Warn Semi Hidden winch bumper (New for 3rd gen Tacoma)

Mirrors my experience, though the guy I talked with was unaware of the pro issue. I may just hold onto my OR grille for another year. If they come out with a pro friendly version, great. If not I can swap back if I really wanted to Warn.

 

Great. They know there's a problem with Pros or Trucks with Pro Grills. But no fix. Sounds like the guy I talked too.

 

Hmmm, I wonder if the original design would work with the pro grill, hoop above the tss.

 

I installed on a 2018 TRD Pro and had a weird experience. The day I installed them it was that evening we went to dinner so I tried the cruise control and had no issues or errors about the sensor. The bar definitely cuts right across the sensor. So I thought great. No issues. Then the following day we took a trip to the hill country and I tried the Radar assist cruise control and this time I received an error about the sensor and to clean the sensor. I tried several times throughout the day, made sure no bugs were splattered on it but same thing. I tried again at night to see if that had to do with it, but this time it stated that same error. So it definitely impacts the sensor and it's ability to work. It appears that you also loose the early crash detection since it uses the same sensor. If it could be dropped a few inches it probably would be ok. But unfortunately looking at the sensor mounting on the grill, there's no way to move it down since its encased with plastic housing molded into the grill. You'd essentially have to get a clean grill substitute and then cutout the sensor hole for it either higher or lower than the bar.

I don't mind because I usually use the non radar mode in cruise control anyway. I do like the early crash detection feature as a extra safety measure. But guess since I've been driving now for this long without one, I think I'll be ok.

My light bar is well below the sensor but the bar itself cuts right in front of it unfortunately.

Overall very happy with the purchase. I chose to go with a SmittyBuilt X20 with Synthetic line. Same lowering as someone else stated. Only about 1/2 inch. I didn't install per the instructions. I installed the winch first and then lifted the winch and bumper myself into place and was able to get a couple nuts on the fixed bolts to hold it while I got all the other mounting hardware installed. It was very simple. Way easier than they have you do it by taking all the stuff apart behind the grill. No need if you just put the winch on first.

I did move the transmission cooler line back like you see on the Fab 4 bumpers. I just manufactured my own brackets out of some 1/8" steel bar from Lowes and lined things up to mark my holes. Painted and installed. Works great. Rock solid and tons of room behind the winch.

Since I mounted the light bar on the bumper, I can't reach behind and move the clutch handle, but no biggie, I can reach down under the hood without any issues.

I did end up cutting off the bottom plastic that was used to hold on the bottom of the black piece you remove. Made it cleaner and it had no reason to be there. Plus gave me more access to tighten stuff up. The only thing I would have done differently would be to trim the top plastic a little to give me more room for installing the light bar nuts. Wasn't too bad but just a little cutout would make it easier to reach up and get the nuts started with your hands without having to fight the plastic bumper. Just don't cut too far back since the black steel doesn't go all the way to the grill.

I initially tried to use the original holes I had in the plastic bumper to mount the light but it ended up being too close to the grill. So I had to move it forward.

Another thing I did was use some long bolts and drilled a hole on each side to help secure the plastic fender / bumper parts a bit more securely. Not sure that you really need to do that, but wasn't hard to do and I had the hardware so I went ahead and did it.

The other piece you'll need to cut is the plastic inserts between the grill and the radiator. Guess they help to direct the wind. The very bottom of each side needed a notch cutout to address the larger bracket of the bumper. Very simple just cut a notch out and you're all set. I'm editing a short video of the after install walkthrough and will post it in the next couple days.

Here's a couple pics.

 

Great writeup! I'm really wanting this winch mount, but am unwilling to give up the safety sense stuff. Aside from it having some value to me as a driver, I cringe at the idea of being involved in some sort of incident and the lawyers dragging out the fact that my TSS was disabled by a modification I made. Could a crafty lawyer spin that into malicious intent?

 

Look at the SSO slimline winch bumper
It works great and still allows the adaptive radar to function.
SSO has a $100 off discount currently also.

 

I’ve been considering, but I hear the warn is a cleaner install. Need to read again.

 

Yeah I understand. I was contemplating having the bar removed or rebuilt higher above the sensor.

 

So an update from a drive last night. After the outing on Sunday I took it to the carwash and did a good power wash cleaning of the entire truck and made sure to clean the sensor area really well. I tested the radar cruise control last evening going to dinner and it worked for awhile, then I'd get the alert to clean the sensor, it would cancel the cruise on me. Then after driving for a few minutes with it off, it would allow me to reset and use again. Definitely not perfect working, but it seems to work somewhat. I turned off the CC and paid attention to the PCS to make sure it was engaged and no errors and it seemed to be working just fine. I didn't have the yellow PCS Off icon on the dash near speedo. That was good news. I will keep an eye on it and see how things go. May have to take it to a metal fabricator to get the bar replaced with a taller one.

This is definitely something to consider when purchasing this model if you have the sensor upfront. Other option would be to remove the bar, grind smooth and then paint yourself or have someone do it. Not sure if they offer a model without the bar. Didn't check when I purchased because I liked the look of it with it.

 

This really makes me glad I got the '17 model last March when I bought. I doesn't have any of that. I wasn't keen on having any of that stuff anyway but reading of the problems people have with customizing makes me realize I made the right choice for myself. But then, I have used the cruise once or twice, as in almost 25 years of owning vehicles, this is my first to have it.

 

Here's some more pics

Yeah a pain. But good thing is that you can disable it by just turning it off in the settings. You aren't forced to use it and if it's off no warning sounds or anything.

 

Here's some more pics from the install. I have a couple pics of the homemade brackets I built to move the transmission cooler fins back a little. Used the same metal stock as the instructions for installing brackets in the bed track system to hold shovels, axe and Hi-Lift jack.

 

Anyone have any pictures of the front that aren't closeups? Kinda hard to tell how it looks.
Thanks

 

There’s tons of pics in this thread

 

Anyone cut the top bar off yet? Or replace it with a lower one? Still not liking how high it is.... I remember when they came out I emailed Warn but at the time they had no plan to offer without the bar..

 

Can you install the winch after the bumper is on or do they need to go in at same time? is one easier than the other?

 

it's possible to install winch after bumper is installed. I installed winch at same time as bumper. I could see dropping the winch in from engine bay but it looked tight and several brackets would have to be removed if going that route

 

I’m about to order this bumper but I have a question. Is there anyway to buy the C4 reinforcement brackets and put on this bumper? Because I was told the way it mounts, it’s a little flimsy and I want to be able to use the D rings to pull someone out if I get stuck. Or is there anyway to make custom heavy duty brackets so I know this bumper won’t break lol

 

Can someone with the sensor and this bumper try some blue painters tape on the truck side of the bar? Then some flat gray tape? Then some reflective tape? I have a weird theory...

 

Hmmm, perhaps.... but I think the issue is obstruction rather than reflection. But you never know.