Hey guys have been going at it for the past 7 hours trying to install the budbuilt hidden winch plate, of course didnt come with any instructions. Everything is fairly simple but i am stuck on the part where the 2 extra metal peaces go, they look like support braces, 2 peaces of steel bent in an L with one hole, everyway i tried i cant get it to fit, and the stock nut wont go on the bolt with these things in place. All other threads i see mention nothing about these peaces....
Help with Budbuilt hidden winch mount install!
- Thread starter outrnm
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so the plate that i got does not look like this
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/152556-bud-built-hidden-winch.html
in that thread the plate already has intergrated L supports, the one i got has the brackets separate from the main plate :dammit::dammit::dammit:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/152556-bud-built-hidden-winch.html
in that thread the plate already has intergrated L supports, the one i got has the brackets separate from the main plate :dammit::dammit::dammit:
gshadow325
New member
btw, just to clarify, i put the wrong one on. bud sent me a 4th and 5th gen
that wasnt buds fault, it was mine...that actually turned out real good!he basically talking about these brackets circled in red
you need to put those "L" brackets in the space circled in this next picture.
He got a 4th gen but the new updated with gen with separate support brackets.
old one had it already welded on. new version does not. you need to make it fit like this in the picture below circled in red
gshadow325
New member
the new version is made so the bumper does not have to be removed. it can just slide in
haha.. bumper takes 10 min to pull. i wonder how you can install the big u bolt with the bumper cover installed?
yes we have looked at all the pics multiple times, i am sure i have the 4th gen not the 5th gen plate. The "L" brackets are a nightmare and yes why the hell didnt Bud just weld them on :sad: anyway we tried the brackets and they dont really sit right and the mounting holes are too small, so you can NOT use the existing nut as the nut has the "hat" on it for more surface area, and there is not enough space on the L bracket to use that nut. Now if i get a nut without the hat its almost too small and doesnt sit flush against the L bracket and thats where all the stress is during a pull.
everything is torn apart the plate itself is very easy to slide in (30 min) but we have been stuck on these brackets for at last 8 hours now with 3 people trying, we must have taked the plate off and on 15 different times. bumper to come off is a peace if cake compared to these brackets.
i am almost tempted to just leave the brackets off, the brackets get bolted to the frame and push against the support, during a winch pull seems like all forces are PULLING not pushing so i dont see how these brackets are even needed. In case of a crash where the support would be pushed in the brackets might keep the budbuilt plate safe thats about it.
oh boy....
everything is torn apart the plate itself is very easy to slide in (30 min) but we have been stuck on these brackets for at last 8 hours now with 3 people trying, we must have taked the plate off and on 15 different times. bumper to come off is a peace if cake compared to these brackets.
i am almost tempted to just leave the brackets off, the brackets get bolted to the frame and push against the support, during a winch pull seems like all forces are PULLING not pushing so i dont see how these brackets are even needed. In case of a crash where the support would be pushed in the brackets might keep the budbuilt plate safe thats about it.
oh boy....
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btw, just to clarify, i put the wrong one on. bud sent me a 4th and 5th gen
he basically talking about these brackets circled in red
you need to put those "L" brackets in the space circled in this next picture.
He got a 4th gen but the new updated with gen with separate support brackets.
old one had it already welded on. new version does not. you need to make it fit like this in the picture below circled in red
YES! This looks correct problem is the new L brackets will get stacked onto the existing winch plate instead of being on same plate, very hard to get it in there and now the mounting holes are too narrow so the stock nut wont go on, and aftermarket smaller nut sits crooked and one side falls into the bracket hole, if the brakets were bigger with more surface area and a bigger bolt hole we would be done long ago, or if the bracket was already welded on would be even better.
anyway truck is sitting all torn apart until someone can figure this out.
opcorn:gshadow325
New member
I must be real real lucky to put the wrong one on then. All I needed was some air tools to grind that oem bolt off and slide in a longer one with some washers and nylon locking nut.
So a good thing came out of my mistake, a quick and painless install?
Mine was a similar issue but it would be me stacking the curt hitch and the winch plate.
So a good thing came out of my mistake, a quick and painless install?
Mine was a similar issue but it would be me stacking the curt hitch and the winch plate.
noshortcuts
New member
Yikes, those pics aren't helping my motivation to pick mine up from fedex and install 
Have you tried contacting Bud yet? - just to make sure you have the right parts, and maybe some install advice? I hope you get it sorted soon!
Have you tried contacting Bud yet? - just to make sure you have the right parts, and maybe some install advice? I hope you get it sorted soon!
gshadow325
New member
oh yeah your brake booster is in the way
gshadow325
New member
seriously, get a grinder and cut that OEM bolt off.
my truck was in a accident from the previous owner. so body shop welded a bolt to that spot. i grinded it off and slid a longer stronger bolt with a washer and nylon locking nut
my truck was in a accident from the previous owner. so body shop welded a bolt to that spot. i grinded it off and slid a longer stronger bolt with a washer and nylon locking nut
Well it looks like right parts, just a pain in the ass design. About all I could suggest would be to remove the stick bolts And replace them with done grade 8 or 10.9 hardware that is not fixed and might allow you a little more flexibility. Make sure to use big washer or flaired nut
got Bud on the phone, he was very helpful i had it right thats just the design. so got a grade 8 bolts in there but now the U shape holes dont line up. I am just going to redrill them, so taking the plate off again and off to the machine shop.
fun thanksgiving weekend :laugh:
fun thanksgiving weekend :laugh:
no way to get the washer in there, just no space. i got the nuts however, after this install i am sure Bud will be doing a new designed version. :madgrin:
looking at the pics here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/152556-bud-built-hidden-winch.html
The U bracket has plenty of space, mine is not like that it wont fit or clear the bumper support bar. I think the bolts were just drilled at the wrong angle in relation to the support bar, if they were 10% straighter i would be wheeling right now!
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/152556-bud-built-hidden-winch.html
The U bracket has plenty of space, mine is not like that it wont fit or clear the bumper support bar. I think the bolts were just drilled at the wrong angle in relation to the support bar, if they were 10% straighter i would be wheeling right now!
This is disappointing to read. I have the old welded design (circa October 2013) and other than having to grind off rust/corrosion on my support mine slipped right in place. I admit there was some swearing and cussing before I decided to grind & cleanup my stock parts. And I got a little frustrated with the oem bumper support bolts. So I ended up busting half of them out and replaced them with grade 8 bolts.
Sounds like Bud should have kept the old design. Wonder if it was cheaper to build the new one without all the parts welded?
Sounds like Bud should have kept the old design. Wonder if it was cheaper to build the new one without all the parts welded?
