Rear bumper hidden winch

[kbwhipple]

first i took a metal seven pin trailer connector and took the center out and stripped it. taking all the pins out and only saving the plastic center.




i then used a 3/4" wood bit and carfully drilled out the center.




then i took the 3 pin connector for the winch and wired in a peice of extension cord to lengh n it. (about 3' to 4' is needed to reach the solenoid pack) (to make life easyier and not go through so much splicing wires together i suggest connectiing the solenoid pack up first and finnish wiring up later.) (the wires i used happened to all be the same colors, black, white, and green.) i also ground and filed off the edges of the connector to make it fit into the metal seven pin trailer housing.










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[kbwhipple]

Then i put the original plastic center from the trailer connector back in that i drilled the 3/4" hole in, then put the 3 pin winch connector in.



*make sure you put the little set screws back in that hold the plastic center.

then i drilled two pilot holes just slightly smaller than the screws i had on either side of the 3 pin connector and then screwed the screws in..



then i got the winch and took the 10 screws out holding the clutch lever so i could rotate the lever to a better position. i beleive they are a metric 4 hex head.



i then carefully broke it apart and rotated it... you donot have to take it all the way off, just seperate it enough to rotate it, the cable drum will rotate aswell. becarefull of not tearing the gasket. the winch i have is very old so i just siliconed it back up.

(rotate 3 holes clockwise)



ok, now just tighten the screws back up and grab a cutting torch. take the spare tire out for extra room and space to work with. i didnot have one on stand by asap so i had to use a saws off. i would recomend disconnecting the solinoid pack and unspooling the cable off of the winch to reduse the bulk and make it a little lighter to handel.

cut the back of the bumper out 6"X21"





and cut two slots in the bottom. then cut a hole for your fairlead out of the front where you want. and the hole where you wish to place the 7 pin housing. ( 2.25" hole) either use the cutting torch or a 2.25" bi metal hole saw bit.





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[kbwhipple]

now cut out a peice of 1/4"-3/8" plate steel 9"X21"




now i clamped the plate under the bumper and drilled four holes on the far ouside corners of the plate. 7/16" holes with 7/16" grade 8 bolts. place the winch on top of the plate and clamp it down and carfully take it and the plate down and then mark where the holes are you need to drill for the winch. bolt hole pattern is 4.5"X10"



then i took the solinoid pack and shoved it in the bumper on the driver side. i took the trailer 7 pin connector out to get the wires out of the way before i started. then i rewired it all back up and bolted it back up.





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[kbwhipple]

2006 se kc 4X4 6-speed frontier with a shrockworks rear bumper, and 33" spare tire.

Edit.....kennesaw mountain bumper purchased January 2, 2008. Sorry chillin at brians7's house he just gave me the receipt for the bumper lol

items used-

warn m-8000 winch (3-pin solinoid pack), extention cord, electrical tape, 4-7/16" bolts mine were a little shorter than id like so about 2" long or so.. 8 flat washers, 4 lock washers plus the bolts and lock washers to bolt the winch down. a cutting torch, a hand grinder, if you wish to weld it up have fun i do not recommend welding. a 2.25" bi metal hole saw drill bit, a drill, 7/16" drill bit, 1/4"-3/8" steel plate 9"X21" enough heavy duty winch wire to run from the battery to the rear of the truck.

P.S..... Did this almost a year ago. Just found the time to write up.


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[sudingusnavy]

Thats awesome man! I would like to do something like that when i get my rear bumper. Thanks for the great idea!

[mt.aero]

Thats cool, I like the idea. If I could afford two winches, I'd be all over something similar.

Couple Q's....How has it been with it open to the elements like that? I just know that is an area that collects a ton of dirt and debris. Also, how has your cable been on that torch-cut opening without a fairlead there?

[kbwhipple]

I have a fair lead lol that was just an old pic before I drilled the holes and attached it lol. And as for as collecting dirt/mud. I don't really take my truck "mudding" too much. And I'm pretty religious of going to the car wash and keeping it clean. So I haven't had any trouble out of it. But then again iv only used it maybe a couple times.


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[kbwhipple]

But just like the shrockworks skids they collect lots of mud too.




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[kbwhipple]

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[mt.aero]

Dude thats awesome!... the hinged plate.