2016 Taco Winch Mount

UPDATE: I've started a group buy/pre order list here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-tacoma-winch-mount-initial-buy-list.470656/

FB post to follow as well: Added placeholder in our store: https://www.usoffroad.us/store/bumpers/toyota-tacoma-2016-2017-winch-mount/

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We have had a LOT of people, pretty much daily, asking when we would have a version of our winch mount for the 2016. After about 6 initial designs we think we have a winner, at least on paper, and are prototyping one late this week.

If all holds true we think it will retail for $499 like our 12-15 version, will require no cutting of the bumper cover unlike previous models and will have a full skid plate built in along with recovery points.

If you are interested you might follow this thread for updates. We are fast tracking this for production around the first of the year.

 

Let me know when you have it. I have a friend that needs a 2016 as well. He keeps asking me if I've found one yet.

 

@cosjohn , here you go.

 

We start the prototyping process in the morning. Should be interesting.

 

sub'd

 

Just a quick peak of our rough prototype. We are fast tracking this design and are VERY happy with it overall. We had to come up with some solutions to some tricky design issues but our engineer succeeded brilliantly. The ease of installation and lack of cutting is unlike anything else out there for what you get get in return. Right now I think pricing will remain like our other products at $499 if all goes well. I'll get in to more details later. Working on CAD now then to the machine shop for a production prototype and another test fit session before starting all out production.

 

CAD should be finished tomorrow. Then off to the shop for a production prototype and a test fit.

 

How about a sneak peak of the much awaited 2016+ Tacoma winch mount? Something different. And yes, it will come with our new Big Mouth Hawse!

The general concept is based on everything we have learned over the past 6 years of building our proprietary winch mounts and MUCH is garnered from feedback via our customers.

1. Low weight.
2. Simplicity of installation. Minimal cutting.
3. Providing a method of mounting a recovery winch without major alterations and weight gains to the vehicle including aerodynamics.
4. Recovery points.
5. Some armor protection.
6. Affordable. While we are still working on production costs we anticipate it will price at or below $500 as our other mounts.

The beauty of this mount is that there is minimal cutting and ONLY to the removable chin piece. There is NO cutting on the large ($$$) painted nose piece/bumper cover. Chin pieces can be bought for around $100 now from Toyota IF you ever wanted to go back bone stock (trade in, etc). AND once you install this you will NOT have to remove the bumper cover again and can remove/install the winch mount and/or winch without removing the bumper cover! Pretty nifty perk.

The skid plate is a structural component and will be made from .135"/11 ga steel. IF you ever damage the skid plate it will be available from us for purchase separately and can be replaced by removing 6 bolts. No body work or winch mount removal will be required. The tub is made from .250" steel as normal. Shackle mounts are 1" and are also designed to be a structural gusset within the tub.

This will come with custom brackets for the power steering cooler to move it back an 1" or so and we have provided air flow holes in the backplane to provide better air flow to the cooler compared to stock. We have also revised our typical drainage arrangement for better water and mud drainage for easier cleaning. An AC line notch is cut for clearance as per our other designs.
Because of the clearance issues created by the 16+ design by Toyota you will not be able to center mount most winch solenoid boxes but will be able to side mount (over the motor) many boxes (see attached photo). We are also providing some slotting in the end pieces along with a generic solenoid box mount to remote mount most boxes in the ends within the tub for easy access if needed. We don't want you to have to do any fab work to mount your box!

Access to the winch (control cable and clutch lever) can be provided by simply removing a few slats in the grille work above the chin piece or by opening the hood.

Weight estimate is in the 55 lb range, 10-12 lbs lighter than previous Tacoma mounts.

As the rope exit (no roller fairleads, so no steel cable) is at 30 degrees a standard hawse will not provide adequate opening space and we have designed a wide mouth hawse that will work with any application but will be particularly suited to this mount. It will be included with this mount in addition to the power steering cooler and winch solenoid box brackets.

We hope to have a production prototype ready to test fit around the second week of January and production ready for sale by the first to second week of February.
Stay tuned, more to come!

 

How about some feedback?

 

Looks good- I am in....

 

I'm in too. I liked your other mounts also. Can't wait to see a finished one.

 

Does the angle of the "opening" where the rope/cable come out be of any issue? Looks like cable/rope would rub at all times when used???

Overall nice to have an all-in-one winch/skid/recovery points solution! Especially without any cutting!

 

Once we have a production quality prototype for test fitment we will shoot product photos, create the install docs, etc and you will be able to see the finished version and what it all entails to install. This will be one of our our best engineered and well thought out designs to date.

 

Looks really cool. If I hadn't already bought I bumper, I would definitely consider this.

 

Good eye.

It will never contact any steel, the tub opening is larger than the hawse opening.

Which is why we are including the custom hawse. The exit point is in line with the winch spool but realize that as rope is extended the spool size decreases on any winch and the exit point rises accordingly. We are in line per our other designs but yes, because of the angle we created this Big Mouth hawse to alleviate constant rope contact.

 

+1 I would like to see at least a top roller. Maybe it is not necessary though.

 

It's not. It is really no different than any other hawse setup in that you are not always pulling from straight on, hence the need for a hawse (or roller fairlead for steel), we simply didn't want it hitting the hawse 100% of the time and the Big Mouth eliminates that.

 

Looks great

 

Here's a frontal shot with a winch in place to show the relationship of the spool to the opening, etc. Of course with no rope on it it's still hard to see what I'm saying precisely but you get the idea.

 

Looks good!