ARB bumper and smitty bolt winch issue

To start off this is my first bumper/winch installation which hopefully explains my confusion. So I'm trying to mount the 98495(9500lbs) smittybilt winch onto an ARB bull bar and I'm having trouble figuring out how it should sit so everything is accessible once it's on the truck. I clocked the clutch so that I could get to it through the hole provided in the bumper. Unfortunatley once I mounted it to the bumper the clutch handle sits right along the mounting point for the winch, so when it's on the truck I don't think I'll even be able to get my fingers around it. Also I'm having trouble deciding where the solenoid should go. If anyone has experience with the smittybilt 9500 winch on an ARB bull bar or has seen another thread with this combo please share.

I'll add some pictures to help show what I'm talking about. Any other suggestions or tips are welcome also.

Thanks

 

I have an ARB bull bar and plan on getting the same winch at some point. Thanks for posting this as it'll be a problem I'll have to deal with at some point.

Are you able to rotate the clutch handle where it's currently postitioned?

Can you extend the solanoid wires and put them under the hood where it will be better protected? I have no extra room under my hood with a dual battery system that moved everything around.

 

I would email ARB and send them the photos and ask for guidance. It could be as simple as they built the bumper around a different winch. I have a posting that I started where I am putting a Flatland 4X4 bumper and Smittybuilt winch on the front of my 1996 Tacoma and have similar/different problems. I have yet to determine the location and orientation of the selonoid/control box location also. The clutch lever is an issue with mine also. The more I look at mine I am thinking that I am going to have to cut the top plate open to allow for easier access to the lever and manufacture a sheet metal cover that is Dzused on and you remove when needed... like yours, a work in progess.

What have you done about a second battery and its location... this is an issue for me also.

 

@otis24 @Glamisman if I could I would have just got the warn winch. I'm fairly certain that's the winch they want you to use. From what I've seen the clutch extends further sitting above the whole in the bumper so their wouldn't be an issue. You can rotate the clutch or motor on the smittybilt winch but it doesn't seem to make a difference. It's either gonna face the trucks rad or be hard to get your fingers around. As for the batteries I figured I'd just stick with one since I don't off-road regularly. Is having two necessary?

 

Paco the Taco is a fantastic username.

Anyway, I only have a second battery because I have a bunch of lights, on board water and a 12 volt fridge...and it's a deep cycle...pretty much not that good for winching. So, for your case I'd say no on the second battery.

 

@otis24 haha thanks, maybe in the future when my rig is alittle more built.

 

Is there a reason you don`t want the clutch handle facing out where you can reach it??

Put the Solenoid in the cab