I think a winch would fit in there?
 

hey everybody... i was looking around the 4runner today and theres quite alot of room between the front lower bumped and the lower radiator... do you think a winch would fit in there? I have my old warn winch box/brush guard and it looks like I could almost slide it up in there, make brackets and id be on my way... id really like to have the winch all enclosed.. plus i already have a westin brush guard and I dont want to/cant afford a new bumper... has anyone done this before or tried? let me know.

I've done it on 2 Yotas. I cannot imagine the winch will fit in there completely, but I've not looked closely at the 99.
I put a winch on an 85 and a 90 by cutting out the 'bumper grill' area and frenching the winch in as far as it will go. The radiator support bracing crossbeam is the limiter on the 90. On the 85 I tucked it up snug to the radiator, just enough clearance so it wouldn't rub. No way it could have been fully enclosed on either one. (I had forgotten how shiny that black 85 was when it was new - that pic was taken when it was 3 months old...)
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/90Toyo...P9040042sm.jpg
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/85_4Ru...hInstalsml.jpg

Cubuff4runner did it but with a little fab work:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/finished-front-rear-bars-23727/

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4488/jeff11il.jpg

Wow, That would look good on my toy. I can't believe how good that looks
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/85_4Ru...hInstalsml.jpg

cubuff4runner did a NICE job! I like that.

I then put fog lights on either side of it, it was hardly noticeable. Here it is on the Runner.
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/85_4Ru...cs/winch85.jpg
The mount for the 85 was very very simple. As I remember it, the winch had to fit between something - bumper brackets? Anyway, the Warn 6000 and 8000 fit, I remember that. Here's a crude drawing I made for someone on Yotatech. It bolts to the tow hook bolt locations.

The bracket for the 90 is somewhat more complex. But its got 10 bolts to factory frame holes, so it's stout enough. As long as my ugly welds hold....
Also note that I have a 3" body lift. Without that you would need to cut the bumper a lot more.
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/90Toyo...P8200086sm.jpg

flamed...any close up pictures of this winch on your truck.. i wanna do somethign like yours. and i have the same light bar. Any help would be totally appreciated.

thanks
colin

I had a couple of other people ask the same thing so I put up some pics and my crude drawings.

I've done 2 custom mounts, one on my 85 years ago and one for the 90.

The one for the 90 only works if you have about 3" of body lift. It would completely different without the body lift. It's fairly complex.
I believe in overkill with this type of thing - it is VERY strong...
Pics are at:
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/85_4R...cs/P8200088.JPG
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/85_4R...cs/P8200087.JPG
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/85_4R.../P8200086sm.jpg
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/85_4R.../P8200085sm.jpg

The one for the 85 works with no body lift. It's very simple. A similar mount would work for 86-95 as well with no body lift.
Pics:
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/85_4R...s/winch85sm.jpg
http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/85_4R...chInstalsml.jpg

You can easily take measurements from your own frame and winch.

By the way, in response to the above discussions - the 85 had a Warn M6000. I never wanted for power - it was Always up to the task. The M8000 is the same size but heavier. Nothing larger would fit in there properly.

Also, I watched a guy with a 12,000 tear the frame of his truck - literally! Bent the frame rails and tore some welds. Sure, he was a total idiot, but you do have to match the power with the need.

2" body lift

http://home.comcast.net/~hheitman/winch.jpg

damn that looks good and clean

Here is where I fitted the winch on my Prado (very similar to 4Runner)
:gijoe:
http://www.smart-club.com.hk/photos/...Thumbnail2.jpg
http://www.smart-club.com.hk/photos/...Thumbnail2.jpg