Frontier "hidden" winch: some pictures

trasko

Adventurer
I don't go crazy off-road like a lot of folks here but I do like to have options. I like to keep my truck as stock as possible but I wanted a winch. It isn't fully "hidden" but it is definitely low profile. Check out the pictures to make some of the discussion make more sense.

I wanted to keep it light as I haven't done any suspension mods. I used a lightweight winch carrier (which needed modification :-/ ). It includes 2 bomber recovery points. I chose a Warn M8000-S cause of Warn's good reputation and the weight-savings of synthetic line. 8000lb pull seems sufficient for a 5000lb loaded vehicle with a snatch block handy. I didn't fuse the electrical connections but I did put a manual cut-off under the hood which I keep off unless I'm using it. Attaching the controller isn't as tough as it could be. It fits through the grill or from above and the plug has a flat-side which makes plugging it in blind pretty simple once you do it a couple times.

I wanted to share because I learned a lot reading stuff online. Just wanted to pass on some inspiration.
 

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outback97

Adventurer
Looks great @trasko!

I bought an Xterra with a similar setup (OEM bumper mount, Warn M8000S) from someone in a state that didn't require a front plate, so the previous owner never needed to come up with a solution like this. I have just been running without a front plate, but I technically should have one in my state.

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I have been trying to figure out a good option. Something like your solution could work well.

Is the license plate holder a Nissan OEM part that you modified? Or something else? Any rattling with your setup, or anything you'd do differently? Thanks for posting this idea.
 

trasko

Adventurer
Looks great. Is the license plate holder a Nissan OEM part that you modified? Or something else? Any rattling with your setup, or anything you'd do differently? Thanks for posting this idea.

Yep, OEM. I just rigged it with what I had on-hand and it’s worked surprisingly well. One old bungee, 2 keychain carabiners and some metal brackets I made to hook over that rod on the winch.

I thought I’d have to do something better because there is a balance of tension holding everything in place and I figured it would pop off etc but it has been fine for more than a year now. I’d do it the same way next time.

My original thought was to use magnets with the bungee as a backup but this solution materialized instead.

I also like that this pretty much stops all UV exposure for the rope as well.[/USER][/QUOTE]
 

trasko

Adventurer
I found my notes regarding the weights.

This is a "WAM" bumper. I have mixed feelings about them but the bumper works fine after I modified it to fit (long story). That bumper is 55lb + 10lb extra for the "wings" which expand the "crash protection" to what the factory bumper had. So 65lb for the carrier minus about 15lb+ of the factory internal bumper. We'll call it 50lb.

The M8000-S with hawse and synthetic is 55lb by the website (75lb for roller fairlead + wire rope).

Total added weight: ~105lb. Pretty reasonable IMO.
 

docwatson

Adventurer
I think the original designer was RockyMtnX from thenewx.org. PRG and WAM seem to have picked up on its popularity once RockyMtnX stopped making them. It's a clean look and relatively light, as you've noted. I would love one as 2" receiver but the local guy quoted my $900 (probably just didn't want to bother with it).
 

trasko

Adventurer
WAM was half that a year ago and in my conversations with them suggested they'd be willing to do a receiver mount. I decided against that path but you might get lucky if you give them a call.
 

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