Rough Country Hidden Winch Mount

[Oscar_iuec18]

Can't imagine why you couldn't. I think the only issue might be the winch clutch handle. Depends on which winch you go with.

Dude last weekend I took my bumper back down and did that mod on the winch i did both sides of it tho since I was already doing the top might as well do the bottom right... i don't think the bottom matters as much as the top, but I have to admit, that made a huge difference, day and night difference... I now know when you said you feel alot the better the way it came put after you cut yours, i like it alot more now the way it is...

 

[trmrzla]

Dude last weekend I took my bumper back down and did that mod on the winch i did both sides of it tho since I was already doing the top might as well do the bottom right... i don't think the bottom matters as much as the top, but I have to admit, that made a huge difference, day and night difference... I now know when you said you feel alot the better the way it came put after you cut yours, i like it alot more now the way it is...

Nice job!

Yeah I didn't do the bottom for the reasons you said but doing the top gave me a lot more confidence in the longevity of the rope, at least from rubbing.

 

[jrfuller]

Can't imagine why you couldn't. I think the only issue might be the winch clutch handle. Depends on which winch you go with.

I went with the standard RC PRO12000S winch.

 

[trmrzla]

I went with the standard RC PRO12000S winch.

Then I would think so should be fine because the handle for the RC winches is already behind the bumper. Moving the bumper further out shouldn't have any impact.

 

[jrfuller]

Then I would think so should be fine because the handle for the RC winches is already behind the bumper. Moving the bumper further out shouldn't have any impact.

Awesome. Thanks for the input!

 

[Muleyman]

Here are some more pictures, I'll take better pictures tomorrow or just ask me if you guys need to see pictures of something else I did

Does the free spool/engage clutch lever clear the corner of the fairlead mount, or did you have to modify one or the other? I used the Smittybilt X20 12k winch and I had to open up that area more with a plasma cutter to fully spin the handle.

 

[Oscar_iuec18]

Does the free spool/engage clutch lever clear the corner of the fairlead mount, or did you have to modify one or the other? I used the Smittybilt X20 12k winch and I had to open up that area more with a plasma cutter to fully spin the handle.

No problem with the free spool lever it works just fine

 

[jrfuller]

Here is confirmation that the kit fits with a 3/4" bumper spacer. And it fits nice! And thanks to @RS90 for the advice on mounting the remote extension wire under the hood.

 

[trmrzla]

Here is confirmation that the kit fits with a 3/4" bumper spacer. And it fits nice! And thanks to @RS90 for the advice on mounting the remote extension wire under the hood.

What were the spacers for?

 

[jrfuller]

What were the spacers for?

They move the front bumper forward 3/4" to help clear larger tires. I had 40" tires installed, which needed more clearance.

 

[MattR]

I'm days away from pulling the trigger on 40s instead of 38s with my lift and winch install. Has anyone used bumper spacers or can anyone see why this hidden winch setup wouldn't work with bumper spacers?

You might have to figure out some spacers for the fairlead mount too. And yes, my clutch handle is already further in than I would like. It will be even further in now

 

[4wheels and a hitch]

Any notes on what was used for spacers?

 

[jrfuller]

Any notes on what was used for spacers?

I used the KD Fabworks 3/4" bumper spacer, and the fairlead sits perfectly in the bumper opening with no extra spacers needed. If I felt like it was too far back, I would just change the Factor55 1.0 fairlead to the Factor55 1.5 fairlead.

 

[CAMO]

Gotta be honest, can’t keep up with 25 pages of updates….looking for a winch for “just in case”. The factory one was cancelled on my build in 2022 and as hunting season draws closer, I keep thinking about the rough country option. How is it? Any roll-ups?

 

[lwgrubbs]

Gotta be honest, can’t keep up with 25 pages of updates….looking for a winch for “just in case”. The factory one was cancelled on my build in 2022 and as hunting season draws closer, I keep thinking about the rough country option. How is it? Any roll-ups?

