Ford Performance WARN winch on capable bumper — Yes it's possible!

[aniljavali]

very nice...
anyone tried on a Capable Steel bumper with LUX ?

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[mcama47]

RagnarKon
Just wanted to say thank you for trailblazing the install of the Ford performance winch on a capable bumper- your detailed instructions/video inspired me to 'take the risk' a couple of weeks ago when the price dropped on the winches and purchase one for my non-sas black diamond with capable bumper. Utilizing your video, i had it physically installed in less than 4 hours, and the wiring in an hour or so the next day. I found notching out the (2) areas on the bumper was easiest with a jigsaw (didn't have to disassemble the bumper reinforcements to get in there) and i had a little toruble getting the skidplate back on (i had to enlarge the forward holes a little bit) but otherwise everything was just like you showed. Again, just wanted to express my gratitude as i don't think i would have purchased the winch if I hadn't seen your video.
HB-Bronco

Turned out great! Do you have the 2.3 or 2.7? I have a black diamond with the 2.7 and plan on doing this.

 

[HB-Bronco]

Turned out great! Do you have the 2.3 or 2.7? I have a black diamond with the 2.7 and plan on doing this.

Thank you. I have the 2.3 with the manual transmission 4 door. As others have reported, the weight of the winch causes about 1" extra front end crouch. I do notice it when crawling, i am more likely to scrape the front 2 skid plates than before, but i like the peace of mind having the winch since I tend to wheel solo. At some point i will probably upgrade to adjustable coilovers and reduce the rake, but i am pretty happy with the off road performance of this rig stock, and havent actually needed the winch (yet!).

 

[Traveler]

Thanks to the great video that was made by @RagnarKon , I got my install done over the last two days with the help of my Dad while visiting him. It looks great! I didn't run into any major hiccups. The longest part was cutting/grinding the bumper to get the plates to fit. My ACC also works fine too, which will be great for my long drive home next week

May 9, 2025 Edit: Just an update for anyone looking at this. I originally installed the Turn Off Road front camera relocation bracket. The hardware and water tube were very cheap and I was unimpressed from the beginning. The water tube ended up tearing and I replaced it with a vacuum hose that was more rigid. The camera was also partially blocked with the Ultrahook installed. I have since switched over to the Mountains 2 Metal front camera bracket and it is much better, in my opinion. The hardware seems to be higher quality, including the water tubing. The bracket also pushes the camera further out so the Ultrahook is no longer seen.

 

[NC_Oak]

Off topic-ish, but this still seems like the place. Anyone know why ford claims the ford performance winch mount will not work with a non-factory optioned modular bumper? Just curious. I'm waiting on both to ship local to my ford dealer and plan to do both. I've read the threads (I think) and it wouldnt be the BB's recovery hooks, which can be removed, as Ford wouldnt know what trim you started with, as you couldve had a capable. I'm not sure I plan to use the mount, def wanted the frame horn reinforcements and the winch. If no one knows, which someone probably does, I'll report back!

 

[strawhatguy]

Off topic-ish, but this still seems like the place. Anyone know why ford claims the ford performance winch mount will not work with a non-factory optioned modular bumper? Just curious. I'm waiting on both to ship local to my ford dealer and plan to do both. I've read the threads (I think) and it wouldnt be the BB's recovery hooks, which can be removed, as Ford wouldnt know what trim you started with, as you couldve had a capable. I'm not sure I plan to use the mount, def wanted the frame horn reinforcements and the winch. If no one knows, which someone probably does, I'll report back!

If it’s still an OEM ford modular bumper, it wouldn’t matter, so yes it would work.

If we’re talking about a non-ford bumper well the bolt holes and layout may not quite fit. Still has to mount to the frame horns, so it’s possible, but ford would never guarantee an aftermarket product would work.

 

[NC_Oak]

If it’s still an OEM ford modular bumper, it wouldn’t matter, so yes it would work.

If we’re talking about a non-ford bumper well the bolt holes and layout may not quite fit. Still has to mount to the frame horns, so it’s possible, but ford would never guarantee an aftermarket product would work.

It's the Ford modular bumper, but they clearly state the ford warn winch mount won't work if the modular bumper wasn't a factory option. IDK. I'll figure it out if I decide to use the mount.

 

[mcama47]

Thanks to the great video that was made by @RagnarKon , I got my install done over the last two days with the help of my Dad while visiting him. It looks great! I didn't run into any major hiccups. The longest part was cutting/grinding the bumper to get the plates to fit. My ACC also works fine too, which will be great for my long drive home next week

It looks like you were able to hide the winch wiring behind the bumper verse routing it on top of the bumper. Any close ups of where you routed the wires in the bumper and if any extra cutting was required?

 

[Traveler]

It looks like you were able to hide the winch wiring behind the bumper verse routing it on top of the bumper. Any close ups of where you routed the wires in the bumper and if any extra cutting was required?

No, the wiring goes over the top of the bumper. You can see it on the left. I ran it up near the passenger headlight and then across the engine bay. There is zero room to hide it behind the bumper

 

[mcama47]

No, the wiring goes over the top of the bumper. You can see it on the left. I ran it up near the passenger headlight and then across the engine bay. There is zero room to hide it behind the bumper

I see that now that you mentioned it. My Ford Performance winch is still in the box in my garage waiting to be installed. Cant seem to find any time to get it done. Hopefully early next week.....

 

[RagnarKon]

No, the wiring goes over the top of the bumper. You can see it on the left. I ran it up near the passenger headlight and then across the engine bay. There is zero room to hide it behind the bumper

I see that now that you mentioned it. My Ford Performance winch is still in the box in my garage waiting to be installed. Cant seem to find any time to get it done. Hopefully early next week.....

Yeah I spent some time after my install a few weeks later to see if I could make it better and hide it more.

Turns on the team that did the Wildland Command Center Bronco did something similar to @Traveler and went up the passenger side. They just did a good job picking angles on the press photos to hide it.

Just no room unfortunately.

 

[nikoliy]

Picked up the winch in the fall. With the points from buying the Bronco, it worked out to be just over $700. Got it installed recently and everything installed smoothly. I would suggest that you don't need to remove the material, just two cuts and bend it out of the way. Routing cables kind of sucks.

 

[Dwain]

@RagnarKon 2 questions: watched your video and wondered if you updated the RCM thru Forscan? Did you opt to level?

 

[RagnarKon]

@RagnarKon 2 questions: watched your video and wondered if you updated the RCM thru Forscan? Did you opt to level?

I did change the RCM configuration through FDRS. I have the footage for that that I've been meaning to turn into a video, just haven't had time lately.

As for leveling... I have a set of Bilstein 8112s that I bought over the winter and have been meaning to install once the snow melted (which it did 2-3 months ago, just lack of time). Those are though so I'll be able to level everything out once they are installed.

Kids are now old enough to do after school activities, sports, dance, etc, and apparently that just consumes all free time.

 

[Dwain]

Huge thx to @RagnarKon for the install information and @C6ZZGT for pointing me in the right direction for a new in unopened box M-1821-B kit at a local Ford dealer. The parts guy said it’s been sitting there since 2023. I picked it up this AM for $1150 + tax.

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