WINCH TALK

from what I've heard, Smittybilt is also referred to as "S*itty built" - so buyer beware there LOL... I've heard and read good things about the Badlands from Harbor Freight of all places, as well as the Rough Country winch, and I've heard that Warn used to be the gold standard, but it sounds like there's been some decrease in quality lately - but don't know about that for sure. I'm also looking into winch options for my Badlands with the modular bumper ... I'm leaning towards the Rough Country with the 12000S (synthetic) setup - it's under $900 all-in, and from what I understand, takes about 2-2.5 hours to install.

I’m putting together a Rough Country winch plate, Mountains2Metal camera relocation kit, and Badlands winch. This seems to be the most economical approach to using my existing bumper and still maintaining all the safety features and front facing camera.

I would rather go without any winch at all than sacrifice my front facing camera.

TechnicalDisaster

I’m putting together a Rough Country winch plate, Mountains2Metal camera relocation kit, and Badlands winch. This seems to be the most economical approach to using my existing bumper and still maintaining all the safety features and front facing camera.

I would rather go without any winch at all than sacrifice my front facing camera.

I just saw the M2M camera relocation kit the other day - a bit more cost effective than the JCR one. Good luck with your install!

Here's a few videos I did on a winch mount and relocation camera mount. Hope they help!

Calgecko

from what I've heard, Smittybilt is also referred to as "S*itty built" - so buyer beware there LOL... I've heard and read good things about the Badlands from Harbor Freight of all places, as well as the Rough Country winch, and I've heard that Warn used to be the gold standard, but it sounds like there's been some decrease in quality lately - but don't know about that for sure. I'm also looking into winch options for my Badlands with the modular bumper ... I'm leaning towards the Rough Country with the 12000S (synthetic) setup - it's under $900 all-in, and from what I understand, takes about 2-2.5 hours to install.

I won’t be using mine all that often and live in Ohio so I’m thinking the synthetic rope will survive the salt baths here in Ohio better. The Rough country setup sounds good! I was actually looking into the Badland ones at Harbor Freight too. They look like they’re well built and how cool would it be to have a Badland winch on my Badlands, lol

TechnicalDisaster

I’m putting together a Rough Country winch plate, Mountains2Metal camera relocation kit, and Badlands winch. This seems to be the most economical approach to using my existing bumper and still maintaining all the safety features and front facing camera.

I would rather go without any winch at all than sacrifice my front facing camera.

Surely you jest.

The badlands winch is good for the price. We might get a portable tow mounted one for the rear. See pic.

We wanted to post 20 pics but BN site only allows 10. Sorry

Our Smitty XRC Gen3 model winch is pretty sweet. Never any issues with this model or others we've had including Warn.

Really like the built-in LED light inside the XRC winch and flashlight inside controller. Controller is magnetic too. Along with so many other features you can read about in pics like an onboard load meter.

The controller is cool too. Entire rig looks good not an ugly block. It has Synthetic rope + I added some electric tape to the first 12 inches of rope to strengthen and protect it from elements. Also found matching XRC winch cover. Very happy.

Dont forget recovery gear to make your winch work. Factor55 is really solid quality gear. But not cheap. We spent almost 1K on an entire gear bag full of recovery gear including but not limited to the F55 Flatlink attached to winch resting snug on the fairlead.

Tip: keep the rope tight (flatlink) and limit rope exposure to sun/rain when not in use.

I have pretty much everything to mount an Ironman 12,000 lbs. synthetic rope Monster winch with the Lobo hidden mount on my 2.3l Badlands.

I will take photos and post updates when I get around to mounting it (might be awhile yet).

I choose the Ironman because of it’s low profile and remote-mounted controller, and well - it’s Australian, and they wrote the book on off-roading.

I decided on the Lobo vs the Rough Country after comparing the mounting methods for both. The Lobo is basically one single formed sheet of steel, bolted to the chassis at front and back. The Rough Country is a box, and I didn’t like how the winch stress was being transferred to the frame, although I’m pretty sure it would be OK.

NT AUTOMOTIVE

The badlands winch is good for the price. We might get a portable tow mounted one for the rear. See pic.

We wanted to post 20 pics but BN site only allows 10. Sorry

Our Smitty XRC Gen3 model winch is pretty sweet. Never any issues with this model or others we've had including Warn.

Really like the built-in LED light inside the XRC winch and flashlight inside controller. Controller is magnetic too. Along with so many other features you can read about in pics like an onboard load meter.

The controller is cool too. Entire rig looks good not an ugly block. It has Synthetic rope + I added some electric tape to the first 12 inches of rope to strengthen and protect it from elements. Also found matching XRC winch cover. Very happy.

Dont forget recovery gear to make your winch work. Factor55 is really solid quality gear. But not cheap. We spent almost 1K on an entire gear bag full of recovery gear including but not limited to the F55 Flatlink attached to winch resting snug on the fairlead.

