any winch out there that can work with the stock bumper?

I just got an 08 Tacoma regular cab 2wd for business use. I wanted to get a double cab 4wd etc... but i came to my senses and got only what i needed, a truck with a bed for cargo. I only have a/c and automatic as an option. I did just get 15" rock crawlers and BFG all terrains and now the truck looks awesome! The day i got the wheels it was raning really bad out and i decided to test the new wheels and tires offroad and got stuck in a huge puddle of mud and water was even coming inside the car. I got pulled out, and wished i got 4wd. But anyway, i would like to get a winch for the stock front bumper. I cant seem to find any out there that will fit. Is there any sort of bracket or mouting kit i can buy? it seems there is plenty of room for it to fit, but i would like to know if anyone has done this before? i do not want to but an aftermarket bumper or a bar etc....


Thanks in advance...

 

Not that I know of. I know someone on TTORA did have a receiver built into the front of their truck and then put a cradle with a winch there.

I would buy an aftermarket bumper if I was you. Stronger and you can add more lights. Plus with a receiver winch mount your gonna lost approach angle.

 

check this out.....not stock, but the warn transforrmer is awesome looking and functional.

http://www.gowarn.com/trans4mer-mounting-systems.asp


hope this helps!!

 

I went with a whole new bumper, its probly the best way to go.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. But its still not what i am looking for. Someone told me to buy a winch that i see that can fit behind the bumper then have it welded to the frame. I just dont want to spend much money on a base truck. As much as i like the new bumper and all, if i would have got a better taco i can see doing it, but for a base truck, its not worth it..

 

is that going to look stupid? any pictures of what that looks like?

 

Thanks, thats no to bad. Now that mount looks small. Does the winch still have to mount on the outside of the bumper? or is it possible to get it inside the bumper?

 

this is probably the best option, because i think otherwise, he'd have to cut his bumper to get a winch mounted correctly behind it,to the frame, and that would be alot of work to make it look good and be functional where it wouldnt tear up the bumper while in use.

 

The problem is the stock bumper is crap. It's just a plastic shell over an aluminum 2x4 bar. Why would you even WANT to mount to that? If you were to actually use the winch for the intended purpose the mounts would break or bend. I suppose you could replace half the crap on the front end to get a strong enough mount, but why? You can't mount a fairlead to the plastic bumper. If you did it would damage the bumper and probably tear the fairlead out first time the cable moved. One person on TN or TTORA did that by making a custom mount, replacing the aluminum 2x4, and mounting the fairlead to pipes welded to the frame. I seriously doubt his setup would hold up to an angled pulled, no one else has done the same setup AFAIK, AND I never heard about the setup again. So who knows how it did or did not hold up. I wouldn't trust it, but that's me.

I'd say you're best options are (in order of lower to higher cost):

1. Front mount reciever, winch mount, and quick connect wiring. Leave the winch off until you go somewhere you need it. Also gives you the option of putting it on the back if needed.
2. Warn Trans4mer. More expensive, but permanently mounted and adds some protection to the front.
3. Aftermarket bumper. Most expensive, rock solid, replaces cheap plastic crap on the front, much more protection up front.

Personally, I'd go with option 3 and pick up a bumper from Shrockworks. If you're doing anything that requires a winch then it's only a matter of time before you rip the plastic bumper off, crack it, or have it flex and snap off all the connections behind it. Mine flexed during a slight bump. Bumper is fine, but fog light and head light mount tabs are broken because they didn't flex. Stupid f'ing design if you ask me.