Harbor Freight Winches (14 Viewers)

[george_tlc]

For a cover, I just bought some black marine grade vinyl (remnant) which was only a few dollars. Bit of time measuring/cutting and then sewed up (yes, I know how to use a sewing machine). A strap that goes under the winch with velcro and the cover has been good for 10+ years on my 80 that is parked outdoors.

cheers,
george.

 

[80t0ylc]

Any thoughts on a cover for my winch sitting inside of my ARB bumper of my Fj62? Could I just take some heavy canvas and wrap it?............

I don't know - personally, the only thing a cover would do is keep the sun off synthetic line. Covers on rigs driven daily or occasionally, especially the tight and "water proof" type would trap moisture and cause more damage than leaving it out where it could "breathe". If you're parking or storing a rig with a winch on it, I'd tarp the whole front end or garage the rig to keep it out of the weather. Just my $.02.

 

[george_tlc]

I've had a cover on my winches for many years. On my patrol at least for 20 years now. I opened up the control box a few years ago to convert it to 12V (was 24V) and it was amazing how clean everything was and not a spot of rust/corrosion.

The patrol spends more time offroad than onroad. I'm not advocating a 'sealed' cover, just one that goes over the top and keep mud/grime off everything from above. Obviously if you go deep then it will all get covered in mud etc - so time to wash it all off when back in town.

The cover also keeps the magpies from fiddling with things - out of sight out of mind...

cheers,
george.

 

[e9999]

I use HD contractors grade trash bags. Last about a year. Winch like new. Wrap around, couple large spring clips underneath. Open below so water if any can drip out.

 

[Living in the Past]

Few questions about the Harbor Freight 12,000# winch, does it come with any cable to hook to the battery? My ARB bullbar on the FJ62 is the older design with the plate sticking out front for a fairhead. I've seen a picture earlier in this thread with bolts running thru plate and front rollers. In the ad it shows pins with C clips. Do you just replace the pins with bolts? My FJ62 is semi retired and sits in a garage when not used so a cover is a non issue. A Warranty is. Not sure I would use it enough for the two year warranty but also not sure I would get it installed before spring and then find out it was DOA with it out if the ninety day warranty.

 

[CWR33]

I hooked mine up to my 80 using all the wiring that came with it. The only things I had to do was make some spacers and get new hard wear.

 

[Living in the Past]

Here is a link from when I bought my ARB https://forum.ih8mud.com/sale-parts/252239-fj-60-62-arb-bumper.html it shows what my bumper looks like. Anyone remember what hardware they used? The vehicle is located in a remote part of the state. The closest town is forty miles away and might not even carry the bolts I need in the grade I would want to use. Might just be easier to put the OEM bumper back on and bring the ARB back to the big city to install the winch. You do need to remove the bumper to install the winch right?

 

[CWR33]

Nope, I just went in from underneath. You might need a buddy to wrench it on while you hold it up though. And on the bolts I had to trim them with a die grinder, I don't remember how much though.

 

[Living in the Past]

If I can install it while the bumper is still attached then I guess I'll leave it on. Probably do it the same way I did the bumper using a 400# Harbor Freight transmission jack.

 

[duggy]

I used the hardware that was provided with the winch. It all fit perfectly on my Ironman which is pretty close to an ARB.

 

[CWR33]

I have the old style arb and since I had to make spacers I needed longer bolts.

 

[80t0ylc]

Few questions about the Harbor Freight 12,000# winch, does it come with any cable to hook to the battery? .............

The battery cables that come with the winch are 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and are 3.5 gauge according to my owner's manual. HTH

 

[Living in the Past]

Thanks for all the answers, a few more. Why does the winch need to have a spacer? For clearance from the bumper? I wasn't planning on installing a winch in my ARB because what I figured a winch was going to cost it wouldn't be worth it for as much as I would use it so can't remember is there any brackets the bottom of the winch bolts to or does it just hang off the two bolts on the face? Anyone remember how thick the spacer is. I have excess to a machine shop where I work and could make the spacer. Then just need to pick up longer bolts to account for the thickness of the bumper and spacer.

 

[CWR33]

It needs a spacer because the winch is so long that when the arb starts the curve the winch hits it and the feet don't reach the bumper. Mine were about a half inch.

 

[80t0ylc]

Thanks for all the answers, a few more. Why does the winch need to have a spacer? For clearance from the bumper? I wasn't planning on installing a winch in my ARB because what I figured a winch was going to cost it wouldn't be worth it for as much as I would use it so can't remember is there any brackets the bottom of the winch bolts to or does it just hang off the two bolts on the face? Anyone remember how thick the spacer is. I have excess to a machine shop where I work and could make the spacer. Then just need to pick up longer bolts to account for the thickness of the bumper and spacer.

It needs a spacer because the winch is so long that when the arb starts the curve the winch hits it and the feet don't reach the bumper. Mine were about a half inch.

The pic above is actually one I took of my install and the spacers are 1" thick from scrap at a welding shop. It's overkill - like CWR33 says, 1/2" will be fine. I'd recommend painting the spacers before installing them to slow the oxidation/rust down. They are a PITA to remove and paint after installed (ask me how I know).

 

[CWR33]

The pic above is actually one I took of my install and the spacers are 1" thick from scrap at a welding shop. It's overkill - like CWR33 says, 1/2" will be fine. I'd recommend painting the spacers before installing them to slow the oxidation/rust down. They are a PITA to remove and paint after installed (ask me how I know).

Sorry for stealing the pic, I had it saved in my phone and thought it was mine, I followed your install very closely.

 

[80t0ylc]

Sorry for stealing the pic, I had it saved in my phone and thought it was mine, I followed your install very closely.

No worries! I considered it a compliment. It's the reason pics work well - like the saying goes - ".......worth a 1000 words"

 

[Living in the Past]

Had a chance to swing by HB last night on the way home from work and look at the winch. I see the roller fairhead is not attached to the winch but loose. It also appears most have turn the winch 90 degrees so the bottom now face front. I understand the spacer just confused on where it's bolting up. Ideally you would want the line to be just above the bottom roller so as you spool out the cable moves up towards the top roller. Would think this would give you the least wear on the rollers. So how you bolting this up to old style ARB bumper?

 

[CWR33]

It bolts up feet first the the bumper, now with the HF fairlead you will have to drill new holes so that it feeds the line through the middle hole in the arb winch bumper. If you do this then the line comes out perfectly.

 

[Living in the Past]

It bolts up feet first the the bumper, now with the HF fairlead you will have to drill new holes so that it feeds the line through the middle hole in the arb winch bumper. If you do this then the line comes out perfectly.

Still not clear which holes you bolt the winch to the bumper with. Do you drill new holes in the roller fairhead so it matches the larger hole for the cable when mountd plus the two bumper holes to mount the fairhead? Then use those for the bottom two bolts of the winch mount? Then drill two holes above that to bolt the other two?

This is a picture from the for sale thread of my bumper. Not very clear just like most in this thread. No close up picture showing all the mounting bolts from the front. I have enough information between this thread and manual to make the spacers. Understanding what each bolt goes thru I could probably get the correct bolts and get this mounted when I get to where the FJ62 is instead of taking multiple trips which are weeks apart at times.