New winch! CURT front receiver clearance question.

So I checked off one more item on my wish list. I picked up a new Superwinch LP8500 at a big box store for a mere $200. I was walking by a clearance table and this winch caught my eye. Upon further inspection it had "no plate" written in marker across the box, hence the reason for it being on clearance. Someone had obviously bought it, realized there was no mounting plate and returned it. The manager wasn't bright enough to actually realize that the winch plate was not meant to be included as it was not mentioned in the "included" list.

Wouldn't have been my first choice for a winch but for the price I couldn't leave it there. Brought it home and hooked it up to the battery to make sure it works and all seems good. Now to get it mounted up.

I'll cut right to the chase and ask how much clearance do you lose by installing a CURT front receiver? They seem to be the only option for the 1st gen Tacoma's. A front receiver with a winch plate adapter seems to be my cheapest option for getting this thing on my truck. Any help would be appreciated.

 

A front receiver winch is the only option for a Gen1 with a stock bumper. I have no idea how much clearance you lose but here is a picture of a complete hitch:
https://www.e-hitch.com/Lookup/2004/Toyota/Tacoma/All, Including X-Runner and Pre-Runner

Based on the picture, it looks like the receiver is 4"-6" below the frame horns so you'll be able to measure from there. While a winch bumper is the best option for clearances, there are some unique advantages of getting a receiver winch. You can remove the winch when not needed which saves weight on the front. It also allows you to run the winch from the rear receiver.

 

This is the exact same setup I have right down to the same kinda deal on the same winch. I have a 3 inch lift and from the ground to the bottom of the hitch is 16 inches and to the bottom of the bumper is 20.5 inches a loss of 4.5 inches of clearance. Hasn't interfered with anything I have done.

Here's a couple pictures of what I did.

 

What winch plate is that?

 

Superwinch 2302292 Mount Plate for LP8500, I bought it on Amazon for $77

 

I like the fact that you installed the winch plate right on top of the hitch like that. Your stock bumper and skirt fit right up without issue? Room to get in somewhere to engage/disengage?

My only issue is that seems to hang down lower than I would like. I am often going down and up steep angles and would like to maintain as much clearance as possible. I'm thinking of fabbing up a hitch between the 2 frame rails but with the integrated solenoid on this winch I don't know if there will be room. Aftermarket bumpers are so expensive not to mention shipping to Canada. I would feel confident in making some kind of setup between the rails but I don't have the fab skills or experience to make a whole new bumper. Who knows though, I might have to give it a go. Only one way to learn.

 

The stock bumper mounts no problem the valance had to be trimmed a little.

 

fwiw a front receiver is not the only way to mount a winch w/ stock bumper..

a bit of work it seems, but no lost clearance and a very clean looking install

couple other guys have done it also

 

Pretty much exactly what I was thinking of doing. Looks like that may be the route I end up taking.

 

I like the look of that install, but it looks like that truck has a 3 inch body lift that might factor into the way the winch fits behind the bumper and below the grille.

 

I noticed that too. But on the same thread another member posted pics of how he built his that hangs a bit lower. I would really just have to take things off and do some test fitting to see for myself.

 

Hey keep us updated on here as to what you end up doing? I wouldn't mind getting some ground clearance back in case I ever need it.

 

Will do.

 

I just built my own reciever hitch and mounted it to the front of the frame rails in place of that chincy ass crossmember the skid plate bolts to. Built it out of 2"x4" 1/4" thick tubing with a piece of angle welded to the back to attach the skid plate like normal. It fits behind the stock bumper and valance for a clean look with minimal trimming in the center to access the reciever and causes zero clearance loss. I musta deleted the pic I had but if I remember I'll snap another.

 

Please do. I've been thinking of doing the same.

 

heres my front reciever. i just cut the 2"x4" tubing slightly wider than the frame rails and notched it out for the reciever tube and welded it in. the way i mounted it was just drilled some holes and bolted it to the frame where the original front crossmember deal was then layed some welds down the sides where it touches the frame. one could cut the front off the frame where the original crossmember bolts and build some brackets that attach to the sides of the frame if they wanted it to look more professional and be removeable, from what i understand that is what most aftermarket bumpers require to be mounted. either way this should do the job and add a bit more front end protection over the factory sheet metal bumper.

 

It's not really a issue of building a hitch, it's building something that can support my winch with minimal clearance loss. I had a chance to take my bumper off the other day and get a better idea of what I would be working with.



As you can see from the winch just sitting on the crash bar (correct term?) the winch is still sitting too high and interfering with the grill. In the link that was posted that Tacoma had a body lift which would definitely help with the clearance issues.

Right now it's looking like I'm going to have to lose at least some clearance. The winch can fit behind the crash bar and I may just have to weld tubing going across that sits lower. I am going to have to support the front portion as it looks as though it just slides into the frame and must be held in with the bolts that hold in the tow hooks.




I'm thinking of just welding that on there solid. In the other thread he used angle iron to run back along the frame so he could bolt it on, but whatever I put on I don't plan on ever taking off again so I don't mind welding vs bolt-on.

At the same time I discovered a broken bumper bracket so I fixed that up.



Will probably be a little while before I have a chance to start fabbing something up but I'll keep you posted.

 

And as some of you may have noticed, yes my tow hook has seen its fair share of abuse over the years. This truck has pulled things no 1/4ton should ever attempt.

 

IMHO, you should NOT weld on the 'crash bar'. It isn't strong enough to support the winch, certainly not stout enough to handle a heavy pull.

If I were you I would remove the 'crash bar' , do the 'end cap mod' , weld In a new x-member/tray to support the winch , and relocate the solenoid so that it doesn't interfere w/ your grill.

 

My plate would definitely not be welded on the crash bar. I just said the winch can fit behind the crash bar. I just had it resting on the crash bar as reference for how high the winch would sit if I welded a new x member at the same height. Anything lower and I will be losing clearance. I plan on welding 2x3 1/4'' tubing across behind the crash bar for my winch to be mounted to.

I was looking at relocating the solenoid but it seems like a hassle when I can just drop the winch 2-3'' and get it to fit in as is. I'm still not ruling it out though. I have to gather up supplies and find the time to get started.