I mounted a Warn hidden kit and Warn M15000 winch on an older Super Duty about 24 years ago.

This was the first hidden kit (Warn actually called it "Semi-hidden") application that Warn developed that retained the stock OEM bumper.

Warn's prior iterations of hiding winches used a Warn built stockish appearing bumper, that Warn called "The Enforcer", for OBS Fords prior to 1999.

Warn's semi hidden winch carrier mount for the Super Duty was manufactured with HSLA (high strength low alloy) steel. But it wasn't initially.

It was through testing the then just released M15000 Winch that Warn discovered that the original design of the hidden kit that worked just fine with Warn's M12000 winch (the heaviest duty winch that Warn offered outside of their commercial tow truck line back in 1999), no longer worked for the M15000. The cradle bent.

So the cradle was redesigned with HSLA, and that upgrade not only made all the difference for the M15000, it also survived a battery of testing with then prototype stage of what later became called the M16.5ti. I think they even tested it with an 18,000 lb commercial grade winch, in all pull directions, etc.

So that is one thing to think about in terms of comparing import products offered at attractively low price points, versus domestically made name brand products where a brand reputation is at stake. One cannot look at a powder coated piece of metal, and determine the yield and tensile strengths of the material properties. Higher grade materials need not be as thick as lower grade materials to survive the same assaults in service. An added advantage of higher grade materials is lower weight for the same or better strength in performance.

I remember Thomas Cavenaugh, who was the head of Super Duty at Ford back at that time, crawling all over the front of my truck after I installed the Warn kit... taking photos. It was the first time he had seen the kit in person. Later that year, at SEMA, I noticed executives at Ford meeting with executives at Warn. Obviously, they could have been meeting about any number of things, but I had this hidden winch kit on my mind at the time, because I had just left a meeting with Warn's engineer, at that same trade show, discussing some ideas on how to improve the kit.

But let's pretend, for the sake of intrigue, that Ford discussed the hidden kit with Warn for the Super Duty back at that time, at the turn of the millennium.

It still took another 20 years for Ford to finally offer a like kind kit in production, and only after Ram beat Ford to the punch.

I'd go for the Ford kit for the factory integration and extra layers of engineering review and testing that Ford imposes on suppliers of products that Ford endorses.

It took an awful long time for this option to materialize, and like many cool options that Ford has finally brought to market... I also expect this option / Ford Accessory to eventually vaporize, making it kind of a period correct classic element for those who keep their trucks for a long time.

 

Been keeping my eye on the factory option via Stage 3 motorsports for the 20-22 trucks. Listed as out of stock, not available. Dunno if they're just not stocking it, or the model is being phased out. Summit claims to have it in stock.
My smaller wheeling rig has an older US built Warn on it that has been trouble free. Can't be a brand snob since I've been pulled out by plenty of HF and smittybuilt winches over the years.