fitting a winch to a genuine Toyota bull bar

[joey85]

G'day guys,
I'll be attempting this all things going to plan next weekend. I will post pics etc, however just wondering if anyone has done this before and have any tips for me.

Cheers guys.

[boxhead55]

Yep many easier to remove all bulbar components fit it to the Bar then marry the bar back to the ute.

[joey85]

Yea was thinking that, just need to locate some joiners for the uhf, which i haven't been able to locate yet. Plus i think I'll need to do some mod to the bar in regards to accessing the engage/disengage lever.

[boxhead55]

Is it a toyota winch bar?

[joey85]

Yea sure is. Toyota steel breaker bar.

[boxhead55]

Yea. Ok to access your disengage leaver you need to rotate the unit in the winch. A pretty easy gob.

Also there are now 2 black front support panel supports that should be fitted if your already has not got them fitted. If not you should
Look into it as well.

[bones2898]

I fitted a winch in behind a standard bar, was a bit of frigging around, made a couple of simple brackets but it all works well now. i used a floor jack to lift the winch up to line it all up that way your not trying to lift in a pr*ck of a spot.

[joey85]

Those support panels, would they be the braces for the cradle? If so they came with the cradle kit that'll I'll be installing.

Regards to the lever, there just isn't a spot to physically access it, unless that will become obvious once fitted.

[boxhead55]

Nar Theses supports are riveted and glued into place on the utes front support panels. The kit
Comes with glue rivets and ten plate. Does not come with the application gun for the two par glue. This kit stops cracking of te panel from excessive movement of the body brackets. The kit is included in all gen bull bar boxes since November 2013. So if yours is older possibly just
Get the kit. Toyota spare parts should now the numbers.

[joey85]

Hmm I'll have to sus that one out as mine is a 2007. Not sure though if it'll be the same as the new shape hiluxs with these different noses, but will still ask spare parts. Cheers. Also the cradle kit looks as though it attaches to the bar not the chasis.

Bones2898 cheers great idea. How'd you go with the lever, is it easy to access, or did u have to mod the bar?

[boxhead55]

I wool post pics on Tuesday

[joey85]

Cheers

[bones2898]

Bones2898 cheers great idea. How'd you go with the lever, is it easy to access, or did u have to mod the bar?

No the clutch handle is a b*tch to get at really, but i can just reach it though the gap in the middle of the bar,or under neath.

[joey85]

Bones2898 cheers great idea. How'd you go with the lever, is it easy to access, or did u have to mod the bar?

No the clutch handle is a b*tch to get at really, but i can just reach it though the gap in the middle of the bar,or under neath.

Bugger that's what i was afraid of.

[boxhead55]

Here are the pics of the bullbar supports that get fitted to the from of the ute


Like I said Thease are fitted to all gen steel bulbars.

[joey85]

Yea definitely have those fitted. N the bull bar is bolted directly to these with a massive flanged plate.

[joey85]

bones2898, Just wondering what sort of winch you purchased, I went to fit my ironman monster winch to the Toyota winch cradle tonight, and its a no go, none of the holes line up.

[Kizzzaaa]

I haven't fitted a winch to one but ive pulled one off.. it was a superwinch and it bolted to a cradle which then bolted to the bullbar. Alot of bolts and brackets etc etc. It will be way easier taking the bar off to fit. Hope you succeed lol.

[joey85]

roughly 6 hours later the winch is in. I just had a total brain fart when I said I couldn't fit the winch to cradle. Was late at night when I tried it, so putting it down to being too tired, lol.

Did have to make up a steel sheet and cut a hole for the fairlead to sit in, which this then bolted to the bull bar. As the Toyota winch cradle is set back In the bar, so this was the only real hiccup, with fitting a non-genuine winch to the genuine bar.

Haven't tested it yet off road, will do next weekend.

All in all was a reasonably straight forward install, but that being said I wouldn't want to do it again. But if anyone else needs to know if this works. Yes it does.

[jdenholm427]

G'day,
Is there a way of getting out of buying a Toyota Genuine winch fitting kit for my Toyota Winch bar? or can I source a kit elsewhere? as I have just bought a 12000lb Tigerz11 Domin8r winch and was hoping to fit it soon.

Cheers Jason