A while back I installed a Warn 4500S winch on my '14 Trek. I used a mounting bumper from Primitive Racing. The problem was that I couldn't reach the clutch release because of the grill/bumper cover. Since it's not good for your winch to power our the line I looked for a solution. I found one in replacing the standard grille with a sport mesh grill, cut a big hole in it and used some magnets. The pics show the results.
![Car Land vehicle Vehicle Grille Automotive lighting]()
The access point is on the driver's side of the grill. I used 4 pairs of high strength magnets to hold the grill section I cut out in place. I epoxied the magnets to the grill. They haven't moved even at 70mph. I also put a plastic handle on so it was easier to take off and replace the access panel. The item on the passenger side is where I plug in the remote for the winch.
![Grille Motor vehicle Car Automotive tire Hood]()
A closer look. Not pretty perhaps but I can easily reach in to turn the clutch release. The grill mesh is actually metal wire so it's pretty stiff. You can't see it in these pics but I also put a d-shackle on the frame on the passenger side front to use as a recovery point. This would allow me to use a snatch ring and double the winch's pulling power. Don't use the screw in tow hook.
![Hood Bumper Automotive tire Automotive exterior Gas]()
I also installed a front facing camera that connects to my Jensen head unit. It worked great for a time and now it's not. I just don't feel like taking the head unit out again to fix it.. If anyone has done that you understand the PITA that is. Someday when it's not 100 degrees out.
I was out on a weekend overlanding trip when it and my idler pulley failed. That might be a whole other post as trying to get a new pulley and serpentine belt replaced in the middle of central PA on a weekend is grist for a tale of woe and intrigue. It useful that I had installed a recovery point on my hitch receiver, made it easy for the tow truck guy to winch the car onto the rollback.
Still haven't wired up the Hella horns. Anybody got a hack for that?
The access point is on the driver's side of the grill. I used 4 pairs of high strength magnets to hold the grill section I cut out in place. I epoxied the magnets to the grill. They haven't moved even at 70mph. I also put a plastic handle on so it was easier to take off and replace the access panel. The item on the passenger side is where I plug in the remote for the winch.
A closer look. Not pretty perhaps but I can easily reach in to turn the clutch release. The grill mesh is actually metal wire so it's pretty stiff. You can't see it in these pics but I also put a d-shackle on the frame on the passenger side front to use as a recovery point. This would allow me to use a snatch ring and double the winch's pulling power. Don't use the screw in tow hook.
I also installed a front facing camera that connects to my Jensen head unit. It worked great for a time and now it's not. I just don't feel like taking the head unit out again to fix it.. If anyone has done that you understand the PITA that is. Someday when it's not 100 degrees out.
I was out on a weekend overlanding trip when it and my idler pulley failed. That might be a whole other post as trying to get a new pulley and serpentine belt replaced in the middle of central PA on a weekend is grist for a tale of woe and intrigue. It useful that I had installed a recovery point on my hitch receiver, made it easy for the tow truck guy to winch the car onto the rollback.
Still haven't wired up the Hella horns. Anybody got a hack for that?
