Winch Install!

[PapaRaptor]

Ps - I am totally doing my own install. This seems like an easy thing for people to botch.

if you have the adaptive cruise you will need to return to the dealership and have it re calibrated. I would just speak with the service manager and make sure he puts his best mechanic on it.
I went in and met the service manager and he had one tech that he wanted to have do it. I am thrilled with my install.

Most of the skilled techs will do a fine job. I believe some dealerships have less experienced techs that do simple tasks, like mud flaps and floor mats maybe a clean or wax, The winch install needs a tech that cares and one who has some experience.

 

[SomethingRandom]

Exactly!

I've confirmed that they saved the part so worst case if I have to install it myself I will. I learned a long time ago that I'm great at rough carpentry, not so much the finish work so I'll just have to take my time if I'm not able to get the dealer to do it.

Just have them return the center trim piece to you, along with the fasteners for it (8 iirc, 4 flush push trees, 4 button style expanding fasteners). 15 seconds of looking at the piece, and trying to put it back in place will tell you exactly what needs trimming. A combination of a dremel, some flush cuts, and a utility knife were all I needed to do it. I'm going off memory but most of the trimming is on the drivers side of the piece. If you take picture of the trim piece from a top down view, and from the drivers side of the piece looking towards the passenger side I can do a quick mspaint of where you need to trim.

Make sure they actually read the updated instructions and follow it regarding how the valence bolts up. Mine didn't, though luckily the rope wasn't damaged. They did however run the negative lead from the winch in a really fucked up manner. Basically the wire will just rub on a sharp metal edge until the insulation is cut. So I'll be rerunning that. Shouldn't be too bad. I need to get in there anyhow to install the solenoid I'm using to cut power to the winch.

 

[Vermonster]

if you have the adaptive cruise you will need to return to the dealership and have it re calibrated. I would just speak with the service manager and make sure he puts his best mechanic on it.
I went in and met the service manager and he had one tech that he wanted to have do it. I am thrilled with my install.

Most of the skilled techs will do a fine job. I believe some dealerships have less experienced techs that do simple tasks, like mud flaps and floor mats maybe a clean or wax, The winch install needs a tech that cares and one who has some experience.

I will have adaptive cruise. Thanks for the knowledge, there. That’s quite the curveball.

 

[Doug1111]

More! I’ll post the finished deal tomorrow when I get it wrapped up. View attachment 6872View attachment 6873View attachment 6874View attachment 6875View attachment 6876View attachment 6877View attachment 6878View attachment 6879View attachment 6880

Thank you for sharing all thiis work but I do have a question. Is a dual battery required for this installation ?

 

[Rcpd34]

Thank you for sharing all thiis work but I do have a question. Is a dual battery required for this installation ?

Nope. Mine works fine with just the stock single one.

 

[ccw]

Thank you for sharing all thiis work but I do have a question. Is a dual battery required for this installation ?

To Rcpd34's point, dual battery isn't functionally required. Many vehicles run a winch off of a much smaller single battery/alternator.

However, if you want a dealer to do the install, it basically is required. It seems like most (all?) dealers won't even sell you the kit without running your VIN first and verifying you have dual batteries/dual alternators.

 

[yArdbird]

Just have them return the center trim piece to you, along with the fasteners for it (8 iirc, 4 flush push trees, 4 button style expanding fasteners). 15 seconds of looking at the piece, and trying to put it back in place will tell you exactly what needs trimming. A combination of a dremel, some flush cuts, and a utility knife were all I needed to do it. I'm going off memory but most of the trimming is on the drivers side of the piece. If you take picture of the trim piece from a top down view, and from the drivers side of the piece looking towards the passenger side I can do a quick mspaint of where you need to trim.

Make sure they actually read the updated instructions and follow it regarding how the valence bolts up. Mine didn't, though luckily the rope wasn't damaged. They did however run the negative lead from the winch in a really fucked up manner. Basically the wire will just rub on a sharp metal edge until the insulation is cut. So I'll be rerunning that. Shouldn't be too bad. I need to get in there anyhow to install the solenoid I'm using to cut power to the winch.

@SomethingRandom thank you for offering to mark up where I will likely need to trim. I’m not expecting my dealer to do it as I started getting the “it’s not what Ford recommends” story today.

If these pictures don’t work, I’ll take better ones when I pick up the truck on Friday, this is what my dealer sent me.

 

[SomethingRandom]

@SomethingRandom thank you for offering to mark up where I will likely need to trim. I’m not expecting my dealer to do it as I started getting the “it’s not what Ford recommends” story today.

If these pictures don’t work, I’ll take better ones when I pick up the truck on Friday, this is what my dealer sent me.

No worries at all. Happy to help.

You need to remove the plastic tab where the red arrow points. I just used flush cuts here and slowly nibbled it away. Finished flush with some sand paper. Note that tab is actually the bottom of the trim piece.



On the drivers side. You need to remove material from the area that extends backwards towards the engine. When you go to test fit you'll see where that side hits the winch bracket. On the TOP face you'll trim back the material to where the scalloped piece curves back towards the motor. Then you'll trim the vertical part until you're able to seat the trim fully. Note that there are two holes on each side of the center piece that the left and right trim pieces (that cover the tow hooks) snap into.



With the winch installed you'll be able to use one of the flat top fasteners in a hole on the bottom on the trim (furthest passenger side hole. On the upper part you'll be able to use three of the "button" style fasteners. Again starting from the passenger side. You'll want to remove the left and right side trim pieces before you start. Then reinstall when you've got the center trimmed out and sitting how you like it. When you have everything in hand it'll make sense how the three pieces interface.

