Bumperless Winch Mounting??

[guywithuglyyota]

Well Im trying to Keep my 94 on a diet. I have a Tmax 11000 just sitting in my closet collecting dust and thats just no good.

I like the front tube bumpers, however Im trying to keep the truck as light as possible.

Do any of you guys have any pics of a winch mounted up front with the stock bumper?

Im not too fond of the cheesy reciever mounts, Id like to keep it up high, maybe even notch out an area in the chrome stock bumper and fab up a cradle with stansions (sp)

anchoring it to the frame etc.... whatcha guys think?

[BLACKDOG]

I've seen a 3rd gen with the winch sucked into the grill.  They cutout the grill , and a space in the bumper, and sucked it in, so it was within 1/2" of the radiator.  Dunno how they fabbed the mount, but it looked clean

[guywithuglyyota]

Yeah thats exactly what Im picturing. Besides I want my rig to look more unique, I love Toys to death but there are 1 too many marlin/allpro style bumpers running around.

And I think it would be more of a challenge. The only downside to this is that we do a lot of brush running here in Alaska, and a stock bumper wont handle that abuse for too long. But I suppose I could always get a replacement from the guys who run tube bumps     

[jimbo74]

trying to keep things light means not having a huge winch....

[wa4x4]

Well, Jimbo you should know from being 2wd, stuck happens and in Alaska stuck sucks without a winch...

[guywithuglyyota]

Well the winch have I think is something like 90 lbs, only 10 lbs heavier than the 9000 lb unit I think.  Im ditching the cable for synthetic as well, which should cut down on the LBS.

Yes stuck sucks, a shovel, highlift and winch are almost mandatory out here.

[seanc]

here is what i did, no bumper needed.

[BLACKDOG]

trying to keep things light means not having a huge winch....

Jimbo, I think he's gotta deal with a little more than you do  

4low, I'll se if I can track down that truck for you, I think I know where he lives, see if I can get some pics.

[guywithuglyyota]

Thanks for the Pics Seanc..... And Blackdog, I found a few pics on Pirate of a third gen with Spackled red and white paint, he had the winch pushed 1/2 way into the grill.

His approach angle was nice, looked a little odd stuffed in there but Im sure its working well for him.

[jimbo74]

Well, Jimbo you should know from being 2wd, stuck happens and in Alaska stuck sucks without a winch...

actually, why dont you clue me in, my truck has never been stuck

[wa4x4]

You wheel a 2wd truck and have never been stuck? You must be the best driver ever!

[jimbo74]

You wheel a 2wd truck and have never been stuck? You must be the best driver ever!

i dont know about best, but knowing how to drive and being a little bit crazy helps

[guywithuglyyota]

Well I guess Im a crappy driver, I get stuck all the time!  Lockers make me feel unstoppable.....then  I pay for it  ha ha   

[Matt_BC]

here is what i did, no bumper needed.

The way it looks on the pic is that it mounts to the front of the frame ... have you tried it yet? does it twist the frame?

Matt