Non ARB winch bumper converted to winch bumper

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Expolander

Expolander

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
May 19, 2008
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61
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Well, I explored the idea early summer of converting my ARB non winch bumper to a winch bumper because that is what it had on it when I bought it and I couldn't sell and make any money off of it, so here are the results.

added 3/8" steel backing too so it's solid and will pull. That is a Warn 9.5i winch in there and no cutting to the body either. Only grip is the cable is 90' and does get a little cranked for room the last 10' of cable or so, but only if it is spooled funky.
 
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That looks better than the winch version, cleaner. Switch over to synthetic rope and you probably won't have any clearance issues and bet you could spool in a longer length too.
 
Nice and tight. See have you tested it yet?
 
Sorry, didn't quote: To Flank: oh yes, it's been tested and tried a half dozen times already. Including pulling Tundra off the side of a near cliff that had slid off a muddy road. Save that guy and didn't even get a thanks...go figure!
 
FirstToy said:
i like it better than the winch-version ARB, how do you reach the lever to lock the winch spool?
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The lever is on the drivers side and faces down, toward the ground so all I have to do is reach under (which isn't difficult to get at) plug in the cable and or move the lever. Easy enough.
 
arndog123 said:
That looks better than the winch version, cleaner. Switch over to synthetic rope and you probably won't have any clearance issues and bet you could spool in a longer length too.
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That's the next plan once the cable wears out. I can live with it the way it is. Plus it's all welded so that no one can steal it without a torch. Well...the bolts are spot welded on on the front and you would have to remove the fairlead to remove the bolts...so needless to say it would take me an hour to remove for any kind of maintenance so I wasn't sure which was better...replacing the winch or doing some grinding...I stuck to the safe side..
 
AKcruiserfreak said:
Looks good from what I can see.(Dark monitor) It's wierd that you couldn't sell it. When I was looking, they were on the market for all of a couple of minutes before sold.

TK
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Yeah, I am sure it should have sold quickly b/c I know I am in the market for a non-winch ARB.
 
jdayment said:
Do you have the exact dimensions of the reinforced plate you used?
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I just picked up a non-winch ARB that should be delivered in the next couple of weeks. I’m thinking I will eventually convert it to a winch bumper. If you follow up on this product, drop me a line and let me know how it goes. I’ll do the same when I’m done.
 
cook said:

I just picked up a non-winch ARB that should be delivered in the next couple of weeks. I’m thinking I will eventually convert it to a winch bumper. If you follow up on this product, drop me a line and let me know how it goes. I’ll do the same when I’m done.
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I'm hoping to have it done this week or next so hopefully soon will let you know
 
Great to see. I was hoping to pick up a non-winch ARB this weekend, and figured in the future maybe I could do some cutting and welding to add a winch if I wanted. Looks great, thanks for doing it first.
 
Non winch mount ARB bumper rework

Trial and error and trial again...

I was tired of the way I rushed through modifying my non ARB bumper into a winch mount bumper back in 08', so I have tore into it again.
Here are some pictures of what I'm doing.
 
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more shots

more shots. I essentially put 3/8 plate on the inside. Cut that out for the winch cable. I'm running Warn 9500 mounted forward with 3/8 cable. I've decided to lower the winch cable hole, plated the front with 3/16 and plasma cut the hole. Should have made it a little narrower...for the hawse style fairlead. I'm sure I'll tweak it some more, but wanted to get this up for other guys so they have some base to work off of. Simple to do, and not expensive...
 
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BamaPaul said:
Resurrecting this to see if there is anymore info out there.
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Hi BamaPaul, received your email. I did see your bent up non-winch bumper and that looked pretty mangled. Looks like you straightened it up pretty good though. When I did mine, I put 3/8 steel backing on the inside, and 3/16" plating on the outside. I think the previous pictures of my thread build provide the details of that pretty well. As far as how it's been holding up. Well, stronger than factory with 1/2" plating on the front winch section I don't foresee any issues and everything works ask expected.

I did have it lined too.
 
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