Project: Stock Front Bumper with Integrated Winch

[BrianE]

I bought one a few months ago at my local store. It was also listed on the HF website at the time.

 

[duggy]

I bought one a few months ago at my local store. It was also listed on the HF website at the time.

Unfortunately it's no longer listed on the HF website nor available at my HF store. I may have to look into other solutions such as the eBay offering....which is a bit overpriced at $70.

Edit: looks like they dropped the price to $60. I'll be picking one up and reporting back to this thread with my results.

 

[OTEP]

I have an OEM winch on my 80. The plate is relocated on the driver's side of the bumper. Not exactly well protected from trail rash but that's how Toyota built 'em.

There is also an OEM hard cover for the winch to keep it out of sight when not in use.

 

[spdwaver]

Also, in the 9 or so months you've had this installed, any issues with this mounting solution?

No issues whatsoever, and I have actually used this setup on the trail and for other purposes. It does the job well enough and I have not had to make any changes. It has withstood a few impacts from rocks and is still holding up well.

 

[asutherland]

I have all the bumper parts, plastic cover, metal brackets/mounting plates etc for the ACTUAL factory winch bumper if anyone is close enough to come by and pick them up. Would let go for cheap

Good work on that project BTW!

 

[OTEP]

That's exactly what my front end look like.

 

[WanderingFZJ]

Now that looks nice, although having the fairlead show provides an interesting, more "rugged" look.

 

[OTEP]

Now that looks nice, although having the fairlead show provides an interesting, more "rugged" look.

I guess it depends on your theater of operation. My Patrol has the roller fairlead and hook exposed and it's really annoying when locals get curious and fiddle with the winch when the vehicle is parked. Not knowing that I'm just a few floors up and can see what they're doing.

 

[asutherland]

Now that looks nice, although having the fairlead show provides an interesting, more "rugged" look.

That's what it USED to look like. Now she looks like this:

 

[tatcape]

asutherland

If the price is right i will take a drive over from abbotsford and take off your hands

 

[duggy]

Question for you guys that have done this. I have the mounting channel up and the winch mounted but my fairlead mounting holes onto the channel are blocked by the actual winch itself. I cannot get a bolt in, or behind the holes so I can thread some nuts onto it. Do you guys have another suggestion for a solution? Did you guys not run into issues with the fairlead bolt holes being blocked by the winch?

 

[superjuice]

Put the fair lead on before the winch?

 

[duggy]

Put the fair lead on before the winch?

I cant. It's a very tight fit between the winch and the body of the truck. I'll take a picture later to show what I mean but its almost impossible to shove some bolts in there.

The only other method for me is to permanently weld the fairlead onto the steel plate. Not sure how I feel about this, but I definitely need a fairlead.

 

[CruiseOrlando]

Unfortunately it's no longer listed on the HF website nor available at my HF store.

Looks like maybe they brought it back to HF?

Universal Channel Winch Mount

$40 as of right now... I know what my next project is going to be now

You can find 20% off coupons all the time for HF as well, and get the price of their 9000# wench down to $279 (use code "DISC20" online) as of right now.

It's going to cost me just over $350 for both parts, shipped.

Ordered!

Maybe that'll help me from being here again...

 

[devo]

This such a great way to mount a winch on an 80.

The one thing I don't see clearly in the photos are the control plug in and the engagement key.

Any photos of those? Or can you tell me how you get access to them.

devo

 

[duggy]

This such a great way to mount a winch on an 80.

The one thing I don't see clearly in the photos are the control plug in and the engagement key.

Any photos of those? Or can you tell me how you get access to them.

devo

I took my control box apart and mounted the solenoid directly to the winch plate, and drilled a hole in the bumper to plug in the remote control.

 

[devo]

Thanks Duggy.

I figured the control plug would retro fit as you say. What did you do to access the key/switch that you use to engage or free spool the winch drum?

devo

 

[duggy]

Thanks Duggy.

I figured the control plug would retro fit as you say. What did you do to access the key/switch that you use to engage or free spool the winch drum?

devo

I clocked my winch so I could access the knob/switch/thingymabob through the two "air ducts" in the stock front bumper. I also cut one of the cross bars off of the plastic air duct piece so I could fit my gargantuan hands in there to flip the switch. The air duct plastic piece comes off with two phillips head screws.

Be forewarned, I was not afraid to hack my stock bumper because I will be getting an ARB winch bumper soon so this was a temporary solution for my trip to Arkansas

 

[devo]

All right then thanks.

Mine will a temporary fix also while i wait to spend big money on a big bumper.

devo

 

[duggy]

Question for you fellas:

Anybody running an inline fuse on your positive wire to the battery terminal? I have this paranoia that there is gonna be something catastrophic that may happen and have been contemplating putting an inline ANL 200 AMP fuse on the hot side. Is this somethign the solenoid should take care of?