Behind Front Cladding Winch Bumper Blueprint

[vt_maverick]

With all the posts running around about people attempting to create their own winch bumpers I thought it might be good to take some pics with measurements to help out. From what I understand from SPAZZ and others it is no trivial effort to build one of these things, especially if you're trying to make it look nice from the exterior. I don't have it mounted yet as I'm still saving my pennies for the winch itself. It formerly had a Warn XD9000i low-profile winch mounted on it, but those things run $900-1000 new. For now I'm waiting patiently on (hopefully) a nice tax return and bonus in the spring.

Forgive the surface rust, I plan on blasting all that off and repainting it before I put it on. Oh and I'm pretty sure the passenger side attachment point got bent during shipping, so take that account when reading the measurements.

Have fun! :)

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00098-20100926-1452.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00099-20100926-1452.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00100-20100926-1452.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00101-20100926-1453.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00102-20100926-1453.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00103-20100926-1453.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00104-20100926-1454.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00105-20100926-1455.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00106-20100926-1455.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00108-20100926-1459.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00109-20100926-1459.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00110-20100926-1459.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00111-20100926-1500.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00112-20100926-1500.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00113-20100926-1501.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00114-20100926-1501.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00115-20100926-1501.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00116-20100926-1502.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00117-20100926-1502.jpg

[vt_maverick]

More pics + pics of it mounted from SPAZZ's gallery:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00118-20100926-1502.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00119-20100926-1503.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/342dsc03557.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/342dsc03559.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/342dsc03583.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/342dsc03763.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/342dsc03831.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/342dsc03554.jpg

[Marlin]

Nice pics, I am glad to see that my welds aren't the only ones that look like that:)

As for the winch, a lot of the Zu guys here run the harbor freight winch, being as it is less than 350 bucks, and comes from the same factory as the smittybuilt and mile marker winches. They even go so far as to repaint, and rebadge em. I personally used one on a rubicon, I thought it was a Warn the whole time, he added the wireless remote. Pretty cool, then he told me it was a rebadged generic. Nice. 20% coupons are routinely in the Sunday paper, and in Popular Science. They also have a matching hitch tray for 40 bucks.

[vt_maverick]

Thanks for the tip, that makes me feel a TON better! Wasn't looking forward to dropping that kind of ching. Think the HF winch is small enough to fit back there? Guess I need to compare the specs...

[Marlin]

Thanks for the tip, that makes me feel a TON better! Wasn't looking forward to dropping that kind of ching. Think the HF winch is small enough to fit back there? Guess I need to compare the specs...

i don't see why not, the solenoid is separate, just check out the measurements. I have thought about the winch up under my bumper, that way it makes contact before the frame rails.

[RallyDude]

Great build, want to make another? It looks fantastic.

Too bad my state requires a front license plate. Is that a cigarette lighter power plug to the left of the winch?

[vt_maverick]

Yeah right, there's a reason why I bought this from someone else, even if I had the tools I probably would end up cutting my arm in two or something. If I remember correctly SPAZZ said the plug was for the remote control.

[RallyDude]

That is an awesome mod. Besides the winching ability, you've strengthened the front bumper that could save the whole front end in a collision, and could save the car from the junkyard, by having an insurance company consider it totaled after a small fender bender.

Just wondering though, how is the handling with all that weight up front? I wouldn't be surprised if that mount and winch weigh close to 400lbs.

[vt_maverick]

Not sure how much a winch would weigh, but I believe the shipping weight on the bumper was somewhere north of 100 (maybe even 150) pounds. Add that to the Kilby skid plates and eventually the winch and I bet you do get close to 400 pounds or maybe even a little over.

Besides the obvious aesthetic upgrade, this is the primary reason I'm considering a big brake kit when the rotors/pads need replacement.

[SEBACOQUI]

what brand winch did you use? , or wich one do you recommend,I want to put it behind the bumper, thanks

[Makocross]

I use an older(5years) harbor freight 5,000 lbs winch welded to a 2" trailer hitch bar. I just ran heavy cables and plugs so I can plug it in the front or rear hitch. I just used it it to unstuck? My 32,000lbs motor home. The only casualty was the wire cable, a couple of kinks and "meat hooks". I think the HF 5,000 is strong enough but look for synthetic cable replacement. The 6 and 8,000lbs are not that much more expensive, but are bigger and heavier.
Mike

[vt_maverick]

I never ended up installing it after I realized how much of the lower front cladding had to be removed. Ask VXorado, I think he's working on a winch bumper right now as well.

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=23435&page=6

[tom4bren]

Great build, want to make another? It looks fantastic.

Too bad my state requires a front license plate. Is that a cigarette lighter power plug to the left of the winch?


I never ended up installing it after I realized how much of the lower front cladding had to be removed. Ask VXorado, I think he's working on a winch bumper right now as well.

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=23435&page=6

If Y'all come up with a design that everyone likes, I can take it to Welder Guy & Iron Pig to get estimates on making copies.

[EVO]

Looks sexy to me! I'd be interested!

