would be the weight balance. The hidden hitch that Lobo has is pretty low and much closer to the front axle, reducing some of the front bias there.

 

[tobyw]

Fantastic work! Why don’t more companies do the same?

Did you has to move the intercooler?

Thank you!

No, intercooler stayed exactly where it was before, although I did add a 3/16" shim to the lower mounting flange to make up for the thickness of the frame bracket sandwiched in there... I left 3/8" clearance between the face of the intercooler and the back edge of the winch plate, just to ensure I didn't have any clearance/interference issues when things get twisted up.

 

[tobyw]

Nicely done. That's where mine is and I've noticed no ill effects to the performance from blocking the IC.

Good to hear, appreciate the feedback. And that's a good looking front bumper, I don't believe I've seen that one before. Did you make that, or who offers it?

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Nice job, but to be honest, I'd never put a winch behind a bumper for many reasons...

Like what?

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