How To Install 2010 Ram 1500 hidden winch

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wagunner

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So, I have searched everywhere, and couldn't find any info on this, so the following is my solution.

Problem: I wanted a winch, but didn't want a huge winch bumper. I don't plan to take this truck wheeling, but I do live in farm country and getting stuck or needing to pull somebody else out is common. I also don't want a 2" receiver and 'removable' winch, because likely it'll be sitting at home the day that I need it. I want to know that its always there, 'just in case'.

There is an enormous space behind the front bumper, so I set out to get a winch in there.

I started with 2.5" angle iron across the mounting bolts for the tow hooks. this gave me a surface to start working from. my target is to get the fairlead to come out through the opening below the license plate. I removed the original to hook bolts, and replaced with longer bolts of the same size.
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I then took a harbor freight winch cradle I had from a previous project and cut it to fit on top of the angle iron, and between the bumper mounting brackets.
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after a lot of measuring, and repositioning (don't forget, the winches aren't centered, my warn is offset by an inch or so). I managed to get it to sit really close to center, but the fairlead is still off center by about 1/2". only noticable when comparing it to the location of the license plate. I used a couple pieces of 1/4" plate for spacers to get the height just right. And after I was happy, I drilled and bolted the cradle to the angle iron.
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next to add a little support to the front of the winch mount. I used a couple small sections of the angle iron, and drilled 1 hole in the side of each bumper mounting bracket. this is mostly for stability, as the bolts through the tow hooks will take the force of the winch.
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Now for the fairlead. I decided to use synthetic cable and a hawse fairlead. more sleek look, and lighter weight. I used 1.5" tubing for the stand-off brackets, and needed bend the lower part of the bumper 'lip' down slightly to make enough room for it to poke through.
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Time to weld! While the whole thing could probably be bolted together and be plenty strong, I wanted to weld everything together to make it rock solid. then throw some paint at it.
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Re-installed the mounting plate, bolted in the winch, notched out the plastic 'filler' piece for a finished look, clocked the winch clutch lever to the back so it can be turned by reaching under the bumper, re-installed the plastic airdam, used a wireless winch controller so I didn't need to re-locate the control box.
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I used an 8,000 lb warn winch, and feel that this is sufficient for my winching needs. If I regularly took this truck off road, and had a 10-12klb winch installed, I'd probably be looking for additional bracing, but am confident in this setup.

I will take additional 'finished' pics when the lighting is better so they can be as clear as possible.

I hope this is helpful for anyone wanting to do something similar.
 
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Disturbed

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Very nice. Now have my own idea. So much hate. Only because I'm about to spend more money on my truck.
 
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wagunner

wagunner

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warn makes them for the previous year Rams, just not ours. So I was inspired to make it myself.

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wagunner

wagunner

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slightly better photo of winch mounted in place.
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ran the wireless controller up to the firewall and mounted the box. love the wireless controller.
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wireless-controller.jpg
 
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UneasyJmitchell

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Now youll have to help those Fords and Chevys outta the ditch, LOL. Nice build nevertheless.
 

Knighthawk

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You are my hero Wagunner... I have a 2013 Sport and I have the same Harbor Freight mount that I was thinking of doing something similar with. My first thought was that I wanted under the front bumper and have the cable come out from behind the license plate for a totally hidden setup, but ended up mounting it on a removable hitch plate because I did not think it would fit in there. I will have to look again now. Thanks
 

Livewire

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awesome, you dont even need a job anymore, just install winches all day to make a living.
 
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wagunner

wagunner

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I have used it 3 times now, for medium weight pulls and it has worked fantastic.

Plus the look ram owners get on their face when they notice the winch but are confused because it's not a power wagon is great.
 

Knighthawk

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So here is what i am looking at under the bumper of my 13 sport. what do you think. The plastic brace is in the way to mount it like I wanted. I could maybe flip the mount upside-down up close to the front bumper. And hang the winch. Would have to have better bolts and maybe even a safety strap around it to make sure it won't break and fall off. I may have to weld up some crazy platform around the hook and the plastic brace.
 

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myoung84

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That's too far back. Unless you build some additional brackets, there will be nothing to support the fairlead. Most winches have the fairlead mounted directly to the winch mount (just like wagunner did). This wouldn't be an issue of you had a beefy steel bumper, but the sport, or even the standard steel bumper, won't support the load of an off-center pull.
 

Knighthawk

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Wow... I am so stupid. I cut that plastic brace out and install the winch mount like wagunner. Then just make a new brace off the mount for the winch.
 

myoung84

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Haha. Yeah, that would work. The metal bumpers on the 13+ are solid in the center so it would require some cutting. This is what I would like for my truck. I think this would be a very clean install.

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