Installed a Smittybilt XRC GEN2 12,000 lbs. winch with a Smittybilt Spectra 12k synthetic winch rope.
Manufacturer: Smittybilt
Item: Smittybilt XRC GEN2 12k lbs. winch with a Smittybilt Spectra synthetic rope.
Vendor: 4Wheelparts.com
Jeep Torque Wrenches: 4 out of 5
This wasn’t a bad install, but you will have to make sure you get a vacuum pump relocator as the winch will need the room, specially a 12k winch. 10k or less you will not need to relocate the vacuum pump. Once you have that all cleared up, you can begin to install your new bumper. In my case I went with the Redrock Max-HD stubby. Since this bumper has a great foundation point to drop the 12k winch in, it made this job easier. The wiring is where it will take time and make sure you run the wiring through the designated hole on the winch. At the batter side, I picked up some taller mounting battery posts to allow for additional wiring to connect up, you can also use a battery distributing unit, plenty out there. I used a simple terminal extension, get the gold ones. I like to use wire shrink as well after terminating any wires, keep these neat and sealed. The Smittybilt comes with an LED that will shine the SB symbol on the front of the winch. I tapped mine into my running lights. Once I was all set with the wiring, I zipped all up, etc. Time to remove the steel winch rope the winch came with with a Synthetic Smittybilt. They had a great deal during the holidays, they threw in a free Smittybilt Synthetic rope but the winch came with the steel which a lot of people just hate doing, I don’t mind it. Paid around a total of 500 dollars for both, rope alone was 400 by itself! I used my lumber heavy duty cloves which worked great for the steel cable removal. Once all was set, took it around the corner to an off-road area we go over to once in a while and tested this setup, it was a work horse! Can definitely pull down a tree as well lol. Great setup, the weight as well on the front was shed around 30 lbs after moving to the Synthetic rope, plus the Redrock front bumper is super light. Love the combination.
