Ok guys, I am wondering about winch bumpers (obviously). I would like to know what you have and what it can handle. And or, how difficult it would be to construct one on my own which would be able to handle a 12000lb winch. A friend of mine gut stuck the other day and couldn't move at all after hours of shoveling and yanking. This and other trips have led me to desire a winch so that even solo I need not worry.

 

mc and stuff like that. or you can fab your own if you wish try looking up wabfabs web site im sure he has one or can make one for a 12k#er

 

A 12K winch is pretty huge. That's what full size trucks use. Why so big?

 

I was thinking the same thing.

an 8000 lb winch could pull more in a double line pull than a 12k in a single line.

 

I got the trail gear winch mount, and it's beefy. I have a MM SI1200. Yeah I need the power.

 

I built my own winch mount out of 1/4" angle iron. Its simple to build. There are some pics.

 

^I think that design is awesome. I like it. How did you secure it to the frame? I only see 4 bolts.

 

Yeah maybe not that big, it's just my friends all have full sizes and I'm the runt with the Hilux. My thoughts were mainly if I should buy one or make one.

 

I am thinking that if you are asking you may not have the necessary skills to make sure it doesn't fail. Sorry just my opinion. Not trying to discourage you from trying just do a ton of research before you start.

Just cause you get a winch doesn't mean you will be able to get out of every situation. Practice other recovery techniques and maybe take other lines to avoid get stuck alone. It happened to me a few times in Alaska...even with a winch it still took a 6x6's PTO winch to get my butt out of some muskeg...

Same here, an 8K or maybe 9.5K winch. For self recovery the rule I have seen is figure 1.5x's your vehicle weight and that is your needed capacity. 8000lb winchs are pretty standard on Toyota trucks smaller than the '05+ Tacomas or Tundras (yeah I know I did not include LC's etc)

With a 12000lb winch sure you can pull out a F350 on 42's buried to his axles but you are all running the risk of damaging your frame. No Pizza or 6 pack of beer is worth wrecking your truck....

Have you heard of a snatch block?? Sure it makes for a slow pull speed but it also works on the pulley principle (doubles your capacity for those times you might need it) also helps you get line pulls to secure objects etc...

Robust design, I like it...it is secured in more than the 4 points? how big of winch are you going with?






I too went with the Trail Gear mount, welded to the frame (it has since been tweeked a little bit)
I believe they are rated to 9500(couldn't get on to trail-gear.com website down??) the front frame of Toyota trucks are stout but....



To the OP: Here is 12 pages of Toyota Front Winch Bumpers

http://www.badlandbumpers.com

 

Ok, an 8K, maybe 9.5K winch. What about just buying the basic receiver/winch mount from Trail Gear?

 

The winch mount is about $130 or so plus shipping. they are making some cool winch bumpers now based on the mount for around $350. Their website is still down (@ least for me, my wife probably blocked it).
It is a good peice of equipment...
that front reciever mount has come in handy:

 

I was thinking it would be a guarantee of the strength and I could build around it for cheaper.

 

Good call

 

I didn't have the other two bolts in when I took the pic. So there is 6 bolts holding it to the frame.