Go slowly. Fast is the enemy, and dremel tools are the devil. Hope this helps a bit.

 

[DocHorriday]

I did similar trimming as mentioned on the top side, but did not cut off the tabs on the bottom. Keep them on if you can while fitting everything up. They’ll help keep the center trim piece attached as you will not be able to reinstall all of the fasteners.

Sorry, didn’t get any photos of how I trimmed the center piece and I’m not taking it off now.

 

[SomethingRandom]

I did similar trimming as mentioned on the top side, but did not cut off the tabs on the bottom. Keep them on if you can while fitting everything up. They’ll help keep the center trim piece attached as you will not be able to reinstall all of the fasteners.

Sorry, didn’t get any photos of how I trimmed the center piece and I’m not taking it off now.

Did you reinstall the center trim before mounting the bumper? If so that’s why I chopped the tab. Waaaay too lazy to pull the bumper off.

 

[DocHorriday]

Did you reinstall the center trim before mounting the bumper? If so that’s why I chopped the tab. Waaaay too lazy to pull the bumper off.

The way the fairlead bracket mounts in front of the bumper, it was as I was putting everything back on. You can weasel the trim piece in with the bottom tabs still on while the fairlead bracket is still loose. Hope that makes sense.

Yes, I’m with you, I don’t want to take anything apart again either.

 

[Rooster]

Has anyone had any luck getting the dealer to do put the center trim piece back in like @Fordseniormaster does? If not is it easy to put back in after they install it or would you have to tear the whole thing apart?

Ok guys this is the stuff that makes a difference when you choose the guys to work on your stuff!! The destructions for the winch say to throw away the center piece of trim that is between the tow hooks trim pieces, they do say to trim the left side toe hook cover for the cruise module. When I installed mine I trimmed my center piece to fit to make the install look like it should for my liking. For y’all doing it it would be sum thing to think about! Here is sum photos of the 6.7 without and mine with. And we are going to install the center trim on the 6.7 like mine also. View attachment 7054View attachment 7055View attachment 7056View attachment 7057View attachment 7058

 

[SomethingRandom]

Has anyone had any luck getting the dealer to do put the center trim piece back in like @Fordseniormaster does? If not is it easy to put back in after they install it or would you have to tear the whole thing apart?

The posts I made on this page will guide you in what needs to be done to install the center trim after the dealer has already installed everything. It's not hard, nor will it take very long to do it. Now what I did will also be a little less secure than what Fordseniormaster, and Doc Horriday did. However i don't think that will actually cause a problem for anyone. Bonus you don't need to uninstall your bumper to do it.

 

[yArdbird]

No worries at all. Happy to help.

You need to remove the plastic tab where the red arrow points. I just used flush cuts here and slowly nibbled it away. Finished flush with some sand paper. Note that tab is actually the bottom of the trim piece.

View attachment 32459

On the drivers side. You need to remove material from the area that extends backwards towards the engine. When you go to test fit you'll see where that side hits the winch bracket. On the TOP face you'll trim back the material to where the scalloped piece curves back towards the motor. Then you'll trim the vertical part until you're able to seat the trim fully. Note that there are two holes on each side of the center piece that the left and right trim pieces (that cover the tow hooks) snap into.

View attachment 32461

With the winch installed you'll be able to use one of the flat top fasteners in a hole on the bottom on the trim (furthest passenger side hole. On the upper part you'll be able to use three of the "button" style fasteners. Again starting from the passenger side. You'll want to remove the left and right side trim pieces before you start. Then reinstall when you've got the center trimmed out and sitting how you like it. When you have everything in hand it'll make sense how the three pieces interface.

Go slowly. Fast is the enemy, and dremel tools are the devil. Hope this helps a bit.

So I failed to take in progress photos, but I removed the portions of the trim using a Dremel and razor blade exactly as shown. @SomethingRandom is exactly right, fast is the enemy. I trimmed the driver’s side twice removing minimal material each time until it just fit. It required some “encouragement” to fit between the bumper and winch. I was able to get 1 fastener in on the bottom and 3/4 on the top so it isn’t going anywhere. Thanks again.

Before:

After:

 

[Suncoast]

Looks great. Nice job.

 

[Rooster]

The posts I made on this page will guide you in what needs to be done to install the center trim after the dealer has already installed everything. It's not hard, nor will it take very long to do it. Now what I did will also be a little less secure than what Fordseniormaster, and Doc Horriday did. However i don't think that will actually cause a problem for anyone. Bonus you don't need to uninstall your bumper to do it.

When I wrote that none of the pictures showed up, now I see them all

 

[Smokinquack89]

When using the factory winch does the truck automatically high idle like some other trucks do that come with a winch? Don't quote me but think the power wagons have this feature. I understand the dual battery and alt helps but still a big difference from a high idle feature.

 

[MTmudrunner]

When using the factory winch does the truck automatically high idle like some other trucks do that come with a winch? Don't quote me but think the power wagons have this feature. I understand the dual battery and alt helps but still a big difference from a high idle feature.

My 16 pw didn't high idle, under hard pull the alt light would come on but it always worked out.

 

[Rooster]

My 16 pw didn't high idle, under hard pull the alt light would come on but it always worked out.

I run mine on my jeep sometimes just off the battery. Never had an issue

 

[MTmudrunner]

I run mine on my jeep sometimes just off the battery. Never had an issue

I am usually in several feet of snow,all my cable and extra wire to reach a tree.