When installing your winch what do most of you do? Relocate the control box, leave it where it is, and why or why not? Also do you install a switch inside the FJ to operate from inside your truck if you wish? Just wondering.:grin
My ENGO winch with controller didn't fit in my DO bumper. I decided to just mount it in the engine bay to get it out of the elements. I 3M taped it on top of the fuse block next to the battery. It did require some extra battery cables.
My setup I have a wireless remote and also a plug in one.
I did it because:
1) the control box wouldn't fit in my Warrior bumper
2) I wanted the box out of the elements (rain, road de-icer, ice, etc...)
3) Didn't want it damaged/vandalized/ripped off...
Relocating the solenoid box depends on which bumper and which winch you choose. Some combinations will require you to notch out your bezel to get them to fit, mine did. I didn't want to notch my bezel so I chose relocation.
The downside of moving the box is, the further away it is, the longer the wires have to be and this creates more resistance in the cables so you may have to get bigger ones. This is expensive and problematic in a number of ways. It is best to use the cables that came with the winch and figure out a plausible configuration in my opinion. Less hassle and you know the loads will be correct.
I like having a wireless controller, that way you can winch from wherever you like, inside or out.
Had to get creative when positioning solenoid in my DO bumper. Got the wireless remote, but still wanted access to plug just in case. Drilled a new hole and relocated plug so I can more easily access.
To align with bumper cutout, used 1" aluminum square pipe.
Still had to drill new holes and tilt solenoid for best plug access, but worked out great.
I had to mess with mine a bit to to get it to fit just right and have access to the connector.
Benefits to keeping it as close to the winch are that you have shorter high amp wiring to run which is expensive and heavy. Other than that, it shouldn't matter where you put it
If the control box is accessible might be a good idea to have a battery disconnect locked under the hood so would be vandals cannot pringle your rig or do other nasty creative things by using a paper clip to actuate your winch... Just a thought.
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