INSTRUCTIONS - Hidden Winch Cradle (Isuzu D-Max 2012 to 2020 - 4JJ1) Posted on 15 Sep 10:45 , 0 comments

Installation Guide:

The installation of the Munji Hidden Winch Cradle requires good mechanical and tool knowledge. It is important to follow these instructions; it requires you to cut metal and correctly line up the Bracing Straps.

N.B: NEVER REST ANY PART OF YOUR BODY UNDER A VEHICLE OR HEAVY COMPONENTS UNLESS YOU HAVE SUFFICENT SUPPORTS AS WELL AS THE JACK. A HEAVY WEIGHT CAN SLIP OFF A JACK OR THE SUPPORTS. PLEASE ALWAYS BE CAREFUL AND KEEP YOUR PHONE WITHIN REACH IN THE CASE OF THE UNEXPECTED.

TOOLS REQUIRED:

Socket Set
Pliers
Grinder
Trimming tools to trim plastic (suit winch)
Tub of grease/grease gun
Rivnut Crimper (to suit M8 Alloy Rivnuts)

STEPS:

Firstly, remove the front bash plates, grille, front plastic bar/bullbar with side reinforcement brackets and reinforcement bars from your vehicle
We HIGHLY RECCOMEND removing the radiator entirely and flushing your coolant system all at once, however you can get away with unbolting the radiator brackets on top of the radiator support and unclipping the lower part of the fan shroud, leaving the coolant hoses still connected. This will give you room to lift the radiator up and out of the way. We do not recommend doing it this way as you will need multiple people to help and you can crack the plastic tanks and barbs on the factory radiator if you are not careful. However it can be done.
With the radiator out of the way, crimp the 2x M8 Rivnuts into the holes shown. Ensure you use grease to avoid galling the threads.
Mount the Munji Hidden Winch Cradle main body to the chassis using the outer bolt points, 1 on each side. Use the holes with welded nuts on the chassis rail flange. Use 2x provided M10 bolts and flat washers, and tighten to hold the winch cradle in place.
Cut the plastic shroud back around the sides of the main body of the hidden winch cradle, exposing the holes on either side where the straps will go.
Fit the reinforcement straps to the cradle, bolting the smaller hole side of the strap into the chassis rail using the 2x M8 bolts with flat and spring washers and the larger hole into the side of the main body of the hidden winch cradle using 2x M10 bolts, flat washers and Nyloc nuts.
You can now fit the winch and fairlead to the Hidden Winch Cradle. You will need to trim the underside of the upper bumper support to clear the winch and give room for the clutch knob.
Once these are in place and tight, you are now ready to fit the Bullbar and side reinforcement brackets, or if you have a bumper, the provided side reinforcement brackets. If you have a factory bullbar, you will have to notch out the diagonal flat sections shown below to give clearance for the reinforcement strap bolts. Use a grinder to carefully remove the area shown below.
Once this is done, you can sit the bullbar on the 1x bolt each side holding the winch cradle on to line it up, then fit the 3x M10 bolts with flat and spring washers on each side of the winch cradle, along with the M10 bolts that connect the side reinforcement brackets to the front crossmember. If you have a bumper bar, simply fit the side reinforcement brackets with the provided bolts and washers to the winch cradle and front crossmember.
Once everything is lined up, tighten down.
Refit your radiator and associated brackets and if required, rebleeding the cooling system to ensure no air is present.
Bash plates can now be refitted. the front most one will need to be trimmed back to fit behind the hidden winch cradle.
If you have a bumper bar you can now sort out your winch and fare lead which will have to be cut into your plastic bumper and grill if you wish to fit the control box on top like I have in the pictures. I used a dremel and grinder to cut and smooth out the plastic.
Take your time cutting, even if you cut only a little at a time to make it fit perfect.
When wiring up the winch make sure to follow their instructions and retention the rope/cable as part of the first test.