With Savage bumpers sitting on the garage floor awaiting priming and painting, and installation, so I don't have to remove the front bumper again later, I figured that I might want to install a transmission cooler beforehand, and a winch at the time of install.

From the Savage website, with respect to winches:

Winch plate mounting holes are drilled for most 5000-9500 model low-profile winches. If using a winch with an integrated solenoid, such as the Warn 9500, trimming of the front plastic grill will be necessary. Remote solenoids are normally located in the engine compartment but can also be mounted to the bumper near the winch. A Hause-type fairlead is recommended when using a winch but some roller fairleads will fit.

If you have or had a Savage front bumper with a winch installed, can you please share which one/s? Thanks.

This is why I did not buy a Savage front bumper, or any other bumper that required cutting the vehicle to fit a winch.

I got the Smittybilt XRC 9500. The remote solenoid mounts perfectly on the passenger side in the bumper and is well protected. I think there is a pic somewhere on here.

Installed smitybilt x2o 10k winch. Installed selenoid inside the engine bay. Life’s great.

Thanks guys. Those both have the 10 x 4.5 inch bolt pattern and are apparently the same dimensions: 22.3 x 5.4 x 9.4 inches.

So, makes sense if one fits, the other should, at least from what little I know...

@rkntoy - Went through your picture album here and your broken things thread, and didn't see such a photo. Sounds like you have the solenoid well-positioned though. I'll keep looking...

@kolelt - For the x20, it looks like the solenoid has two designated locations on the winch, the top middle and on the top passenger side. Did you encounter fitment issues in those spots that had you locate it in the engine bay?

Thanks again.

Installed it in the engine bay.

I think he's asking why you installed it in the engine bay - did it not fit on the top middle or top passenger side?

I have the same winch and an ARB
I've been wrestling with where to install the solenoid given how short the supplied cables are... pics would be awesome.

Thanks guys.

For some reason I cannot search from the main forum page as I'm only logged in when within a thread... Weird. So, using Google search "3rd gen 4Runner winch rkntoy" helped me find this post:

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/2468520-post26.html

So, that might be the photo he was referring to...

From what I've read, Smittybilt apparently provides relatively short leads. So, going into the engine bay would require extensions, and I imagine some rather thick cables.

With the Smittybilt XRC 9500 remote solenoid mounting nicely inside the Savage bumper, per rkntoy, I wonder if the Smittybilt X2O's can be located in the same location. If the approx the same size, I imagine so...

EDIT/ADD: Got off the phone with SB and contrary to what I stated earlier, the overall dimensions of the X2O 10K are slightly bigger than the XRC 9500. The web is not so accurate on a few measurables, so it helps to call. My notes:

XRC 9500, Model #98495 (synthetic)

Dimensions = 20.8 x 6.3 x 7.8
Motor HP = 6.6
Electrical Warranty = 3 yrs
Water/grime-proofing = IP67
Weight = 60 lbs

X2O 10K, Model #98510 (synthetic)

Dimensions = 22.3 x 5.4 x 9.4
Motor HP = 6.6 (geared differently than the XRC 9500)
Electrical Warranty = 5 yrs
Water/grime-proofing = IP68
Weight = 67 lbs

The solenoids for each are not that much different in size, both about 3" high, by 5.5-6", by 3.5-5.5". The X2O is a bit larger overall, while the XRC is slightly bigger on one side...

Having just looked at the Savage front bumper, taken measurements, remote mounting either solenoid where rkntoy did looks doable. The X2O at 22.3 long would fit snugly as the Savage allows for about 23.3".

With a $172 credit on Amazon, plus 33 bucks in cashback, I'll be making my purchase there. The difference between the two is 95 dollars. Leaning toward the X2O...

Moving the solenoid so that it attaches behind the grill is not really that difficult and there are many places it could go.

You did make me go back and look at my build thread and I don't have pictures of the mounting point of the Smittybilt XRC9500 that I stuffed in there. If I remember correctly I didn't need longer wire, though I may very well have created longer wires from remaining cables from the dual battery upgrade.

That is two things I very much contemplated before getting a winch: dual batteries to help power the thing along with a high output alternator.

Thanks for chiming-in. I think SB provides 5' of cable. Not sure where I read or heard that though... I'll look for spots behind the grille too. I'll be installing a transmission cooler there soon though so space will be more limited.

I've bookmarked some good discussions on dual batteries and increased output alternators. Glad you brought that up as I should revisit that again. Thanks.

I simply did not want it in the elements. Most installs I seen, people usually install solenoids in the engine bay because they have to notch the grill. I just don’t see it happening unless the bumper sticks out really really far. There’s nothing wrong with installing in the engine bay. Can install a winch switch inside, or most winches come with wireless remote.

Shit, cut that stupid Toyota grill so the solenoid fits. That's what I did to fit a Warn M8000 winch on my CBI Hybrid bumper. I guess if you have a fancy pants Satoshi grill you might think I'm nuts to suggest cutting into something so important. I think the Satoshi grill adds what, 30hp?

Maybe I'm weird but I actually like the look of the solenoid notched into the grill. I'm also a Function over Form kind of guy. Function is way more important than looks. Some people will spend money on a lift and new tires before they even take a look at the mechanical health of the vehicle.

Anyways, I'll get off my soapbox now. Happy Modding!

Good to hear from you Tim.

Function first guy here too. I'd cut the grille if I felt that was the best place. It seems that some like to keep the solenoid out of the elements though, protected in general. Also, where possible, I like to limit the placement of items in the path of airflow through the heat-exchangers.

Enjoy your upcoming trip!

I don't think the solenoid exposed to the elements is a big deal. I'll give you that the solenoid will block some air flow through the radiator but what blocks even more air is my CBI bumper. The OEM bumper has wind flow channels built into the lower part while my CBI bumper has solid plates. Looking at your Savage bumper with a winch installed, you'll probably have less air flow as well through the lower part of your radiator. My 98 with all the mods does run hotter than my 2000. But, my 98 is also carting around an extra 700 pounds all the time with the aftermarket bumpers, skid plates, rock rails and roof rack.