Winch installed on the CRD WWOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:34 pm

I finally got my Warn 9500TI install on the CRD. I went with the Drawtite front receiver hitch. It was a bit more of a pain to install but I believe it will be a good bit stronger than the hidden hitch. (plus it has tow hooks on each side) I had to cut the front bumper to fit the hitch on. Three spot required some trimming. I also used a blow torch to melt two of the spots instead of cutting them. The over all install is pretty good. If I hadn’t failed autobody 101 I might have been able to make the cut in the front bumper so that it looked a bit better. O well, it works. The wires running threw the grill are temporary. I have to find some large welding connector (so I can disconnect the winch without unhooking the cables from the battery) then I will be able to run them up under the front end. If anyone has any ideas other than welding connector holler at me.

Check out the pictures.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2165223/1

Wes

Steakgoddess · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:40 pm

Congrats!!

How far does the winch stick out? Are you going to do anything to protect it mor ewhen it goes out on the trail? Or are those bars enough?

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:47 pm

It sticks out there pretty good, I'd say about 10 to 12 inches, I had to drill another hole in the mount so that I could pin it close up to the jeep.

crazy4ink · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 2:33 pm

Looks good. As for the wires, look into buying the cables that they use on tow trucks. You would hook one end to the battery, and then have a solid plug type connect hanging out the front. Put the other end on the winch cables and when you want to disconnect the winch, you just unplug it. Then you don't have any bare wire ends sticking out.

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:06 pm

Thanks, I will look into that. I'm not decided on how to hook them up yet. I used welding connector on my last winch setup but they where very big and where hard to hide when the winch wasn't hooked up.

Wes

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:20 pm

I bought the plug from warn, part number 22680, all you need to do is cut the wire (after disconnecting from battery of course) install plug ends, then you have an easy to un plug winch. There is also a cover for the end you leave on the jeep. Mine came wiht, but I have seen it sold seperatly as well.

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 9:59 am

SWEET! Can you also post this in the picture request I put in the KJ picture section?

I was wondering if that hitch fit the '05 bolt hole pattern since it is only specified through the '04 model year. I guess this answers my question!

Did you measure the additional sag on the front suspension?

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:54 am

Red:

are ya gonna wire the rear for the winch, too?

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 7:47 pm

Yeah I might, I'm a bit worried about trying to make it work in the back. I don't think I could use it back there without a long extention or removing the spare. I never did wire in the milemarker winch on my 2002 Liberty, and never ended up needing it in the rear.

Edwin · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:00 pm

That looks kick @ss! That,s what I need!

kjfishman · **Posted:** Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:34 am

Do you pull the camper in the photo's? If so tell us more about how long how heavey and how does the KJ handle it??

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:56 pm

Yep, I tow that trailer with the Liberty. I got pictures of it, just got to get them posted. The trailer is a 20 foot 4200 lbs Shawdow Cruiser Travel Trailer. Pulls fine with the CRD. I have a sway controler hooked up just to keep her stable at highway speeds. I get about 16 to 18 mpg towing the trailer with all the family on board.

Wes

wolcott · **Joined:** Thu Nov 10, 2005 4:16 pm **Posts:** 108

What was the model number of the Drawtite hitch you used? The reason why I am asking is that I have contacted both Drawtite and E trailer, and they claim Drawtite does not make a hitch for the 2005 Liberty. Apparently, the bumper changed and supposedly the hitches for 04 and earlier will not fit 05's.

Also, with regards to the battery connector, the heavy duty connectors sold by Warn are also sold by electrical supply houses. They are used to hook up batteries to forklifts and other battery powered machinery. Just make sure that your connectors will plug into one another. Many times, connectors that look like they should plug into each other will not actually mate up due to plastic blocking pieces being molded in to the connector (this avoids different voltage batteries being accidentally hooked up to each other)

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:26 am

RedJeepCRD:

In the rare case I can still find this out of production hitch I wanted to ask if you still had to drill a third hole on each side as the instructions said to for the 2002-2004 models? Also, did you have to take off the bumper, fenders, ect.?

Basically, how involved was it to install besides the plastic trimming of the bumper?

Winch installed on the CRD WWOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!

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