- Joined
- Apr 22, 2021
- Messages
- 111
- Points
- 601
- City
- Spokane, WA
- State - Country
- N/A
- Vehicle Year
- 2000
- Vehicle
- Ford Ranger
- Drive
- 4WD
- Engine
- 5.0
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Total Lift
- 3"
- Tire Size
- 245/75R16
So I've been wanting to stick a hidden winch under my OEM bumper. I finally got around to ordering a winch plate, but still no winch (this is relevant later). I started by ordering the 26" winch plate from Barnes 4WD. I pulled the front bumper off, and the trans oil cooler, then tack welded the plate on. A few observations. I would have liked the mounting place to have been flush with the front bumper plate, unfortunately the rear left corner was butting up against a small metalic core hose from the radiator, so I'll probably need to shave that up a little bit. Next I had to shave the front down significantly to accommodate the OEM middle two bumper bolt plates, they are verticle and run down either side of the middle section. (they are the two inner bolts that hold the bumper on). They were being significantly interfered with. so after a ton a shaving for that, plus I wanted to keep the OEM towing hooks installed, so more shaving down for them. I somewhat finished. My bumper is sitting a little lower than I would like, but for the short time I had available.
For the future, I am hoping to pick up A Smittybilt 10k winch. This will require i do the following.
1.) i need to relocate the trans oil cooler. I will probs just get a new universal one on amazon and a relocation kit so I wont have to worry about anything.
2.) The entire winch plate needs to be removed to get the winch in and out. its not ideal, but the welded surface is accessable from the bottom up, so its not a huge pain to weld and grind off those welds every time I need to pull it completely out.
3.) a smaller winch will be best. Theres not as much room as I was hoping for, but it should still be enough room for the winch I want. Ill update when I get more things going on it.
4.) grind down a little more on the plate to get the bumper to sit more OEM.
Overall, it was nice to have a little weekend project, it was a few hours, for a few days in a row. hopefully I can get a winch fitted in it, while keeping it looking OE.
For the future, I am hoping to pick up A Smittybilt 10k winch. This will require i do the following.
1.) i need to relocate the trans oil cooler. I will probs just get a new universal one on amazon and a relocation kit so I wont have to worry about anything.
2.) The entire winch plate needs to be removed to get the winch in and out. its not ideal, but the welded surface is accessable from the bottom up, so its not a huge pain to weld and grind off those welds every time I need to pull it completely out.
3.) a smaller winch will be best. Theres not as much room as I was hoping for, but it should still be enough room for the winch I want. Ill update when I get more things going on it.
4.) grind down a little more on the plate to get the bumper to sit more OEM.
Overall, it was nice to have a little weekend project, it was a few hours, for a few days in a row. hopefully I can get a winch fitted in it, while keeping it looking OE.
