Need winch mounting advice

[Acesneights1]

Hey. I made a mounting plate for my Milemarker 12000lb winch that slides into my existing Meyers EZ mount lower frame. Question is I have to mount the roller fairlead. Where should the lower roller be in relation to the cable. Should the cable just touch it if pulled out straight or should the roller be slightly higher than the cable straight out or slightly lower ?

 

[DunesRunner08]

the fairlead is usually centered on the winch and the wire should feed over the top of the winch, that way you can control how it rolls back up....

 

[ujoint]

The center of my fairlead is lined up with the bottom of the winch, since the cable spools up from the bottom. This allows the cable to only have one "kink" point, instead of two if the fairlead is centered on the spool.

 

[DunesRunner08]

The cable shouldn't spool from the bottom as it gives it more opportunity to tangle up, you have more control on the return when it spoold from the top...every winch mounting system on the market centers the fairlead with the winch and the wore feed from the top.... I mean to each his own but I figure if the winch co designs it to run that way, I'll keep it running that way.... Kind of like toilet paper, it feeds over the top to make it easier....I hate when it feeds from underneath!!!! lol

 

[Acesneights1]

Mine spools from the bottom but that's the way I got the winch. Should I change it ? I defintely see your point. So far whenever I pull anything it always goes to one side and bunches up. The only way to reverse it would be to use the power out to pull and the pull to power out right ? Is the power out the same power ?

 

[Joey D]

I don't think it matters as long as the fairlead is in line with the drum.

 

[DunesRunner08]

I have totally unwound and rewound up many winches....and it is the biggest PITA!!!! LOL... I just had to do mine on my Chubby because I went with synthetic rope.... the easiest way is to just take one end and disengage the clutch and start walking..... when you get to the end you should see a set screw holding the wire in place, just flip it around and then the really fun part begins..... have a buddy or two to help with this part to make it perfect (if your meticulous, like me...LOL) have a long wrench or screwdriver to control where the cable goes, have some really good gloves too.... while keeping the cable as tight as you can, start to reel it in having the guy with the screwdriver keeping the cable tight together... go a couple inches at a time until you are done....

 

[Joey D]

I have totally unwound and rewound up many winches....and it is the biggest PITA!!!! LOL... I just had to do mine on my Chubby because I went with synthetic rope.... the easiest way is to just take one end and disengage the clutch and start walking..... when you get to the end you should see a set screw holding the wire in place, just flip it around and then the really fun part begins..... have a buddy or two to help with this part to make it perfect (if your meticulous, like me...LOL) have a long wrench or screwdriver to control where the cable goes, have some really good gloves too.... while keeping the cable as tight as you can, start to reel it in having the guy with the screwdriver keeping the cable tight together... go a couple inches at a time until you are done....

It's better to use the weight of your truck to wrap it. Even on flat ground just set the parking brake a few clicks for tension.