Winches on ARB Bumpers

[Kaizer Sozay 13]

I know this has been covered a while back (looks like last post was about 5 months ago), but regarding Warn winches for the ARB Bumber: What did you buy (size wise, etc) and are you still happy with your choice? Would you move up or down in Winch size if you had to do it again? Has anyone actually switched out front springs b/c of the extra weight of the bumper and winch? I ordered ARB bumpers last week for a 2009 LC and a 2004 Nissan Armada and wanted to get some information before purchasing a winch for each. ALso, has anyone gone wireless on their controls? Thoughts?

 

[JBHorne]

I have the Warn 9.5XP and love it. It's a 6hp winch and is their fastest. It's a 9500lb winch, plenty for the LC, and mounts without any additional hardware other than rotating the drain valve (easy to do -- but don't forget to do it).

The M13000 is kinda overkill and is based on Warn's "large frame" winch designs. It is very heavy and not really needed. It also requires a special adapter to fit.

When you are placing items in front of the front axle, weight really matters.

The 9.5XP also has the separate mounted solenoid ready for mounting to the top of the ARB bumper. Do not get the MOSFET versions as these have integrated solenoid packs.

It sounds as if you do not have OME or an aftermarket suspension setup. If not, don't even begin the ARB install. Seriously -- it will create so much weight on the front end you could damage something or get in an accident.

OME makes a suspension setup custom tailored to the added weight of their front bumber + winch. This is the setup that all most all of us on these boards use.

I run mine with a Masterpull synthetic cable and a hawse fairlead as 1) synthetic is MUCH safer (steel cables can kill you) and 2) I like the look of a hawse fairlead better than a roller.

As for wireless, I have this as well and love it. I mounted the control module on the inside PS fender close to the firewall. It's right next to the ECU. I like the fact that 1) I can drive from inside the car and winch at the same time (more control) and 2) Didn't have to bother with a custom 3-way rocker switche cab mounted (all though I think this looks badass if done correctly).

All in all I think the 9.5XP with a synthetic cable through a hawse fairlead and wireless is a perfect setup (but of course I wound say that )

 

[Kaizer Sozay 13]

JB,

Thanks a ton for the info. Regarding the heavier suspension: Looks like most folks have gone with 2" to 3" lifts when they have upgraded. My LC is mostly a "road Truck" and I dont wish to pick it up that much. OME is showing a Stock/Light load Spring Type- 1" Lift, Part#OME700 and also a Medium Load Spring Type- 1" Lift for the Front End. Do you guys have a suggestion regarding which to use with the ARB Winch Bumper and 9500lb Warn Winch? Regarding the Rear, do i even need to replace springs back there? If so, do I need to go with Medium load, no Lift? What about the Coil Spacers?

Thanks,

 

[JBHorne]

JB,

Thanks a ton for the info. Regarding the heavier suspension: Looks like most folks have gone with 2" to 3" lifts when they have upgraded. My LC is mostly a "road Truck" and I dont wish to pick it up that much. OME is showing a Stock/Light load Spring Type- 1" Lift, Part#OME700 and also a Medium Load Spring Type- 1" Lift for the Front End. Do you guys have a suggestion regarding which to use with the ARB Winch Bumper and 9500lb Warn Winch? Regarding the Rear, do i even need to replace springs back there? If so, do I need to go with Medium load, no Lift? What about the Coil Spacers?

Thanks,

No offense, but I'm entirely confused...

You are going through thousands of dollars of expense to put a bumper on it with a winch, but are completely going to negate both by not lifting it for a "road truck".

The LC in it's stock height is far too low. Spending a dime on a suspension setup is 1) required for the bumper's weight with the winch and 2) is pointless IMHO at the same height as stock.

Yes, I would say both the front and rear are going to need shocks and springs. Forget about the packers, however, unless they become necessary. Front is going to be medium load and rear is going to be the same.

Why do you need the winch? Is it just for show? Wenches are for show -- not winches. Being at stock height, you are never going to go anywhere where you need one (IMO)....use a highlift instead and save the weight.

EDIT: I see you have a wranger too with a winch, but also a 3" lift. Have you ever used it?

 

[wesintl]

It sounds as if you do not have OME or an aftermarket suspension setup. If not, don't even begin the ARB install. Seriously -- it will create so much weight on the front end you could damage something or get in an accident.

This is one of the dumbest things i've read lately

 

[JBHorne]

This is one of the dumbest things i've read lately

Really??? Do you have a 200? How about a 200 with stock suspension and a 200lb bumper (the total weight of the bumper and 9.5xp winch)?

Didn't think so....


Now I'll elaborate. I did all of my installs myself, so I experienced the effect of each addition. I started by installing the front bumper and winch on the stock suspension. The front end was lowered by about 1.5". The driving characteristics were atrocious. First, the vehicle's alignment was way off. There was a very strong return to center tension. Steering was difficult as well. I tried driving the vehicle just to see how it felt, and when I was driving down the road I tried to brake, but the VSC kicked in do to an extreme yaw effect (from the weight). This can be corrected by a reset, but it will not help the yawing of the vehicle. The next day I installed my suspension and mounted my tires, and the situation was remedied immediately. After an alignment 1000 miles later, everything is great and the vehicle steers and tracks great under heaving braking and accelorating with no brake dive or torque steer.

Simply put, the stock suspension is in no way capable to handle the extra 200lbs.


