Builds The Guzzler - 2009 LX570 (6 Viewers)

[grinchy]

Looking for 12k winches where the brake doesn’t heat the drum. usually Called out as gear brake, ratchet brake, cone brake etc.
sherpa4x4 (entire line, Colt is 12k)
novawinch 12500 pro
runva 11xp and 13xp and xp premiums
superwinch talon 12.5
Warrior samurai (runva us line by dk2)
Come up seal gen2 12.5
warn zeon 12.5
add: Badlands Apex 12000
add: Carbon 12k v2

any others?

 

[TeCKis300]

Looking for 12k winches where the brake doesn’t heat the drum. usually Called out as gear brake, ratchet brake, cone brake etc.
sherpa4x4 (entire line, Colt is 12k)
novawinch 12500 pro
runva 11xp and 13xp and xp premiums
superwinch talon 12.5
Warrior samurai (runva us line by dk2)
Come up seal gen2 12.5
warn zeon 12.5

any others?

Pretty sure the Badlands 12k is a cone brake?

 

[grinchy]

The great winch data table:

Top selection criteria - it fits, it's light, it's got good warranty, and the brake type is not opaque.

Winner: Carbon 12k v2 (available at www.carbonwinches.com), the USA distributor. Responds to questions.

Runnerup: Runva 11xp. Available at home depot. Only $670. Drawback - it's heavier by 18lb. The US importer shorts the warranty a bit.
Runnerup: Novawinch Pro 12500 (www.novawinch.us). It's the Superwinch Talon gen 2, but the IP got sold to Novawinch when Superwinch was sold to Westin. Good ratio, but a bit heavy, and the warranty is shorter. Very forward design in the brake, HP, and ratio. Responds to questions.
Runnerup: Sherpa4x4 Colt. Light, good warranties. The clocking and lever doesn't work for my install (by about 5 mm). Responds to questions.

Best new product: The xbull XRS - very interesting! Dual speed is super cool, and I bet works well in practice for most recoveries (101:1). Didn't fit in my install though. And service is not a thing. They didn't respond to email or the website chat. <Edit - two days later I did get answers to my chats and emails. So there is a heartbeat, though a slow one. I asked technical questions (like what type of brake?) and got two different answers (drum, gearbox). Sigh.>

My bumper has a 185mm height limit, so some weren't a fit (clutch wouldn't rotate, or just too tall). Other installs may not have this issue.

 

[grinchy]

Futzing around with a brake controller install. Got the rease towpower iq.
Had a difficult time finding the controller plug behind the mirror controls on the back bottom of that bundle with the orange connector.
The had a difficult time finding a front to back mounting location. Finally just made a small right angle bracket from some Al angle and affixed it by the left side firewall grommet.
No trailer at the moment but some leds did flash when I plugged it in. so it’s likely working ok.

 

[lx200inAR]

The great winch data table:

View attachment 2946769

Top selection criteria - it fits, it's light, it's got good warranty, and the brake type is not opaque.

Winner: Carbon 12k v2 (available at www.carbonwinches.com), the USA distributor. Responds to questions.

Runnerup: Runva 11xp. Available at home depot. Only $670. Drawback - it's heavier by 18lb. The US importer shorts the warranty a bit.
Runnerup: Novawinch Pro 12500 (www.novawinch.us). It's the Superwinch Talon gen 2, but the IP got sold to Novawinch when Superwinch was sold to Westin. Good ratio, but a bit heavy, and the warranty is shorter. Very forward design in the brake, HP, and ratio. Responds to questions.
Runnerup: Sherpa4x4 Colt. Light, good warranties. The clocking and lever doesn't work for my install (by about 5 mm). Responds to questions.

Best new product: The xbull XRS - very interesting! Dual speed is super cool, and I bet works well in practice for most recoveries (101:1). Didn't fit in my install though. And service is not a thing. They didn't respond to email or the website chat. <Edit - two days later I did get answers to my chats and emails. So there is a heartbeat, though a slow one. I asked technical questions (like what type of brake?) and got two different answers (drum, gearbox). Sigh.>

My bumper has a 185mm height limit, so some weren't a fit (clutch wouldn't rotate, or just too tall). Other installs may not have this issue.

is there a reason you didn’t include the smittybuilt x20 gen 3 in the chart?

