Mounting a Harbor Freight Badland Apex 12000lb winch to a Rough Country hidden winch mount on the 2021 Ford Bronco with a remote clutch activation system.
So a couple of ideas to keep that all thread from unscrewing are, use jamb/lock nust at the winch and at the handle. Another solution is drill and tap through the side of each component for set screws to lock the all thread. Either way you choose they'll never come loose again. Nice video and great idea on the clutch handle.
I have the same setup and came up with a similar idea you did. I bought the threaded rod today and cut the handle. I haven't tapped the handle yet. Probably do that tomorrow.
Thanks for the video! I just ordered winch mount for the 2.7L. Was against the wall on ordering RC winch or going with badlands but this video helped me a lot. I also have a question, why not use set screws going in on side to keep the rod from becoming loose? Thanks again for video.
A set screw would definitely help up at the handle - but there’s no way to install one on the winch end. I found an epoxy that works great but I’m also going to upgrade to a 5/8” threaded rod to reduce torsion a bit.
Fantastic video! this literally answered every question i had about this setup except 1... Apex fitment, , Check... Possible to extend the clutch lever, check... The only thing i wonder is if the Yankum Fairlead will fit the Rough country indent. i'd like to use that if possible and i think it'll protect the rope well and get rid of a hook that could possibly be marred up on approach angles given how low this is. Any insight? is it just the badlands fairlead that is oversized? or is the rough country the only one that will work.
Thanks for the compliment! I unfortunately don’t have any insight on that Yankum fairlead- but I’d like to know also. It’s a cool setup. I left the Badlands fairlead on it and I’ve used the winch a few times without incident. Sorry I can’t be if more help!
You should thread a couple of nylock nuts onto the threaded rod. Tighten one against where it screws into the winch, and the other where the handle screws on. That way you never have to worry about the threadlocker loosening up.
It doesn’t help. It can’t help with the risk of unscrewing- trust me - I tried. I’m having some issues with the handle remaining affixed with the red threadlocker. It stays properly attached at the winch though.
Thanks 👍🏻. I went with the Badland mainly due to reviews. When researching winches budget was an issue so I was leaning towards more affordable options. Of those, I believe that the HF Apex Badland is the best value for the $. It performs great by the way. I’ve used it only about a handful of times so far, but it has always done the job 👍🏻👌🏻
So, just to be clear with the remote- there is a toggle on the Badlands for wire/wireless option. If you leave the cable plugged into the unit all the time do you need to flip that toggle in order to go wireless? If not, which do I leave it on in order to not have to try reach down into the engine bay and flip it? Also, instead of even messing with the clutch lever what about just using the pay out direction and not putting it in free spin? Then there’s not something else that can break. Just saying. Not a dig on ya.
So what I do to avoid any problems is that I reach down and turn the switch of the winch on before I go wheeling. I still leave the up gutter switch off until the winch is needed. I don’t ever use the wired option unless my remote battery dies. As for the clutch - you can definitely winch out. It’s what I’ve been doing recently anyways. It’s just long if you have a lot of rope to pull. Good luck!
I have the same setup and currently running into an issue with the install. The power cable on the winch is up against the brake line. At 7:29 in you video, it appears to be the same issue with the line showing flexed out. Any issues with the line rubbing? I’m worried about the line eventually get a hole rubbed through it.
I haven’t had any issues since the install. The big “rub” was the clutch handle crushing the lower intercooler hose. Sorry for the late reply. We had a big ice storm up here and I was out of power for 5 days.
Great video. I have this near exact specific issue to be.. The RC winch looks to be such a similar size and shape to the badlands apex too.. I wonder how it fits and works out with their own winch. Like, you reach under to move it? I too have the Apex, but also waiting on an install for the 2.7 that RC just released, that also moves an extra cooler up out of the way.. It's a lot to remove and tinker with just to get a handle extension working.. I'm thinking sideways tapping a couple of threadlocked grubscrews into the main bar may be the way to go. Completely flush. Completely fused. Thinking I'd keep the bar solid too, and cut the threads to the end. Those threaded rods have so much flex to them generally.
I actually found a great adhesive that 💯 did the trick. However, as you mentioned, the threaded rods have a lot of flex. I’m not equipped to tap the outside of the rod. Guess I could get equipped lol. One thing to note is that I tried to re-engage the clutch the other day and it wouldn’t move. I ended up snapping the rod off at the clutch assembly. I couldn’t get it to budge - even with Vise-grips etc. I then activated the winch (even though it was in free spool) and was subsequently able to move it. All this to say that if even you have trouble using the handle, it’s a good idea to make sure the winch clutch isn’t stuck. I ordered 2 new handles from Harbor Freight @ 13$ each to keep tinkering. For the moment I’m going to increase the rod size to 5/16’’ and go from there. Very inexpensive for those handles so 🤷🏼♂️. Just have to drop the winch out each time. 🤦🏼♂️
So a couple of ideas to keep that all thread from unscrewing are, use jamb/lock nust at the winch and at the handle. Another solution is drill and tap through the side of each component for set screws to lock the all thread. Either way you choose they'll never come loose again. Nice video and great idea on the clutch handle.
