What winch for arb bull bar?

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Feb 20, 2013
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Eastern Sierras
Recently purchased an arb bullbar for my 80. I tried to install a warn zeon 8s and realized it wasn't going to be a perfect fit, even with the spacer kit. So my question is, what winch will be compatible with that specific bumper? I'I like to use a roller fairlead since the bumper is designed for one. I've heard the m12000 will work but its pretty pricey. Any other suggestions? Thank you for your time.
 
x2 on the Badlands. Have used mine at least a half dozen times and it functioned fine. Also used a couple of them to recover my old LC off a mountain and they did the job. Can't beat them for the money but I would also suggest waterproofing it better.
 
I have the Warn VR10 with synthetic line. Fits perfect with no spacers or mods needed.
 
I’m a full Warn fanboy - owning that from the jump.

I’ve got a M12K in the 80, my old 450 I had a M8K.

If you simply cannot afford a M12K, a M8K & using a simple compound to pull will do you right.

As for roller or hawse, are you running steel or synth rope?
Steel rollers are for steel line, delrin rollers or a hawse are for synth.

I had zero issues fitting a M12K in my ARB - pics of my junk are in one of my albums. It was steel rope I wore out & switched to Masterpull synth.
 
The ARB bar was designed around the Warn M10K, which was superseded by the M12K. That's what I've had in my ARB for the last 20 years and I'll put it up against anything on the market today.
Spend the money and buy it once. A loaded 80 Series is a heavy beast. Don't buy short on recovery gear.

Synthetic rope requires the use of a hawse fairlead. Steel rope uses a roller fairlead.
I gave up on steel rope many years ago.
 
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Thanks for the responses guys.
When I mounted the zeon 8s I placed the hawse in position (in the lower mount holes) and it wasn't lining up properly with the cutout in bumper. I couldn't see a way to drill new holes to make it work. At that point, I figured I'd just sell the winch and get a slightly larger one anyway, with a roller fairlead. Bumper obviously has a lip for use of roller style.
I'd like to stay with synthetic but that's if I can assure a hawse style will fit correctly.
 
Really!? Did you use a roller fairlead or hawse? Any chance you could share a photo? Thanks
I have an aluminum hawse. Will try to add a photo in a few.
 
Thanks for the responses guys.
When I mounted the zeon 8s I placed the hawse in position (in the lower mount holes) and it wasn't lining up properly with the cutout in bumper. I couldn't see a way to drill new holes to make it work. At that point, I figured I'd just sell the winch and get a slightly larger one anyway, with a roller fairlead. Bumper obviously has a lip for use of roller style.
I'd like to stay with synthetic but that's if I can assure a hawse style will fit correctly.
Correct. A hawse fairlead will sit low and expose the lower lip of the ARB cutout. I trimmed mine down with an angle grinder and finished with some acetone and rustolium black. Make sure you don't leave a sharp edge. Took about 20 minutes.
 
@imnrut -
From my experience & parts sitting around -you need an offset hawse fairlead for an ARB.

Zeons ship with a centered hawse, so either you’re drilling holes or buying a offset hawse.

With all this, I’m assuming you’re on synth line, not steel rope -correct?
Your initial want to run rollers is only going to work if you get delrin rollers, if you’re on synth rope.

Frankly flushing up the bumper with a hawse makes the bumper more friendly on your quads when doing motor service. Just my opinion.

If you browse thru my album/media, you’ll see an offset hawse & where I ground the welds to flush up the upper metal ‘wing’ for a roller fairlead.
 
Thanks for the responses guys.
When I mounted the zeon 8s I placed the hawse in position (in the lower mount holes) and it wasn't lining up properly with the cutout in bumper. I couldn't see a way to drill new holes to make it work. At that point, I figured I'd just sell the winch and get a slightly larger one anyway, with a roller fairlead. Bumper obviously has a lip for use of roller style.
I'd like to stay with synthetic but that's if I can assure a hawse style will fit correctly.
I have an M12K and use this offset hawse from Slee:

Slee - Winches


Cheers,
Salue
 
Just noticed between @jonheld & myself, we have 25+ yrs of M12K / ARB experience, and I like he - challenge anyone to prefer any other setup when “that moment means a funny story in 2yrs” -or- “dammit, I really liked that _____”.

I even do a simple compound just to get off the 1st wrap with my M12K - you make that a habit & you’re bombproof. Really.
 
@imnrut -
Your initial want to run rollers is only going to work if you get delrin rollers, if you’re on synth rope.

Ok, I've made a decision. Sticking with my zeon and synthetic line. I'd like to go with daystar or delrin rollers. My winch came with an aluminum hawse, so what are my choices when selecting the correct roller fairlead to fit bullbar? Get a warn m12k roller fairlead and swap out the steel rollers (part #5742)? Or are there other makes that will work? Any place offer just the housing since I won't be using the steel rollers. Thanks for any input.
 
I’ll look where Dad & I toss scrap metal - my rollers were scarred with wire rope print, but all you need is that metal channel & buy yourself some delrin rollers.

If it hasn’t already been recycled, you can have it for the price of the ride.

Is there a reason you aren’t into just buying/running a offset Hawse?

That ARB upper wing is held on by ~3) 3” weld beads, you break those & witha hawse you would be flush up front.

By the time you run down some delrin rollers I bet that route will be more $$ than a hawse. Just my op.

I have the exact same Slee hawse that was linked above: Slee - Winches
 
... daystar or delrin rollers. ...

Go delrin, more durable, have cut the urethane rollers like daystar into pieces.

Just noticed between @jonheld & myself, we have 25+ yrs of M12K / ARB experience, and I like he - challenge anyone to prefer any other setup when “that moment means a funny story in 2yrs” -or- “dammit, I really liked that _____”.
...

This. You will never be a baller in the mud world till you have a M12K with the proper name accessories.:hillbilly:

In the real world, some of the TRAL members work recovery. Observing their rigs, none of them have warn, most common is superwinch or bulldog. At least locally, those who make their living with winches, don't run warn, the comments are about warn being for hobbyist, they look good, work OK, if they aren't used often.
 

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