Ford Dealer for Winch Install?

[K2mia]

Hey folks,

Am waiting on my Badlands order to arrive but am planning in the bg. I'd like to get the WARN winch that Ford offers in-house installation but would love to hear from anyone that has gone that route. Would an aftermarket install at another shop be better? Any issues with that particular winch and setup? My Badlands should have the right bumper for the install as stock so that is a plus. Any feedback appreciated! Thanks

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[MNBigfoot]

The "correct" bumper is the Modular bumper, the Badlands comes standard with the capable. However just a little modifying and it will work with the Capable. But I'm not sure your dealer will install it unless you have to Mod. They do some safety programming with the crash setting, with the winch.

Step by step installation videos are available using both bumpers

 

[K2mia]

The "correct" bumper is the Modular bumper, the Badlands comes standard with the capable. However just a little modifying and it will work with the Capable. But I'm not sure your dealer will install it unless you have to Mod. They do some safety programming with the crash setting, with the winch.

Step by step installation videos are available using both bumpers

Thank you. I checked the order and I did add the modular bumper so not stock but I did get it. I will check with my dealer and there are 3 or 4 more in my area. Thanks again!

 

[MNBigfoot]

Thank you. I checked the order and I did add the modular bumper so not stock but I did get it. I will check with my dealer and there are 3 or 4 more in my area. Thanks again!

I think there is an installation option, when you purchase the winch through Ford Accessories, that might be WAY cheaper then buying the package first and then paying for the install. Also make sure you use a 15-25% code on your order, and also pay for it with your Ford points that you'll get with the Bronco purchase.

 

[Q1svt]

Hey folks,

Am waiting on my Badlands order to arrive but am planning in the bg. I'd like to get the WARN winch that Ford offers in-house installation but would love to hear from anyone that has gone that route. Would an aftermarket install at another shop be better? Any issues with that particular winch and setup? My Badlands should have the right bumper for the install as stock so that is a plus. Any feedback appreciated! Thanks

I'm about one step ahead of you...

Have a Badlands 2 door in build status, but have the Ford M1821T winch kit in the garage. Took advance of a Ford 20% off plus free shipping to a dealer near me. [and some Amex points ]

If you have any skill with wrenches it's a DIY just take your time and will need a helper on a couple steps do to weight of things.

There are a number of youtube video's out there on installing the Ford winch. This one has a lot of detail on parts. He stats there are different part numbers on each one an you MUST use the correct one on each side and inside frame rails left/right...

 

[K2mia]

I'm about one step ahead of you...

Have a Badlands 2 door in build status, but have the Ford M1821T winch kit in the garage. Took advance of a Ford 20% off plus free shipping to a dealer near me. [and some Amex points ]

If you have any skill with wrenches it's a DIY just take your time and will need a helper on a couple steps do to weight of things.

There are a number of youtube video's out there on installing the Ford winch. This one has a lot of detail on parts. He stats there are different part numbers on each one an you MUST use the correct one on each side and inside frame rails left/right...

This is very helpful - thank you so much for posting this!

Only question I have is about the reprogramming that I have heard is required from a Ford dealer after installation. Is that optional, recommended, necessary?

Thanks, -Andy

 

[Q1svt]

This is very helpful - thank you so much for posting this!

Only question I have is about the reprogramming that I have heard is required from a Ford dealer after installation. Is that optional, recommended, necessary?

Thanks, -Andy

Wow O wow that’ll open a can of posts…​

​

I will say from years building insurance & legal software​

YES, the person in your vehicle will sue you because you didn’t have the airbags reconfigured … as FORD said​

​

To others direct your opinions to the OP…​

​

​

 

[toybox06]

I broke down and bought the winch kit today with the 20% off sale delivered to my old dealer in KS as you can’t ship to OK. Just have to make the trip back home when it arrives. Picked up the winch cover as well to protect my investment. Along with several accessories D rings super hook etc. I’ve very excited. I’ll be installing it myself and hopefully I can use forscan to update the airbags for the winch and modular upgrade.

