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What are the best options for a winch without a new bumper?

Discussion in 'Recovery' started by Tyzone34, Jun 21, 2021.

  1. Jun 21, 2021 at 8:09 AM
    #1
    Tyzone34

    Tyzone34 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I was out with a friend yesterday and he got himself stuck and without his winch we would’ve been in a bad spot. It made me want to re-prioritize my next purchase.

    I’d like a winch, but I think if I get a winch and front bumper at the same time (probably RCI) then I’m worried that added weight will require new suspension, but I’m not ready to lift yet.

    Does anyone know any good winch options that don’t require a new metal bumper, but that I can install a metal bumper with later?
     
  2. Jun 21, 2021 at 12:46 PM
    #2
    willtill

    willtill Well-Known Member

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    Kinda like putting the cart before the horse here. You need a winch mount; hence a good metal bumper. Or a front tow hitch, and then you would need a cradle for the winch; but it would probably have to be removed once you decided on a metal bumper.

    I'm fixing to install my 82 pound Apex winch on my 64 pound Hiline front bumper. I'm going to take measurements before/after and see how much sag occurs. Not expecting too much, from others reporting in the past on the forum elsewhere.
     
  3. Jun 21, 2021 at 12:55 PM
    #3
    Tyzone34

    Tyzone34 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I was afraid of that haha so, without something custom, it sounds like a winch goes hand in hand with a new bumper?
     
  4. Jun 21, 2021 at 1:01 PM
    #4
    ToyoTaco25

    ToyoTaco25 Well-Known Member

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    Hidden winch mount. I love mine. No big tacky front bumper. Super easy to install. You don’t need a winch cradle, it’s made into it. Your winch will bolt right up. My install took maybe 2 hours.

    Edit : http://www.hiddenwinchmounts.com/

    I got lucky and found mine on eBay for $150. :p
     
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    #4
  5. Jun 21, 2021 at 1:07 PM
    #5
    Tyzone34

    Tyzone34 [OP] Well-Known Member

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  6. Jun 21, 2021 at 1:12 PM
    #6
    ToyoTaco25

    ToyoTaco25 Well-Known Member

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    Smittybilt 9.5k. I went with steel cable, personal preference. Seen too many synthetic cables break.

    Also get yourself some snatch blocks, shackles, and a tree-saver strap. Watching as many videos as you can on how to use those snatch blocks and winch effectively will go a long way.
     
  7. Jun 21, 2021 at 2:47 PM
    #7
    Tyzone34

    Tyzone34 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Mechanical advantage ftw
     
    ToyoTaco25[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. Jul 22, 2021 at 4:05 AM
    #8
    Paulndot

    Paulndot Well-Known Member

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  9. Aug 10, 2021 at 2:11 PM
    #9
    auskip07

    auskip07 Well-Known Member

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    kinda interested how you can operate the free spool and get to the remote connection if its hidden so much?

    guessing opening the hood is necessary
     
  10. Aug 11, 2021 at 11:38 AM
    #10
    Paulndot

    Paulndot Well-Known Member

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    Yup - gotta pop the hood. The clutch lever is well within reach. For the connections, I relocated the control box, so the connecter is right at the top if needed. The winch comes with a wireless remote.
     
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  11. Aug 11, 2021 at 11:43 AM
    #11
    auskip07

    auskip07 Well-Known Member

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    im guessing cutting a piece of the bumper in this location would work?

    access.jpg
     
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  12. Aug 11, 2021 at 11:55 AM
    #12
    Paulndot

    Paulndot Well-Known Member

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    I'll get you some better pics this evening if the rain holds out. The clutch might be a bit higher than that.
     
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  13. Aug 12, 2021 at 1:45 PM
    #13
    auskip07

    auskip07 Well-Known Member

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    also did you get a recovery hook replaced? i would think that would be a need if im going through the trouble of a winch
     
  14. Aug 13, 2021 at 3:29 AM
    #14
    Paulndot

    Paulndot Well-Known Member

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    The recovery hook replacement is a work in progress... and yeah - I think it's a must for any proper recovery. Other opinions may vary. The winch mount covers up one or both of the two mounting holes for the factory hook. The bottom mounts extend past the mounting holes and uses one of them. See below (not my pictures). I owe you a few snapshots - the rain has been pretty constant around here - especially with TS Fred looming around the corner.From what I understand, the demon bracket only use 1 mounting bolt, and can get away with that due to the wrap-around design. Still not sure which hole it actually uses though.

    bdw23001_10_1000 copy.jpg IMG_20170521_231201 copy.jpg
     
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  15. Aug 14, 2021 at 5:33 AM
    #15
    Paulndot

    Paulndot Well-Known Member

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    @auskip07 - caught a break in the rain... Ok, so looks like I was wrong - the clutch lever is almost exactly where you pointed out. So, cutting a small portion of the plastic where you pointed out will get you access:

    IMG_2664.jpg


    Here's where the control box is mounted, just a few inches below the grill supports - easy access. Obviously that rubber cover is on there when not in use. We've had non-stop rain for a few days, and it was nice & dry under the cover. Score 1 point for HF:

    IMG_2666.jpg


    Recovery points is an issue. As you can see in the pics below, the mounting holes for the factory recovery hook are partially covered by the winch mount. The outermost hole (for some reason I hear Beavis & Butthead giggling in my head) is used by the mount - so that's a no-go for either driver or pax location. For now, I'll have to stay away from the sketchier stuff that would require anything more than a single line pull. There's a bumper with integrated recovery points in the near future:


    PAX SIDE
    IMG_2668 copy.jpg


    DRVER'S SIDE
    IMG_2669.jpg
     
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  16. Dec 27, 2021 at 4:27 AM
    #16
    MeefZah

    MeefZah Curmudgeonly

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    Fuck yo' overlanding

    Yes (SDHQ hidden winch mount)

    [​IMG]

    So as an alternative option to yours, SDHQ's has two recovery points on the bottom section... for anyone interested. I actually had to remove my OR tow hook to mount the SDHQ unit (which I would have rather kept it, honestly). If you look at the far right edge of the black grille, then look straight down, you can see the driver's side recovery point kind of poking down.

    [​IMG]

    Edit 2-13-22 here's a better pic showing recovery points:

    [​IMG]

    Also we mounted our control boxes almost the same way... I used pieces of the factory sub-bumper that you remove to install the hidden winch mount but otherwise same idea. The Warn is wireless so you don't have to plug a remote in, but if you need to it's accessible similar to yours. Nice job, LOL!

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2022
  17. Jan 25, 2022 at 2:11 PM
    #17
    Paulndot

    Paulndot Well-Known Member

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  18. Feb 18, 2022 at 7:29 AM
    #18
    kenl

    kenl Member

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    I used a US Offroad mount https://www.usoffroad.us/store/winchmounts/tacoma-05-11-winch-mount-bumper/ and a Badlands Apex 12000 winch with synthetic rope on my 2nd gen. Had to do a little trimming to make the Apex fit, but it worked out. Setup weighs about 130 lbs, and saw a squat of 1/4" on the stock suspension.

    BTW the photo was taken after installing Bilsten 6112 struts
    20220216_171044 mod.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2022
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  19. Feb 22, 2022 at 5:42 AM
    #19
    Grey 2015

    Grey 2015 Well-Known Member

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    I bet you'll get more drop than that over time.
     
  20. Feb 22, 2022 at 9:36 AM
    #20
    kenl

    kenl Member

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    Probably, but will never know since the struts were upgraded to 6112s with 600lbs springs.
     

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