Harbor Freight winch install

[Renegade6]

Latest project is installing a Harbor Freight 12K Winch using the Harbor Freight winch plate and the stock bumper. Nothing too complicated, just a big of fabricating. You have to trim down the winch plate and then drill holes to match up with ones that already exist in the Roxor frame. The winch plate has a lot of holes in it already however; none of them match up. When you drill the holes, you will end up having some of the holes you drill touch the existing holes and you will need to use a die grinder to finish them off. One thing I did different is enlarge the holes in the frame to 9/16" to allow for the metric mounting bolts that I already had to fit in. Additionally, I had to fabricate spacers using rectangle tubing to get the winch plate above the adjuster on the steering gear box and trim the bumper so it would fit the fairlead and spacers.

 

[FreeManDan]

I'd love to hear how the winch does after you use it like a break room appliance....

 

[Shortbus]

My brother has the small version for a UTV and it has been holding up great.

 

[Renegade6]

I've one of the smaller ones on a trailer for several years and no issues. So far so good with the one on the Roxor. Used it a couple of weeks ago to pull me out of the mud.

 

[tben87]

Thanks for the pics. I'm going to go this way as well. I just like the look of the plain bumper better then the roxor winch bumper and I already have a winch ready to go for it. I figured it was this easy but its nice to see beforehand.

 

[P Bleskey]

Latest project is installing a Harbor Freight 12K Winch using the Harbor Freight winch plate and the stock bumper. Nothing too complicated, just a big of fabricating. You have to trim down the winch plate and then drill holes to match up with ones that already exist in the Roxor frame. The winch plate has a lot of holes in it already however; none of them match up. When you drill the holes, you will end up having some of the holes you drill touch the existing holes and you will need to use a die grinder to finish them off. One thing I did different is enlarge the holes in the frame to 9/16" to allow for the metric mounting bolts that I already had to fit in. Additionally, I had to fabricate spacers using rectangle tubing to get the winch plate above the adjuster on the steering gear box and trim the bumper so it would fit the fairlead and spacers.







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Latest project is installing a Harbor Freight 12K Winch using the Harbor Freight winch plate and the stock bumper. Nothing too complicated, just a big of fabricating. You have to trim down the winch plate and then drill holes to match up with ones that already exist in the Roxor frame. The winch plate has a lot of holes in it already however; none of them match up. When you drill the holes, you will end up having some of the holes you drill touch the existing holes and you will need to use a die grinder to finish them off. One thing I did different is enlarge the holes in the frame to 9/16" to allow for the metric mounting bolts that I already had to fit in. Additionally, I had to fabricate spacers using rectangle tubing to get the winch plate above the adjuster on the steering gear box and trim the bumper so it would fit the fairlead and spacers.







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Renegade 6, I like what you have done here. It is a solid solution to mounting a winch at a much more affordable price. I take it you were able to get the nuts on the back side of the mounting plate bolts by just reaching up into the frame tube?

 

[Renegade6]

Renegade 6, I like what you have done here. It is a solid solution to mounting a winch at a much more affordable price. I take it you were able to get the nuts on the back side of the mounting plate bolts by just reaching up into the frame tube?

Yes, having flange nuts helped it stay on the wrench.

 

[Campyman]

Yes, having flange nuts helped it stay on the wrench.

Maybe I should post a video about this. The easiest way to do it is to buy some 3/8x2" grade 8 bolts. If you take a foot of light guage wire like thermostat wire and wrap it around the threads and that will hold the bolt. Of course use a washer too and then feed the wire through the frame and pull the bolt through the hole. Then use a nut and washer to hold the bolt to the frame and now you have a stud to work with. After I installed 4 studs I marked that on the winch plate and drilled. Then I used a second set of washers and nuts to hold the plate to the frame. It's also a very good idea to drill a 1 1/2 hold above the steering box so it can be adjusted without having to remove the winch plate.

 

[Campyman]

It looks like this. I installed some plastic caps over the threads too.