Well, here's the scoop. I don't use my F-150 a ton for off-road, that's what my Explorer is for. Might be purchasing a new front bumper for the Explorer which comes with a Warn XD9000, which is cool... but then what do I do with the XD9000i that I've got currently? Put it in the F-150? Well, possibly. I'm looking at the warn hidden winch mount and curious if anyone has any pictures of how it mounts, and if it would work with a 2000? Also, where does the roller fairlead mount to, or is that part of the mount for the winch itself? I can't get a new bumper or brushguard due to the fact I've already got a brushguard and I like my current bumper set up . This isn't necessarily a discussion about which winch is best since I already know what winch I've got, rather just how the hidden winch mount works.
Looking on warns page it says in one place 97-99 and in another, 97-98, but the 99 and 2000 have a similar front end, so perhaps the web site is just out of date?

 

Hey, Matt, maybe you should think about getting a receiver-mounted winch, and a front reciever for both vehicles... that would give you the versatility of being able to use the winch at either end of both vehicles. I'm pretty sure that Draw-Tite's front receiver would mount inside the front frame rails, so it shouldn't interfere with the guard at all (just shares the same holes on the other side of the frame rail). That's one idea, but it's not an entirely "hidden" winch mount... you would still need to have the winch someplace...

Oh, and Draw Tite makes the front mount reciever for both vehicles, both rated for 9000 lbs. gross weight.

-Joe-

 

Warn makes a multi-mount as well. From what I can remember it was around about 140-150, not 100% on all of this for a 2000 as research was on a 97. Multi-mounts will cost more upfront put could be a very handy option for ya. If need be I can check more for you at work in the catalog but that will not be till Friday the 17th.

By the way the PIAA bulbs I got from you are working great. Brightest thing out there IMO. Heck everytime I pass a car head on with just low beams on the flick their lights at me. Thanks again. If you ever decide to sell one of those winches at a good price let me know. I do not do a lot of hardcore stuff but would like to have one anyways.

 

glad to hear the PIAA's are workin out for ya.
how much do you want to pay for the winch? .
I've looked into a receiver hitch up front and I'm still thinking about it, but I would like to have some money available so I don't go broke with this project . I wish I could find more information on the front receiver hitch (like what holes it mounts to, etc.) so I could see if I could actually use it. Problem is my dang brushguard throws off the tow hooks a bit so I couldn't have the brushguard, tow hooks, and the front receiver hitch depending on which holes it uses to mount to.

 

I called Draw-Tite directly (they're located right around the corner from me in Canton, MI) and had them fax over a sketch with the dimensions and mounting instructions. The dimensions made no sense, but they mounted between the frame rails, and they share the same mounting holes as the tow hooks, I believe. It was rated for 9000 lbs gross, and I think 500 lb tongue wt, so it should easily hold a winch.

I need to see if I can track down some better info...

But for a winch mount, I think it's unbeatable. You can remove it from the weather (important in the salt-belt) and also use it on the rear of the truck as well (when you can't go forward anymore, you can go back the way you came). Plus, you then have an ideal towing point in the center of the front end for pulling shrubs, getting snatched from stuck, etc.

-Joe-

 

The multimount kit (whatever brand) would be the way to go IMO and that's if you can afford it. I know I am on a tight budget too but if you are serious about selling one I might have to give it some serious thought. To me the winch would probably see more show than actual work as I do not wish to tear my toy up very often, that is why I am trying to find an old Jeep or beater pickup for a few $$$. Don't get me wrong the hidden kits look great and I am sure they would function fine as long as you can find the one for your truck and make it work with your brushguard. I know Mudder has what I belive is a Ramsey hidden kit on his truck and I haven't heard any complaints and from what I have seen looks great (but you probably already know that). By the way what is the difference between the XD9000 and the XD9000i?

 

Pretty Sure JMC has one of these - and there was a pic of it somewhere, maybe on his world gallery

ahh, here it is:



hth, Bambino

 

ahh thats the answer I needed, looks like he had to modify his airdam which I can't do. Thats ok though I'm not using the winch now after all, long story...
the difference between the xd9000 and the xd9000i is where the controls and so forth are mounted. The xd9000 has them behind hte xd9000i has them on top of. As a result the "I" wouldn't fit in the bumper.

 

Jean-Marc modified his airdam because he flipped the mount over so the winch sits up MUCH higher than Mudder's. It gives the winch a bit more ground clearance. He just did a real quick hack-job on the airdam, though.

-Joe-