Anyone have a clever place to mount this thing so it doesn't get smashed every time I misjudge my departure angle? I have the same problem with the quick connect for my winch in the rear but since that is smaller and mounted higher it isn't a big a deal.

I have a Gen 1. Screw if that makes a difference.

Thanks,

Chuck

 

I would like to know the same thing as the last time I went offroading, I smashed that thing to smithereans (sp?). Also, Imud, where do you get replacements and are they easy to install.

 

IMud,

One screw . . . I was able to mount mine inside the bumper . . . but any where up out of the way will work . . . even if you only tie it up with cable ties, it'll still be out of the way!

Bob

 

klaibs27,

I picked up my second & third at WalMart. Expect to spend a few minutes on the first replacement figuring out where to connect the wires because the "universal" colors and those Ford uses don't match. However, a couple are obvious matches and the positions allow you to figure it out after a fashion.

Bob,

I had thought of just putting it up & under, perhaps with an extra wire splice to lengthen it so it would be easier to hook up. One thought I had was to get a make & female of a different connector type (same wire count) and use those connecters to lengthen the thing. That way, should I be towing a trailer that doesn't have the big round plug and have misplaced the conversion plug, I can still have lights, brakes, etc.

The quick connect for the winch is a bit tricker as the "tail" on the winch isn't very long and thus the connector has to be basically at the front edge of the bumper. Again, I guess I could just zip tie a coil up & under the truck. Problem there is that if I have to use the winch and untie it. I will need to break & replace the tie each time since I won't want it dangling to get caught on something.

I tell you what, I am tempted to take an auger to the bumper and the framing behind it!

Chuck

 

IMud,

Sorry, I now understand that you want to actually use the thing!
Oops, my mistake - let me crawl under there and look this problem over . . . !

Bob

 

I was looking into doing it for mine... I was going to bend up a piece of metal at work so it would mount like they do on the Expeditions... it hangs down between the bumper and the hitch, so it shouldn't interfere with the departure at all... The OE one mounts to the bottom of the hitch, but I think with a couple of pieces of flat stock bent the right way, it could be made to tuck up over the hitch.

Another choice would be to relocate it up in front of the hitch hanging vertically... I think you could flip the existing bracket around and bend it down, but I'm not sure... I have to take a closer look at mine when I get home tonight.

-Joe-

 

I plan on using a swing down fuse panel bracket.

I had a 89 Ford Ranger that had a little bar to pull and the fuse panel droped and locked into position. I thought the frame could be a great bracketto mount a trailer connector to. (I haven't looked to see if another vehicle's type would work better).

I want the connector plug (when using ) away from the safety chain anchors, (when not ) up out of the way to keep shrubs and bushes from yanking the electrical harness. -I drive and turn around on a lot of old logging roads.

Should be easy to fab something that would mount inside the bumper and hold the bracket up enough so it drops down to the correct (factory, depending on type) position.



Tim