I'm in a similar boat, do a lot of solo exploring. In the past I've always gone brand names like Warn and Superwinch, but the latest winches all seem pretty decent and the reviews on YouTube for the Rough Country winch make it look as good as a Warn for the most part. Albeit the warranty is not quite as good. Since I can essentially get the Rough Country winch kit for my '22 for about $650 off of Amazon I'll probably just pull the trigger. I'll swap out the fairlead and hook for a Factor 55 unit as I prefer those to the lower quality RC bits.

 

[andrewstclair]

I'm in a similar boat, do a lot of solo exploring. In the past I've always gone brand names like Warn and Superwinch, but the latest winches all seem pretty decent and the reviews on YouTube for the Rough Country winch make it look as good as a Warn for the most part. Albeit the warranty is not quite as good. Since I can essentially get the Rough Country winch kit for my '22 for about $650 off of Amazon I'll probably just pull the trigger. I'll swap out the fairlead and hook for a Factor 55 unit as I prefer those to the lower quality RC bits.

For the price who cares. I bought it so far been good I know its less warranty but for that price you can buy 3 replacement winches and use the same bracket over n over lol

 

[Quiet Riptide]

I had a shop install the Rough Country hidden winch using the 13000 lb Pro Series winch on my 2023 7.3. Ironically, they used the posts in this thread to do it.....
The control box was mounted as seen in Oscar_iuec18's photos. I felt it was kinda out in the open where a rolling over or off a rock could hit it (I could be wrong). Anyway I chose to mount it vertically.
I made a bracket using 3/16in steel plate. I drilled holes to attach bracket to winch mount in same place as original bracket. I drilled holes to mount control unit to bracket using the mfg provided screws. I put about a 5.5 degree bend in bracket to allow space for the screw heads between the bracket and the winch mount.
Bracket is now tucked up out of the way. I understand there may be downsides as the control unit wires wrap down the side and are close to the winch mount. Time will tell if the rub. But I used the wiring cover...
Where the winch rope is exposed under the truck, on mine I notice a plastic tab and a trim screw that extends up to where it seems to be touching the rope. I removed the screw and was considering cutting off / sanding the plastic tab and attached nut. Anybody else notice these possible issues?

 

[lwgrubbs]

For those with a '22 and have the Rough Country mount AND winch; Do you have any photos from the bottom of the setup? Are the wires or solenoid exposed? How hard is it to get to the handle for lock/unlock of the spool?

 

[4wheels and a hitch]

Time for a winch install. I am ordering the hidden winch mount for my 23 gas. I am still on the fence about the winch to order. I have spent hours this week trying to decide. I have looked at Sherpa, Comeup, Warn, RC, Badlands Apex, and many others. Ugh.
Is the Warn EVO that much better than the Rough Country? We know the RC is just a branded Chinese version from the same plant where all of the other knock offs are made.
It is a shame that the higher dollar (RC and Warn) don't come with a wireless remote.
I am going with a synthetic rope instead of wire. I have had wire.
I am open to comments and opinions for a winch that fits. I will not be doing a lot of way off road recovery so I don't need a $3000 Warn. This will be for self recovery, boat ram pulls, moving downed trees, and shrubbery pulls.
What do you say?

 

[Optimus🤖]

Time for a winch install. I am ordering the hidden winch mount for my 23 gas. I am still on the fence about the winch to order. I have spent hours this week trying to decide. I have looked at Sherpa, Comeup, Warn, RC, Badlands Apex, and many others. Ugh.
Is the Warn EVO that much better than the Rough Country? We know the RC is just a branded Chinese version from the same plant where all of the other knock offs are made.
It is a shame that the higher dollar (RC and Warn) don't come with a wireless remote.
I am going with a synthetic rope instead of wire. I have had wire.
I am open to comments and opinions for a winch that fits. I will not be doing a lot of way off road recovery so I don't need a $3000 Warn. This will be for self recovery, boat ram pulls, moving downed trees, and shrubbery pulls.
What do you say?

WARN all day!