Winch control box placement questions...

I'm installing a new front bumper (ATH Fab). I have a HF Apex Badlands winch that I've installed on the bumper. I took the control box off assuming it wasn't gonna fit. Looks like the easiest option is to place it behind the grill.

How are you guys mounting your winch control boxes behind the grill?

I can only find one mount: the Maner mount.

I have some 2 X 1" 80/20 bars that I might re-purpose in to some kind of mount/brace.

What have you guys done to get a winch controller up behind the grill?

 

Scrap steel (salvaged from the ends of the aluminum crash bar you remove to install the bumper) :

 

Nice and clean. Thanks!
Guess it's time to start cutting off the front end and see what's left.

 

My winch lets me mount the box on the side of the housing. I just installed an ATH front bumper too. No problems with the box on the side.

 

double check if it really doesn't fit. i tried a few options for mounting points when i mounted a 10000pnd winch due to everyone on the forum convincing me it wouldn't fit without cutting or relocation. but got a wild hair to just see and it fit with at least 1/2 inch to spare.

 

I had to bend that metal brace above the winch but mine just did fit in there above the winch.

 

It's hard to get a photo of the winch.

 

I just assumed it wouldn’t fit because the control box itself is huge. Not nice and compact like a Warn or others.
I ended up bolting a 16” long piece of 80/20 extrusion 2x1” size to the crossmembers and bolted the box to that.

sucks that I can’t remove the grill unless I pull the bumper off. But I have no need to get under there most of the time.

 

The maner mount is actually pretty nice and handy