Winch cable respooling.

Hi All,

I’ve got this SSO Slimline bumper with no access cutouts which make it virtually impossible to see the spool.
I know I’m not the only one with this setup, so I’d love to know what approach other people take to make sure their cable is respooling correctly.

As good as this thing looks, I actually bought it to use.

Thanks!

 

I can't understand why a company would make a winch bumper where you can't see the winch!

I mean, it looks cool, but the function isn't really there.


Cut a hole or two, or 3. 3.5" hole saw and bob's your uncle.

 

Pop the hood.

 

Yeah, they come with or without access holes.
I thought there might be some technique I’m just not seeing.
I prefer not to hack the aesthetics if I can avoid it.
The access holes are off to the sides anyway though...
I’ll keep digging. Thanks

 

Function over form...

How in the world do you reach the free spool lever?

 

Because of the angle of everything, you can’t see the spool looking down.
I will probably have to cut a window above the fairlead.

 

I can reach it when the hood is open. I can also run the control cable through the grill and close the hood if I want.

 

That just sounds like extra steps. Especially when you're teetering on the edge of a rollover, getting in the engine bay probably isn't the safest or easiest thing to do.

Like I said,

function over form > form over function

 

That’s a solid point.

 

I certainly think having any winch setup is better than not having a winch at all. If it's the kind of thing where you'll likely never use it, or use it very rarely, maybe that ease of access isn't as important, and maybe where aesthetics comes more into play.

That said, if you happen to be in a situation like I described, it doesn't really matter if it's the ONE time you need it, or it happens a dozen times in a weekend - if you can't reach it, you can't reach it. I might argue it's even more important to be easy to access/use if you only use it once, since the more you use something, the more of a routine you get into.


All that said, I think a few 3" holes lines across the front wouldn't look half bad.

 

Yeah, I’ll figure something out when I get a chance.
I’m really glad to finally have it at least it though.
I even installed a Blue Sea cutoff switch.

 

Yeah, I don't currently have that on mine, but I've been toying around with the idea. I'd like to add in-cab switches for both a "master" winch power, and in/out button, but also want to retain the option of using the wired hand controls. I guess with my particular winch (VR10), the wiring gets a little weird when trying to do an in/out switch...

I'm still unsure which solenoid I can use. I've been eyeing the Warn power interrupt kit, but Warn doesn't actually specifiy if it's okay to use for winches (in their own description they never really say winch, they only say "accessory") so I'm hesitant...

https://www.warn.com/power-interrupt-kit-62132

 

I’ve got the same bumper coming, and when I ordered it didn’t figure the access holes would be that great for respooling. It will be interesting.

 

At some point I want to cut a slot above the fairlead as long as the spool. Maybe an inch wide.
I would ideally find a rubber or plastic plug to go into it when not repsooling... wish me luck.

 

I've got the 20" cutout in mine, I guess it will also made a difference if I can see things properly with the hood open. I can certainly reach the spool lever with it open, I believe.

 

I installed a Body Armor Hiline bumper not too long ago. Also installed a 22" light bar and a 12K Harbor Freight Apex synthetic line winch. I was not thrilled with the idea of not being able to see my spool though. So I reluctantly removed the lightbar, and affixed a piece of polycarbonate sheeting to the area vacated by the light bar, with double sided 3M tape.

Now I can see the spool, and the polycarbonate will keep road debris (mainly the brine, salt and other crap that Maryland loves to douse the roads with here) away from the spool and the synthetic line while not in use.