Sam,
I am seeing the pics in posts #5 & #8 OK.
-B-
I am seeing the pics in posts #5 & #8 OK.
-B-
Winch w/o custom bumper possible?
- Thread starter hadji_85
- Start date
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Yes, this is my first post. I've been lurking here for a LONG time...and have been very sucessful in always finding what I was looking for using the seach function. This is an AMAZING site & forum!!
Anyway, I have a 96 LC and have always been curious about this very question....a winch with the stock bumper. Well after a LOT of measuring and thinking I just finished mine today...which prompted me to finally post!
The winch I used is an 8000 lb Chicago Elec. (yes...Harbour Freight) which I know many here will NOT approve of. But I had a several hundred $$ credit there from a returned generator to use so I figured what the heck. No it is not a Warn or a Ramsey (it actually looks very much like a Ramsey) but I know two others who've used these on their trucks with no problems.
So this winch comes with a very heavy 1/4" steel mounting channel. I removed the bumper from the truck and modified this channel to fit in between AND under the frame rails. I removed the factory front tow hooks and used those four frame holes and the OEM bolts to bolt the channel to the frame. You still will see the tow hooks in the after shot, but now they sit between their original bolts and the new winch channel.
Then the winch and roller fair lead got bolted to the channel. Then I measured and cut a rectangle section of the bumper face out for the fairlead to protrude from. Then the bumper got mounted back on the truck.
I still need to clean up the cutout opening in the bumper a bit and everything needs to wired. But that will be a piece a cake compared to figuring out a secure mounting method without butchering up the front of the truck too much. Besides the cutout in the bumper, the only other modification to the truck was SLIGHTLY trimming the vertical grille support to clear the rear cable guide on the winch. No other cutting or drilling on the TRUCK was necessary. If I ever need to go back to stock, I figure I can cover the hole in the bumper with a Toyota logo plate (we don't have front license plates here in PA).....or just buy a stock pulloff from one of you guys who went to an ARB!!!
Bumper off:
Beginning mods to mounting channel...
Mounting channel done (actually required more cutting after it went onto the truck to clear the bumper mounting brackets)
Mounting channel to truck...
Mounting winch to channel.....
Roller fairlead and rough cut of opening...
And another...
Exactly what I have planned for a new M8000
Copy and paste this link to your address bar:
http://home.comcast.net/~ryang99/misc/image1.jpg
Then hit your back button and all of the pix should show up for you
I tell you what.
I'll sell you the pics............
I'll sell you the pics............
I had to do the properties thing and see the pictures at his homesite. Then, I guess because they were in temp files or something they NOW work on here!!
It was a bit dark to see but I am guessing there are 4 bolts going thru the plate UP and into the frame rails? (That is the way it reads at least)
What kind of access do you have from the top to change the winch to/from free spool and put the remote control in?
I was thinking of going with a sealed 9k unit but now leaning towards the Warn M8000 and remote mounting the solenoids back under my hood.
That and trying to sit it more fwd and possibly UP some so the front edge of the mount would be flush with back of bumper. So the bolts for fairlead would go thru and the fairlead would be on the outside of stock bumper if you will.
prob gonna just take more welding to do that, but will look a bit more stock. Excellent job onthis, thx!
Sam
It was a bit dark to see but I am guessing there are 4 bolts going thru the plate UP and into the frame rails? (That is the way it reads at least)
What kind of access do you have from the top to change the winch to/from free spool and put the remote control in?
I was thinking of going with a sealed 9k unit but now leaning towards the Warn M8000 and remote mounting the solenoids back under my hood.
That and trying to sit it more fwd and possibly UP some so the front edge of the mount would be flush with back of bumper. So the bolts for fairlead would go thru and the fairlead would be on the outside of stock bumper if you will.
prob gonna just take more welding to do that, but will look a bit more stock. Excellent job onthis, thx!
Sam
It looks like he has just enough room to flick the clutch switch with his finger...
