BudBuilt Winch Plate

SeattleMike said:
We've never seen a follow-up posting to any of the mounts that tried this location. Zero reports on performance, especially off-angle pulling or the like, which makes me wonder if they didn't accidentally rip off their front end.

Harper7's got a consistent rep for reporting back, so I look forward to his report.
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Looking at the BB mount, it seem very unlikely to twist.

I sure the torsion test will be fun to watch.
 
SeattleMike said:
c'mon Harper, don't tell me you have tried it yet.
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Tried it on what?lol
I trust Bud's design and fab skills as he is a mechanical engineer.Have you read Budbuilt's profile and his background? About BudBuiltI'm not really worried about the strength as it's 3/16" steel plate tied into the frame endrails . Same as every aftermarket bumper out with a winch attachment, including ARB,Shrockworks, Demello and the one he is designing for Gadget's truck! There's no rocket science there.

I just got it finished up late last night.The hardest part is where to put the solenoid box as they are a little different for different winch manufacturers.Mine is also a little different then the production ones will be as it was a prototype and was cut and welded to get it right for the fairlead for/aft position. I wanted it back in a little more for a roller fairlead. I had to redo my PIAA fog install so it took a while to fab brackets that attach to the winch plate and wasn't finished til after 3am. Going to do a better write-up later when I get some time to go through some pics. Busy at work tonight with a couple of engines over due and a bunch of people out sick.
Here's one pic with the bumper cover ready to go back on ...I put in a Warn M8000 winch with 10k synthetic rope and it's all wired and ready.
Picture064-1.jpg~original
 
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harper7 said:
Tried it on what?lol
I trust Bud's design and fab skills as he is a mechanical engineer.Have you read Budbuilt's profile and his background? About BudBuiltI'm not really worried about the strength as it's 3/16" steel plate tied into the frame endrails . Same as every aftermarket bumper out with a winch attachment, including ARB,Shrockworks, Demello and the one he is designing for Gadget's truck! There's no rocket science there.

I just got it finished up late last night.The hardest part is where to put the solenoid box as they are a little different for different winch manufacturers.Mine is also a little different then the production ones will be as it was a prototype and was cut and welded to get it right for the fairlead for/aft position. I wanted it back in a little more for a roller fairlead. I had to redo my PIAA fog install so it took a while to fab brackets that attach to the winch plate and wasn't finished til after 3am. Going to do a better write-up later when I get some time to go through some pics. Busy at work tonight with a couple of engines over due and a bunch of people out sick.
Here's one pic with the bumper cover ready to go back on ...I put in a Warn M8000 winch with 10k synthetic rope and it's all wired and ready.
Picture064-1.jpg~original
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Harper - wondering how the winch plate is working out. I've got a Warn HS9500i with the integrated solenoid and I'm wondering if it'll fit as-is inside the bumper cover. I took a couple of quick measurements and the winch measures just under 10" tall. Taking a look at the Warn website and the dimensions for the M8000 with the solenoid mounted as you have it is roughly about 10" tall as well. Do you think the 9500i will fit?

BTW, truck looks awesome - have you had to use the winch yet? :-) :thumb3::thumb3::thumb3:
 
proquip said:
Harper - wondering how the winch plate is working out. I've got a Warn HS9500i with the integrated solenoid and I'm wondering if it'll fit as-is inside the bumper cover. I took a couple of quick measurements and the winch measures just under 10" tall. Taking a look at the Warn website and the dimensions for the M8000 with the solenoid mounted as you have it is roughly about 10" tall as well. Do you think the 9500i will fit?

BTW, truck looks awesome - have you had to use the winch yet? :-) :thumb3::thumb3::thumb3:
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It wouldn't fit "as is" because if you look close in the pic,there is a center support that would be in the way. That's why I had to put the solenoid all the way over to the pass. side as far as I could.

You could cut part of that support out and just brace it off the 9500i though.It's pretty flimsy steel and doesn't do much anyways.Where there's a will there's a way!!

Thanks for the Comps. Haven't used the winch yet but going to Barnwell Mountain(Gilmer) next weekend for trail clean up so maybe then!
 
Any use report yet? I have yet to see anyone review any winch solution using that location and that's starting to concern me.
 
Has anyone done this mod that can report on it? Harper, not sure what the status of yours is...

I love how stock it looks, its basically perfect for me. I'm not concerned with strength, Bud has done a ton of this type of work and no complaints anywhere. I am a little concerned about how much it blocks air flow, is that valid?

Thanks guys.
 
offroadingatc said:
Has anyone done this mod that can report on it? Harper, not sure what the status of yours is...

