Thoughts on hidden winch?

I really don't want to cut this truck up yet, plus- I like the stock bumper. Would be nice to retain most of the stock look & have the ability to self recover.

 

There are other options that dont have those giant hooks on them too. But on hidden winch bumpers, the only part that you cut is the textured black center part of the bumper. Its cheap and easy to replace if you dont like it.

https://runnin4tacos.com/products/sdhq-built-hidden-winch-mount-2016-2021-toyota-tacoma

 

You can order it w/o the hooks & shackles, just no pics of it on their website installed. Only requires the center winch hole cut which is the one I'm interested in. I'm usually out on some muddy road alone fishing & this would make life easier if I got stuck in mud or snow.

 

I'm in the same boat...

For me, it comes down to what you're using the truck for. If you really aren't planning on hitting any trails then I'd keep the look and keep it stock. The only reason I started going down this hole is when I researched Tacoma's recovery points, (or lack-thereof) and it has come down to installing an ARB Recovery Point, ($300) or adding a low-profile bumper with recovery points such as the Body Armor HiLine TR-19339 ($530).

Then if you're going to do a low-profile AND you do some off-roading then you might as well throw in a winch. You can get a decent winch for around $300 but then the bumper and the winch adds another 150lbs to the front end which lowers your payload and reduces the MPG. So many factors to think of...

If I was going for only looks, I'd stick with stock or get an aluminum low profile bumper. If I thought I might need to get yanked out of mud holes now and then, I'd get an ARB Recovery Point. If I wanted to yank others out of mud holes, I'd get a low profile bumper w/ Winch.

 

You know, a lot of people get stuck heading into trouble, so also being able to winch backwards helps also… cradles are useful for that sort of thing if you can’t do a four-anchor point reverse winch.

 

Mostly stock look, not exactly hidden and I know you said you didn’t want to cut, but there’s this one from Southern Style Off-road.

I’ve got this one (without the bull bar) on the way. I didn’t want to cut either but got stuck and had to walk out and don’t want to have to do that again.

Good luck in your search,
Alan

 

I got the same on my 4runner. I think it’s the best overall design of these insert type bumpers.
I have had mine for years and it has held up.

 

Also, I think this was mentioned, but having a shackle point is huge! You can double your pulling strength using proper methods and a snatch block.

ALWAYS USE winch blankets, in EVERY scenario. Cheap and definitely saves lives and other shit.

 

Agree 100%, best looking bumper in my opinion.

 

With as much space as there is between the inside of the grille and the radiator, I'm trying to figure out how to shoehorn my 8274 in there.

 

My crazy days of off roading are behind me. This rig is for dirt roads & fire roads. I'm not doing King of the Hammers
I will upgrade the stock tires to Wildpeak 75's some day but no lift unless I just do a spacer lift. Those Predator steps will go soon too. I've had Rubicon w/ 6" lift, 40's & stupid money in it.....and drove fire roads. My son has it now. It rides like shit on highway. When I was younger, I had a pretty crazy K5 blazer that got me places I wish I hadn't gone after getting there. I already have an almost new HF 12k Apex Badlands winch w/ the wireless remote from the Rubicon my son has now, so I'll probably use that. I called them & these are built per order & they said they can weld a recovery point underneath if I don't want it sticking through the bumper facia. I'm just putting feelers out there, I didn't even know these existed 2 days ago. Saw a guy at Lowes with one & we talked.
Those other ones look good too. I just don't want to go down that fabricated steel transformer looking bumper like my Rubicon had. For rear, I have a simple trailer hitch recovery w/ D ring I can slip in if needed.

 

I have the sqhd hidden winch mount, it's solid and have had no issues yet with it after 3 years. Haven't had to recovery a truck yet but have pulled enough stumps with it and no issues, has recovery points as well

https://sdhqoffroad.com/collections...t-toyota-tacoma-sdhq-built-hidden-winch-mount

 

I can't see how these mount & I'm wondering if these will effect air bag deployment. I guess I need to go out there , crawl under & take a look how it mounts to frame.

 

Airbag deployment is all based on g-forces, so the winch would not change anything there.

 

Another vote for SSO. If you are going to spend the money on a hidden winch cradle and a recovery point then why not get that radiator protection too? And if you want it to look stock you could get it without the hoop and even go as far as getting it color matched. Also I did not see any real mpg difference after adding the weight. It may have changed a tiny bit but not enough to even worry about.

 

I have the sdhq. It’s nice.

 

I installed this: https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VT3FB.html with a Badlands winch.

Only cutting is the very bottom of the bumper cover. If I wanted to go back to stock, you'd never notice. I didn't notice any adverse effects to my gas mileage but I did have to get heavier springs/shocks. You may not need springs/shocks if you're not doing challenging trails, on road, it was just fine.

 

Sso, no hoop, winner in my book.

 

On a side note, I just found a HF BadLand 9000lb. winch for around $150 on clearance.

Not sure your radiator is getting enough air there...

 

Sorry all That looks terrible .. if u zoom in on photo you can see a big gap . So many other options out there that look way better . I can see the cable scratching the hell out of the plastic bumper over time . By far the worst idea I have seen imo. But each is own .