Warn M8000 into ARB Bumper / Solenoid Location Ideas

[Koko4]

I bought a Warn M8000 because they were having their $100 mail-in rebate (I was waiting for it!), and I received it but have not mounted it yet. I have the ARB bumper for a Tacoma, mounted on the 4Runner (the typical cut frame rails, weld new end caps, and slide bumper on). I see the hole in the front of the ARB for the fairlead, but I don't see how the four bottom bolts of the M8000 will bolt into the ARB. Do I need to buy an additional plate in order to mount this thing into my ARB?

I've also been thinking about places to mount the solenoid box, and I think the best (and one of the only) that I've found was mounting it right next to the battery tray. The guy made an L shaped bracket and mounted the solenoid vertically, right up against the battery. Eventually I would like to be able to control the winch from inside (maybe rewiring another rear window up/down switch), but when I first install it I will be using it the traditional way, with the remote. I wanted to mount the solenoid high enough so it (hopefully) never has a chance to get submerged into water.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

There's a plate inside the bumper to mount the winch on. It's already drilled.

My control box is mounted on top of the bumper. There is a bracket provided.

Some pictures on this link show the mounting, also an idea for mounting the control box. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/104161-what-did-you-do-your-3rd-gen-today-154.html

 

[Brilliant]

On the frame rail is where I put mine.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/98463-brilliants-mod-thread-16.html#post1770805

 

[krenaud33]

On the frame rail is where I put mine.

Do you have in cab control switches? wireless control?

 

[EatonKyleH]

Mine's also on the frame rail.

I have the Warn wireless on it now and just use the remote. But I did open the hood and plug the controller in when I needed it for a few months before I got wireless.

 

[Koko4]

Any of you have experience wiring the winch controls into a switch on the dash? I read that the power mirror switch and the rear window switch are the two that are most preferable to use for this.

 

[Brilliant]

Do you have in cab control switches? wireless control?

yes, both. Its not hard to get your hand in there either.

 

[Left_Coast_T4R96]

While it's not an ARB bumper or Warn M8000 it's still an option and easily accessible.

 

[krenaud33]

While it's not an ARB bumper or Warn M8000 it's still an option and easily accessible.

Which winch is it? Looks like there a bracket bolted to the top of the bumper correct?

 

[Left_Coast_T4R96]

Which winch is it? Looks like there a bracket bolted to the top of the bumper correct?

Warn VR8000 and L bracket. The bracket was some variant of a ceiling joist hanger from Home Depot that I chopped.

 

[supermike]

But why? running 2 gauge wire through firewall and dash is not that easy...and that length of 2 gauge wire is not cheap. just get an warn wireless control...

 

[Koko4]

But why? running 2 gauge wire through firewall and dash is not that easy...and that length of 2 gauge wire is not cheap. just get an warn wireless control...

You're not actually wiring the solenoid itself into the dash, just an on/off switch. I was under the impression that you didn't need to use heavy 2ga wore for that. Or do you?

 

[98OzarksRunner]

You're not actually wiring the solenoid itself into the dash, just an on/off switch. I was under the impression that you didn't need to use heavy 2ga wore for that. Or do you?

No. The wires in the cable to the hand controller are probably 18 ga.

 

[krenaud33]

I am planning to wire in cab controls using a something like the switch below along with one for winch power. I am not very good at wiring and haven't done enough research yet to figure out how I can accomplish it. Will probably add a wireless remote as well.

 

[csp]

In cab switches are easy. The web is full of documentation on how to accomplish this and it's not vehicle specific.

 

[supermike]

wiring is easy, at least for me, but the wireless one worth every penny. I love mine...

 

[Koko4]

So I still haven't gotten around to installing this thing, mainly because of the issue of where to put the solenoid box. So from the ideas in this post, I could either mount it under the hood, on the frame rail (passenger side), or on top of the ARB bumper itself, almost right in front of the Toyota emblem.

Originally I wanted to make an L-shaped bracket that came up from the battery tray, and positioned the solenoid box with the long side up (like an I), having it parallel to the battery. Further looking at it, though, I realize that the battery tray itself is plastic (not metal, like I had originally thought), so a bracket attached to this would not be sturdy.

Isn't the solenoid box supposed to be somewhat protected from the elements? I know it's not recommended (actually it will destroy it) to fully submerge it in water, but wouldn't just driving around in a rain storm, and doing a water crossing of almost any type compromise the box if it's just mounted directly on top of the ARB bumper?

 

[blcktpgsr]

Any of you have experience wiring the winch controls into a switch on the dash? I read that the power mirror switch and the rear window switch are the two that are most preferable to use for this.

I am planning to wire in cab controls using a something like the switch below along with one for winch power. I am not very good at wiring and haven't done enough research yet to figure out how I can accomplish it. Will probably add a wireless remote as well.

Here's my in-cab switch configuration using a momentary on/off/momentary on switch, and an on/off switch that powers it. All u need to do is figure out your winch' in and out terminals inside your solenoid box. I used a 16/2 wire goin thru the firewall and into the switch' location.

 

[OU4x4]

[/QUOTE]


am i the only one drooling over this setup??


.

 

[techno]

Isn't the solenoid box supposed to be somewhat protected from the elements? I know it's not recommended (actually it will destroy it) to fully submerge it in water, but wouldn't just driving around in a rain storm, and doing a water crossing of almost any type compromise the box if it's just mounted directly on top of the ARB bumper?

The control box is designed to be exposed to the elements. They have been mounting them on bumpers for decades with no problems. I've submerged them before with no issues. I even operated one fully underwater and it did the job with no complaints.
I would recommend you mount it where ever you prefer, but don't worry about it getting wet.