Hidden Winch Mount for Expy XLT

[Tavy]

Hello Fellow Expy's - I am contemplating of installing a hidden winch mount on my 2011 Expy XLT 4X4. Rough Contry sells a Hidden Winch Mounting plate for F150. It looks like it is going to fit into my 2011 Expy, the only thing I am not sure about is the fairlead plate that goes in front of the bumper. Our Expy's doesn't have the bumper like the F150.

So I have been searching the web/YouTube (see link below). I was wonder if anyone in this thread have installed a hidden winch plate in your Expy's.

 

[Tavy]

I think I found the answer through this YouTube video:

 

[Tavy]

Got my winch plate and 12K winch installed today with wireless remote.

 

[Tavy]

Here's some more images

 

[USMCBuckWild]

That looks really good!


Not to be overly critical, but how do you get your hand in the grill to utilize the free spool lever?

 

[Tavy]

No worries I had asked the same question before and was worried about the same thing before installing mine. Basically on lower portion of the grill there are two horizontal openings where I can insert my hands through to turn the lever and our plug in the winch control cable. The winch can be controlled wirelessly not so worried about that but access still necessary in case the remote control ran out of battery. Take a look at the picture there's plenty of room to stick your hands through and turn the spool lever and/or plugin the winch control harness.

 

[Charlesoffroad]

I know this is an older post but was just curious if this would fit the 2015 and up expeditions?

 

[Muddy Bean]

Bump. Wondering the same thing. I’m guessing it would. Winch is on my short list


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Okgearhead]

I wished ! But , that won’t work on a Ecoboosted Expedition, that’s right where the intercooler sits .

 

[AllBoostNoEco]

No such luck on the 15-17. You have two options: get the Full-Race intercooler that moves it up ($1,500) and then the hidden winch setup; or get the Curt front receiver hitch and use a receiver-mount winch plate.

 

[Okgearhead]

That’s what I did on my 2011 F150, I built a front receiver for it and ran cables to the front and rear of the truck so I could use the winch on either end.

 

[marlinpruett]

An alternative is to install a front receiver hitch and get a receiver winch.
I had a front receiver on my 2007 El for a while I used for pushing a boat into a narrow garage opening. It was hardly visable.

 

[kv996s]

No worries I had asked the same question before and was worried about the same thing before installing mine. Basically on lower portion of the grill there are two horizontal openings where I can insert my hands through to turn the lever and our plug in the winch control cable. The winch can be controlled wirelessly not so worried about that but access still necessary in case the remote control ran out of battery. Take a look at the picture there's plenty of room to stick your hands through and turn the spool lever and/or plugin the winch control harness.

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Tavy, thank you for posting this thread! I would like to do this same winch set-up on my 14 Expo EL. It looks like a clean install and set-up! My question is on your RCI skid plates, did they bolt right up? Also did you do the transfer plate as well?

 

[JoeKnowsFlaHome]

I'm installing this same winch plate on my 2007 Expedition EL Limited 4WD and there's a metal cross beam behind the front bumper interfering with the front of the mounting plate (where the fairlead attaches) that's preventing me from moving the winch far enough forward to align the mounting holes. Will not work without cutting the metal cross member. Damn!

 

[Aces]

OP Thanks for this. I was looking at doing this and finally getting rid of my push bar. Just to confirm, you bought a rough country mount? Also, what about the mount for your fairlead and license plate. Thank you in advance.

 

[Icemanjones]

Help! Did anyone measure their winch mount? I have contact ICI, Rough Country and the other guy with the boxed fairlead and none of them have dimensions and cant provide them. I need to know the height difference between the mount legs and the winch plate. In other words the height difference between lower horizontal and upper horizontal plates. Also how far from the lower mount holes to the point that the mount bends up on the sides. Thank you.

 

[vincentrose]

So TAVY... is this the Rough Country Winch Mount from the F150 as featured in the Rough Country video that you installed on the Expy?

 

[WEDGE]

I'd like to know more about those skid plates!

 

[vincentrose]

I'm installing this same winch plate on my 2007 Expedition EL Limited 4WD and there's a metal cross beam behind the front bumper interfering with the front of the mounting plate (where the fairlead attaches) that's preventing me from moving the winch far enough forward to align the mounting holes. Will not work without cutting the metal cross member. Damn!

JoeKnowsFlaHome, Was this Metal cross beam preventing you from installing the Winch Mounting Plate, or the winch itself??

 

[Logan97]

How long did it take you to install the winch plate and winch? I have both sitting in my house because I'm not sure how long it'll take to install and my kids don't give me long periods of time to do anything. Also did you have your vehicle jacked up or on a lift when you did it?