Proper Mounting / Drainage of the M12000+ Warn winches

[e9999]

the issue came up recently around here someplace about how to mount some of the Warn winches to ensure proper drainage. Some -maybe the XP, I don't recall- have to be clocked for the drains to work when mounted feet forward. I did ask in that thread about the M12000 but I don't recall a definitive answer so I called Warn and talked to a Tech.

The answer is that on the heayweight winches (12000 +) the drains are already located at the factory for feet forward mounting. So, if you mounted your M12 feet forward in your 80 ARB for instance -as I did- you should be fine. No need to worry about drainage. He did mention this only for the heavyweight line, though. We didn't address the other winches.

But interestingly, and perhaps more critically, the Tech made the point (I assume because some folks do not do this) that these big winches HAVE to be mounted feet forward. This is their only suitable mounting mode apparently. And indeed my manual only showed it like that. When I asked why, he said that because of the power of the winches and the fact that the feet / body (?) are aluminium, they could well rip themselves off if mounted feet down. Thought I'd mention that in case some of you out there did mount them that way... Be safe! We are kinda used to having them around, but these things pack a punch...!

 

[miked]

Ain't choo the same guy who was concerned about squaring off D-shackles with washers?

anyways, after I read your post, I went out and took a look. The drains you're talking about.. are they the torx head plugs? Even with feet forward, they are not orientated to the lowest point. I don't get it.

 

[FJBen]

Interesting. I got mine used and it was mounted on a "hitch-mount" nothing I would do, but that could have been interesting for sure