I have the same setup and came up with a similar idea you did. I bought the threaded rod today and cut the handle. I haven't tapped the handle yet. Probably do that tomorrow.
Cool 😎. I’ve upgraded to a 5/16” threaded rod FYI. 👍🏻
Good deal. That's actually what I picked out. It seemed sturdy enough without being too big.
Thanks for the video! I just ordered winch mount for the 2.7L. Was against the wall on ordering RC winch or going with badlands but this video helped me a lot. I also have a question, why not use set screws going in on side to keep the rod from becoming loose?
Thanks again for video.
A set screw would definitely help up at the handle - but there’s no way to install one on the winch end. I found an epoxy that works great but I’m also going to upgrade to a 5/8” threaded rod to reduce torsion a bit.
Fantastic video! this literally answered every question i had about this setup except 1... Apex fitment, , Check... Possible to extend the clutch lever, check... The only thing i wonder is if the Yankum Fairlead will fit the Rough country indent. i'd like to use that if possible and i think it'll protect the rope well and get rid of a hook that could possibly be marred up on approach angles given how low this is. Any insight? is it just the badlands fairlead that is oversized? or is the rough country the only one that will work.
Thanks for the compliment! I unfortunately don’t have any insight on that Yankum fairlead- but I’d like to know also. It’s a cool setup. I left the Badlands fairlead on it and I’ve used the winch a few times without incident. Sorry I can’t be if more help!
You should thread a couple of nylock nuts onto the threaded rod. Tighten one against where it screws into the winch, and the other where the handle screws on. That way you never have to worry about the threadlocker loosening up.
It doesn’t help. It can’t help with the risk of unscrewing- trust me - I tried. I’m having some issues with the handle remaining affixed with the red threadlocker. It stays properly attached at the winch though.
Just curious, why did you go with the Badlands over the RC winch? Very clear and concise install video!!
Thanks 👍🏻. I went with the Badland mainly due to reviews. When researching winches budget was an issue so I was leaning towards more affordable options. Of those, I believe that the HF Apex Badland is the best value for the $. It performs great by the way. I’ve used it only about a handful of times so far, but it has always done the job 👍🏻👌🏻
So, just to be clear with the remote- there is a toggle on the Badlands for wire/wireless option. If you leave the cable plugged into the unit all the time do you need to flip that toggle in order to go wireless? If not, which do I leave it on in order to not have to try reach down into the engine bay and flip it?
Also, instead of even messing with the clutch lever what about just using the pay out direction and not putting it in free spin? Then there’s not something else that can break. Just saying. Not a dig on ya.
So what I do to avoid any problems is that I reach down and turn the switch of the winch on before I go wheeling. I still leave the up gutter switch off until the winch is needed. I don’t ever use the wired option unless my remote battery dies.
As for the clutch - you can definitely winch out. It’s what I’ve been doing recently anyways. It’s just long if you have a lot of rope to pull. Good luck!
I have the same setup and currently running into an issue with the install. The power cable on the winch is up against the brake line. At 7:29 in you video, it appears to be the same issue with the line showing flexed out. Any issues with the line rubbing? I’m worried about the line eventually get a hole rubbed through it.
I haven’t had any issues since the install. The big “rub” was the clutch handle crushing the lower intercooler hose.
Sorry for the late reply. We had a big ice storm up here and I was out of power for 5 days.
Great video. I have this near exact specific issue to be..
The RC winch looks to be such a similar size and shape to the badlands apex too.. I wonder how it fits and works out with their own winch.
Like, you reach under to move it?
I too have the Apex, but also waiting on an install for the 2.7 that RC just released, that also moves an extra cooler up out of the way.. It's a lot to remove and tinker with just to get a handle extension working.. I'm thinking sideways tapping a couple of threadlocked grubscrews into the main bar may be the way to go. Completely flush. Completely fused.
Thinking I'd keep the bar solid too, and cut the threads to the end. Those threaded rods have so much flex to them generally.
I actually found a great adhesive that 💯 did the trick. However, as you mentioned, the threaded rods have a lot of flex. I’m not equipped to tap the outside of the rod. Guess I could get equipped lol. One thing to note is that I tried to re-engage the clutch the other day and it wouldn’t move. I ended up snapping the rod off at the clutch assembly. I couldn’t get it to budge - even with Vise-grips etc. I then activated the winch (even though it was in free spool) and was subsequently able to move it. All this to say that if even you have trouble using the handle, it’s a good idea to make sure the winch clutch isn’t stuck.
I ordered 2 new handles from Harbor Freight @ 13$ each to keep tinkering. For the moment I’m going to increase the rod size to 5/16’’ and go from there. Very inexpensive for those handles so 🤷🏼♂️. Just have to drop the winch out each time. 🤦🏼♂️
Is your bronco the 2.3 or 2.7L? Thanks!
2.3L