Started a bit of work on the truck. I'm planning to fit a Mile Marker (or maybe the remore solenoid Warn 10,000) winch behind the stock bumper. I pulled the bumper off to start looking for space for the 40" tires and the winch. The bumper is really the only thing to worry about for tire size and for the winch so I got it off. The factory fog lights will have to go for winch room as you can see they're out. I'm going with some Hella 5000's behind the grille for extra lighting just like Layson did. Love the look.
I pulled the lower brackets off the AC condencer and cut 1 inch off them to pull the condenser closer to the tranny cooler since it had 1.75 inches of room. Now I have 1 extra inch of room for the winch.
I also cut some bumper spacers for the brackets to the frame where it'll be spaced out 1.25 inches with the combined spacer and washers. I'll also get some washers behind the bumper to bracket bolts and it'll give me .25 inch more space. With all of that, I'll be able to build a good solid winch mount between the frame rails and I'll have 8 inches of space for the winch. A MileMarker 10,000lb winch is 6.75 inches so it and the roller bracket will fit behind the stock bumper easily.
The bumper will also not stick out beyond the grille and will still look good. Of course using grade 8 hardware will help with stepping up on the bumper. That's all it'll be used for as well as looks. The winch and roller kit will all be on the frame brackets I build and just hide behind the bumper. Warn's kit moves the bumper out 6 inches and puts spacer plastics in it. I don't like that when I can move stuff back to make the room and keep the stock look with minimal adjustment externally. Now I just need to source some minimum 3/8 inch plate stock in 3 foot lengths and 8 inch width. Anyone know a cheap source? I might try the welding shop I have the stang parts at for work. They build trailers so they should have what I need.
I pulled the lower brackets off the AC condencer and cut 1 inch off them to pull the condenser closer to the tranny cooler since it had 1.75 inches of room. Now I have 1 extra inch of room for the winch.
I also cut some bumper spacers for the brackets to the frame where it'll be spaced out 1.25 inches with the combined spacer and washers. I'll also get some washers behind the bumper to bracket bolts and it'll give me .25 inch more space. With all of that, I'll be able to build a good solid winch mount between the frame rails and I'll have 8 inches of space for the winch. A MileMarker 10,000lb winch is 6.75 inches so it and the roller bracket will fit behind the stock bumper easily.
The bumper will also not stick out beyond the grille and will still look good. Of course using grade 8 hardware will help with stepping up on the bumper. That's all it'll be used for as well as looks. The winch and roller kit will all be on the frame brackets I build and just hide behind the bumper. Warn's kit moves the bumper out 6 inches and puts spacer plastics in it. I don't like that when I can move stuff back to make the room and keep the stock look with minimal adjustment externally. Now I just need to source some minimum 3/8 inch plate stock in 3 foot lengths and 8 inch width. Anyone know a cheap source? I might try the welding shop I have the stang parts at for work. They build trailers so they should have what I need.