ARB Summit Bumper and Warn Winch Help Requested

I have search the internet's infinite wisdom to no avail, so here I am asking it.

I just bought an ARB Summit Bumper for my truck and would like to put a winch in it at install. I am going to go with a Warn winch (between ARB's recommendation, Warn's reputation, and advice from a great adventurer).

With that being said, I need some help. ARB's website specifically lists the M8000, XD9000, XP9.5 and Zeon 8 as compatible. For my use and budget only the M8000 is viable from that list.

However, the VR series is extremely appealing (mostly due to price). Does anyone know if the VR8, VR10, or VR12 will fit in the 2016+ ARB Summit Bumper without significant fitment issues? If they do, how much value is there in the VR10 or VR12 over the VR8 for a 2017 Tacoma? It seems to me that #8000 is about the lightest you want to go for this truck but is #12,000 just simply over kill?

 

I think the 12 is overkill. I was shopping for a VR8-S and got a great deal on the VR10-S.

The Solenoid pack can be relocated which almost certainly will need to be due to the Tacoma having a brace dead center at the bottom of the grill.

They do sell a $13 metal plate that makes it easy.

 

Rule of thumb is 1.5 x the vehicles weight. So Tacoma is >5,000 lbs x 1.5 = 7,500 lbs minimum. 8,000 is adequate, 10,000 pounds is more than adequate.

 

Answered my own questions for sure and wanted to post them for those searching in the future.

The VR series fits just fine despite ARB not listing it as direct fit. You just have to order the mounting plate for the control pack from WARN. It will allow you to relocate the control to above the winch on the bumper for better access. Cost me $12 on Amazon. There is plenty of room for the winch, you could even leave the control pack mounted to the winch (installed feet forward); but, it would be a pain to reach the plug for the winch control. I ended up with the VR10, purchased for $474ish. A 12k winch would fit just fine. I'll likely move up when this winch craps out. I tend to run around with full size trucks, better to over do it I think.

Also despite what I was told by 4WP people, smittybilt and other winches would fit just fine in the ARB bumper and instructions for them are included with the ARB bumper. Imagine that a sales person that bends the truth.

 

Do you think you can share some pics of your setup? I’m looking to figure out what fits the arb bumper. The 4WP guy was trying to sell me on a $2500 warn model

 

Funny -- my local 4WP went the opposite route with me. They talked me out of the Warn VR and into a Smittybilt. This was an ARB bull bar for my 1st gen though, but I think the winch set up is the same. Smittybilt fit fine, but I did have to rotate the handle box and mount the control box on top of the bumper.

 

I put a 10-S in my ARB, and put the control pack inside the engine bay on the passenger fender. I wanted it out of the way and on the TRDOR models there's plenty of space there where the brake booster would be otherwise.

Here's a link to the series of posts about the control pack relocate-
linkaroonie - for $5 in scrap diamond plate, and later in the thread integrated to a custom wiring panel.

If you're using synthetic line you will need an offset fairlead - I bought the one from Warn but the hardware it came with sheared under a pretty modest lateral load, I would fo straight to Grade 8 on a new install.

 

just about all winch in the 10k-13k range are going to mount up. it really comes down to your brand preference, accessibility requirements, and overall reliability needs.

if it's mostly 'just to have', a $300-900 off-brand,Amazon/harbor freight winch, or name-brand winch is perfectly fine.

but if you're planning to be out days away from civilization by yourself, it's probably better to spring for a higher priced winch, though youtube celebrity reviews of hf's apex winches do indicate pretty good survival rates under extreme conditions despite the price.