HK off-road hidden winch review

[VSPro9]

Hey guys I’m about halfway through my install on my hidden winch mount and wanted to share this as I’ve had a ton of people asking on Instagram about it. Alignment on this was perfect, it slid right on after removing the front bumper and supports. It’s extremely heavy duty with great welds and lots of support. Finish on it was excellent as well. Only issue I’ve had is my control box bumps the AC line in front of the radiator so I’m making a bracket to move the box slightly forward.

Weight is around 60#, probably a little less. It also ties in to the lower frame where the tie down hooks are.

I believe I’m the 2nd person to purchase this, and am very pleased with both the price point, communication from HK and the finished product. Hoping to finish up the install today and get pictures with the bumper cover back on.

 

[aztoytec]

I like those recovery/shackle tabs. Looks like a nice set up especially for the price!

 

[jiggletits]

I recommend you measure the distance between your mounting studs on the L and R frame and datalog with photos. Especially with that oversized winch.

LFD bumper mounts in a similar way, and it BENT MY MOUNTS inward on both sides about ⅜” total, to the point the factory bumper would not go back on.

This was after a HARD winch pull at what I can only assume was full 8,000 lbs of Warn force stuck in an uphill snow driff. Likely less as there was not much more than 30’ of cable out. Right before the winch maxed out, I could see the bumper flexing on the pull).

I moved the bumper over to a newer GX and the bumper seemed to be bent too, wouldn’t fit on the newer GX’s mounts.

Not saying it will happen to you, but I recommend you measure so you know with certainty if it does. That bumper looks awfully similar to the LFD.

Lesson here, aside from trusting small fab shops max rating calcs, is rig a snatch block sooner than I think I need to.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

This HK hidden winch seems to have additional side mounts to the frame that make it more robust.

If I get a hidden winch bracket, then I want to preserve my beefy apex tow points and LFD (back ordered) is compatible but the HK seems to not be compatible because of the extra side mounts.

 

[GX DAVE]

This HK hidden winch seems to have additional side mounts to the frame that make it more robust.

If I get a hidden winch bracket, then I want to preserve my beefy apex tow points and LFD (back ordered) is compatible but the HK seems to not be compatible because of the extra side mounts.

I have the LFD Hidden winch mount bumper and apex recovery points combo, they work perfectly together! LFD makes a solid product, highly recommended.

 

[HK Offroad]

I recommend you measure the distance between your mounting studs on the L and R frame and datalog with photos. Especially with that oversized winch.

LFD bumper mounts in a similar way, and it BENT MY MOUNTS inward on both sides about ⅜” total, to the point the factory bumper would not go back on.

This was after a HARD winch pull at what I can only assume was full 8,000 lbs of Warn force stuck in an uphill snow driff. Likely less as there was not much more than 30’ of cable out. Right before the winch maxed out, I could see the bumper flexing on the pull).

I moved the bumper over to a newer GX and the bumper seemed to be bent too, wouldn’t fit on the newer GX’s mounts.

Not saying it will happen to you, but I recommend you measure so you know with certainty if it does. That bumper looks awfully similar to the LFD.

Lesson here, aside from trusting small fab shops max rating calcs, is rig a snatch block sooner than I think I need to.

I'm not sure what the rear mounting plate looks like on another manufacturers product but we designed our winch plate with a solid 1/4" plate in the rear from frame to frame and added additional mounting plates under to mount to the side of the lower frame.

 

[jiggletits]

LFD mounts the same as I recall.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

LFD is missing the additional HK mounting plate that bolts to the side of the lower frame.

Not sure what extra support that extra plate provides when winching

 

[GX DAVE]

I can see how those extra side supports would be advantageous, however Homer, as you said it would for sure conflict with the mounting points for the apex recovery points which are the best stand alone recovery points avalible for our trucks at this time in my opinion.

So anyone running apex points who also wants to run this HK bumper would need to delete them for a proper install and use this units recovery points in their place.