12K Truck Winch Setup for only $950!!!

Links to products used
Winch
www.harborfreight.com/APEX-Sy...
Jumper Cable www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...

[@Turboactive]

Since I got my Apex 12k I have pointed the nose of my truck up the hardest obstacle I can find every time I the trail. Haven't needed it yet but having the confidence to go for it makes all the difference! I used it to pull up some roots and it worked awesome for that!!

[@HoosierVagabond]

Glad i found your video. I’m going through the same exact headache. Wish there where more like you out there

[@MrHermangv]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Simple set up

[@rockyrdz75]

Very informative bud, but just an FYI. Never get in the line of fire by being in front of the winch while pulling. Hence is why you never see riggers under a load from a crane. Even though the weight capacity is approved, you never know of what faulty equipment you have

[@jcnme]

Great Video Brother 👍🏻

[@Azntrutek2012]

Install 140amp battery isolator and add a secondary battery in your truck bed to reduce lengthly cable.

[@noahdouglas5111]

Exactly what I did

[@heathenfirewoodservice2021]

Hmm I can see using this on my truck to skid logs in the woods. If you do hard wire the line in your truck make a video. I’d be real interested in doing this if it’s not a pain to rig up. I love the plug in idea to transport the winch in the bed. I’ll keep this in mind.

[@Liberty_Tree]

don't stand there. If that cable snaps you're done

[@willlindsay6753]

Awesome man I was wondering if anyone did this because I rarely will use a winch so why run a wire. I’ll just put one permanent wire from in and have your set up if I ever need pull from rear.

[@seanridder5612]

I have a trx no front mount pos .rear mt i like .so it can go on when i need it and off for parking space .it just doesnt have the front weight

[@adventurefuel5172]

It will get out of a ditch all alone, and back home safe. That’s what’s important. They stopped making winch plates for my truck. Think I’m going to use your solution.

[@earnestbass4043]

Plenty of cable size, and I use the same setup when plowing.

[@lenf2]

I just setup the same Badlands Apex 12000lb winch and haulmaster hitch mount, but I got them for $450. I am using the same quick connectors with permanently installed connectors at front and rear (I have a receiver at both ends) which I made myself with 2awg wire and a Harbor Freight hydraulic crimper. I found the best way to stop the "wobble" of the winch mount was to use a hitch stabilizer clamp, which firmed it up greatly. I used the dual end mounting method so that If I need to pull out from either direction I can (in answer to a post below).

[@campbelloffroad3660]

Awesome sounds like a great setup! Mine is permanently in my front bumper now

[@curtishacker590]

Where did you get the cradle? And how did you get that disconnect plug in the jumper cable

[@UnbendingMetal]

I'd suggest a battery in the rear, with cables as short as possible. Use wingnuts on the battery for a quick connection and less loss than the Anderson connector. I think the connector you have there will have about 3V loss when winching, or about 25%. But then you have to deal with charging the second battery. Good job on making it work!

[@campbelloffroad3660]

Thanks! I've been told the battery by itself is not enough juice, that it needs to be connected to the alternator, so that's why I didn't go that route

[@BipedOfMystery]

I really appreciate the video and the comment. I am in the process right now of trying to figure out how I want to go with either the adapted jumper cables or separate battery.

[@startwithelite]

anyway to power it with the trailer 7 or 4 pin?

[@JairoRazo]

Very cool!

[@ronaldsteiger7562]

Do you have the link to the hitch receiver cradle ? Please

[@davidabraham3873]

With heavy duty motors such as winch motors they don't like to be clicked on and off, on and off rapidly in a short time. Motor could burn out quicker just like the starter on vehicles

[@robbylombardi1477]

The most amp draw the winch will use is about 450amps, did you find an Anderson plug that can handle that amperage?

[@flyboy2610]

If I were to use the receiver mount, I would weld some angle iron to the bottom of the hitch plate to really reinforce it. That winch puts out enough torque to flex that mount, and if it does it will break the the solenoid cover. Just ask Muddy Beard 4x4. He flexed a Smitty Built mount and broke the solenoid cover on his.

[@campbelloffroad3660]

I agree this winch is definitely stronger than the mounting plate if you were using it hard, the mount was actually only designed for winches up to 9,000 lbs

[@simonsays5979]

What cradle is that

[@inediblevermin]

How did you wire the cables from the winch to the Anderson plug?