 

[Brian_B]

think there is an installation option, when you purchase the winch through Ford Accessories, that might be WAY cheaper then buying the package first and then paying for the install.

Many dealers refuse to honor that - I know of zero in a 200 mile radius of where I live that will do Ford Performance installations from the web site

They are more than happy to do installs, but they will quote you their shop rate and do it for actual hours. Which is usually gonna be way more than FP web site rate

 

[Brian_B]

Wow O wow that’ll open a can of posts…​

​

I will say from years building insurance & legal software​

YES, the person in your vehicle will sue you because you didn’t have the airbags reconfigured … as FORD said​

​

To others direct your opinions to the OP…​

​

​

So, yeah, this is “the official answer”

The real answer is that no other winch installation requires a software reconfiguration. And I know of zero people getting sued because of this. But yeah, when you are a dealership offering it, things change from a liability standpoint. This is just Ford doing a CYA so you can’t come back and say you wrecked and an airbag didn’t deploy because of the winch in the way - when in reality they didn’t deploy because you removed them to save weight and lower the center of gravity


(Yeah, that sounds totally stupid and you read that and think - no way. Yet there is a thread around here about removing air bags for just that reason…)

 

[GrayGhostDog]

I'll be picking mine up from my local dealer on Monday... no one within a 20 mile radius will do the install. I'll do it myself and then have the service department reprogram the airbag system.

 

[Q1svt]

So, yeah, this is “the official answer”

The real answer is that no other winch installation requires a software reconfiguration. And I know of zero people getting sued because of this.

Sorry it's not that complicated ...

Ford as an OEM sold Bronco's with factory installed winch. That required all the things that goes with an OEM product... Like crash testing, air bags testing etc. Ford did that, to be able to sell those Broncos. Ford had to do the same for the Modular HD bumpers... Tubed doors, etc

Now that YOU can purchase those same winch kits, they are required to let you know that as a manufacture there are different crash/air bag settings between bronco's with and bronco's without their winch kits.

IT's those ads playing 24-7 365 days from Injury Attorneys 'Call Us if You were Hurt'
Yes they can sue Ford, but Ford tells the owner about the software coding... and that it is available... so who do the Injury Attorneys go after? the Bronco owner that did not get it reprogramed, and it was the reason their client [passenger] was injury/killed

Regarding after market; they never did any crash/air bag testing, they are not an OEM... so for an Attorney to prove to a court that their client was more hurt because... is nearly impossible... and what changes need to be done to the software? since it's not the same product as what Ford sold... or the other companies bumpers...

People can simply buy from an aftermarket seller... but you might not be getting the same safety factor as an OEM part.

Just different laws for different kind of manufactures... and the burden of proof within a court case.

 

[Phil B]

What exactly is changed in the airbag settings after the winch is installed?

 

[Dr Dan]

Have you considered a removable witch mount? My Bronco is my daily driver and I only go off-road a few times a year. I didn’t need a permanent solution with moving sensors and cameras so I went with Maximus-3. Once the brackets are installed, mounting and removing is power easy. The most effort goes into snaking the power into the battery, which I use a wire hanger to pull it through, but there are quick connect options available to make that much easier.

 

[Tonka Bronka]

I'm about one step ahead of you...

Have a Badlands 2 door in build status, but have the Ford M1821T winch kit in the garage. Took advance of a Ford 20% off plus free shipping to a dealer near me. [and some Amex points ]

If you have any skill with wrenches it's a DIY just take your time and will need a helper on a couple steps do to weight of things.

There are a number of youtube video's out there on installing the Ford winch. This one has a lot of detail on parts. He stats there are different part numbers on each one an you MUST use the correct one on each side and inside frame rails left/right...

Thank you for sharing my video, that is nice to see. On the airbag reprogramming, when I was finished with the winch installation, I had the Bronco at the dealership for another reason and asked them to perform the re calibration as stated in the instructions. They were perplexed to put it nicely. It was never done. Someone commented on the video recently telling me that they just bought the kit for $950 from Northridge 4x4. That's a steal! I thought I got a great deal!

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