Issues Warn VR8, in Relentless Predator bumper, help

here are some issues I am having. See pics. Found out the control box on top of the winch hits, thus can not mount it. How are people mounting the Warn VR's to the Predator bumper's? I do not want my control box to be sticking out in the open, I want it mounted so you can't see it, but seems like there is no room for that to happen? P.S. the control box also is to wide, that it is to close to the edge of the metal to even drill the 4 holes and mount it on the top of the bumper in the photo below. I would like to have everything hidden, for a clean look. What are other poeple doing with the winch control box?
Any help/ thoughts would be helpful. Thanks

Attached Files:

 

I can't mount it like in the 3rd pic, due to my arm not being able to reach the plug for the winch remote. Plus I think the control box would be hitting the radiator

 

Relocate the box all together.
Extend the 3 wires that go from the control box to the motor.

 

Where about do you suggest I relocate it to?

 

Somewhere inside the engine compartment that it fits

 

Ok, thanks. I am new to this. Noob questions. Thanks guys

 

Typically those boxes are not waterproof. And a lot of guys will relocate them somewhere in the engine bay. One thing to keep in mind is keep the wires as short as possible. The more wire you have the more resistance is created and it means the winch has to pull more power to compensate

 

Makes sense. Btw, what do you recommend to hook the wires up to new/ longer ones? Obviously, I need the same gage wires. One is a small wire, the other 2 are the same gage. I want the connections to be good. I have never dealt with wires this big, hooking them together.

 

Personally I wound use 2 awg wire at the minimum.
Best wound be to crimp the lugs onto the wire. But assuming ya don’t want to spend 40$ on a crimper, ya can fill the lug with solder and push the striped wire into it. Then heat sharing or tape up the ends so nothing shorts out.

 

I see. So what size wire would you use? You said 2 AWG at the minimum. Thanks for the reply man. Helping me out a lot. So relived right now, that is all I need to do is relocate the control box.

 

I’d use 2awg. That was enough for my dual battery set up. Some winch manufactures give ya 3 or 4 gauge. But the larger is better for voltage drop. Granted it’s very minimal, but when ya start pulling 200-400amps it’s better to have a larger wire. Don’t need them over heating.

You can get 2awg welding cable all over. Most parts stores should sell 2awg battery cable by the foot.

 

Ok thanks!! I will keep you guys posted as I work on installing it. Thanks again!!

 

Warn also sells a relocation kit for Zeon and I think it works with the VR series too. Comes with extension cables for the control box.

 

Wouldn't you need to leave the hood open when using the winch or do you move the plug somewhere else?

 

Depends where you put it.
Wireless option?

I’m to cheep to buy a wireless. But will be running wires into cab. To control the winch. Or can plug in the controller for out side cab controls

 

Right now I am probably going to have to open the hood to use it. I figure I am only going to use it like 2-3 times a year. Next year I am hoping to get the wireless remote for it, and do away with the cable remote.

 

I am going to be getting the wireless controller for it down the road. Right now as Gray said, I will need to open the hood to use it. No big deal, as I won't be using it a whole lot right now, just in emergency's.

 

And since you have steel cable it’s a good idea to leave the hood open to take any backlash if the cable brakes.

That’s how mine was with the hidden winch. And event currently

 

I am only using the steel cable for this year. Next summer I am putting synthetic rope on it. Steel cable is just to get me through this year, like 2-3 times of use.

 

How do you see what you're doing if pulling yourself out? Not only that, but if you're in deep mud and spinning your tires while winching you are likely to fill the engine compartment with mud. Also I believe you put something on the cable to dampen the flyback in case of it snapping.