I love how stock it looks, its basically perfect for me. I'm not concerned with strength, Bud has done a ton of this type of work and no complaints anywhere. I am a little concerned about how much it blocks air flow, is that valid?

Thanks guys.
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I've had it in for awhile now but haven't had to use it................yet. Like insurance.....feels good just knowing it's there.Just let it out and rewound it a couple of times. Not worried about Bud's engineering as it connects to the frame just like a aftermarket bumper.

Since then I did buy a Warn wireless remote for it in case I had to pull myself out I could use it in the drivers seat.Here's the rest of the pics and write-up in my build thread Warn Winch /BudBuilt

Edit: forgot to answer your question about air flow. I monitor my water temps with a Scangauge II and we had a brutal summer with 71 days over a 100 here in the Metroplex. The temp never got over 202 and that was sitting in traffic on a 107 degree day. The thermostat opens at 195 degrees for a reference. IMO I would try to not block the upper section of the radiator with lights and such too as it does need some airflow.Another note is I read ScanGauge II's new firmware(4.02 I believe) now monitors Toyota's transmission fluid temps also.
 
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harper7 said:
I've had it in for awhile now but haven't had to use it................yet. Like insurance.....feels good just knowing it's there.Just let it out and rewound it a couple of times. Not worried about Bud's engineering as it connects to the frame just like a aftermarket bumper.

Since then I did buy a Warn wireless remote for it in case I had to pull myself out I could use it in the drivers seat.Here's the rest of the pics and write-up in my build thread Warn Winch /BudBuilt

Edit: forgot to answer your question about air flow. I monitor my water temps with a Scangauge II and we had a brutal summer with 71 days over a 100 here in the Metroplex. The temp never got over 202 and that was sitting in traffic on a 107 degree day. The thermostat opens at 195 degrees for a reference. IMO I would try to not block the upper section of the radiator with lights and such too as it does need some airflow.Another note is I read ScanGauge II's new firmware(4.02 I believe) now monitors Toyota's transmission fluid temps also.
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Thanks for that link, I love how yours looks. I'm was torn because i loved the winch bumper but i also like the stock look a lot, and now that I have the option of keeping the stock bumper and getting a winch, I'm sold.

I, like you, am pretty confident in it's strength where it is mounted. My main concern was cooling, but considering I have never seen 100, nor probably ever will, you have put that out of my mind. Thanks
 
offroadingatc said:
I'm was torn because i loved the winch bumper but i also like the stock look a lot, and now that I have the option of keeping the stock bumper and getting a winch, I'm sold.

I, like you, am pretty confident in it's strength where it is mounted. My main concern was cooling, but considering I have never seen 100, nor probably ever will, you have put that out of my mind. Thanks
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If you are going to install a winch please don't forget to report it here. I'm interested too but I definetely won't do it myself and I don't really know any mechanic I can fully trust in GTA with that sort of job. Oh and by the way 100F it's 37C - we might see that in Toronto or at least get pretty close to that for few days.
 
scanny said:
If you are going to install a winch please don't forget to report it here. I'm interested too but I definetely won't do it myself and I don't really know any mechanic I can fully trust in GTA with that sort of job. Oh and by the way 100F it's 37C - we might see that in Toronto or at least get pretty close to that for few days.
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I'm torn between doing it myself and just heading down to NC to get it put on (I guess I'd get skids at the same time) I head down to Hatteras to kite board every few years, next spring might have to make it happen :)

Your right, it can get pretty hot here, I guess what I was getting at was if it works in Texas, Im pretty sure it'll work here.
 
Harper7,

How do you use the winch clutch? is there room to reach down with the hood open? Looks great.
I just ordered a winch plate from Bud.
 
I just ordered a winch plate too. I think I will mount the solenoid/remote box in the engine bay. As for the clutch, if you are going with a warn winch you can index it by 90 degrees so that the lever is toward the front.

What winch are you going with? I have a M8000 on my FJ but I can't seem to find a great deal on another so I think I am going to go with a warn VR8000 this time with the best price I can find is $330, including mail in rebate.
 
BJ Cruiser said:
I just ordered a winch plate too. I think I will mount the solenoid/remote box in the engine bay. As for the clutch, if you are going with a warn winch you can index it by 90 degrees so that the lever is toward the front.

What winch are you going with? I have a M8000 on my FJ but I can't seem to find a great deal on another so I think I am going to go with a warn VR8000 this time with the best price I can find is $330, including mail in rebate.
Click to expand...

I think I am gonna get the VR8000 or VR10000 but the new S version if there out yet. It comes with the synthetic rope.
 
Harper7,
Did you move or bend the power steering cooling hose that runs in front were the winch would go. Is was thinking I could just use a tubing bender and modify it a little.
 
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