I am wanting to install a winch

Howdy, finally just re-joined up.

I am wanting to install a hidden bumper and winch, however after all of the reading that I have been doing on this forum over the years, I am worried that the frame and especially the core support won't be able to handle it well, especially long term. The cracked core support thread has me very concerned (what a nightmare).

I live in Colorado and wheel on various types of trails. As most of you know, they don't call these the rocky mountains for nothing. Thoughts/opinions?

 

Welcome

Ive learned too many times to bring a

 

Well, a handyman jack and some chain can also work.

 

Welcome to The Forum!

 

My buddy is running this setup on his 2015 and it works/looks great. Just have to lift/support the front to adjust for the added weight though. Welcome to TW

https://www.vividracing.com/-p-152404240.html

 

The core support shouldn't be handling any of the weight of the winch or bumper, if so that's a seriously crap design. It should bolt right to the front frame horns. You can reinforce the front mounts, here is what I did to the front of my frame and the bumper/winch hasn't caused any issues since.

 

Can personally vouch for usoffroad . have been using their hidden winch mount/bumper for 3 years of heavy use. and when i say heavy i mean pulling trees, logs, and stumps. i had my truck chained to stump and winching the other direction....i stalled the winch before i got the stump to move. i looked at my frame last week when lubing my winch cable and no issues to be seen. can also speak extremely high of the Harbor freight 12000# winch. i can agree with 6gear, if its bolted to the frame you shouldnt have any issues.

 

Thanks for the info. everyone. 6gear, I would imagine your not going to have any issues with the way you have your front end re-enforced; feel free to stop by next time your in Colorado so that you can do mine for me .
Perhaps I'm just being paranoid, however it wasn't an issue when I had my '88 or my '92, although they were gutless, Toyota made strong trucks back then. although I did hit trails, I kept my '11 fairly stock, as I knew that I wasn't going to keep it for long.

I've thought about selling my paid off rig, which I have quite a bit of money into and switching over to a new off-road 4runner. Even with there fully boxed frame, I'm not sure that they are any better at handling a bumper and winch.

It's really more of the core support that I'm worried about, with the added weight along with the twisting of what I refer to as "the cheap, weak rust prone c-channel frame" on the trails. The frame can be repaired, the core support, not so much...