I hope to purchase a new F150, and I was wondering if anybody has gotten the Warn Hidden Kit for the new model. I plan to replace a daily driver and a Jeep XJ by combining them in one. I like the stock looks of the hidden Warn, but I am also wondering about the functionality.

Does anybody have any pictures of it? Also, what do you think of only having 50ft of cable? It seems like that would complicate things if you wanted to use a ****** block. How do you like the XD9000 itself for an F150. I only have experience with an M8000 on a Cherokee.

Also what did you do for the electrical system? Any dual battery setups? How about the alternator? I am hesitant to do any major modifications on a new truck, but I am also very wary of the stock electrical system.

http://www.warn.com/truck/mounting-s...ord_f150.shtml

Thanks for any opinions!

 

afaik, it's just a bolt on unit..im getting one...so I can keep my westin brush guard...awsome setup.....

 

i dont have one, but i know alot of friends that have them on their fords, they work great, nice to have in the woods, granted, if you get stuck in a feild you have to use your brain a little since you only have 50 Ft of cable.

this happend to us, in a 98 F150, we got stuck in a feild, what we ended up doing was digging a hole, putting the spare in the hole, and hooking the winch upto the spare while it is in the dirt, almost like a plow, worked great and got us right out.

but anyway, i want one and if you cant find a tree within 50 ft, well....

 

Yea, 50 feet of cable sucks. Mine has 125. But if that is all you can get then go for it. You can get extensions but they are limited to situations where you can unhook and let out more lind and winch it in again. On an incline you will have to get creative to keep the vehicle from rolling back.

JMC

 

Looks great but how much??? Im mildly retarded and couldnt find it on the Warn site.

 

Try this: http://warn.com/truck/mounting-syste...ord_f150.shtml


JMC

 

I was going to get the hidden mount but decided it hung to low, so I built a bumper out of aluminum and tucked the warn 9000i in nice and tight. I also intergated some more nice features into the bumper.

 

That is why I flipped the ears on mine so that tucks it up inside the frame rails.

JMC

 

I have been seriously thinking about this setup myself. The hidden winch isnt too cheap either. I think the whole setup is around $700 but I could be wrong. I know 4wheelparts has it, or did have it a month or two ago. It sucks its so expensive because all it is is a couple brackets and the winch. I am sure you could fab up your own mounting brackets, but it is a sweet setup.

 

The hidden kit looks nice, but is limited to line and rides low on the vehicle. The winch mount looks almost as if it was an afterthought and the winch hangs out in the front of the truck for all to see and possible mess with. Another option would be a winch bumper. Heavier duty, but added protection for the front and from someone stealing your winch set-up.Any way you go a winch is a big investment no matter what part you buy. Good luck.

 

I wonder if with some creative trimming you could fit a full size winch in the 04+ semi-hidden kits?

JMC