I've played around with the HF winches and it's rather easy to switch as long as the cable isn't loaded
I plan on going with a Warn M8000 and from what I see, I'll probably have to access the clutch lever from the plastic bumper vent thingie on the driver's side...
I've played around with the HF winches and it's rather easy to switch as long as the cable isn't loaded
I plan on going with a Warn M8000 and from what I see, I'll probably have to access the clutch lever from the plastic bumper vent thingie on the driver's side...
I am seriously thinking on INVERTING this setup so the plate is ABOVE the frame rails and the winch is hanging upside down!! This would make it much easier to reach up underneath and engage/disengage the spool.
This would also have the advantage of tucking the winch up a bit higher / which I believe will allow me to mount more fwd/closer to bumper. Ideally the lip for the fairlead would sit flush behind the bumper itself.
This would also have the advantage of tucking the winch up a bit higher / which I believe will allow me to mount more fwd/closer to bumper. Ideally the lip for the fairlead would sit flush behind the bumper itself.
Not when you're bumper deep in mud
From the measurements I took, the M8k lever would still be reachable from under the bumper in this position and if I get too deep in the muck, it only takes a few seconds to remove the plastic bumper vent thingie for better access
You can also rotate the lever housing to another position if you want, so there's no realy need to flip the entire winch except for clearance
Hey Shinton, I'm just down the street from you over in Winston. If you want to see a 12V factory 80 series winch, I just got one in from Japan on Friday. I haven't unpacked it yet for photos, but it will go up for sale when I do. You can call me at 3363991124 if you want to come look at it.
Correct. There is just enough room to move the switch....It's tight, but I've been able to do it when I needed to.
Correct again. There are two bolts on each side. I basically drilled the mounting channel to match up to the factory threaded holes in the frame where the tow hooks mount. I though it made sense to reuse those holes because they were obviously intended to deal with the weight of the vehicle.
I've had the setup on the truck for about a year now and its been great. No issues with the winch or the mounting method. The only frustrating thing is keeping the rollers on the fairlead from rusting. They seem to rust immediately upon getting wet. I tried various protective lubricants/sprays and finally found one that seems to last for a month or more between applications. If anyone is interested, I can go look at the can....I don't remember what it was called.
As far as the pics not showing up....I am now sure why and it is driving me nuts too. It is apparantly a Comcast thing as that's where the pics are hosted. As noted by others if you get the properties of the pics in the post and then paste that into your browser, you should be able to see them. If anyone still has trouble, I'm more than happy to send them diriectly to you....just PM me.
sandcruiser
....back in the saddle again....
is anyone else worried that the plate could be beefier?
maybe weld in an extra vertical plate that mounts to the frame, running fore-aft? it would add strength in the direction we need and also add mounting strength.
just thinking out loud....
another alternative would be to simply add in some sort of gusset if there is room on the sides of the winch
I love this idea- as soon as I finish the locker install (must mount pump) I'm going to start eyeing the front bumper. I want my winch back!
maybe weld in an extra vertical plate that mounts to the frame, running fore-aft? it would add strength in the direction we need and also add mounting strength.
just thinking out loud....
another alternative would be to simply add in some sort of gusset if there is room on the sides of the winch
I love this idea- as soon as I finish the locker install (must mount pump) I'm going to start eyeing the front bumper. I want my winch back!
Harbor freight has on sale the 9000lb winch that Pair of Eees used for $300 (in their circular). I know its HF, but somebody convince me to pass on this deal. Is this winch crap or what?
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Of course it's crap. Look around you at Harbor Freight, and what else do you see? Some of the crap is useful, but what else do you see?
Just me, but I'd look for a used but working Warn or Ramsey winch.
Is the mounting plate some universal piece??? Where can I get one?? Thanks looks like I have a line on a winch for cheap...
Do you know if it is drilled to match a Warn or Ramsey winch... thats about $100 cheaper than from either manufacturer..
I don't know, but I'll be picking one up this week as soon as my new Superwinch arrives
Thanks guys...guess I will be going to Harbor Freight.....this will hold me over till I get a real bumper...rear is higher on the list...
Should be easy enough to drill to match.
