Just the basics so far on this 2006 HSE. Installed a Harbor Freight Badlands 12,000lb winch - it was a previous model closeout for $250, so I could not pass it up. HF Wireless remote works awesome. Synthetic line. Installed using a Harbor freight universal winch plate. BE WARNED, these plates should be inspected before buying. I did not notice, but the press that put these out was clearly not putting down enough pressure. The result was angles that were no 90 degrees in the metal. I had a whopping 3/4" drop in height from the back of the plate to the front. This meant the bumper would not fix. Solution, buy another plate, re-drill, re-fit, etc. Total pain! Originally I wanted a hawse fairlead and in fact bought one. But having to extend it out onto some sorta support to reach the bumper face did not give me a good feeling. There is a ton fo stress on there. So for now I tossed on the rollers that came with the winch. Certainly not a hidden look, but I dont mind it one bit.

Light bar is just an inexpensive Autofeel flood w/dual colors. Its a good light but does not project particularly far. The dual light is nice in that one set is white light and one deep amber. The deep amber makes for a good fog light. If both are on you get a warm light. The interesting bit is that the LED colors are each separate LEDs and thus placed off-center under the projector lens. The result is the two colors do not aim the same direction. This works because while I have the white light aimed the same as my high-beams, the yellow ends up pointed much further down, like fogs lights generally are. I will be adding another light bar to the roof with a spot configuration.

I wanted to do something different for extending my breathers. So I bought some tubing that can withstand engine bay temps. With some 6mm push connect threaded elbows, I ran them to the lower portion of the factory filter box. No, there is no vacuum in this box strong enough to pull water up through the diff seals, etc. Physics and all. Its clean looking, practical and works. Just wish they had black hose in stock. The tubing is a very soft and flexible Poly Urethane that you can heat to get custom bends. But no so soft that it will kink.

 

Nice job fabbing up your own hidden winch mount.

I thought about doing a light bar that way but in the end went with bumper mounted round HID lights