Is the Bulldog hidden winch mount good?

https://www.bulldogwinch.com/index....t_id=368/category_id=110/mode=prod/prd368.htm

 

I'll let you know. I found one on eBay for $312.46 shipped. It doesn't say what winches fit. Wouldn't need over a 9 or 10K for my use.
This forum cost me again. Would have been happy with my 17 ORDC until I saw a army green taco on here.

 

It's got a 10 x 4.5 winch mount plate pattern. Etrailer has a helpful video and are selling if for $100 cheaper than bulldogwinch.

https://www.etrailer.com/tv-Demo-Bu...Parts-Toyota-Tacoma-Winch-Mount-BDW23001.aspx

 

Having installed winches on various off road vehicles, I would guess at these advantages vs. disadvantages.

1. Price = Advantage. Most steel winch bumpers cost around $1000 as a DIY kit (with powder coat).

2. Weight =Advantage. Most winch bumper setups weigh in excess of 200lbs. This looks much lighter than a full or low pro steel bumper.

3. Access = Disadvantage. Little things like free spooling the clutch will require you to exit the cab, open the hood. If you have hard wired switch in cab or wireless, then operating the winch may be less of a pain at least.

4. Strength = TBD as I don't know how it mounts to the frame, but it looks like thinner gauge metal. I can see a scenario where the whole front rips off if the mount rips away from the frame, or deforms the frame, but this is something that you worry about regardless to a degree.

I will tell you that I was very diligent in routing winch cables through body holes and where practical I used rubber door edging to prevent sharp sheet metal from rubbing and cutting into the wires over time. There is ample room for mounting the winch solenoid pack away from the winch itself if needed.

 

Got mount in today. Package beat to hell and missing the two bolts/nuts. No big deal. Picked up a Traveler 10000 syn. line with wireless remote for Tractor Supply. Next week before I can install.

 

Look into a way to tie the winch mount farther back into the frame. The frame ends are weak and will deform when winching.

 

Nice. These would probably do the job, too.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...rmarket-bumper-reinforcement-brackets.612276/

 

What am I looking at here

 

These things

https://bayareametalfab.3dcartstore...ont-bumper-reinforcement-brackets-_p_142.html

 

Did winch come with the Hawse fairlead? Don't want to use rollers with synthetic line.

 

Anyone have pics of this installed?

 

Curious about this. I tried the Warn semi-hidden mount, which although it says it fits all Tacomas it does not fit the SR5 with non-LED fogs at least. So now I'm looking at one of the hidden mounts such as this one, the RRW (which has some reports of being less-than-stellar), and the HWMS unit. I don't want a full bumper as I already have enough weight on the truck.
This or the HWMS with the BAMF brackets might be good options. The HWMS costs significantly more, and comes unfinished.
I'd like to hear anybody's experience with one.

 

Did anyone ever get their Bulldog hidden winch mount installed? I have one waiting for install. I'm curious if any issues during install or if you used any sort of frame tie in strap or BAMF FBRB?

 

@NaluTaco Did you ever get the Bulldog Mount installed? How did it go? I am considering it.

 

@1988Mercedes How has the Bulldog winch mount worked out for you?

 

I am just waiting on my winch, so I can install all at once.

 

@HuberOverland land
Hey Guys, I finally finished the install of the bulldog winch mount. The mount is well made and everything lines up as it should. The hardest part was cutting the hole for the fairlead to poke through: fit-dremel-fit-dremel-fit-dremel-fit.

 

That install is super clean man - NICE! Q: Did you have some recovery points welded to the winch mount? Really sharp!

 

One of these is on the way, along with a HF Apex Badlands 12K. For those that installed - did you have to relocate any lines? I've read that in a few other installs (different mounts/ bumpers). Also - did the top of the winch clear the grill support in the middle of the grilll?