 

[grinchy]

is there a reason you didn’t include the smittybuilt x20 gen 3 in the chart?

People are having troubles with the USB controller. Beyond that, it is too tall for my install. It is quite popular this year. Sold out on some sites.
Here's the row I made for it. I did some digging earlier in the week and Smittybilt is using inductive brakes on the X20 line (gen 2 and 3 at least).

 

[grinchy]

Another pic of the brake controller from the driving position.
I can’t see the light or the control. I can move slightly and see both.
Most important, it is a very natural reach and can be adjusted without looking.
From a couple feet away the install looks balanced with the other shapes and switches.

 

[grinchy]

Worked up a v2 of the swingout table. Same table. New rope hinge on a 3/8” stainless rod that is in a couple of 3/8” bearings and fixed latch. Still working on the supports, right now have a string on one end and a random piece of Al angle on the other.

Right now the latch is in the center. If I like it I’ll rotate 90 and recess it thru the grid. Or it may be fine like it is.

 

[xhrix123]

Worked up a v2 of the swingout table. Same table. New rope hinge and fixed latch. Still working on the supports, right now have a string on one end and a random piece of Al angle on the other.

Right now the latch is in the center. If I like it I’ll rotate 90 and recess it thru the grid. Or it may be fine like it is.

View attachment 2950633

View attachment 2950634

View attachment 2950635

I like that idea.

 

[grinchy]

Next up is addressing the tow connector. This has been zip tied on for four years, and now I’ve made some progress toward a better solution.
Just need to wire it. Will be doing a third and final pass on the breakout box at the same time to fix some things discovered in pass two a couple weeks ago.
I had to make a 3/4” spacer to get enough room behind for the wire bundle to bend.

 

[grinchy]

Beginning work on three switches in the useless pop out cubby LX have on the left of steering wheel.
From ch4x4 collection of small Toyota switches:
Winch power
Winch in/out
Air comp/rear diff lock
Small Toyota three switch blank

Pulled the cubby.
End piece of dash
Mirror assembly
Lower black footwell cover
Main lower assembly (Two 10mm bolts) loosened
Push down on two black pin clips at top of cubby, then pull out and down.

Most won’t have the f40 radar detector installed by previous owner.

 

[grinchy]

Evaluate the cubby for surgery.

 

[grinchy]

Remove the color key cover using a pick at the feet.

 

[grinchy]

Decide on a location for surgery.

My plan is to glue the switch panel into the inside of the cubby, and have the color key plastic fit around the switches closely.
The other option is to have the switch panel mount to the outside of the cubby, but the switches are a bit proud of the panel, and it won’t look flush.
Drawer is deep enough for switches and their quick connector,

Another option would be to trim down the mount a bit and put it in the top of the cubby. That seems a lot more difficult to support.
A third option would be to print a new cavity plate, could fit 10 switches easy if you have the tools and time.
I think one could fit two sets of three if the packed them in, totally doable!

 

[SharpeCat]

Remove the color key cover using a pick at the feet.

View attachment 2951531

View attachment 2951532

View attachment 2951533

I’m going to order a 3D scanner as soon as they give me a decent price! Maybe try building my own here soon as well, and you and I have work to do!

 

[grinchy]

Perform surgery on the color coded cover

 

[grinchy]

Replace the cover and mark out the min cut on the inner door.
I used an oscillating tool for this. You cut the entire width of the inner cubby.

 

[grinchy]

Fit the switch mount to the cubby inside. The walls taper slightly.
Cut just inside the existing screw holes.
Much whittling and filing to get to fit.
Test fit a bunch of times.
Epoxy it in when satisfied.

 

[grinchy]

Cut an access hole for wiring.

 

[grinchy]

Discover that the switch plate + cubby door + cosmetic cover is about 10mm.
The switch projection is about 10mm from the base plate.
This is awesome- the switches can be flush!
But now the color key cover hole is now too small as I was planning it would be ‘behind’ the switches.

Considering how to make it 1/8” wider in all directions . . .