I mounted a Viper max 2000 lb winch tonight on my 2005 Honda Rubicon. I need to wire it and want some opinions on the best place to wire the winch so it only has power when the key is on and any good places for the connector. I have small children and don't want them to be able to power the winch up with the key off. Any tips appreciated.

 

there are instructions that came with my viper winch, it shows that you have to splice the wire to the ignition, or anything that has power when the key is on. i didnt do that, i just wired it straight to the battery. the instructions should show you where to splice and everything.

hope this helps, if not i will dig up my instructions for you tomarrow

 

I would suggest you tap into the accessory socket wire. It is fused, and non-critical (like the wires at the ignition switch).

I would also suggest not using the little clip-on wire tap that likely came with the winch. If you use solder and shrink tubing you will end up with a more reliable connection (won't pull apart or corrode).

The wire to the accessory socket runs to a connector at the main harness. Unplugging it will make it easier to access.

 

So the accessory socket wire is controlled by the key?

 

Is the hot wire on the accessory socket the black and white wire?

 

I don't remember for sure which one was hot, but I think you are correct. Iit is controlled by the key. Before you wire it up, you might pierce the blk/whi wire with a pin and check with a meter or test light with the key on to verify it is the right one.

 

It is the white/black wire. I didn't have a tester but called Honda they confirmed the black/white was the hot wire for the accessory outltet. Got her done! It works great.

 

Excellent! Enjoy the winch.

 

Just created a login specifically to say thank you for this post.

I have been struggling to install a 3000lbs Gorilla Winch on my Rubicon most of the day now. The instructions that came with it were absolutely terrible. I ended up finding a pdf version of the Warn Winch instructions that were oh, about a billion times more helpful than what Gorilla sent me. I had everything done except where to splice the red wire coming off of my rocker switch. I really did not want to try to splice into the ignition wiring.

 

Welcome to the forum.