Been searching around and cannot find any photos of a Non Winch bar with a winch attached. I picked up a like new non-winch arb for $475 and need some ideas on how to mount a winch.
Adding winch to Non-Winch ARB, need photos or good comments.
- Thread starter charleston
- Start date
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alia176
SILVER Star
There's a huge structural differences between the two ARB bumpers for the 80. If you had to use the non-winch bumper, I'd build a winch cradle between the frame rail totally separate from the bumper.
Box Rocket
SILVER Star
This isn't the best picture to show what I'm talking about but it might help some. My ARB was originally a winch style bumper. The previous owner never planned on running a winch and modified the bumper by eliminating all the winch bracketry etc and shaving the bottom of the bumper. In this picture, if you look closely you can see the ground between the frame where a winch would go. I'm not certain what a non-winch version ARB looks like but if the top of the bumper is enclosed here, I would just cut that top plate off and open it all up between the frame like mine is.
I plan on adding a winch and since the bumper sleeves that go over the frame horns are totally accessible I plan to just weld a winch cradle to the bumper sleeves that mount to the frame horns. I'll have to recut the hole for the fairlead, but that would do it. I imagine you could do something very similar and be just fine.
I plan on adding a winch and since the bumper sleeves that go over the frame horns are totally accessible I plan to just weld a winch cradle to the bumper sleeves that mount to the frame horns. I'll have to recut the hole for the fairlead, but that would do it. I imagine you could do something very similar and be just fine.
- Thread starter
- #6
I called Marc at ARB in Seattle and he said its totally doable and that the construction of the bumpers are no different except for the mount in winch bars. I just wanted to see if anybody has done it with a warn 8000 or 9000
alia176
SILVER Star
I'm surprised that Marc made that statement in today's litigious society of ours! I compared the two bumpers side by side and there are plenty of structural design changes between the two. A winch under load will make the front face of the non winch unit bow out easily.
- Thread starter
- #8
so some fabrication of a winch cradle attached directly to the frame would be the best idea?
I know some people have done this modification and I would love for them to comment.
I know some people have done this modification and I would love for them to comment.
I can only really echo Alia's observation. We compared my non-winch ARB and his winched ARB and there were significant structural differences. Mostly the center of the bumper on his was very well reinforced.
It would not be an impossible feat, but would be more involved than just buying a winch ready bumper already designed for that purpose.
It would not be an impossible feat, but would be more involved than just buying a winch ready bumper already designed for that purpose.
I installed a 10,000 T-Max winch into mine. I welded a piece of 1/4" channel iron between the uprights, and notched out the top.
Jay
Jay
- Thread starter
- #11
Did you weld the plate to the inside of the front verticaly or horizontaly between the uprights? Just wondering what bolted the winch to.
alia176
SILVER Star
Making up the winch cradle is pretty straight forward. Do a search for "hidden winch" or "winch cradle" and you'll see what others have done. Once the winch is mounted to the frame rails, you can easily cut a horz slit for the winch cable to come through. Then, simply mount the roller fairlead directly to the front face of the bumper and this wouldn't exert any appreciable lateral force on the ARB.
TJM sells a winch cradle to go behind their winch bumpers. Who knows, maybe it'd fit in the space behind the ARB...
TJM sells a winch cradle to go behind their winch bumpers. Who knows, maybe it'd fit in the space behind the ARB...
The plate sits horizontal, so the bolts come in from the bottom. It is welded to the inside face of the bumper, the upright plates, and the frame cradles.
Jay
Box Rocket
SILVER Star
For you and alia......
The only way I see this as a problem is if your mounting surface for the winch is the face of the bumper. If you built the winch cradle and it's attached to the bumper where it mounts to the frame, then all the stress from pulling as at the frame mounts (as it should be) and almost no stress on the face of the bumper. The only time you would get stress on the face of the bumper is if you are pulling at an acute angle putting side-load on the fairlead which would be attached to the bumper face.
I think people are overcomplicating this. This seems like a very simple mod for anyone with adequate welding skills.
alia176
SILVER Star
Box Rocket
SILVER Star
Game on.
- Thread starter
- #17
Thanks for all the info! When I get around to it I will post a build on it so we dont have to have this conversation again.
Sent you a PM. Let me know if you could post up some pics and how things are working for you.
I just picked up a Warn HS9500i and I'm thinking of installing it into my ARB Non-winch bumper. funny that this seems to be a common thing. Unfortunately my non-winch arb bumper was already on my rig when I bought it or I would be making all this effort and spend the money on a winch mount instead.
let me know....
thanks.
I know this is well over 10 years old but anybody have any pictures? just picked up a non winch arb bumper
Box Rocket
SILVER Star
Is the top of the center section open on your bumper?
I welded a universal winch mount to the top of the frame mount sections of the bumper Worked really well. I don't have it anymore but it worked well and is getting used on another truck now. It's maybe a little better to have the winch mount to the front of the bumper so that the forces on the bolts are in the stretch plane rather than shear, but it would take some additional bracing to do it well. The plate between the frame horns like I did was simple and effective.
Sorry I don't have pics of the winch cradle.
IMG_9304 by Adam Tolman, on Flickr
