SDHQ hidden winch installation

[Tejas]

I'm not gonna lie, I too have considered the hidden winch because I simply don't like the look or angle of the SSO and other than CBI I don't like any of the full replacement bumper offerings and I can bring myself to give them my money. I just might have to go this route myself. I think I'd lean towards synthetic line myself simply to keep the weight down and it would be well guarded behind the front facia.

Has anyone posted up pics of cutting the Trail/Pro external lower facia as well?

 

[MeefZah]

You guys going the SDHQ route may want to call or email them and ask for the TW / T4R.org discount... they are forum sponsors and in one of their threads they mentioned giving a discount code if you ask for it.

 

[Dan_P]

Winch Fitment and Winch Relocation Kit

[MENTION=132734]MeefZah[/MENTION], was the winch fitment pretty straight forward? I reached out to SDHQ and they didn't any position on the fitment of VS8 vs vs Zeon. No issues on your side? The Zeon is overkill for me.

Similarly, SDHQ calls for a ZEON RELOCATION KIT (SDHQ-54-1660-G5) for $65. Did you need that on the VR8 winch? Or did it fit without the relocation kit?

Regarding the TR4 discount, they responded that it saves $50.

Thanks

 

[MeefZah]

[MENTION=132734]MeefZah[/MENTION], was the winch fitment pretty straight forward? I reached out to SDHQ and they didn't any position on the fitment of VS8 vs vs Zeon. No issues on your side? The Zeon is overkill for me.

Similarly, SDHQ calls for a ZEON RELOCATION KIT (SDHQ-54-1660-G5) for $65. Did you need that on the VR8 winch? Or did it fit without the relocation kit?

Regarding the TR4 discount, they responded that it saves $50.

Thanks

Well damn, I wish I could have saved $50. That more than covers shipping!

Install was super straightforward. I did not need a relocation kit on the VR8 but bear in mind I had those light bar brackets to mount to. If I didn't have them then I would have fabbed something simple out of aluminum flat stock and mounted it to the upper radiator support or similar. The winch itself bolts right up with zero issues.

 

[TexasTJ]

[MENTION=132734]MeefZah[/MENTION], was the winch fitment pretty straight forward? I reached out to SDHQ and they didn't any position on the fitment of VS8 vs vs Zeon. No issues on your side? The Zeon is overkill for me.

Similarly, SDHQ calls for a ZEON RELOCATION KIT (SDHQ-54-1660-G5) for $65. Did you need that on the VR8 winch? Or did it fit without the relocation kit?

Thanks

I just installed a Warn VR8 with a Pelfreybilt HWM, using Meefzah's write up. I could have mayyyyyybe wedged the control box to fit around the line that runs above it, but didn't want to chance it chaffing it. If you can get a square piece of steel or aluminum, you can make a mount like what Pelf included.

 

[MeefZah]

Hmmm your VR8 is different. Mine is one piece of aluminum all the way across the top of the spool; yours is two rods.

 

[honda250xtitan]

Awesome writeup! Only 60lbs extra is definitely worth having the winch

 

[honda250xtitan]

Has anyone posted up pics of cutting the Trail/Pro external lower facia as well?

I've seen a pic before but i forget which vendor had it on their site. Its uber clean looking though.

 

[rob_dixon]

Great write up.. i am a fan of SDHQ.. super duty headquarters.. will you help me install the same setup? Ill buy the beer

Great write up. And agree, I think I am a fan as well. I am going to get their sliders. Definitely pricey (in fact most expensive ive come across by far), but they look great, have features others don't have and I think the set only comes to 90 pounds. SDHQ!

This winch mount is another way to get a cool feature w/o the extra weight.

 

[TexasTJ]

Hmmm your VR8 is different. Mine is one piece of aluminum all the way across the top of the spool; yours is two rods.

Ah yea, I've got an older generation VR8000, you must have the newest gen.

Has anyone posted up pics of cutting the Trail/Pro external lower facia as well?

Just did it last week.

bumper cut, do this first as it can be your practice run and will never been seen, so it doesn't matter how ugly it is.

For the facia, I just put it back on the bumper (after cutting the bumper) and traced from the inside of the bumper. Cut that out, and then filed it/trimmed a little more, and filed again. Again, these don't have to be perfect, because the fairlead will then cover the hole.

The annoying part is, if the dealer installed the license plate bracket, you now have two holes in the bumper. Hindsight, I would've bought a new Pro facia without LP holes, cut it for the winch, and kept my original one in the attic, in case I ever want to go back to no winch.

 

[N52228]

Just finished installing the SDHQ mount and Smittybilt x20 10k on my truck over the weekend. Install was fairly straightforward minus figuring out what to do with the control box. I have the same light bar setup as [MENTION=132734]MeefZah[/MENTION] and followed his lead by mounting the controls to the light bar bracket.

I'll try to get a few pictures of what I did with the front plate and fairlead when I get home later this afternoon.

 

[MeefZah]

Ah yea, I've got an older generation VR8000, you must have the newest gen.



Just did it last week.

bumper cut, do this first as it can be your practice run and will never been seen, so it doesn't matter how ugly it is.

For the facia, I just put it back on the bumper (after cutting the bumper) and traced from the inside of the bumper. Cut that out, and then filed it/trimmed a little more, and filed again. Again, these don't have to be perfect, because the fairlead will then cover the hole.

The annoying part is, if the dealer installed the license plate bracket, you now have two holes in the bumper. Hindsight, I would've bought a new Pro facia without LP holes, cut it for the winch, and kept my original one in the attic, in case I ever want to go back to no winch.

Is your bumper fascia sandwiched between the fairlead and the winch mount?

 

[TexasTJ]

Is your bumper fascia sandwiched between the fairlead and the winch mount?

It is. I put some spacers in between the fascia and bumper, and then between the bumper and winch mount to keep it from bulging as some people experienced.

 

[N52228]

I had a chance to check out SDHQ's shop truck when I was in AZ last month and they cut the whole bumper/valence around the fairlead. Mine I ended up doing the same thing (also Factor 55 1.0 fairlead). I may go to the 1.5 as with the 1.0 it sits nearly flush with the bumper skin.

Front plate mount was able to be re-used by moving it up about 1/4" or so from the original location and attaching the bottom of the plate to the mount vs the top.

 

[TexasTJ]

I kind of like the flush mount fairlead. I sandwiched mine because rectangular cuts are easier than oval cuts.

 

[N52228]

I agree with you there. A $20 harbor freight body saw is how I cut mine. Still need to sand the edges to smooth it out a bit.

 

[TRDoffroa]

Nice write up.
I have the bud built on my 2016 TRD Trail .
Did not know their was this choice.
If you don’t mind me posting photos on your post . I can post them.
Not as clean as this set up.

 

[MeefZah]

Nice write up.
I have the bud built on my 2016 TRD Trail .
Did not know their was this choice.
If you don’t mind me posting photos on your post . I can post them.
Not as clean as this set up.

I don't mind at all. The whole idea of the thread is to offer knowledge to those looking for a hidden winch. Let's see it.

 

[Gabex35]

Does anyone else have issues seeing photos in original posts? I cant see them from work computer or personal Ipad...

 

[TexasTJ]

Does anyone else have issues seeing photos in original posts? I cant see them from work computer or personal Ipad...

Good for me. On a Macbook w/ Chrome.