WINCHING

Anyone have experience with using a hitch-mounted winch that can be used on both front and back of the truck? Obviously you'd need a front hitch.

 

if its anything like most of the lo pro winch bumpers, you need to open the hood and get at it from the top.

The main reason I'm not a fan of them. Just because if I'm winching I don't want to need to open the hood.
Besides I'm set on the ARB since its the only one I know of that increases approach angle by bringing the nose up higher.

 

most hitches that you can mount to a hitch aren't strong enough for these trucks...at least not that I've seen.

 

I know of a few people on here who use a hitch mounted winch and have no problems. I just don't know their names off the top of my head.

 

I had a hitch mounted winch, it stayed in the garage most of the time, and was never with the truck when I needed it.

My vote, hidden or lo-pro. By the time you get the wires run, and hitch installed, you could of added a permanent winch.

I've done a lot of hardcore wheeling, and never once have I said, "Damn, I wish I had a rear winch"

 

this is my bumper, its not as big as a lot of the other ones out there... but the mounting option on these trucks are pretty much up to you....

as far as winches, I went with the Engo 10k winch. I bought it for $350 shipped and I made my decision on Engo after reading this:

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/129-1107-massive-multi-winch-shootout/

I hope this helps!

 

Lol @ mud wheelers

I try to stick to rocks.

 

Could be, and I think I remember seeing a thread about it as well.

Just in my searches for a 8000-10,000lbs winch that's hitch mountable, I couldn't find anything. At least not anything that wasn't just as much if not more than a bumper and winch combo.

Thing most people forget with winches is that 8000lb rating etc is with one wrap on the drum. Once you have more and more wraps it gets weaker and weaker. So if you have a 5000lb winch (biggest hitch mount I've found) that's only half wrapped you've probably got like a 2000lb pull strength. Hence the need for 8000lbs+

 

Is this the one you got?

http://www.cbioffroadfab.com/products/3rd-gen-toyota-tacoma/t3-tacoma-winch-mount/

 

https://www.relentlessfabrication.c...ucts/2016-tacoma-stingray-lo-pro-winch-bumper

Don't have to get the hoop.

 

Yup!

 

I'd also like to go with the hitch mounted winch. I'd assume you could mount it on the front hitch when you arrived at the trailhead (obviously once you install a ft hitch). That way if you got stuck you wouldn't have to possibly dig to get enough room to put the winch on the hitch after you got stuck.

Also, if worse came to worse, you could switch it to rear hitch if there wasn't a tree or something in front of you. One time I can remember getting stuck, not a tree in sight in front of the truck. But with the cable length we could have reached a tree behind the truck if we had a winch on the rear. I guess you can't be prepared for every single siruation no matter how hard you try.

On the other hand, I'd definitely consider a "hidden hitch" winch mount. A front mounted winch is probably all you need 99% of the time. But it great to read everyone's ideas/opinions.

 

Do both!

 

The only issue I see with leaving the front mounted hitch in the whole time you're off roading is possibly the aproach angle, but looking at this post in this thread, it doesn't look like that'll be an issue.



https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/anyone-use-the-hitch-winch-setup.161050/

 

Slick looking freakin truck man.
Is that this part from CBI?
http://www.cbioffroadfab.com/products/3rd-gen-toyota-tacoma/t3-tacoma-winch-mount/

 

Yes sir it is!! Sorry it took me so long to respond. I dunno about why i didn't see it in May, but the past two weeks I've been in Colorado

 

This is perfect!!! Can you take a couple photos with the hood up looking down at the winch and bracket? I'd like to know/see if I can keep my light bar .

 

I can, but if it's mounted in the lower grill area it's gonna be a no.... I tried it... upper grill is fine