Just fill the void with something useful!

 

A Chevy recovery device? Great idea!

 

Thats a great spot for the winch,very nice!

 

Niiiiice!

 

That's excellent! Looks great! I would love to try to replicate what you've done. I want to put a winch on my truck, and I also hate that opening in my bumper.

I would be very grateful if you would do a short writeup on this, or at the very least a list of the products you used.

 

how much did that set you back, and how was the install?

 

I used this setup: It was $420 with shipping
Ford Raptor Winch Mount

I know it says its for a Raptor but it fits like a glove. Sorry, but this will be very short.
Take the bottom air dam off
Take off the four bolts that hold on tow hooks and removed hooks
Take four nuts off that hold on bumper but DO NOT remove bumper
The kit comes in 2 pieces---Winch mount and roller fairlead mount. Put roller fairlead mount on first. You will use two of the four holes that mount bumper on to frame. I had a problem with the roller fairlead mounting flush. It lacked about .5". Well, on the front of my frame there was a small 1" square steel tab that had a hole in the center of it where I guess some option went to (nothing went to mine.) I just took 4 seconds and cut it off with a sawzall because it served no purpose.
I then flushed up the roller fairlead mount and sandwiched it in between bumper and frame and stuck all four bumper nuts that I took off earlier back on--Did not tighten all the way.
Then I mounted the winch mount to the four holes of the tow hook mounts and put those bolts back on---Did not tighten all the way.
Then I bolted together the roller fairlead and the winch mount with the 2 bolts provided.
I then tightened everything up and slipped the winch on from the top and bolted it down.
Make sure you get your bumper straight because there is a little play in the bumper adjustment.
With 2 people it takes about 1-1.5 hours to install.

Back 7 years ago I would have cut and welded my own mount because it is rather simple. But now I have 3 kids and more money then time I decided to buy the mount instead. I dealt with Serena at SDHQ and it was sent to me in 3 days--Great customer service over there.

 

thanks for the quick writeup. How much would you say the winch cost... this is already going beyond my budget

 

Whoa $420 for the mount? I think I might try to fab something up instead. Too bad its on your truck already or I'd ask you for some measurements.

Thanks for the write up though.

 

Don't know---I've had the winch for going on 15 years.

Like I said--most of my fabs days are behind me. The time I used to take building bumpers, sliders and roof racks are now being spent on the soccer/baseball fields. $420 was not out of the ballpark for me.

Brian

 

Looks good. I like the cover over the winch to keep the junk out.

 

That looks tough!...Too bad I'm broke.

 

just thinking of doing this on my truck..great idea...thanks for the tip

 

Nice set-up and use of the space. Have you noticed any change in cooling temps and did you replace the rubber flap between lower rad mount and bumper?

 

I havent paid any attention before or after on the temps. I did not replace rubber thing--went to trash.