Gen2 Winching & Recovery Options

Mini rant, I cannot believe Ford didn't consider making it easier for a winch to be installed on this truck! /rant

Anyway, I've spent a lot of time considering how to recover this truck should I get stuck somewhere while all by myself. I picked up a set of MaxTrax for now. I'd feel a lot better with a winch around.

In Florida it gets not only ridiculously hot, but also super humid. Mounting an intercooler ahead of the AC seems like a real bad idea down here, but this is really the only way to be able to mount a winch without some ginormous bumper where it can reside on the outside. My truck sits in the garage and the front factory bumper basically rests on the wall because it's shallow. Adding a bumper where the winch sits outside would eliminate being able to park in the garage. So, no.

Then there's the idea of a hitch mount winch which would require me to lift 100lbs and carry an extra battery - no thanks.

Then there's the idea of a tree strap, snatch block, tow rope, some D-rings and a 4-ton cable puller or a hi-lift jack. Anyone tried to recover a Raptor using this method?

Any other methods I'm missing? Just looking for ideas from the braintrust.

I have a winch that's mounted to the removable hitch mount. Yes it is heavy, but I leave it in a large Pelican case strapped in the bed of the truck. If I really need it, 100lbs is fine with me. I have quick detach battery cables for it and an extra set for another truck, jeep, whoever needs to use my winch. That's what I did. So far I haven't used it , but if I need it, I have it

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

waveslayer said:

I have a winch that's mounted to the removable hitch mount. Yes it is heavy, but I leave it in a large Pelican case strapped in the bed of the truck. If I really need it, 100lbs is fine with me. I have quick detach battery cables for it and an extra set for another truck, jeep, whoever needs to use my winch. That's what I did. So far I haven't used it , but if I need it, I have it

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

Click to expand...

Hey do you have a photo of the case you're using? Are you taking along another battery, or hooking it up to the truck's battery? This opens up a lot of way less expensive options. Thanks!

I carried a portable hitch mounted winch in my Gen1 and used this from Warn to run the cable from the hood down the frame and to the rear bumper so no extra battery required. Worked great and super high quality.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00029XFG0/?tag=fordraptorforum-20

Wire it front and back. Make a bracket to hook onto front hooks and you have a winch on each end. A 20 foot dyneema bridle on the front and hook winch to that

Has anyone done a front receiver on a gen2? Assume this pretty much has to be integrated into an aftermarket bumper?

REMIX said:

Hey do you have a photo of the case you're using? Are you taking along another battery, or hooking it up to the truck's battery? This opens up a lot of way less expensive options. Thanks!

Click to expand...

Check out the post above. I just ran the power cables to the rear along the frame, kept some jumper cables and another power line loose to share with other trucks.
I bought the Pwlican 1660 case. I will take some pics. It is heavy to lift but it can be done.

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

There are winch bumpers that don’t require you to relocate the IC.
(Warn, Buckstop, Fabfours)
Only reason I didn’t go for it, was the weight of the bumpers
(between 114-200 lbs) plus weight of the winch.

Swarfworks was in my short list, but lack of access to the clutch, means limited to winch choices, and still need to relocate IC.

If they start building winch bumpers that are lighter, but still strong
I would def get one.

A few years ago, I had a jeepforum member in Nevada build me a custom
winch bumper. We decided on the lightest setup possible thats still capable of using winch. IIRC, it was 80lbs and the winch I chose was about 50 lbs.
(Thats still significantly lighter, compared to the current offerings)
Anyway, custom might be a way to go...

I'm considering upgrading my rear bumper to this. It has the ability to add a winch mount behind the rear plate and I would rather have more weight in the back to try and load balance (ish)

https://www.rpgoffroad.com/product/2015-up-f150-rear-motion-bumper-with-integrated-trailer-hitch/

Btw, I used to carry one of these Maasdam powr puller, in my jeep.
They have different models and capacity. (and its made in USA )
(It’s an alternative to a power winch or lugging a Hilift with recovery kit)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00098188Q/?tag=fordraptorforum-20