AOR Bumper winch install/mount?

[hour]

Hey all,

I finally broke down and ordered a winch to accompany my AOR winch bumper (plate style, from the group buy this summer).

I ended up getting the Superwinch LP8500 because someone had mentioned Scotty saying this winch would work with their bumpers. Cool deal. The item on Amazon says it includes a steel hawse/fairlead.

So - how would one go about mounting this? Do I need to buy a winch mounting plate, or drill the bumper, or are there already some sort of provisions on the bumper that I'm oblivious to?

Additionally, the 'steel hawse/fairlead' - anyone have experience with this in general, or more specifically on the AOR bumper? Er...does it fit? I'm placing another giant Amazon order of miscellaneous things including tree saver straps, extra d rings, snatch blocks, yadaya - I'll add a fairlead if someone has experience with this included one *not* working/fitting. Would love to have all of my ducks in a row before I throw this ogre on.

Thanks for any input - pictures are of course welcome I didn't shop around too much for a winch because this was mentioned as fitting, and that's better than finding out it doesn't fit op2: Plus, <$300 with free shipping was better than a lot of the alternatives.

 

[GVL]

Hey bud, good to hear from you again. Installed my M8000 recently and you do not need a winch plate, it bolts directly to the AOR bumper. The Warn was a perfectly snug fit with only about 1/4" clearance on 3 sides - has a beautifully integrated look IMO. I had to trim the bottom rung on the grille but it was simple since its plastic. Pull your grille off and set the winch in there first so you know exactly how much trim (if any) you need to do. In order to minimize the trimming (and cleaner look) I purchased a bracket from Warn that allows the controller box to be mounted at an angle rather than flat, your winch may or may not need something like this.

As far as the fairlead goes, I sold the roller fairlead and bought the lower profile steel Hawes instead, but a regular roller should fit just fine as well, it's just a matter of preference. If you plan on doing a LOT of winching you might want to stick with the roller. Let me know if you need any other pics or have any questions, good luck I think you'll dig it once it's installed.

 

[JayRolla]

Hey all,

I finally broke down and ordered a winch to accompany my AOR winch bumper (plate style, from the group buy this summer).

I ended up getting the Superwinch LP8500 because someone had mentioned Scotty saying this winch would work with their bumpers. Cool deal. The item on Amazon says it includes a steel hawse/fairlead.

So - how would one go about mounting this? Do I need to buy a winch mounting plate, or drill the bumper, or are there already some sort of provisions on the bumper that I'm oblivious to?

Additionally, the 'steel hawse/fairlead' - anyone have experience with this in general, or more specifically on the AOR bumper? Er...does it fit? I'm placing another giant Amazon order of miscellaneous things including tree saver straps, extra d rings, snatch blocks, yadaya - I'll add a fairlead if someone has experience with this included one *not* working/fitting. Would love to have all of my ducks in a row before I throw this ogre on.

Thanks for any input - pictures are of course welcome I didn't shop around too much for a winch because this was mentioned as fitting, and that's better than finding out it doesn't fit op2: Plus, <$300 with free shipping was better than a lot of the alternatives.

I literally just did this last weekend on my AOR plate. I installed the Superwinch Tiger 9500lb w/steel lead and fairlead.

The winch is awesome because it clears the grill perfectly. Smittybuilt your moving the box off the winch or cutting into grill. No cutting at all. The winch bolts right in. The fairlead is a little large and I had to drill new holes (pretty much enlarge the bolt hold down a bit) to install it. But it wasnt hard with a good drill and bit. Here is a crappy picture of it installed. First without fairlead, second with it installed. I would stick with the roller. The low profile is more for synthetic line not steel. Dont mind my crappy grill, LOL

 

[owyheerat]

Bolts right to bumper...

Installed my M8000 recently and you do not need a winch plate, it bolts directly to the AOR bumper. The Warn was a perfectly snug fit with only about 1/4" clearance on 3 sides - has a beautifully integrated look IMO. I had to trim the bottom rung on the grille but it was simple since its plastic. Pull your grille off and set the winch in there first so you know exactly how much trim (if any) you need to do.


View attachment 143434

I installed a Warn M8000 as well and it bolted perfectly to bumper...no modification (to bumper) needed at all. Like GVL I had to trim the bottom edge of my grill slightly. If I remember, you have a body lift, so you probably won't need to trim your grill. Sorry no pics...I'm at work...shhhhh.

Good luck

Durwin

 

[GVL]

I installed a Warn M8000 as well and it bolted perfectly to bumper...no modification (to bumper) needed at all. Like GVL I had to trim the bottom edge of my grill slightly. If I remember, you have a body lift, so you probably won't need to trim your grill. Sorry no pics...I'm at work...shhhhh.

Good luck

Durwin

How did you mount your controller box? Did you trim the grille to let it lay flat or did you angle it as well with the extra bracket? Hope you are pleased as much as I am with the nice tidy fit of the M8000.

 

[hour]

Niceee, thanks for the pics guys. Both look great. Hoping the LP8500 works like the Tiger and doesn't require grille trimming... mainly because my grille is held on with like two or three clips - the rest broke long ago imp:

I don't have the fancy fairlead I guess, so I'll see how the basic one works. I don't really plan on doing much winching (seldom wheel with other people, mostly solo - thus I don't go crazy) and because of that I highly doubt I'll be doing awkward angle winching. Looks like I can bump up the install to tomorrow though since I don't need a mounting plate.