[vt_maverick]

If you could figure out a way to preserve the lower front cladding I'd be interested as well...

[tom4bren]

If you could figure out a way to preserve the lower front cladding I'd be interested as well...

Sure ... no prob

I should have a finished product out by no later than 2015:)

Actually, I don't think that you'll ever be able to get a roller fairlead to fit without significant removal of cladding.

[VXorado]

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3274/IMG00119-20100926-1503.jpg

Ouch, does this mean Spazz sold his VX with a big square hole missing from the front cladding? :eek:


If you could figure out a way to preserve the lower front cladding I'd be interested as well...

You can use a hawse fairlead instead of the fairlead roller. The hawse version is much smaller and won't protrude like the roller. With the correct positioning, the hawse could fit exactly at the license plate bolt holes and then covered up using a license plate mount. Winch Incognito. :cool:

http://www.4wheelparts.com/aux_incl/images.ashx?i=73850s.jpg&partNo=WAR&w=400&h=400

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSsPfxuAlh0A7M5CKkBtsNaaMRVQpeYv ArwebFUm7bO-NORf4h4fA

[vt_maverick]

Actually, I don't think that you'll ever be able to get a roller fairlead to fit without significant removal of cladding.


You can use a hawse fairlead instead of the fairlead roller. The hawse version is much smaller and won't protrude like the roller. With the correct positioning, the hawse could fit exactly at the license plate bolt holes and then covered up using a license plate mount. Winch Incognito. :cool:

Cutting the license plate area isn't what worries me, it's the fact that SPAZZ removed the entire lower cladding area to make it fit. It's really hard to tell in the pics which is why I bought it to begin with. You can kind of tell in this pic:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/342dsc03554.jpg

I'd want to keep my VXC/rowhard front faux skid plate and I'm okay with cutting the center of it to make room for the fairlead. The problem is that the cuts to the bottom of the cladding remove the lower mounting holes. Sure you could drill new holes through the plate and rejigger it, but it's entirely possible that between the fairlead and new mounts the plate would stick off the cladding by a good inch or more.

[tom4bren]

You can use a hawse fairlead instead of the fairlead roller. The hawse version is much smaller and won't protrude like the roller. With the correct positioning, the hawse could fit exactly at the license plate bolt holes and then covered up using a license plate mount. Winch Incognito. :cool:

Yup, that'd be the ticket.

I was thinking about the same thing only conical shaped. I likey this one mo betta.

[BigSwede]

I wish I could delete this post entirely but it won't let me.

[BigSwede]

If there was a delete option I missed it. No big deal.

[tom4bren]

Edit ... Delete (bottom right corner) ... Delete message (bottom left corner) ... Delete this message (bottom right corner)

[BigSwede]

Uh Huh. Here is what I see after I hit edit. I don't see delete options anywhere.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/BigSwede/screenshotvx.png (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/BigSwede/media/screenshotvx.png.html)

Maybe that luxury is reserved for contributors...

[tom4bren]

:_confused

On mine there is a 'delete' between the 'save' and the 'go advanced'.

& now the bigger problem is that I've lost all interest in trying to figure it out:)

[vt_maverick]

Might be a site supporter feature only...

[VXorado]

Jay Dunford's old VX:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/P5174614.JPG

:thumbup:

[44ficus44]

this is sick.... i hate you all.... all i do is just keep adding to the car hajaha.... instead of a rav 4 on crack... now it looks like a rav 4 on roids ... poor VX, :p jajaha thanks for the new project!

[tom4bren]

ROFL

It's what we do!!!

[44ficus44]

next project accepted!!!!!!!!!!!!

[44ficus44]

and tom.... i hope my GF takes it like you did :p honey yea... um..... im outta $ cuz my VX needed brackets on its teeth hajaha

[UWVX89]

Has anyone decided to take up building these brackets to put the winch on our VX's? I'd love to buy one and put a winch on mine!

[Joe Darlington]

If there were enough interest, I could build these. The design would be a bit different, or should I say new and improved... Who would be seriously interested?

Joe D

[urbanterror]

If there were enough interest, I could build these. The design would be a bit different, or should I say new and improved... Who would be seriously interested?

Joe D

I would...if not I am definitely going to have a local welder do one up...a must!

:0)

[logman]

I would be interested - please PM me if this gets going. I can even put down a deposit if needed.

Sending me a PM is the best way to get me -

--Joel

[fotoxelovani]

hii

[fotoxelovani]

how can i sand my VX photo???

[tom4bren]

Post the picture(s) to your gallery & then you can insert them into your replies.

Or

You can just add a hyperlink to your replies to wherever you ordinarily share photos (photobucket, facebook, etc).

[LittleBeast]

If there were enough interest, I could build these. The design would be a bit different, or should I say new and improved... Who would be seriously interested?

Joe D

Joe D I would be down for one :-)

Please?

[Joe Darlington]

Joe D I would be down for one :-)

Please?

Going to look into doing this in the next few weeks, probably right after the Nov URE gathering.