New Apex 12K Harbor Freight winch Install

[Sorbs]

What you need:

1. WARN 101255 Winch Mount Plate for 18-19 Jeep JT/JL with Factory Steel Bumper = $273.99 @ Quadratec
2. Harbor Freight Apex 12k winch = $599.00 with coupon
3. Harbor Freight 6 Ft. Inverter Cable Set - SKU #63747, #2 AWG = $30.00 with 20% off coupon
4. Home Depot metric M8-1.25 zinc flange nuts x6 = .72 cents (re-using steel bumper hex bolts to cover holes in bumper)
5. Deep sockets and short sockets - 13mm, 16mm, and 18mm
6. Jeep Hex bits
7. Metric allen keys

Steps to remove bumper:

1. Remove lower skid plate with 13mm socket
2. Remove plastic spacer between bumper and grill (discard)
3. Disconnect foglight coupling on the passenger side of the bumper frame rail
4. Remove 8x18mm bumper bolts with a deep socket
5. Remove winch cutout panel but keep hex screws for dress up after the install
6. Install Warn winch plate per instructions

Prepping Apex for control box removal:

1. Follow instructions to remove control box enclosure from top of the winch
2. Completely disassemble enclosure
3. Take wireless switch and winch control wired plug receptacle out of the enclosure
   • Note: winch plug receptacle wires use Siamese blade connectors to the electronic controller. Just disconnect each wire at the siamese blade connector to pull wires through enclosure hole
4. Optional: use electrical tape to clean up loose wires and strengthen connections

Install winch to the winch plate

Note: if you want to get your hands inside the bumper do not bolt winch to plate yet, just make sure the anchor nuts on the winch are secured with tape so they don’t fall out while you're futzing with the bumper nuts. You’re going to be under the winch plate lining up your winch after your bumper is secure so if those nuts fall out you’ll need to remove the bumper to get to them.​

Electrical install

1. With the 6 Ft. Inverter Cable Set connect wires (Red, Yellow, Black) to winch terminals using enclosure delete kit that comes with the Apex winch; run cables along passenger frame rail up to battery
2. Connect wires to winch control block
3. Tuck controller box between passenger fender and battery
4. Connect power wire to control block
5. Connect ground to the battery
6. Test wired/wireless controller on the free spool (hold controller wireless button for 3 seconds to turn on)

Sponsored

 

[smlobx]

Very nice write up.
Thank You!

I’m going to save this for sure.

 

[BlackDog]

Very nice write up.
Thank You!

I’m going to save this for sure.

+1, Thanks!

 

[steffen707]

that's a hell of a good photo, looks professional.
You should make a series of these like:
1. how to remove grill
2. how to remove rear tail lights
3. how to put on new wheels/tires
4. how to swap a hellcat crate motor........

 

[Sorbs]

that's a hell of a good photo, looks professional.
You should make a series of these like:
1. how to remove grill
2. how to remove rear tail lights
3. how to put on new wheels/tires
4. how to swap a hellcat crate motor........

I needed that picture so I could put the wires back on the right terminals . The things people do to save a couple bucks...

 

[TJ Mitchell Films]

Nice! I saw that deal as well. If you are able to test the winch let us know what you think of it.

 

[steffen707]

Nice! I saw that deal as well. If you are able to test the winch let us know what you think of it.

i wanna see you pull your JT up the side of a building!

 

[Sorbs]

i wanna see you pull your JT up the side of a building!

Here’s what the old one could do...

 

[steffen707]

Here’s what the old one could do...

holy crap, so that last tree wasn't even notched? and it just ripped it out of the ground? amazing!

 

[rvillano8188]

Here’s what the old one could do...

What brand/model was the old one?

 

[Sorbs]

What brand/model was the old one?

Harbor Freight 12k. $289.00.

Here’s a picture of being used on the trail:

 

[eaglerugby04]

What you need:

1. WARN 101255 Winch Mount Plate for 18-19 Jeep JT/JL with Factory Steel Bumper = $273.99 @ Quadratec
2. Harbor Freight Apex 12k winch = $599.00 with coupon
3. Harbor Freight 6 Ft. Inverter Cable Set - SKU #63747, #2 AWG = $30.00 with 20% off coupon
4. Home Depot metric M8-1.25 zinc flange nuts x6 = .72 cents (re-using steel bumper hex bolts to cover holes in bumper)
5. Deep sockets and short sockets - 13mm, 16mm, and 18mm
6. Jeep Hex bits
7. Metric allen keys

How are you liking this winch? I was at HF today and looking at it seriously considering it using a hitch mount. Good idea or bad idea?

 

[Sorbs]

How are you liking this winch? I was at HF today and looking at it seriously considering it using a hitch mount. Good idea or bad idea?

I haven't needed to use it yet, which is really why it is there, just like insurance!

My initial impressions are positive. The line return rate is fast, the enclosure is solid, the wired/wireless remote is cool, and it sits low in the bumper. For the money, I'd say go for it.

 

[eaglerugby04]

I haven't needed to use it yet, which is really why it is there, just like insurance!

My initial impressions are positive. The line return rate is fast, the enclosure is solid, the wired/wireless remote is cool, and it sits low in the bumper. For the money, I'd say go for it.

Thats good to hear. What is the best coupon you have seen for HF that would work on this?

I actually have some trees that fell down into others I need to bring down. Trying to justify buying one so I can take care of yard work. lol

Then having it for insurance on the trail will be a benifit.

 

[Donkey Fluffer]

Your post convinced me to buy 2 today (using the $599 coupon). One for my JT Rubi, one for my wife's JL Sahara.

Sponsored