I know there are a lot of threads on wiring but I can't find anyone doing a real basic one. Did you guys use these $60 solenoids and fancy crap? I have plenty of 2 gauge 100% copper strand battery wire and lug ends leftover from big 3 upgrade, but definitely don't have a solenoid.

 

[GVL]

Did you guys use these $60 solenoids and fancy crap? I have plenty of 2 gauge 100% copper strand battery wire and lug ends leftover from big 3 upgrade, but definitely don't have a solenoid.

The M8000 is contactor vs. solenoid so not quite sure what you're asking, but I can tell you wiring was as simple as it gets. One fat ground wire and a power cable directly to the battery and a smaller ground from the contactor box mounted directly to the frame - the radiator mount was in the perfect spot so used that for the contactor ground. If you haven't already done it, you might want to upgrade the battery connectors to accommodate the extras going to it. I just did it and looks a lot cleaner than craming everything in the stock connectors. Go for it and good luck - I thought the winch install was pretty fun since its the first one I have ever owned and everything lined up just right :thumb:

 

[JayRolla]

My superwinch came with everything for wiring. Simply run power to positive, ground to negative on battery and wrap with electrical tape.

 

[hour]

K, got the LP8500 installled today. Easy, but don't be stupid like me.

First thing I tried was removing my front lights so I could slip it under the stinger loop. No go, grille has to come off for this winch.

So, following proper technique, I still broke the remaining clips holding my grille on :frusty: but I figured that would happen. Then I bolted the winch in place.

Ok, winch on, forgot the fairlead whatever plate. Removed winch. The included one lined up (holes) but has a lip at the top that doesn't work right side up on the AOR bumper. I just flipped it upside down and then flipped the warning sticker upside down too. Problem solved. NOTE: The fairlead bolts supplied with the kit do not fit through the predrilled ones in the AOR bumper. It's extremely close so I threaded mine through, and the bolts will probably snap should I ever remove the fairlead. Do yourself a favor and enlarge them ever so slightly.

Sadly, with the washer and crush washer, the holes would no longer line up for the winch. Removed it again, skipped the washers...

Ok, so I installed the actual winch for a third time. All was well, wired it up - good to go. Put the stupid $30 winch cover I bought on and promptly realized I had forgotten my grille.

That involved removing the winch once again, some dremeling to the grille mounts, and gorilla force with the aid of a friend. The grille is held on completely by the force of the winch and some zip ties... so should I have to remove it in the future, it's going to suck.

Guess I'll run without a bag cause there's no way I can get the bag on with the grille being up against the control box. I also don't know what that yellow strap is, the diagram indicated it went there but it looks stupid and I don't see anyone else using it. Here's the final product and a flash of my puppy:

TL;DR - if you're using the AOR plate bumper and LP8500 Superwinch, install the fairlead first. I have no suggestions for the grille short of cutting it or going ghetto like I did. Tested, works, done deal for me. As much as I love my 4runner, I just have to accept that it's my secondary vehicle with a specific role, so perfection is out the window.

 

[Quadsbc]

Does anyone have a picture from above showing the winch clearance from the hood release and ac line?
[MENTION=106327]GVL[/MENTION] do you have any issues with the bumper touching the fender when your flexed out?

 

[JayRolla]

The tiger 9500 must have way more clearance. Nothing had to be trimmed. No where near ac line grill or latch. Got to test her on snow today. Worked awesome was right out of the snow drift I purposely hit stuck in.

 

[GVL]

Does anyone have a picture from above showing the winch clearance from the hood release and ac line?
[MENTION=106327]GVL[/MENTION] do you have any issues with the bumper touching the fender when your flexed out?

No, I have never noticed any issues with bumper or fender under hard flex. I was very pleased when I saw how clean the bumper lined up with OE parts once everything was bolted down.

 

[Jaysen4runner]

Hey guys, I love the bumper but why is there a gap between the bumper and lower headlight trim? Or is it just cause you guys have a BL?

 

[owyheerat]

Glad you got it...

[MENTION=101600]hour[/MENTION], that sounds like my projects. I'm glad you finally got, and it looks good.
[MENTION=106327]GVL[/MENTION], I mounted my control box remote, under the hood next to the battery. I had to fab (not my specialty) a new battery box, and a bracket off to the side to mount it to.

Here is a pic



Sorry, for blurry pics...in a hurry.

Durwin

 

[MasonT4R]

Hey guys, I love the bumper but why is there a gap between the bumper and lower headlight trim? Or is it just cause you guys have a BL?

They are running body lifts. This bumper doesn't have any adjustments for body lifts. Mine lines up nice and tight.

 

[Jaysen4runner]

They are running body lifts. This bumper doesn't have any adjustments for body lifts. Mine lines up nice and tight.

Ok cool..that what I though!

 

[JayRolla]

Hey guys, I love the bumper but why is there a gap between the bumper and lower headlight trim? Or is it just cause you guys have a BL?

Yes body lift, when I go SAS I plan on removing the body lift. So im building my armor around my frame, not around my body.

 

[MasonT4R]

Installed a Tiger Shark 9.5 with synthetic line. Very tight fit without a body lift. It contacts the grill and I notched it for the positive power cable but didn't feel like I had to trim the bottom of the grill where it contacted the winch. I also tapped the screw holes for the fairlead because there is no room for a bolt on the backside.

 

[Road Bull]

AOR + Warn M8000

Just added this today. As @GVL has noted, it is a tight fit. I did not buy the optional angled harware piece that mounts the control box to the winch. This just meant I had to cut more grill to make it fit. But my grill is not a fancy Satoshi mod grill or anything, so it didn't bother me at all to make some room. I still need to put my shackles on though.