I just finished this mod over lunch today and am pleased with how it turned out. The alternate power mirror switch location in the dash makes a great spot for an in-cab winch controller. I found a spare power mirror switch for $20 at a junkyard and wired it to my X9. Slide the top switch to the left and push the button for “In” and slide the switch to the right and push the buttom for “Reverse.” I toyed with getting a rear window switch and using the spare hole in the center console, but wanted to try this one out first.

 

That is a trick idea indeed.
Did you just take an extra controller lead and cut the end off, then wire it to the switch?

That would make a great addition to the Tech area if you have the wiring info and all on how you did it.

 

All I needed was an accessory hot and then two wires out to the control box. Pushing the center pad to the up position is the only one that activates the winch - i was going to wire it to activate when the pad is pushed in all four directions but it got too complicated for my blood. It's a very simple hack wiring job. The X9 just uses two solenoids and only has three wires for the controller, but the concept would apply to other control boxes as well. I'd be happy to do a write-up for the Tech section.

 

I've had my winch controller flopping around the dashboard for several months. Its quite irritating. I have a switch just like that in a Subaru with a dead motor. It may find a new life running the winch.

I gotta get the good parts off that car before I take it to the crusher.

 

That's a nice mod. I'm a big fan of buttons. I also like redundant/unnecessarily complicated controls, I don't want a rocker switch, I want a toggle, a rocker, and dual key ignition, dammit!

 

Is that switch designed to fit in that hole? I have been wondering what I could put in there. My mirror switch is on my door panel.

 

that's something i would like

 

I forgot to explain why I moved this topic. Anythng winch related is considered an Offroading modification. Winches really aren't used on road, therefore it belongs in the Offroad mod forum.

Lots of topics will be moved in the near future. Its an attempt to reduce traffic in the overcrowed "SUV and Truck" board and get people to use this board and the Maintainence board when applicable.

On behalf of the Yotatech Staff, thanks for you understanding. By no means is it meant as a way to scold or punish members.

 

Yes, in 4runners without power windows, the power mirror switch is in that location. There's a plug for it and everything behind the panel. My regular mirror switch is on my door panel as well.

I agree with Los Gatos, the more buttons the better! I just like them to look clean and as close to stock as possible. I was also thinking it would be cool to use the new mirror switch to control a motorized spotlight.

 

That is a very cool mod!

What did you use to create the white lettering on your switches????

 

Thanks. I am still working on the lettering. For the top two letters I simply used a permanent marker to convert the "L" to an "I" and left the "R" alone. I printed the word WINCH onto a mailing label and cut out a small peice of clear packing tape to cover the WINCH sticker. I am still looking for a better printer paper/sticker for the winch label.

 

Way cool idea. For my rig, I went to Radio Shack and picked up a DPDT momentary switch and jumped the two negative terminals together, and connected one termial on each end to the in/out solenoid control terminals in my solenoid box through the back and under the box making for a sano though non-factory appearing setup.

 

Here's the install write-up in the Tech section:
https://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech...transalper.htm

I got to test it out this weekend! Did some winch landscaping and pulled a couple shrubs. I did it real early in the morning so none of my neighbors would see and ask me to winch out a bunch of shrubs for them.

 

now thats just too cool, you guys are awesome,,,, when i get a winch, i know what ill be doing...
Ric