The LFD Off Road Thread

[Unretired]

I'm a noob so please have mercy on me. I just ordered the smittybilt gen 3 9500 and a victory4x4 blitz, but then saw this bumper afterwards. i can still cancel the victory if needed.

for those of you who have the LFD bumper, do you have any regrets/concerns having the winch exposed? Would you have also preferred a light mount and/or bull bar like the victory has?

Any opinions from people who chose alternatives would be appreciated as well. One thing I do kind of regret in any hidden winch scenario is losing the handy +12v post on the control box for the winch, as it keeps you from having to open your hood to hook up a compressor.

No regrets - every time I use it I am sure I made the right decision for spool access.

My last two concerns on the LFD were

1 - UV Exposure on synthetic line
After doing more research I decided it wasn't that big of a deal.
These lines came from the fishing industry.
Plus the line isn't that exposed, particularly with the last several wraps covered in an abrasion sleeve.
I make sure the sleeve covers the line sticking out of the hawse to the hook.
Thought about a thimble, but too much $$.

2 - Winch freezing up in a block in snow & sleet
Between sun and a warm engine, I haven't really faced this problem since I don't live in that snowy of an area.
I bought a $15 winch cover if I'm heading out in bad weather.
I assume if necessary I can whack the crusty outer covering off and then uncover a fairly protected winch.
We will see if it ever happens.

 

[007Tacoma]

I'm a noob so please have mercy on me. I just ordered the smittybilt gen 3 9500 and a victory4x4 blitz, but then saw this bumper afterwards. i can still cancel the victory if needed.

for those of you who have the LFD bumper, do you have any regrets/concerns having the winch exposed? Would you have also preferred a light mount and/or bull bar like the victory has?

Any opinions from people who chose alternatives would be appreciated as well. One thing I do kind of regret in any hidden winch scenario is losing the handy +12v post on the control box for the winch, as it keeps you from having to open your hood to hook up a compressor.

I have thought about a winch cover... but I haven't needed it. Honestly, I have zero regrets with my LFD Hybrid front bumper, and I have zero plans to change to anything else unless LFD wants to add some tubular extensions to my Hybrid... I would totally buy into that.

 

[mteolus]

I have thought about a winch cover... but I haven't needed it. Honestly, I have zero regrets with my LFD Hybrid front bumper, and I have zero plans to change to anything else unless LFD wants to add some tubular extensions to my Hybrid... I would totally buy into that.

Glad everyone likes it. I am going to get one. Can any winch fit on it and is the electrical install easy?

 

[Unretired]

Glad everyone likes it. I am going to get one. Can any winch fit on it and is the electrical install easy?

I'm sure someone can chime in with a winch that doesn't fit, but most of the normal horizontal layout winches will fit.
Wide is not a problem.
Depth - may or may not have to bend the cooler line behind it (I didn't).
Height - taller is less convenient - things (like controls) start getting behind grill and harder to reach from access hole area.

I think my Engo fits pretty well.
Easy to get to clutch.
Plugging in solenoid was getting annoying, so I bought a 3' extension that I always leave plugged in and coiled around the base of the winch.
Now it takes me 10 seconds to plug in the controller and mess with the clutch.
I'm sure there are similar options with other winch brands.

Not to get too far off LFD topic - but I'd say stick with a big, name brand winch with history and service.
Warn, Engo, Mile Marker, Ramsey, SuperWinch, ?
I'm sure you'll get other folks chiming in about all others that are just as good... but you bought a Toyota for reason.
Get a Toyota-winch not a Yugo-Winch.

 

[Unretired]

Glad everyone likes it. I am going to get one. Can any winch fit on it and is the electrical install easy?

I didn't answer the electrical.
I went easy - just hooked it up and its always "hot".
Piece of cake and lots of room.
Bumper has zero affect on this really.

If you are concerned about hot wiring or want to go fancy, you can make it harder.
There are tons of threads with pros & cons of disconnects, dash switches, ...
I figured I could modify if I wanted in the future.
Just recently ran lights and a few other electrical mods.
So I know what I'd do now, just not sure it's worth it.

 

[pantalones]

Thanks everyone. Great advice. I did get the smitty xrc 3rd gen 9500 and I'm still on the fence about the LRD vs the victory 4x4 but i know I'll be happy with either. In my case I am only off-road about once ever 2 months at most so i'm not making some decision that will change my life, it can happily be a "live and learn" scenario.

 

[007Tacoma]

Glad everyone likes it. I am going to get one. Can any winch fit on it and is the electrical install easy?

If it helps, I have two videos about this...

The first is the LFD Hidden Winch Mount which shows the bulk of the process to install. I also used a huge WARN winch in this video that shows a big winch can fit with no issue. The install process if very similar with both - you just need to cut more with the hybrid bumper.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S47Ho7YH_x4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The second video is the LFD Hybrid Bumper which I upgraded to for the winch access. I need to redo this video, but this lets you see how that Engo E10000 winch fits in there. In there you can see that we used the recovery points, but not the winch. Someone beat me to the punch.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5mjV2m-0e94" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[NotaTRD]

Dang, waiting for the tranny and transfer case skids I ordered to ship is torture, torture I tell ya!!

