Weather was fairly warm today, 60 degrees or so. I installed my Draw-tite front receiver and put a Harbor Freight 12,000 # winch on a Curt winch plate for a 2" receiver. I'm going to use the quick disconnect power cables, but haven't got them installed yet - probably sometime this week.

Here are a couple pics. The winch isn't for heavy duty recovery or anything, just some work around the property.

The front receiver was pretty easy.. hardest part was cutting an opening in the air dam for the receiver to stick through.

 

I have pretty much the same setup on my 2013 F350. I also installed a Bodak front receiver hitch giving me two separate front hitches.

For power I wired in a short run of heavy jumper cable wires and clamps. Now if needed I can throw an extra battery into the bed of the truck and use the rear receiver hitch.

 

Clean install, I have mine perm installed behind my Ranch Hand front bumper, sometimes I wish I had done a setup like yours so I could move the winch around lot easier. 60 F warm day for your neck of the woods, it was 84 F and not a cloud in the sky down here in Tx Hill Country today.



Winch just under the lic plate...

 

I thought about a permanent install, but for me being able to move it to the rear hitch if I need and easy to completely remove. Good thing it wasn't 84 here today or no work would have got done - I would've been out playing instead.

This is the type of power quick disconnect cables I am installing. The kit came with a 3 foot lead for the winch, a 3 foot lead for the front, and a 22 foot for the rear.

 

Yes, those are good. Here is a set I made for a client out in Va while back, he moves his winch around from truck to tractor



2 ga welding cable which I like better than auto grade especially for moveable connections, its more flexible





I use solid copper, all soldered connections, these are silver plate over copper

 

Those look super nice... I thought about using welding cable, but ended up just going for the premade kit I found on ebay. You are right about it being more pliable. I have 25 foot leads on my miller welder/generator. (this is turning into a picture thread, lol)

 

Then you already know the advantage of welding cable in flex and the ability to carry increased amperage, especially under continuous operations...like your Miller setup! My blood also runs Blue, but my welding days are over, my eyes just can't handle it like I used to, even with my Optrel 808-K6807 helmet. Can still do the quicke stuff but the days of spending the day under the hood are gone for the old man...

 

Even with my Westin HDX winch grille guard, I still have my front receiver on the truck. Very useful at times..

 

I just dabble... I don't trust my welding for anything important. I had to get a portable unit because I have pipe and cable fencing around the property and it's to the age where some repairs are needed occasionally.

 

Nice clean install. Reps sent...

 

Yep, I already have several uses lined up for it. I think it's going to be quite handy.

 

I had a similar setup on my '09 SRW F350. I did the front receiver and had a set of Warn cables run from the solenoid underhood to both the front and rear receivers so I could power my winch on a cradle. I have since added the long cables and solenoid to my '15 F350 and run the winch on the rear. I have not yet added the front receiver yet.

 

Got the cables run, so I have power for front and rear. I think I'm going to get some jumper cables that connect up to the quick disconnect so it would be easier to give someone a jump. I suppose I could receive a jump the same way?

 

Flowers, chocolates and some sweet talk could have the same effect...

 

Lol. I'll stick to BATTERY jump.