New GG & Winch pic

[T-Bone]

I just installed a grille guard and a Ramsey Platinum 9000 today. The kit was a pain, mainly because it needed a lot of "persuasion" to fit right. I'm really happy with the way it came out though and wanted to show you guys. Thanks.

T-Bone

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[Edited by T-Bone on 08-17-2000 at 09:06 PM]

 

[mattadams]

I love the look of that winch mount! Wish someone made a cool-lookin one for the pre-95 explorers but its just the same, I couldn't mount as many lights to it if it looked cool! LOL.
Now its time to get so stuck that you actually NEED the winch! Don't feel bad if it doesn't happen for a while... I've used my winch 8-9 times now, and not once for myself... I'm thinking its ab out time I get stuck but I just haven't done extreme enough wheeling I guess (Or Im just a good driver)

 

[2001ExpSport]

Looks great T-Bone, nice job.

 

[T-Bone]

Matt-

Thanks. It's funny, I want to get stuck and don't want to get stuck at the same time Hopefully I can be a good Samaritan sometime and help someone out in the winter. But the way I drive sometimes, I'll get stuck in a ditch leaving my parking lot tomorrow. LOL.

T-Bone

 

[T-Bone]

Thanks Sport! Hope you guys have fun this weekend. Let me know how it was.

T-Bone

 

[RichSport94]

Looks sweet. That truck is getting better everytime I see it. Can't wait what it will look like in a couple months. It is alrrady blowing my mind.

 

[T-Bone]

Hey, thanks, Richie!

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hey T-Bone,
Man that looks great! How much (if you don't mind me asking) for the Serria Wraparound, and where did you get it?
also I don't know if you know this or not, but you need to unspoole it out to the last row and, under some resistance reel it all back in to tighten up on the cable, otherwise with loose cable when you do use it the cable will push the loose cable apart and sink into the spool. It makes it look messy and real hard to unspool it the next time you use it.
Oh! one more thing. Have you noticed if your truck runs alittle hotter because the winch is partially blocking the radiator?

 

[T-Bone]

Thanks Ray!

I ordered it through National Tire & Wheel and it was about $800-$830 plus shipping.
I knew I had to get the line taut, but thanks for explaining exactly why. I'm going to look for something to pull this weekend. Could I simply pull myself up a slight incline in neutral to acomplish this? I know about the 5 wraps minimum around the drum rule. What I was thinking was pulling a thousand pounds or so from the end of the drum and after 5 wraps around the drum, pulling myself up a slight hill. What do you think?

About the truck running hot, I just installed this today, so I will keep my eye on it. I hope this won't be a problem. They have some Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors near by, maybe I'll just drop some dry ice in the winch mounting plate every now and then

T-Bone

 

[T-Bone]

One more thing..

Anyone-

This being my first winch and all, I'm looking for a stronger setup in the assembly where the hook attaches to the wire. I don't have any technical lingo so please bear with me. What came with the winch was the hook/adapter and a bolt that is held by a cotter pin. I don't like the idea of a tiny cotter pin. I want to use a threaded bolt with a nut to hold the wire and hook securely, but I'm unsure what kind to get. It needs to withstand 9000 lbs.. Does it need to be hardend steel? Do they make bolts & nuts for this in particular?
Thanks for the info as usual!

T-Bone

 

[GJarrett]

Looks Great!

T-Bone, Ray and I are both looking at buying that grille, but I ALREADY have the basice WAAG grille that Ramsey uses to beef up for their Sierra Wraparound . Could you PLEASE do me a favor, crawl under your front, and make some detailed pictures of the mounting brackets connecting the grill to the frame? Mine are very flimsy and I am keenly interested in learning exactly what Ramsey did to beef up the brackets enough to withstand a winchpull. I'd hate to just waste the $400 I've already spent on the grill just to buy another one again.

Ray, there's a mailorder place somewhere in Oklahoma that sells them for about a hundred dollars less than T-Bone paid (sorry, T-Bone). I'll try to track down that info for you in the future.

 

[T-Bone]

Gerald-
Thanks for the compliment. I'll be able to snap a few pics underneath later today, but I have the instructions and parts list. I could fax them to you, I'll try to get this office scanner working again and can email them to you in a .jpg format, that is, if it works for me.
T-Bone

 

[GJarrett]

Thanks

 

[T-Bone]

Hey Gerald-

I tried to snap a pic underneath but I couldn't get a good angle. The area where the grille L-brakets (excuse my limited tech lingo), meet the end of the frame posts, is covered by the bumper.
I couldn't get my scanner working today, its one of those HP all-in-one deals that I use mainly for a fax machine.
The instructions are filled with good pictures. I obviously don't need them anymore, drop me your address and I'll mail it to you.

T-Bone

 

[2001ExpSport]

Trailmaster

When you get that Trailmaster lift, let me know. I want one too. Haven't seen any for early model Explorers.

 

[Stephen]

Looks great T-Bone. Man, I really like the 99+ XLTs. They took what was a pretty hum drum trim level, and made it one of, if not the best looking trim level on the Explorer. Keep up the good work!

 

[T-Bone]

Sport: The lift is in the cards, you will know for sure

Stephen: Thanks for the thumbs up!

With the moderators giving me the nod on this last mod, I feel better about spending the money on the mount and winch. I wanted to taut the line a bit today and went into a nearby industrial park and hooked up four discarded cement parking blocks and dragged them eighty feet across a small field. My first winching feat I figure if I have this thing, better learn how to use it and use it right.

Question for you all: If I'm trying to recover another vehicle that is around 4000 lbs. do I need to get something external to lock my tires in place? How much force can the park position hold?

T-Bone

This last question is very important to me, please answer if you can! Thanks!

 

[RangerX]

T-Bone, it would be a great idea to carry around a wedge or two to chock the tires with. It could only make things easier for your tranny and parking brake.

 

[T-Bone]

RangerX-

Is that what someone with a winch would normally do if they were pulling someone out? Or are the brakes and tranny strong enough for that extra pull? Thanks.

T-Bone

 

[2001ExpSport]

T-Bone,

Yes, that is what you definitely want to do. Your winch is strong enough to drag your truck with all 4 wheels locked, especially on dirt. I drove 10 ton trucks in the military for an artillary unit and we used chocks whenever we used the winch to pull out any type of vehicle. Imagine a 10 ton truck hauling 5 tons of artillery shells stuck in mud up to the axles. Even thpugh we had heavier trucks and we had much beefier winches, we used chocks none the less. Even when the winching vehicle was loaded with 5 tons of ammo as well.

I had to tell that story, I was the one who was stuck. It actually took two trucks with winches to get me out.

My sugestion for you would be to invest in some chocks(two). Place them on the front wheels when winching, this will take the strain off your tranny.

Also, I am not sure if you know this, but I will let you know anyway. When you pull out a vehicle, attach the hook inverted(open end facing up). That way if the hooks snaps, god forbid, it will break towards the ground instead of breaking upwards like a whip back to you or onto the top of your truck.

If you really what to get into it, you can purchase a block and tackle(pully system) that will double your winch's pulling capacity. Dead Link Removed

Good luck!

[Edited by 2001ExpSport on 08-20-2000 at 11:44 AM]