Any hidden winch options?

[EUREKA]

I would love to buy a boostwerks comp mount, if they still sold them. Is anyone making something similar?

[Eagle_SX4]

I got one from Iron rock off-road a few months ago and like it. It took some modifications to get to fit properly but it is a good kit.

 

https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/Mamba-xj-front-modular-bumper.html

 

There are some pics in my build thread.

 

I haven't used the winch yet but I like the design and it ties in to the frame very well. You do have to cut a large amount out the front cross member to fit the winch.

 

 

[fiatslug87]

I think baddadfab still makes one.

[EUREKA]

I'll check out the iron rock off road one. I'm interested in baddadfab but their only web presence seems to be Facebook which I don't have. I'll have to get on my wife's account to look at them. 

 

Thanks for the suggestions. 

[75sv1]

I have the Bad Dad Fab and the Boostwerks. They too, you have to cut out the front plate. 

[fiatslug87]

1 hour ago, 75sv1 said:

I have the Bad Dad Fab and the Boostwerks. They too, you have to cut out the front plate. 

Which do you prefer and why?

[EUREKA]

Cutting the front plate (lower front crossmember?) shouldn't matter if the kit reinforces the structure better than the factory plate. I feel like I'm missing something here?

[EUREKA]

$527.33 for the iron rock bumper, including shipping. 

[75sv1]

12 hours ago, EUREKA said:

Cutting the front plate (lower front crossmember?) shouldn't matter if the kit reinforces the structure better than the factory plate. I feel like I'm missing something here?

I agree with you. The thicker metal should be better. Maybe welded vs bolted on. 

'Which do you prefer and why?'

 

I have the Bad Dad installed. I haven't installed the Boostwerks. I am not sure if my version of the Boostwerks has the sector shaft bearing. The Bad Dad is a bit of a pain to install. It is a 'U" shaped piece. So, that slides on the outer frame. I did have frame rail reinforcements. I had to grind on them a bit. 

     I also have Iron Rocks steering box brace. I like it. Only issue was that my frame was bent a bit. I could not or didn't grind the slots so the sector shaft bearing would fit. 

[EUREKA]

My crossmemeber was bent in my recent auto accident. So I was hoping for a system that goes inside of the frame rails rather than outside of them, so that the kit helps me get the spacing of my frame rails back where they should be. 

[Big_Mark]

As long as you can get to the winch spool a hidden mount is great.

But if it's just tucked away and you have to dissasemble the bumper to get to the winch mechanisim you might be in a pickle if the cable gets bound up in the woods.
It even may be problematic when you are winding your rope/cable in when you are done winching, checking or maintaning the cable/rope

Anyways when I was wheeling every weekend in my Scrambler, unexcpeted "winch maintenance" seemd to ocuur quite ofthen for me and my trail mates, usually at the worst possible time.

 

#YMMV

#freeunwantedadvise

 

 

[75sv1]

4 minutes ago, Big_Mark said:

As long as you can get to the winch spool a hidden mount is great.

But if it's just tucked away and you have to dissasemble the bumper to get to the winch mechanisim you might be in a pickle if the cable gets bound up in the woods.
It even may be problematic when you are winding your rope/cable in when you are done winching, checking or maintaning the cable/rope

Anyways when I was wheeling every weekend in my Scrambler, unexcpeted "winch maintenance" seemd to ocuur quite ofthen for me and my trail mates, usually at the worst possible time.

 

#YMMV

#freeunwantedadvise

 

 

The Bad Dad Fab has a tube bumper, that looks to have access to the cable. Also, with winglet outer bumpettes. I'll be using a synthetic line. As to minigate any kinking. 

[Big_Mark]

Right on bruddah!!

[75sv1]

Also, might check out Alpine. I think they are in CA. I know they make a track bar brace. They might make a hidden winch setup. 

[EUREKA]

8 hours ago, Big_Mark said:

As long as you can get to the winch spool a hidden mount is great.

But if it's just tucked away and you have to dissasemble the bumper to get to the winch mechanisim you might be in a pickle if the cable gets bound up in the woods.
It even may be problematic when you are winding your rope/cable in when you are done winching, checking or maintaning the cable/rope

Anyways when I was wheeling every weekend in my Scrambler, unexcpeted "winch maintenance" seemd to ocuur quite ofthen for me and my trail mates, usually at the worst possible time.

 

#YMMV

#freeunwantedadvise

 

 

Yes that is a concern.

[EUREKA]

5 hours ago, 75sv1 said:

Also, might check out Alpine. I think they are in CA. I know they make a track bar brace. They might make a hidden winch setup. 

They do indeed. Thank you.

https://alpinepeakprecision.com/wp/shop/product/xj-front-hidden-winch-bumper/

 

Description says,

Quote

"This does not work with OEM sway bar mounts! A custom configuration will be required if you are running a sway bar (adding sway bar mounts to the bottom of the bumper would be acceptable)"

Not sure what to think about that. I need to go look at my truck and see what the issue is with fitment.

[Eagle_SX4]

10 hours ago, Big_Mark said:

As long as you can get to the winch spool a hidden mount is great.

But if it's just tucked away and you have to dissasemble the bumper to get to the winch mechanisim you might be in a pickle if the cable gets bound up in the woods.

With the iron rock bumper I welded a socket extension on the spool lever and drilled a hole in the bumper to access it by using a socket extension through the front of the bumper it works really well. The trick is drilling the hole in the right spot.

[EUREKA]

3 minutes ago, Eagle_SX4 said:

With the iron rock bumper I welded a socket extension on the spool lever and drilled a hole in the bumper to access it by using a socket extension through the front of the bumper it works really well. The trick is drilling the hole in the right spot.

Perfect practical solution.

[75sv1]

8 hours ago, EUREKA said:

Perfect practical solution.

Boostwerks makes one. 

"This does not work with OEM sway bar mounts'

'Not sure what to think about that. I need to go look at my truck and see what the issue is with fitment.'

 

Other have swaybar extensions for their setup. Also for OTK setups. 

 

I think a knock on the Alpine, is that it hangs a bit lower.

Also, I'd contact Bad Dad Fab. See if he thinks his setup would help pull out your frame rails.  I looked for my Boostwerk setup. I'm in a rearrangement mode. 

 

[Eagle_SX4]

1 hour ago, 75sv1 said:

Boostwerks makes one. 

That is where I got the idea for the socket extension for the spool lever. I emailed them but they never got back to me on when the M8000 remote free spool adapter would be available. So I made my own.

[75sv1]

24 minutes ago, Eagle_SX4 said:

That is where I got the idea for the socket extension for the spool lever. I emailed them but they never got back to me on when the M8000 remote free spool adapter would be available. So I made my own.

Still, cool that you fabbed it up. 

 

    I will say that taking off the solid bumper on the BDF Hidden winch setup, is fairly easy. So, switching in and out to a tube bumper would not be a big deal. I can see around town or such, the sheet metal bumper might keep some from messing with the winch.

[EUREKA]

8 hours ago, 75sv1 said:

I'd contact Bad Dad Fab. See if he thinks his setup would help pull out your frame rails.  I looked for my Boostwerk setup. I'm in a rearrangement mode. 

 

It's a real pain in the @$$ to deal with a company that is only on Facebook. Bad dad fab is my last resort because of this.

[75sv1]

15 hours ago, EUREKA said:

It's a real pain in the @$$ to deal with a company that is only on Facebook. Bad dad fab is my last resort because of this.

I understand that. It seems everybody is using Face Book. FB denied my account. Used to be you could at least look at the FB page.