So Mr. Smarty Pants, I'm assuming your comment regarding my "dumb" comment is from experience driving a 200-series with arb bumper + winch and stock suspension? I'd love to hear your story.

 

[Kaizer Sozay 13]

No offense, but I'm entirely confused...

You are going through thousands of dollars of expense to put a bumper on it with a winch, but are completely going to negate both by not lifting it for a "road truck".


EDIT: I see you have a wranger too with a winch, but also a 3" lift. Have you ever used it?

JB, LC is my daily driver and I put about 25,000 to 30,000 miles on it a year. Needless to say, I do not want my LC to have a ride quality like that of my Rubicon (Which is terrible). Winch wise, I have used them in the past (on Excursions and 3/4 ton Subuarbans) quite a bit, but we don't do a whole lot of serious off roading in our daily drivers. Most uses will be more commericial applications. I'm on construction sites, pipeline projects, pulling out stuck trucks, tractors and forklifts, crusing timberland, etc. Propably the biggest thing we use them is in cleaning up after little 'ol storms like Hurricane Katrina (took us 3 days to, cut, saw, and winch trees out of the way to get to the interstate). Sooo, what I am trying to accomplish is to put a good quality product on the front end and not to lift my LC too high and definitly not get to far into effecting ride quality. oh and after that, I'd like world peace and to have Megan Fox to show up on my doorstep . Thanks again for helping a newbie on this site out. Regards,

 

[JBHorne]

JB, LC is my daily driver and I put about 25,000 to 30,000 miles on it a year. Needless to say, I do not want my LC to have a ride quality like that of my Rubicon (Which is terrible). Winch wise, I have used them in the past (on Excursions and 3/4 ton Subuarbans) quite a bit, but we don't do a whole lot of serious off roading in our daily drivers. Most uses will be more commericial applications. I'm on construction sites, pipeline projects, pulling out stuck trucks, tractors and forklifts, crusing timberland, etc. Propably the biggest thing we use them is in cleaning up after little 'ol storms like Hurricane Katrina (took us 3 days to, cut, saw, and winch trees out of the way to get to the interstate). Sooo, what I am trying to accomplish is to put a good quality product on the front end and not to lift my LC too high and definitly not get to far into effecting ride quality. oh and after that, I'd like world peace and to have Megan Fox to show up on my doorstep . Thanks again for helping a newbie on this site out. Regards,

Thanks for the explanation. That makes sense now. Here's the deal: Even with 33" tires and a 2" lift, my LC rides great. It feels heavier due to the added weight of bumpers all around, sliders, and skid plates, but it drives great. Even going through turns you can hardly tell it has been lifted.

OME makes fantastic products that actually improve the ride, IMO and I think others would agree. It will not ride like a 3" lifted Rubicon.

In all honesty, you will be greatly disappointed with the ARB bumper + winch if you do not account for the weight. It will drive terribly.

If you are going to install the bumper + winch, you are going to have to fix the suspension. At that point, a 2" lift is not going to "feel" any different than their 1" lift, so you might as well go with the 2" setup. The LC is already 77" wide, so raising the CG 1-2" isn't going to be noticeable. You cannot compare this to Jeep.

Also, don't forget about the rake. The LC is raked from the factory. Adding the weight will simply increase the rake further. The OME kits compensate for this.
​

 

[chimyz]

JB, LC is my daily driver and I put about 25,000 to 30,000 miles on it a year. Needless to say, I do not want my LC to have a ride quality like that of my Rubicon (Which is terrible). Winch wise, I have used them in the past (on Excursions and 3/4 ton Subuarbans) quite a bit, but we don't do a whole lot of serious off roading in our daily drivers. Most uses will be more commericial applications. I'm on construction sites, pipeline projects, pulling out stuck trucks, tractors and forklifts, crusing timberland, etc. Propably the biggest thing we use them is in cleaning up after little 'ol storms like Hurricane Katrina (took us 3 days to, cut, saw, and winch trees out of the way to get to the interstate). Sooo, what I am trying to accomplish is to put a good quality product on the front end and not to lift my LC too high and definitly not get to far into effecting ride quality. oh and after that, I'd like world peace and to have Megan Fox to show up on my doorstep . Thanks again for helping a newbie on this site out. Regards,

What about looking at a Toyota Accesory winch and bumper skin? You wouldn't need to do the suspension and wouldn't need to go as far as getting the ARB bumper.

By the way, I have a Warn XD9000...nothing special, but good enough to do the job. The less I need to use the winch, the better. It is always work when that thing get's turned on. It is great to have as an insurance policy.

 

[sbly]

Kaizer,

I ended up running with a Warn 12,000 winch. It might be a bit much but when my better half and I go exploring we pack a lot of stuff both in and on the 200.

sbly

 

[JBHorne]

What about looking at a Toyota Accesory winch and bumper skin? You wouldn't need to do the suspension and wouldn't need to go as far as getting the ARB bumper.

By the way, I have a Warn XD9000...nothing special, but good enough to do the job. The less I need to use the winch, the better. It is always work when that thing get's turned on. It is great to have as an insurance policy.

I would agree with this. The ARB is awfully overbuilt for just tugging on a few trees. You could save a lot of weight by adding a winch another way, and even avoid redoing the suspension. Save a few K as well...

 

[chimyz]

Rasta 4x4 makes a mounting bracket for a winch to sit behind the front bumper. Check them out.