[@campbelloffroad3660]

The kit I got off Amazon had ring terminals on the end, use bolts and electrical tape to the ring terminals on the winch wires

[@troyfabrizius9942]

badlands is a good place to test a badlands winch

[@sean-rady]

How do you like that winch cradle? I'm shopping now for my new apex and am going back n forth with different winch cradle set ups

[@campbelloffroad3660]

Sean Rady I don’t think it is that great, it’s technically only rated for a 9000 lb winch. I would recommend the Curt 31010 Winch Mount, it is probably better

[@greglisco]

I just bought the same setup. I am going to modify the cradleto make it stronger

[@madcratebuilder]

I really like the fact you can mount the winch on the rear of the truck. I considered doing that but I'm to old and decrepit to deal with the weight. After last bypass Doc said don't lift more than 5 lbs, yea right. It's all I can do to lift 50 any more.

[@campbelloffroad3660]

Yes it works well for me, but not everyone. A 8k winch may be lighter, but this 12k plus the cradle is probably around 60lbs to lift out of the bed and into the hitch.

[@Jsparrvik98]

how does the cable from the winch connect to that wire/plug

[@campbelloffroad3660]

It wasn’t a great permanent solution, I just ran a bolt through the positive and negative battery terminals and wrapped them in electrical tape

[@toddcraft6919]

Would this work with a cable plugged into a 7 Pin tow port?

[@campbelloffroad3660]

No it draws too many amps to use that

[@benkanobe7500]

I like your rear bumper! What brand is that?

[@campbelloffroad3660]

I built it myself! Thank you!

[@djnemesis82pluss1877]

Where did u get that fairlead mount ? Mine didn’t come with one

[@campbelloffroad3660]

That’s odd it should have, I know HF also sells it separately

[@djnemesis82pluss1877]

Campbell ZR2 it don’t even show it in the book that came with it that shows what’s all in the box

[@randyS2020]

FYI 589|Fabrication FRONT RECEIVER MOUNT

[@campbelloffroad3660]

Randy Schmitt I am familiar with it, but I would rather do an actual steel bumper up front

[@zr2zamboni906]

Gotta love Harbor Freight, man! What’s the advantages of rear mounted winch? Seems forward facing would work best. Maybe add a front 2” receiver when you can up a front bumper?

[@campbelloffroad3660]

ZR2 Zamboni rear was easier/cheaper than a front setup, and my thought process is “I don’t need to make it through the trail/obstacle, I just need to get out, turn around, and get home!” Haha

[@MikaHadi]

@@campbelloffroad3660 What if you went down a trail & discover you can't get out that direction, so you turn around to go back home & then you get stuck on your only way out LMAO plus dude, that receiver hitch is not even rated for 12,000 lbs. that is not safe !!!

[@sombojoe]

It’s east to take off since you don’t need it on an everyday basis

[@dianasprinkle2178]

What’s up with the on, off, on, off. If there’s something I don’t know please help me out!

[@campbelloffroad3660]

Sorry, I don't understand your question.

[@dianasprinkle2178]

Campbell ZR2 I’ve noticed the quick change with the remote. Pushing the “IN” for half a second, then releasing, back to “IN.” Is it the “little at a time” method to have more control? I don’t know if that would wear switches or components down faster. Maybe I’m looking too much in to it. Anyway, cool vid!

[@campbelloffroad3660]

Diana Sprinkle yes I was just doing that to slow down how quickly the line was moving, no reason that I had to do that, just my preference. I don’t believe it should be hard on the winch at all

[@dianasprinkle2178]

Campbell ZR2 thank you!

[@ReshardsAutomotiveWorkshop]

Get you one of those winch weight bag things. Then you won't have to touch the line.

[@IAMHIM414]

Wisconsin guy

[@relikvija]

Dude, get rid of that truck, fast! We have them at work, crappy stuff my man

[@campbelloffroad3660]

relikvija I as well as many other ZR2 enthusiasts strongly disagree with you, the ZR2 is much different than the WT Colorado and other lower trims, and it was designed and built very well.

[@chevy0771]

You do know that’s a wireless remote right? The wire is there in case if the battery dies in the remote. And also you don’t wanna keep pushing on the button also.