Tip: keep the rope tight (flatlink) and limit rope exposure to sun/rain when not in use.

Great feedback!! Appreciate the info ??

Bronco V-8

Surely you jest.

Why do you say that?

TechnicalDisaster

Why do you say that?

I don't get the front camera to begin with , you look out the windshield and can see forward...
But you rather see possums rooting for grubs on camera while stuck, than winching out and going home to poppa cold one? ? your call

Bronco V-8

I don't get the front camera to begin with , you look out the windshield and can see forward...
But you rather see possums rooting for grubs on camera while stuck, than winching out and going home to poppa cold one? ? your call

I never had one until this vehicle, but the front camera is awesome! only works at low speed, the high hood of the bronco males judging distance in front of rig difficult. Camera makes it silly easy…

i would love to find a winch solution that doesn’t mess with my camera or adaptive cruise sensor.

Bronco V-8

I don't get the front camera to begin with , you look out the windshield and can see forward...
But you rather see possums rooting for grubs on camera while stuck, than winching out and going home to poppa cold one? ? your call

I spend most of my trail time in groups, or trails in dense woods. With groups, you can’t always see the ground below the vehicle in front of you. Even at a safe distance you don’t get a whole lot of time to read the terrain. The camera makes up for that lack of visibility over the hood.

The wood trails I have access to have tight tolerances. You need you your head on a swivel to navigate around low branches along with many tree trunks. The camera adds extra visibility to stumps that enter a blind spot when I’m watching other obstacles.

YMMV, but the front camera is just as useful to me as the side and rear mirrors. I don’t see anything wrong with having more information at-a glance. It has become a tool that I refuse to do without. It makes off-roading easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable.

There’s also the 360 parking camera that I regularly use. Just a quick courtesy check to ensure I didn’t park like an a-hole trying to maneuver the Bronco into a tight spot. I need that. ?

TechnicalDisaster

I spend most of my trail time in groups, or trails in dense woods. With groups, you can’t always see the ground below the vehicle in front of you. Even at a safe distance you don’t get a whole lot of time to read the terrain. The camera makes up for that lack of visibility over the hood.

The wood trails I have access to have tight tolerances. You need you your head on a swivel to navigate around low branches along with many tree trunks. The camera adds extra visibility to stumps that enter a blind spot when I’m watching other obstacles.

YMMV, but the front camera is just as useful to me as the side and rear mirrors. I don’t see anything wrong with having more information at-a glance. It has become a tool that I refuse to do without. It makes off-roading easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable.

There’s also the 360 parking camera that I regularly use. Just a quick courtesy check to ensure I didn’t park like an a-hole trying to maneuver the Bronco into a tight spot. I need that. ?

Makes sense.
I don't go with a group so don't have visibility issues, but if I get stuck I have to get myself out.

Calgecko

from what I've heard, Smittybilt is also referred to as "S*itty built" - so buyer beware there LOL... I've heard and read good things about the Badlands from Harbor Freight of all places, as well as the Rough Country winch, and I've heard that Warn used to be the gold standard, but it sounds like there's been some decrease in quality lately - but don't know about that for sure. I'm also looking into winch options for my Badlands with the modular bumper ... I'm leaning towards the Rough Country with the 12000S (synthetic) setup - it's under $900 all-in, and from what I understand, takes about 2-2.5 hours to install.

I am running the Smitty: model 10k 7hp Gen #3 . Have used it twice for recovery the last ice/snowstorm here in Nebraska and it performed flawlessly. I will try to video next time if i have to use it again. I am very happy with it! (Recovery of others in ditch one deep one not so much.)

Before I switched to the Everglades that comes with the Warn winch. I was going to add the Badlands HF winch to my Badlands, I heard good things for the price. I do like the synthetic rope. And you should respool your winch every so often to check your line for any damage. There was a guy out at Katemcy this weekend that had a Basesquatch with winch and he just double sided taped an RV camera to it and a monitor on the dash pretty smart if you ask me.

RETmed14!

I am running the Smitty: model 10k 7hp Gen #3 . Have used it twice for recovery the last ice/snowstorm here in Nebraska and it performed flawlessly. I will try to video next time if i have to use it again. I am very happy with it! (Recovery of others in ditch one deep one not so much.)

I like that mount. What kind is that?

JCR offroad winchplate and JCR offroad PreRunner Bar. Here is another angle. license plate bracket I purchased on amazon, can't remember from where, but is detachable and connects into the fairlead.

Bronco V-8

Makes sense.
I don't go with a group so don't have visibility issues, but if I get stuck I have to get myself out.

My rule of thumb is to never go on difficult trails alone, and always ensure someone has a winch. I’m finally stepping up that someone to be me :).

I’ve only been winched once in the Bronco, but I’ve used the front camera every time I’ve been out.