Wiring Badlands ZXR12000 in factory steel bumper?

[Cruizer8]

I am working on installing a Badlands ZXR12k winch into my factory steel bumper but ran into an issue with the cables coming out of the control box. Basically, the cables push into the grill and I am afraid that will lead to rubbing and damage down the line. I unmounted the control box and set it where I thought it would work, but that would be about 1.5 inches from where it normally sits. This leads to interference when I put the bumper back on. I am using a Grimm Offroad winch plate if that makes a difference. Has anyone mounted this winch on the steel bumper and if so how did you get around this issue? Anyone else have any tips?

Here are some pictures of what I am talking about:

Wires pushed against grill with control box mounted normally. I was trying to route the main going off to the right different but it didn't help.

The control box is about 1.5" too far forward in these two pictures but the wires don't interfere.

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[johnparjr]

My smittybuilt is just like it and I haven’t seen any damage from rubbing

 

[Cruizer8]

My smittybuilt is just like it and I haven’t seen any damage from rubbing

You don't happen to have any pictures, do you?

 

[dcmdon]

You are worrying about nothing.

bend the cable hard against the box and use a tie wrap to hold it away from the grill by tie wrapping it to the other cables, if it matters to you. See photo below.

One other option if you are worried about grill paint is to put some clear bra type plastic on the grill.

 

[cdyoung9799]

My Smittybilt winch was a tight fit, and I have it mounted on the Mopar winch plate. My cables were rubbing with the control module mounted at top center on the winch, so I relocated to the offset mounting location. All good now. No rubbing.

 

[Cruizer8]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will have to see if I can relocate it. Zip tying them and shoving them against the grill may work depending on how pliable the cables are. Another obvious option that I wasn’t thinking of at the time is to just rotate the control box 180* and have the wires come out the front.

 

[dcmdon]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will have to see if I can relocate it. Zip tying them and shoving them against the grill may work depending on how pliable the cables are. Another obvious option that I wasn’t thinking of at the time is to just rotate the control box 180* and have the wires come out the front.

If you do try moving them and holding them wit zip ties, you will probably have better luck if the wires are warm. That plastic insulation can get pretty stiff in the cold.

 

[Cruizer8]

If you do try moving them and holding them wit zip ties, you will probably have better luck if the wires are warm. That plastic insulation can get pretty stiff in the cold.

I was able to get the wires pulled down just enough to work without pushing the grill much at all. When I was initially running the wires it was below freezing outside so they didn't want to bend, but I was able to borrow a buddies blast heater today and it makes a huge difference when the cables are room temp. Hopefully they don't spring back when they get cold again.

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