Make any winch wireless with Harbor Freight controller

How to use a Harbor Freight Badlands wireless winch controller to make any winch wireless. This is hoe I did it on a Smittybilt winch but this can be adapted to any 3 wire winch controller.

[@derekperkins8158]

i thought about getting one of those, but my plug is differnt. great idea

[@williamcooper6057]

I’m in the process of doing this and maybe I missed it but I need to know what color is out and what color is in?

[@johnmadsen37]

I tried this and a bunch of sparks flew out and them my battery started on fire. I kept pushing the remote buttons but that o lay made it worse.

[@Jeeprassic]

A very smart install Ryan! And very good DIY visual instructions.

[@IronsideAdventures801]

Thank you

[@bobbyplatt7654]

fine job sir..

[@riostech1]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, good quality video, I just bought the module and going to install it this weekend 👍

[@IronsideAdventures801]

Glad I could help. I have a other video going up soon about how to do the same thing with a Warn winch and it's different controller.

[@ellienovelli3425]

Great video demonstration Ryan. So often they are done poorly with crappy camera work and disjointed descriptions that jump all over the place.

[@IronsideAdventures801]

Thanks. I really appreciate that feedback. The disjointed thing was something that I was thinking about when putting this together. I'm glad that part stuck out.

[@kevinhoffman7965]

I’m glad I found this video. I want to do this on my Smittybilt too.

[@IronsideAdventures801]

It's is really simple. I use my winch a lot compared to most and it works great. Good luck with your instal.

[@kyleallred984]

What would happen if say you are using the wireless remote to unroll and a kid picked up the wired remote and pushed the reroll button?

[@IronsideAdventures801]

I really don't know what would happen. I don't think it would be catastrophic but probably not a good thing either. I would recommend NOT even making it an option. If you are using the wireless remote, don't even plug in the wired controller. If you are using the wired controller, make sure the switch is off on the wireless remote.

[@kyleallred984]

@@IronsideAdventures801 I have learned to always plan for the dumbest and most random scenarios when kids get involved.

[@waredbear]

Thanks for answering my question.....will the wireless switch work on my Ramsey winch. It just might. I was wondering why you didn't just cut the wires to the wired connector and wire in the wireless wires. . But you did. Thanks for listening to me. Why are you still using the wired controller? I thought you said a pin was corroded. I understand a backup device. Nice job. Thanks.

[@IronsideAdventures801]

I believe Ramsay uses a 3 wires system so you should be able to make it work. You could cut the controller wires but I wouldn't really recommend it. I prefer to keep my wired controllers intact as backups. I had a fuse blow in the wireless controller on my truck. Winch would have been dead without the wired controller.

[@jndterrell]

You could (and maybe should) take the battery out of the remote when not in use…

[@IronsideAdventures801]

I'm curious why? I don't store it where the buttons can get pushed and the off switch prevents it from activating the winch in the event they do.

[@outofline999]

Good info. Thanks. going to use this $40 one on my dump trailer, and I got the $60 apex one to add add to my 8274 on my FJ40. What switch did you use?

[@IronsideAdventures801]

I don't recall exactly which switch it was but it was a simple on/off switch that fits in a 7/8" hole. They are all over Amazon.

[@outofline999]

Thanks, I got some ordered along with the diodes for the dump trailer conversion! @@IronsideAdventures801

[@swedaksouthsweden]

Strange that your green/yellow wire is hot. Here in Europe green/yellow is always ground.

[@IronsideAdventures801]

It is an odd wiring color scheme. I had to trace all the wires to confirm what they were. All of it was made in China though so I'm not sure any color scheme is standard.