Dash Mount Winch Control

[Jetboy]

Who's got one setup? Anyone use these:

My intention is to use two switches in two of the blanks on the left of the steering wheel. First will be an isolator and an on/off rocker. Second will be a momentary in/off/out rocker switch. All wired to a fuse/relay box under the hood. Then I'm intending to put a regular plug somewhere either under the hood or maybe hidden up front somewhere. Not sure where though.

Might also go with a wireless remote and eliminate the plug in grill for the wired remote. I don't like the wireless remote on my current winch because it has a delay of half a second. That's not always safe when you need to stop NOW.

This is for hidden mount winch.

I'd love to build some type of solenoid for the free-spool mechanism, but that's probably for another day. I don't have the winch yet, so I'm not sure how the freespool mechanism works. It say's it's a pull and turn, so maybe the pull is enough? Not sure on that though.

I'm curious about what others have done and what you like/don't like about it.

 

[phillyd2]

With the warn wireless remote I never saw the need for the switch but I know some have added one. Btw, the new warn Zeon allows freespool from the remote.

 

[Jetboy]

With the warn wireless remote I never saw the need for the switch but I know some have added one. Btw, the new warn Zeon allows freespool from the remote.

I've been going back and forth for the same reason. Wireless probably does eliminate the need for an in/out dash switch. Still on the fence.

Definitely going to put some type of isolator switch in. Could be under the hood I suppose. Avoiding digging into the dash would make the install faster if nothing else.

 

[phillyd2]

There will be times when you will need to winch when not in the truck. The remote also gives options of where you can be when winching. In my experience most winching needs don't happen on flat pavement.

 

[Jetboy]

That's a good point. I have a dedicated trail rig - FJ40 on 39's with an 8274 that I use frequently. It's a great reliable winch and I just use it with the original wired remote. I also have a hitch mount winch with a wireless controller. I used it quite a bit on my last 4runner. I just didn't like how it sat on the front of the new 4runner so I'm going with a hidden mount setup.

There are times when I've really needed a dash mount and didn't have one. In my old mini-truck - previous trail rig - I broke through a mud/ice sheet and dropped in about up to the windows. Had to climb out the window and break out more ice to get to the front mount winch, then get the remote plugged in. Not so much fun... Fortunately it did work flawlessly even completely submerged so I could get the truck back up on the dirt to get the engine running again. Although I don't intend to do any "hardcore" offroading in my daily driver, things don't often workout like you think.

I'm not sure how reliable a wireless remote is submerged in water and/or mud. I suppose most should be waterproof. I do agree that it's pretty handy to have because many times you want to use it from somewhere further than 12' from the winch. I just don't like how they have a lag/delay. - Mostly it's annoying when you're trying to snug up the rope. On a typical planetary drive winch it's not such a big deal. On an 8274 with 75fpm line speed - it's a lot of winch line during the delay.

 

[Jeremy556]

With a hidden winch mount you are almost certainly going to have to mount the solenoids or contactor remotely, so not a big deal to leave the wireless transmitter plugged in all the time. The lag is annoying, but not enough of an issue that I have plugged in the wired remote since I first installed the winch.

 

[phillyd2]

I don't really notice a lag with the warn system. As for the transmitter, mine is always plugged in and mounted high in the engine bay near the firewall.

 

[cjacob316]

Who's got one setup? Anyone use these:

My intention is to use two switches in two of the blanks on the left of the steering wheel. First will be an isolator and an on/off rocker. Second will be a momentary in/off/out rocker switch. All wired to a fuse/relay box under the hood. Then I'm intending to put a regular plug somewhere either under the hood or maybe hidden up front somewhere. Not sure where though.

Might also go with a wireless remote and eliminate the plug in grill for the wired remote. I don't like the wireless remote on my current winch because it has a delay of half a second. That's not always safe when you need to stop NOW.

This is for hidden mount winch.

I'd love to build some type of solenoid for the free-spool mechanism, but that's probably for another day. I don't have the winch yet, so I'm not sure how the freespool mechanism works. It say's it's a pull and turn, so maybe the pull is enough? Not sure on that though.

I'm curious about what others have done and what you like/don't like about it.

From a Tacoma, but what you are looking for.
Yak Runner - the 'ehnacement' - Tacoma World Forums

 

[Mooney]

I'm not sure how reliable a wireless remote is submerged in water and/or mud. I suppose most should be waterproof. I do agree that it's pretty handy to have because many times you want to use it from somewhere further than 12' from the winch. I just don't like how they have a lag/delay. - Mostly it's annoying when you're trying to snug up the rope. On a typical planetary drive winch it's not such a big deal. On an 8274 with 75fpm line speed - it's a lot of winch line during the delay.

Zero lag on my wireless. Still having 10 fingers while snugging good proof.

