Arb bumper

Hey guys first post here but I have a 96 taco standard cab 4x4 I like to do some wheelin when I can and have plans to go bigger down the line. One of the things I want to upgrade is the bumper and I was thinking of purchasing the arb one for the front. Anyone know if this bumper will fit one of those harbor freight winches? Not sure if I'm gonna spend all the extra money on a warn when I will prob not use it that often. Thanks in advance

 

It might work but that 12k lb winch is $300 for a reason, if you only have about 300 to spend buy a smittybilt xrc 8, it's not that good of a winch but with some elbow grease it will do everything you need it to. I would put money on that HF winch comes DOA out of the box..

 

I disagree. I think the Badland winch from HF is equal if not better than a Smittybuilt. It's heavier (which isn't necessarily good) but is sealed slightly better than the XRC8. Both winches need a little bit of extra work to seal up the solenoid box before you can use them with real confidence.

I know that the guy that runs IH8MUD.com has been running a Badland winch on his 80 series Land Cruiser for a few years. He has a ton of wheeling experience and is picky about his equipment. I think he is using the Badland winch because he probably got a deal on it, but if it didn't work, he wouldn't have kept it.

Low buck winches are a bit of a gamble no matter what, but I think I would probably use a Badland winch before a Smittybuilt on my own truck. The 12K is overkill on a Tacoma. I'd get the 9K and call it good.

 

so your going to spend $900 on an ARB bumper just to buy a winch from harbor frieght? just seems like the complete opposite end of the spectrium. why not just spend alittle more on a name brand one.

 

Just because its a brand name doesn't mean it's good, take Chrysler for example
Seems like the op would be fine with a harbor freight winch, he probably won't use it too too much, and it will hold up just fine to what he uses it for

 

Like I said, the HF winch is just as good as a Smittybuilt and there are more people on here with the XRC winch than probably any other brand.

All that being said, you know what you'll get with Warn. Quality and reliability.

But I'm getting a TJM.

 

Thanks guys ill probably go with either the 9 or 12k from harbor freight depending on the price when I'm ready to buy it. Reasons why I'm leaning toward spending the extra on the arb bumper is because of the integrated blinkers verses the tubular bumpers and it's only about 200$ more

 

I thought that ARB, on their website, the interior dims and bolt hole mounting pattern for the winch. Plus I think they have a list of all winches that fit.
As for me, my plan is to get WARN.

 

Yes I do see they say the bumper fits most warn winches or similar winches that have the same mounting holes as the warn winches, I have never had a warn which is why I was wondering if anyone has compared a warn winch mount pattern to that of the harbor freight winches

 

Just happen to get a harbor freight ad in the mail the other day. Bam!

 

I just clicked on your link in the very first post... Guess I'm alittle late.... Oops

 

The big thing to remember is can you ROTATE the lever for disengagement. all are in the 12 oclock but the arb you must put in it the 7 oclock so it can be reached.

 

I think of you get the arb from autoanything you get free shipping... Not sure tho.

 

yep, i just got free shipping woot

 

Yes I had to do this with my Warn on the ARB.
But also with the ARB you will need to drop some change to upgrade your front suspension to accommodate all that weight in front of the front axles.

 

Are you talking just new Coil springs, rated for the load, or something more?

 

My XRC8 has held up for two years just fine with 20+ pulls. Did need to seal up the solenoid box but that was easy as pie. Sounds like shit when it's running but honestly works great.

 

Coils springs to start, but shocks that are rated for the heavier coils are helpful as well. A lot of folks with ARB bumpers use the OME coils and Nitrocharger shocks.