So here goes, it's been a long time coming due to work commitments but finally got round to fitting my winch after collecting various parts over a long period of time!

We used my friends fully equipped workshop to undertake the work and to say it was an easy task would be laughable!

I had all the winch tray, bolts and associated parts blasted and powder coated as I brought it all second hand and it was a little worse for wear when I picked it up.

The tray was drilled to take First Four recovery swivels and shackles to allow a bridal to be used for ease of recovery, or when using a pulley block instead of the front recovery tow eye as it's not so easy to get to when in deep mud or ruts.

I used a Warn 9.5XPS which is the synthetic rope version of a G4 Winch for weight saving gains and the pros that go with a synthetic rope. The problem with this is that it used a Bluetooth wireless controller on the solenoid box and due to the lack of space between winch motor and bumper this had to be mounted behind the front cross member but still be accessible so a new bracket was made.

The wiring was very straightforward and looks factory and neat under the bonnet and all cables reached from where the solenoid box was mounted. We had no bumper template of what needed to be cut so this was a long trial and error task of cutting a little at a time until we were happy with the fit and all was symmetrical.

For those that say you can't use parking sensors with a winch and they must be switched off are talking rubbish! We drilled new holes for the inner two sensors, cut off the sensor holders on the back of the bumper and plastic welded them in the new positions. Inner two sensors have now self learnt their new position and no longer pick up the winch tray. The loom for this had to be moved and extended slightly but it all takes time to make it look factory again.

Finally the Winch Guard saga, a G4 Winch guard does not fit a facelift car, in fact there is no company producing a winch tray for a facelift car. After having contact with Dan at Duckworths and also Mantec who made the original G4 guards it was decided that I would have to Machine what is a very expensive and rare facelift non-Winch guard that I used before the winch was fitted!!!

This was a nervous process of offering it up on the ramp, marking and measuring lots as really this was a one chance process, as once it was machined there was no going back and the Aluminium welder was coming out to play! Thankfully it all lined up ok and looked as it should!

Anyway enough of the rambling and a pic

Click image to enlarge

So nice to see a sport in off road spec  In Spain - 2018 F Pace - Frightened away from the Sports due to crank failures
Gone - A couple of RRS, A couple of Disco's. However thinking of another Sport.

Mean mother looking motor  Visitor from fullfatrr.com
* GONE. 2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Now being piloted by RRSTDV8
* GONE: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* Current. 1974 Lightweight 2.25L petrol. Old skool
* GONE. Freelander GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* GONE. Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

Having trouble with my usual photo uploading

Interweb tech is not my strong point  2003 BMW M5 - 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expedition Rack, 4x Warn SBD-160 Spotlights, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection and Sump Guard, Full Easy Lift Suspension Module, LR Light Guards, Light Force HTX230 Hybrid spotlights, 18” Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, ARB fridge, TuffTrek awning 😎

That looks top drawer, Chris.  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

SRE wrote:

So nice to see a sport in off road spec

Thanks for the kind comments, I realise its not everyones cup of tea  2003 BMW M5 - 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expedition Rack, 4x Warn SBD-160 Spotlights, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection and Sump Guard, Full Easy Lift Suspension Module, LR Light Guards, Light Force HTX230 Hybrid spotlights, 18” Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, ARB fridge, TuffTrek awning 😎

Now you are ready for anything ... just about. Looks very good  Current: Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription Pro PHEV with some optionals on top
Gone: MY16 RRS2 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography Dynamic, Carpathian Grey & Santorini Black Sliding Pano/Ebony & Ivory 2 Tone
Gone: MY13 RRS 3.0 SDV6 HSE Black Edition, Orkney Grey/Ivory
Gone: MY09 RRS 2.7 TDV6 HSE, Santorini Black/Almond

Looked good, when's it going in for the paintwork ? 😊 2008 G4 RRSport TDV8 current
2009 TDCi 90 current
2018 Discovery 5 HSE lux current
1994 Dakar current

i wont be wrapping it anytime soon, Phil the G4 owners club chairman would lynch me!  2003 BMW M5 - 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expedition Rack, 4x Warn SBD-160 Spotlights, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection and Sump Guard, Full Easy Lift Suspension Module, LR Light Guards, Light Force HTX230 Hybrid spotlights, 18” Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, ARB fridge, TuffTrek awning 😎

That is lovely

So glad to finally see the finished product. Like the recovery shackles

I'm not too bothered about front parking sensors as there's a bloody great bit of metal in the front to mark where the front of the car is!

Nice one Buckster  Robin
2008 Range Rover Sport TDV8
Gone:
Jaguar S-Type V8 4.2 Sport
MGZTT 190 2.5

Pufftmw wrote:

That is lovely

So glad to finally see the finished product. Like the recovery shackles

I'm not too bothered about front parking sensors as there's a bloody great bit of metal in the front to mark where the front of the car is!

Thanks mate, I agree about the large bit of metal at the front but it would bug me if I didn't have them working as they should!

And I can't stand it when people say it can't be done  2003 BMW M5 - 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expedition Rack, 4x Warn SBD-160 Spotlights, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection and Sump Guard, Full Easy Lift Suspension Module, LR Light Guards, Light Force HTX230 Hybrid spotlights, 18” Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, ARB fridge, TuffTrek awning 😎