During the upcoming Christmas holidays I am going to be installing a Warn M8000 winch on my TJM-15. I've been searching around Yotatech for the last few weeks, and haven't really found a good thread that describes the whole procedure, so I'm planning on creating one here as I go through the process. I know a ton of guys on here are running this setup, so any advice on the install as well as pictures would be a huge help.

A few main questions I already have: Where is the best place to mount the solenoid box, with the main goal being easy access and a somewhat hidden location?? Also, what is the best position for the clutch to be in, and can it be accessed through the pop out plastic pieces on the top of the TJM?? Finally, I read that some guys use Lock-tite when bolting the winch and fairlead to the bumper--is this recommended or just preferred by some??

Thanks for the help guys, I'll keep you posted on my progess

 

Here:

 

After

 

Thanks for the replies SCL97SR5--with the solenoid box, did you secure it to the engine compartment, or does it just rest next to the cold air intake and zip-tie to the hose just behind it? I've got the same K&N system, so I should be able to do the exact same thing you did.

Also, can you reach the clutch from under the bumper and avoid having to flip it? I don't have easy access to welding equipment, so rewelding the clutch wouldn't be very quick solution for me.

 

i've got the solenoid box to the passenger side of the winch, just behind the bumper, sorta hanging there. well, with zip ties.

 

With that setup do have trouble getting to the solenoid box when your stuck? Also, how do you run the remote wire back to the cab of the truck? Thanks

 

The box is secured using the mount on the underside. The two screws bolt to a long piece of 1/8" strap. The strap is bent in three places at 90* angles. On side bolts to the fender well using an existing hole. The other end I welded (light tack) to the top of the shock tower...I know, way confusing.

I didn't use zip-ties, you could make a similar mount by simply bending some strap at a 90* and extending it from the fender. You could use one of the Cruise control bolt holes.

It appears to have enough room on the underside to access the clutch handle, but I've never explored it.

 

ha, i've never even had to use the winch yet , not even for anyone else. someday.

it's easy to get to. the plugin faces down. so..just plug it in, and the remote will reach the cab. i'd like to figure out a way to cut a little hole in the top of the TJM and have the plug stick up through it.

 

I have a TJM/ Warn 8000 on my 2nd Gen 4Runner. Mounted box under hood, run control as others have mentioned.
Pic (yes, it's filthy)


I had some 1/8" plate which I mounted to the body first, then bolted the box to that. A slick setup is to get an in cab switch, but run the wire to an extra control box plug that you just tie out of the way near the control box.

When you want to run from in cab, just plug the switch lead in. When you need remote control, just plug your remote instead.

Also, make sure you put the control box plug side up, otherwise the casing acts like a bucket and holds any water you splash or drive through against the internals which can cause a lot of expensive parts to go bad.

I reach up under my bumper to flip the lever from free spool to on. Not much of a hassle, but it I could see how it would be nice to mod the bumper or lever so it can be reached from the top. If you don't have the tools or ability to do so, I'd bet you'll be fine flipping thr lever from under with the stock setup.

It has worked for me so far.

 

I thought I was the only one!!! Actually I used it for the first time last Saturday for MYSELF. I was alone and boy was it nice having the capability for self extraction. Uphill section with slick rocks and 8" of wet snow...not good.

 

I have mine mounted in the same spot but the solenoid is attached with hose clamps. Since the solenoid is mounted upside down, I drilled a couple of holes in the solenoid cover so any water that gets in can drain out. It's been mounted that way for two years and have not had a problem with it.

 

Looks like I'll probably take this approach as far as the clutch goes, atleast for the time being. And I'm leaning towards putting the solenoid box under the hood near the cold air intake, so that it will be as high as possible. These were my biggest two concerns, are there any other problems/important issues that might come up during the install??

 

I'm a newb when its comes to winches. This setup sounds pretty convenient, but can somebody elaborate on it a little bit, doesn't quite make sense to me yet. I understand the concept, but I'm confused about the in cab switch, and how you can plug the remote into that.

 

With this addition you can control the winch from inside the cab but still be able to use the normal winch hand controller if you desire. If you wanted to use the normal Warn controller then you would still plug it into the solenoid.

 

Thanks, that makes perfect sense now. That really seems like a pretty efficient way to run the winch, a lot easier than running the hand remote if your going to be winching from inside the truck. Does anybody have any pics of this switch installed in their 3rd gen? It looks like it would be a little to big to fit into one of the inserts to the left of the steering column, but I might be wrong on that one.

 

The winch remote plugs into the solenoid box, that remote controls your winch.

Now with the in cab system, your basically hardwiring into that solenoid box another remote switch to control your winch (it acts like another remote). You can still plug in the oem remote and use that as well.

I don't have a picture on hand but this is what I did. I purchased a battery box (since I can't weld yet) and cut off 2 sides. So I had 3 sides left (the bottom, the front, and the side facing the engine), I mounted the solenoid box to that next to the battery. (Same spot as Elvota), this gives you a short run to the battery, and a good spot to get the wires to the winch. I like putting the solenoid box on the drivers side so that you could take the remote into the truck if you needed to drive as well as winch. (Hence the need for the nice in cab remote setup)

 

With placing the box where I did it requirese lengthing the three 2ga wires that connect to the winch.

Get 12ft of 2ga welding cable and cut it into 3 equal lengths. Then connect it to the original cable using heavy-duty butt connnectors. You can crimp them in a vice using a bolt head to make the impression.

You'll need to go to an electrical supply store to get the good stuff.

 

One more thing while I'm thinking about it: What did you guys put the bumper on while you were installing the winch, so that it was facing downward but not on the ground, so you could install the fairlead? The bumper + winch should wiegh around 150 lbs, and I sure don't want that to come crashing down while I'm tightening up the winch bolts!!

 

I used two Zarges boxes I had laying around. Just play it smart and have some extra hands to help mount it.

 

Hope everyone is having a good Christmas...I got the M8000 today (wahooo!) and am planning to install it later this afternoon or first thing in the morning. One last question: Do all the wires from the winch to the solenoid need to be connected before remounting the bumper? I know there is atleast one that needs to be connected before, but I don't know about the rest. I figured it may be easier mounting the solenoid with less wires attached, but I'm sure its not a big deal. Anyway, any advice or tips on that would be appreciated. I'll be sure to take plenty of pics, and hopefully I'll have them up here in a few days. Thanks again for all your help!!