2012+ Winch Mount Bumper Development

If you could make it such that the recovery points would go where the two places in the black plastic valance already look like you could just trim those out...that'd be pretty slick.

 

Interested as well.

 

any word on if these have started being developed? any idea when they'd be available? If not soon (I'd like to have something installed on my truck by the end of May), I'll have to go back to other solutions just because I can't wait much longer...

 

usoffraod - Don't mean to push but what is the plan? Are you waiting to see how many people are interested? Are you already designing it? You can't leave us hanging like this

 

Ok guys. Sorry for the delay, simply been a busy boy.

I have a few in my PM inbox that I will contact but I need a 12-14 Taco to use for design work. It will entail pulling the bumper cover. I need to get my hands on a second hand cover to cut on as I don't want to use yours. I have a fab shop in north Fort Worth that we can do an one day (if all goes well) fab session.

I need a local guy that can drop the vehicle off at a given address and leave it for 1-2 days tops and work with me on scheduling and provide your own pickup/return to pickup your truck when finished as we will be on a super tight schedule. Then when we have a production grade prototype in X amount of weeks afterwards I'll need your truck...and probably you too, to do a test fit.

In return you will receive a bumper for free.

Local volunteers?

 

Quick! Someone volunteer before I say/do something stupid!

 

Man, for once in my life I wish I lived in Texas...

Edit: I should say first time I wish I lived somewhere other than Virginia. Nothing against Texas.

 

Who's truck is this? I like that idea.. it still allows me to have my light bar in the lower valance as well from the looks of it. I like the front bumper on the '12+ and don't really want a plate bumper and I also want to keep my light bar where it's at.

 

You may not be able to mount your light bar in the lower valance. The freewheel handle/release is most easily accessible through that valance. You could get to it by opening the hood I guess... Most people opt for 2 12" bars on either side or something like that instead of a single 30" bar so they still can access the winch.

 

any luck finding a volunteer???

 

Yeah. One of my problems historically has been getting proper R&D accomplished and spitting out prototypes. I've finally found a really talented fab/engineering shop and tentatively set the 21st aside to get this done for the 12+.

I know pretty much how this is going to go and should be straight forward.

We have forward movement.

Couple of things I've learned form the 05-11:

1. You will likely lose your stock recovery point, cut it off.
2. Going to streamline the lower bashplate a bit and add more drainage.
3. Lighten it up bit.

Oh...and I have a nifty idea for this bumper...something a little different.

 

PM sent for local 2012

 

I hope your nifty idea is tossing 2 big ass shackles on it

 

^^^Yessir.

 

"Big Ass" would be shackle mounts for 3/4" shackles.

Pretty much like the other Taco and FJ bumpers...

Now, if I used my ass as a measuring standard for some 'big ass' shackles then you wouldn't have room for a winch.

 

Nifty idea that's a little different, now you're talking about a big ass spread between the shackles... I'm starting to wonder if you're planning to use a big ass crack in place of the hawse fairlead.

 

In other words, are you going to design an ass-shaped aluminum hawse fairlead to bolt onto the front of the bumper so it looks like the winch cable is coming out of an ass-crack? Maybe polish 'er up so you can blind oncoming traffic with the big ass?

You said before that you're planning something different, just thought that might be what you had in mind.

 

You guys aren't right, you know this don't you? I will refer to "big ass shackles" as large, well secured shackles from now on. Lesson learned

 

Had to bump the schedule a few days but right now we are scheduled for the 24th to start this process in earnest. doubletaco, as it stands right now, will provide the test mule.

I'll keep everyone updated as we go.