 

[Jeremy556]

Zero lag on my wireless. Still having 10 fingers while snugging good proof.

Assuming you have the new style Warn wireless remote like this

Try comparing with the wired remote, how short of a time you can engage the power in (bumping it to snug up to the fairlead).

 

[nevada]

Who's got one setup? Anyone use these:

My intention is to use two switches in two of the blanks on the left of the steering wheel. First will be an isolator and an on/off rocker. Second will be a momentary in/off/out rocker switch. All wired to a fuse/relay box under the hood. Then I'm intending to put a regular plug somewhere either under the hood or maybe hidden up front somewhere. Not sure where though.

Might also go with a wireless remote and eliminate the plug in grill for the wired remote. I don't like the wireless remote on my current winch because it has a delay of half a second. That's not always safe when you need to stop NOW.

This is for hidden mount winch.

I'd love to build some type of solenoid for the free-spool mechanism, but that's probably for another day. I don't have the winch yet, so I'm not sure how the freespool mechanism works. It say's it's a pull and turn, so maybe the pull is enough? Not sure on that though.

I'm curious about what others have done and what you like/don't like about it.

im running mounted switched for my winch. I have one standard 3 way switch on the dash, and I also have one out by the winch. I have yet to plug in the wired remote since installing them.

forget wireless, you never really NEED to be standing far from the winch. you are either in the driver seat, doing what needs done, or you are standing out front, winding the line back in onto the drum properly.

With the warn wireless remote I never saw the need for the switch but I know some have added one. Btw, the new warn Zeon allows freespool from the remote.

that's awesome. its about time someone did that again.

There will be times when you will need to winch when not in the truck. The remote also gives options of where you can be when winching. In my experience most winching needs don't happen on flat pavement.

you have a point, when I rolled my truck, and I had the ONLY winch in the group...I used the wired remote.

which is why I still carry it with me at all times. "just in case"


the hard mounted switches are one of my favorite mods. I will be adding another one on the driver side, to compliment the one I already have on the passenger side. the bumper mounted switch gets more use than the in in dash switch.

 

[Mooney]

Assuming you have the new style Warn wireless remote like this

Try comparing with the wired remote, how short of a time you can engage the power in (bumping it to snug up to the fairlead).

My buddy has the wired Zeon, I have the Plat. If you prefer I can roll the video with both operating together.

http://youtu.be/_ITgLV-VhsU

 

[Jeremy556]

My buddy has the wired Zeon, I have the Plat. If you prefer I can roll the video with both operating together.

http://youtu.be/_ITgLV-VhsU

Looks like they have a much improved remote for the new Platinum line. Mine doesn't work that well.

 

[RonT4R]

Has anyone with this wireless controller found a place to mount the holster? I haven't found an exposed pipe to use, and I'm not sure there's a flat surface that I really want to drill into.

 

[phillyd2]

Mounted mine on then right hand side inside of the glove box. I winch more than most which means I rarely winch.

 

[Jeremy556]

Has anyone with this wireless controller found a place to mount the holster? I haven't found an exposed pipe to use, and I'm not sure there's a flat surface that I really want to drill into.

How often are you planning to use it? Mine lives loose in my toolbox.

I hit trails every weekend, spend at least 2 weeks a year in the back country, do lots of snow wheeling, 99.9% solo. I've used my winch like 6 times in 5 years

 

[Jetboy]

I ended up with a wireless setup and a wired remote female plug inside the hood. My wireless kit is a generic wireless relay set that I wired into a small circuit set that includes a toggle switch and relays inside a box so I can turn the entire thing off manually inside the hood - then no one can mess with it and I don't have to worry about some random signal causing problems.

I have two remotes. The main one lives in the center console box on the bottom of the lid. The other lives in the back of the glove box as a backup. And I keep my wired remote in my tool box in the back.

Other than testing, I've never used the wired remote. But I keep it just in case.

I use my winch for offroad work probably 10-20 times a year. But not at all like I normally would on a trail rig. It's usually 1-5 foot pulls just to get off some rocks or out of some mud/snow. I don't do multiple full cable pulls. If it's that bad I'm turning around. I also use it for utility stuff like cutting down trees around my house (pull them away so they can't fall into the house), and mostly I use it to operate a snow plow. So it gets a lot of cycles in a year's time. So far the wireless remote has been pretty darn handy.

The warn wireless freespool clutch would be really nice. I have to reach down through the door I made in the radiator/grille cover to manually work the clutch. Not ideal - but it works pretty good.

 

[RonT4R]

Just wanted to say Thanks for the responses.

As some brought up or asked, yeah, for better or worse, I don't see a frequent need for winching in my future...guess that's a good thing.

Basically because the wireless remote came with a mounting bracket, I wanted to see if anyone had found a good spot to mount it. Based on what I've read, it sounds like tossing it in the glove box, or center console is the consensus, though.