 

[mteolus]

If it helps, I have two videos about this...

The first is the LFD Hidden Winch Mount which shows the bulk of the process to install. I also used a huge WARN winch in this video that shows a big winch can fit with no issue. The install process if very similar with both - you just need to cut more with the hybrid bumper.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S47Ho7YH_x4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The second video is the LFD Hybrid Bumper which I upgraded to for the winch access. I need to redo this video, but this lets you see how that Engo E10000 winch fits in there. In there you can see that we used the recovery points, but not the winch. Someone beat me to the punch.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5mjV2m-0e94" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Thanks for the reviews. Good stuff. I will say though, you need to get a gas tank skid. I delayed getting one for a while and finally put one on. Went to Williams Pass in Colorado in August and definitely needed it.

 

[007Tacoma]

Thanks for the reviews. Good stuff. I will say though, you need to get a gas tank skid. I delayed getting one for a while and finally put one on. Went to Williams Pass in Colorado in August and definitely needed it.

I should have made a video of "one" of the many times that I banged out the fuel tank skid after a trip. However, most of the times I banged it out were when I was really doing stupid stuff. I really didn't need to after any of our Colorado, Utah, or New Mexico trips. All of the times I destroyed it were going to places I shouldn't have at Hidden Falls Adventure Park in Texas.

That being said... I am waiting for LFD to create a new Gas Tank Skid. op2:

 

[mteolus]

I should have made a video of "one" of the many times that I banged out the fuel tank skid after a trip. However, most of the times I banged it out were when I was really doing stupid stuff. I really didn't need to after any of our Colorado, Utah, or New Mexico trips. All of the times I destroyed it were going to places I shouldn't have at Hidden Falls Adventure Park in Texas.

That being said... I am waiting for LFD to create a new Gas Tank Skid. op2:

Wow, didn't know they didn't have one. I put a RCI one on mine. I like.

 

[NotaTRD]

Got around to painting my front skid yesterday. One less thing to do once the rest of my skid plates arrive. Looks better in black.

 

[Anand]

It only seems fair to share what LFD Posted on Facebook today....

 

[007Tacoma]

It only seems fair to share what LFD Posted on Facebook today....

I know... I want this so badly. I love how it looks.

My only fear: weight. I already use my 4.0L 1GRFE to move a mountain's worth of weight. I'm afraid to add any more...

...BUT IT LOOKS SO GOOD...
:jaw:

 

[DannyLlama]

It only seems fair to share what LFD Posted on Facebook today....

Maybe I'm missing it, what's the major difference from their current front bumper.

 

[Anand]

My only fear: weight. I already use my 4.0L 1GRFE to move a mountain's worth of weight. I'm afraid to add any more...

At this point, what's a little more weight, mine is on order

Maybe I'm missing it, what's the major difference from their current front bumper.

Regular front bumper

New Expedition bumper

Things I notice, slightly smaller winch opening, bull bar/headlight hoops, wider lower section, wider wings, round light openings, and generally looks a bit more squared off

 

[Drobs]

Went to the Rendezvous in the Ozarks off road / overlanding event last weekend. Needed to mount my cheap Chinese $40 traction boards to my LFD cross bars.

Pair Recovery Sand Traction Tracks Black Off Road Snow MUD Track Tire Ladder | eBay

Came up with this cheap solution.

9/16 x 4.25"-ish long bolt with washer, nut, and matching wing nut bought at my local small family owned hardware store.

Couple zip ties just in case.

Worked good.

Leaving the hardware up there for now.

 

[NotaTRD]

Everything went well, although for the transfer case skid I could not get it installed by sliding the front in first even with only 2 threads holding the transmission skid. What I did instead was completely remove the rear transmission skid bolts and let it hang then mounted the transfer case skid to the side rails first then it was just a matter of putting a jack under the transmission and transfer case skid bolt area to lift it flush and installing the 4 bolts.

The rustoleum big projects cans worked well, but I had to leave them to cure in a hot garage for a long time because the paint took so long to fully harden and cure. I painted them awhile ago but they still felt fairly soft after a couple days, so I just let them sit in the garage for a long time. I'll probably try krylon next time.

Do the outside welded tabs on both sides of the cross member of your transfer case skid plate sit flush to the bottom of the frame? I spent about 4 hours the other day just trying to get them to sit flush with no luck. One side of the welded tab makes contact with the frame and on the other there is about a 1/4-1/2” gap and this on both sides. Not sure if it’s a big deal or not, but I would like to get it flush if there is a way to do it.

 

[Finslayer83]

 

[jhguth]

Do the outside welded tabs on both sides of the cross member of your transfer case skid plate sit flush to the bottom of the frame? I spent about 4 hours the other day just trying to get them to sit flush with no luck. One side of the welded tab makes contact with the frame and on the other there is about a 1/4-1/2” gap and this on both sides. Not sure if it’s a big deal or not, but I would like to get it flush if there is a way to do it.

mine was like that a little bit, i used a jack to load the skid and got it pretty flush