installing winch on my 2006 tacoma.

my head is swimming in info.

on my older 2006 tacoma. i dont have a lot of front winch options right? i'll need to cut out the middle section of my plastic bumper?

 

Well, you'll need a place to mount it securely. Some type of front bumper that has a winch mount, or a front hitch reciever and a winch hitch cradle.
You can't just bolt a winch on there with the stock configuration. You will rip it off when you go to use it.

 

I'd recommend something like this:

$900 WARN 102876 Semi-Hidden Fixed Winch Mount with Low-Profile Grill Guard Tube, Fits: Toyota Tacoma Gen 2 (2005-2011)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q34FPJF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5hgrEbFWS8541

Or this:
https://www.usoffroad.us/store/bump...ma-2005-2011/tacoma-05-11-winch-mount-bumper/

Or as simple as this:
http://www.hiddenwinchmounts.com/store/#!/2005-2011-Tacoma/c/1967460/offset=0&sort=normal

 

What's your budget? That will narrow down a few options to start with. Full bumpers will cost more. Slim line bumpers that fit with your stock bumper usually are half the cost.

 

buy once/cry once

https://arbusa.com/bumpers-protection-equipment/summit-2/

 

That Warn product is pretty damn cool. Any experience with the installation? Imagine some cutting involved.

 

I think those are good selections. I like the usoffroad the best.

 

i was eyeballing this..and my sawzall. i dont want to add a whole lot of weight to my truck. that ARB is the nuclear option for sure.

 

thanks. i had no clue they are called hidden winch mounts. would have helped my search.

thanks thanks thanks.

 

Different gen, but I have one on my 14. I did it all myself, took about 4 hours, had to cut away the plastic center section. If I had to do it again I could probably do it in half the time

 

It worked out to about 150# with the winch, I think I want to go up a spring rate in front, and I also added about 300# to the back so I need to redo it all

 

any reason you picked the warn over the other similar offerings like sos, us off road, sso, c4, relentless fab, etc.?

Looks great btw!

 

Can you post a side profile image?

 

Yes, free shipping on Amazon Prime, and came already powder coated. One click ordering made it real easy. Plus I like the look of it more than most of the others. Easy access all around

 

damn. that is pretty fantastic!!

 

Yea, I got my ARB bumper for less than $1k shipped and you get full protection as opposed to that Warn hidden winch which is $750 and doesn't provide full coverage.

 

Looks like the Warn is 88 lbs. Pretty heavy. Arent most full bumpers in the 80-100 lbs range?

 

Question about the warn mount - will it take just about any winch, like a Smittybild X2O?

 

Ive seen a few US offroad setups and theyre pretty trick. That was going to be the route I went but then opted for the new C4 Hybrid as that was exactly what I was looking for.
There is a guy in the Canada buy and sell with a hidden winch mount. Goes behind the bumper and you cur out the lower valance for the fairlead and whatnot. pretty clean setup if you want to look nearly stock.