hidden winch on D3/4 with standard bumper and NO roo-bar

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Originally Posted by Sven94

Turtle60 - are you able to a reach the winch dog clutch lever?

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Id have to check but I just leave it engaged. I have a cut off twist type switch under the bonnet. So only turn it on when I need it or a high chance I’ll need it. Happy to report that after 1 year I used it on our ill fated trip to the outback which resulted in our friends rolling their camper. D4 hidden winch to the rescue. Certainly made a couple of eyes pop when I furled out the winch from behind the plate.
The only risk of being engaged is it “may” fire up on its own. Used wisely I think this is very unlikely and secondary to not being able to engage a frozen gearbox

I might add that this means you have to mechanically wind the winch rope out as opposed to pulling it out. Myself I rather have a control unfurling than pulling it out and slipping arse over in mud etc. its not loaded or working hard and doesn’t noticeably take any longer.

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Originally Posted by Sven94

Turtle60 - are you able to a reach the winch dog clutch lever?

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Checked today and yes you can. re - Positioning of the clutch dog lever may be required to make it easier depending on your winch.

Looking back in this thread I see that I've been toying with adding a winch for 2 years ..... and now it's done.
Prospeed winch mount & fairlead with a Carbon Winch 12K powered through a Blue Seas ML-RBS remote control isolator.

No question it was the biggest, most complicated and challenging mod I’ve done on the D4. Including all the pre-work for the battery isolator there was at least 50 hours work, which I spread out over a few weeks. I think it’s come up pretty well. Less than $3,000 when all parts, cables and ancillaries are included. Obviously not the cheapest version but at this stage I'm happy with what's been pulled together. One item to add is a Factor 55 Flat Link to replace the soft shackle currently holding the eye, plus I'm going to investigate mobile bumper repairers to plug the number plate bracket screw holes.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...65f1cce4_o.jpg

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A few challenges cropped up along the way to make everything fit neatly and a couple of specific ratchet spanners saved the day.
13mm bent for the bottom corner chassis bolts; only spanner that would fit.
8mm stubby for the very hard to reach bolts to the removed plastic shroud.

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No issues with re-using the 8 factory bolts for the main mounts but the cradle design didn't quite provide enough access to get to the bolts. That was the most frustrating part, just because a very small tweak to the design would have made it a simple task. Maybe the 35 degree heat didn't help. Having said that Prospeed have still developed a very well resolved product.

Creating the fairlead hole and shaped cutout to the front of the winch took many hours of careful measuring and slow removal by Dremel cutting wheel and sanding disc. But I think the effort was worth it.

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The freespool can be reached through the bumper and is reasonably easy to turn.

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I put the isolator, wireless receiver, gearbox breather and small fuse block all in the driver side battery box out of harms way. The wiring is a bit messy due to using plugs for most connections and needing to have some slack but nothing is unprotected or likely to rub.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c738b59b_o.jpg

This isolator has a manual function as well as in-cab switching, which I located in the overhead light binnacle.
The little LED indicates when the isolator is connected and live.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a1b4cf1b_o.jpg

I've also mounted the wired remote plug base up high as a back-up in case the wireless remote fails.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...48d2f4ab_o.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...76e987e0_o.jpg

Cheers,
Scott

Wow...looks really good. ..the D4 front end looks better every time I look at it😎..and the winch just adds to the eye candy!!

I'm seriously tempted to do this mod...just for looks😆

My boys would of course rubbish me as our D4 is not allowed to go off road...even tho it would cream their std Patrols!

Where'd u get the parts?

Looks good. As you know I fitted the Devon unit. Also I like the idea that your side bits are pipe whereas mine is "U" shaped metal. It would be interesting to see which is stronger/better with the outside brackets to hold the washer bottle etc. Yours seems to have a little "pouch" in front of the air suspension distribution box. Its funny but I did not need any special spanners nor have any problems fitting the mount. It seems that just about every unit of a D4 made by LR has different items so require different tools to fix things. Also looking at the Devon Web site it it cheaper by 100 UK pounds but the fairlead is an extra so probably just about same in cost. I have used mine a few times now especially when I take the caravan away and get stuck in a muddy hill climb out of the camp site. The only other thing I worry about is being able to ever service the winch should it need it. Have to pull everything out to get to it. With a BB is just drop the winch plate. I also question if you really need a hook on the winch line I use a shackle bolt as most of the time you are attaching to a snatch strap or tree protector. Thats why you cannot see my Winch as it is well hidden behind the flip up rego plate with no hook or cable exposed and held in place by a nut and bolt through the cable end hoop.

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Originally Posted by INter674

Where'd u get the parts?

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Direct from suppliers for the mount and winch.
Outback Marine for the isolator.
Jaycar for other miscellaneous items.

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Originally Posted by dirvine

Yours seems to have a little "pouch" in front of the air suspension distribution box.

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It came supplied with a bracket to mount the solenoid, which is specifically designed for the Warn Zeon.
I adapted the bracket and the solenoid cover box that came with the winch, which took a bit of extra effort but came up pretty well.

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Originally Posted by dirvine

.... service the winch should it need it. Have to pull everything out to get to it.

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I wish the winch could be serviced in-situ (after bumper removal) but doubt it.
Depends on what access is required to open things up to replace seals.
Might be ok if you just need to pull ends off but either way it'll be an all day job.

Regards,
Scott

Well done Scott, looks awesome.

I have been watching these Prospeed mounts for a bit and hope to get onto one soon. The only difference would be I'd like the one with the hoop. From what you have seen with yours, would you think the extra mod for the bar is worth while or arduous?

Also, what we're the freight circumstances with getting it to Aus?

Cheers

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Originally Posted by Konradical

From what you have seen with yours, would you think the extra mod for the bar is worth while or arduous?

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There are mount holes on the winch bracket for the bar and I believe you are provided with a template to cut the extra holes in the bumper top surface.
If you want the bar I think the extra effort would be reasonable given all the bumper cutting you have to complete anyway for the winch.

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Originally Posted by Konradical

.... freight circumstances with getting it to Aus?

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Freight was simple & all organised by Prospeed but I did have to pay the GST/Duty to freight company once goods arrived to Aus.

Cheers,
Scott