Winch for BodyArmor4x4 Hiline Front Bumber

I need an advice on buying a winch.

• I'm going to be purchasing the BodyArmor4x4 Hiline Bumper.
• I was thinking about a X20 Gen3 SmittyBilt 10K winch, but since I've never owned a winch before I have a few questions as to the fitment and accessibility of this.
• I also want to install a 20" light in the gap (which could normally provide access?)

Most winch videos I see the winch is fully exposed, so the clutch and cable connection port are all visible and accessible. With the hiline bumper the winch is pretty well hidden and not accessible. How does one operate the clutch, and plug into the controller port?

Maybe the photos I see are not clear enough to articulate this, but it looks like a problem to me. For those who have this bumper, please advise. Thanks

 

I don’t have that bumper but one that’s probably similar with the winch hidden.

I can reach the clutch handle through the grill if needed, otherwise I’d open the hood.

I went with a Warn and there’s a BT option to control the winch through a phone app and I keep the wired remote (that I’d have to get to the winch to plug in if the BT failed) in the glovebox. You’d have to do the same if you didn’t have wireless option.

You might try calling BA to see if they know if a Smitty winch will bolt up.

 

i don't have that specific bumper, but i did install an sdhq hidden winch mount with an apex winch.

here's the picture of my install, which should give you a little insight into what you're up against.

with the body armor, your winch might end up slightly forward from mine, but the freespool lever on mine is directly underneath the front crossmember. that crossmember presents two problems. first is the freespool lever, but the second is that the top-mount relay box that the smittybuilt or my apex use means that it must be relocated to clear.

as far as the freespool lever, it's sort of a 'how far do you really want to take it' sort of thing:

1. most, 'it is what it is'. i left mine alone, and will electronically spool the winch out the times i need it. i can reach the lever if i really need to, but it requires some very careful arm contortions with reaching my arm deep into the grill in a move that reminds me of cow birthing, and i can spool it out faster electronically without going so far into the bowels of my grill...

2. being that you're looking at the smittybuilt x20, there is an extension kit from another vendor for $189. you'd need to select the 'builder kit' option, and there's going to be some not-insignificant fab work to make it do your bidding. feasible, but if it costs less than $300 extra by the time you're finished, i'd be surprised.
https://www.vicedesign.ca/products/ram-smittybilt-x20-clutch-relocation-kit

3. after that, we get much further into the weeds...
this socket adapter is specifically for the warn m8000 winch only, but allows any universal joints/socket extensions to make it work. disadvantage is that it's pre-order only.
https://www.boostwerksengineering.com/Remote-free-spool-adapter-Warn-M8000-_p_36.html

and this could be put down as the '6 beers and a weekend, but it works!' method...
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/warn-hidden-winch-rough-country-mount.42113/#post-1379301

the rhetorical question you need to answer for yourself here is if you really need the free spool option at all anyways. what kind of conditions do you intend to put yourself into that you'll need to quickly yank the winch line out, that electronically unspooling it would be dangerous and/or time sensitive, that saving 10 minutes of electronically unspooling is worth the hassle?




the second main issue you'll be up against next is that you will need to relocate the control box currently on the top of the winch somewhere else. there's quite a few ready-made brackets for this, but it's also quite easy to accomplish with some sheet metal, an angle grinder and some cutoff wheels as well. the only real benefit these pre-made units offer is some minor time savings, and a potentially more durable finish over the spray cans and hardware you'll have in your garage.

https://c4fabrication.com/products/3rd-gen-tacoma-winch-relocation-bracket
https://rcimetalworks.com/product/winch-control-box-relocation-bracket-16-23-tacoma/
https://caliraisedoffroad.com/produ...nch-relocation-bracket?variant=45406565761270


personally, i went an entirely different route, as i wasn't happy with blocking off that much of the radiator. especially once i opened the 'magic box' of the controller, and found it was mostly aesthetic finishing, and the real components within were waterproofed and suitable for external mounting.




as far as your last question with the controller cable-- i can't find a specific spec on the smittybuilt, but assuming it's similar to my apex, which is a wireless controller(indicated in your linked product page), with a wired backup to the same wireless controller, i connected the cable to the controller, ran the wire behind the grill, and coiled it up in a safe nook behind the passenger side headlamp for the rare case where i might need it, which solves both problems of connecting it, as well as not having to keep track of where it's at.

 

I have that bumper, now on m second Tacoma. I had the badlands 12k on the first truck and now I have a Warn 12k. You can reach down just behind the grill and reach the clutch and plug in the remote (if not using the wireless). I did not install a light bar so it is much easier to reach in through the opening. Either way works.



C

 

OP, read this thread. I have pictorial contributions in it as well, regarding the fitting of a Harbor Freight 12K Apex winch within it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/body-armor-hiline-series-bumper.625719/

Drilling down into the thread referenced…

Body Armor Hiline Series Bumper

 

I had this Stegodon 9,500 pound with synthetic cable mounted up. It was the lightest 10,000 poundish winch I could find bad in the shut down year. Anyways, never used it once. Got a new bumper that is under 50 pounds so I figured "leave the winch off." I mean I paid top dollar for he lightest full off road front bumper I could get. Anyways, I think these Stegodon things are going for about 300 bucks and if you never had a winch, I mean, you might find out, like I did, that you really don't need the thing.

 

If you are intending on using your winch get one that has easy access. I have a greenlane bumper with a smitty X20 I clocked the freespool lever to face forward and the X20 come with mounts to put the control box off to the side instead of centered. Through the access holes I can use the freespool lever and hit the power button.