Topic: Winch Security

[Wheezer]

Gonna revive an old thread here-
I know that the usual method for securing your winch is to tack weld the mounting bolts so that they can't easily be removed by a thief.  I've also heard folks recommend welding bubbles onto the wrenching flats of the bolt head so that a wrench won't fit the bolt.  I just received my Warn M8000 winch and reading the instructions for mounting it the instructions are explicitly against welding the bolts (doesn't explain why).  So besides welding what methods work at securing a winch to a Jeep?
BTW- I bought my winch through AmazonDOTcom and received all of the current discounts and rebates but since my wife is an AmazonPrime subscriber I got FREE 2Day shipping!  I saved enough to pay for a snatch block.  Can't beat it with a stick!

Wheezer

[Jeffy]

You're not supposed to weld on the bolts because you can potentially change the temper.  As long as you're just tack welding, it shouldn't be an issue.

[jfrabat]

Tuffy makes a bolt protector, which is basically a small box with a key you can put on a bolt...   Dont know what it is called, though.  I bought one when i bought the winch, but since you need to remove the front bumper to remove the winch, I figure it was already hard enough for thieves to steal the winch, and left it like that.

[neale_rs]

I put a cable around mine.  It could still be removed by disassembling the winch cross rods but at least it is a bit safer.

[Jeffy]

I put a cable around mine.  It could still be removed by disassembling the winch cross rods but at least it is a bit safer.

You can pull the winch cable around the winch and cross-member and lock it with a padlock.  That way the only was to get it off is if you cut the cable or unspool the whole cable to detach it.

[neale_rs]

That's true, it would be safer than what I'm doing now.  Thanks.

[dwtaylorpdx]

I used REALLY long bolts and swage nuts, bought a special really deep socket and spun them on with it... It would take like an hour to get the nuts off with a box wrench. 2 nuts per bolt too! 

Dave

[stan98tj]

Tuffy makes a bolt protector, which is basically a small box with a key you can put on a bolt...   Dont know what it is called, though.  I bought one when i bought the winch, but since you need to remove the front bumper to remove the winch, I figure it was already hard enough for thieves to steal the winch, and left it like that.

is this basically a locking device for the bolt? requires you to unlock it before you can unscrew the bolt? i may be interested in this, though id be concerned with losing the key.

I'm gonna need to look into options to secure my new winch. The padlock seems like a good idea too.

[aw12345]

just get some pieces of flat stock drill a hole in it just large enough for the bolt head to pass through it and tack weld it to the winch plate, cheap, easy and does not mess with the harness or temper of the bolts

[jagular7]

Use different style head for the bolts keeping the same thread pattern.

[neale_rs]

Warn ought to leave a hole through the housing somewhere to allow a lock to be slipped on. Actually, you might be able to do this with the ones that have integrated solenoid packs, don't know how easily they come apart.

[Jeffy]

Use different style head for the bolts keeping the same thread pattern.

Just use Torx, everyone hates those.  

[aw12345]

Seems to me if they want it bad enough, they just take the whole Jeep

[sharpxmen]

just put a key lock thru the cable end and lock it to a hole somewhere (drill one on the underside of the bumber if you have to), if they come prepared to cut the cable or the lock then whatever precautions you may take will probably be futile

if you have an alarm you can always add a door switch to the underside of the winch as well so if it is removed the alarm will go off.

[stan98tj]

thanks for the ideas guys