Winch Bumper Woes

[mdycus2980]

I've decided to get a winch. My buddies wont go wheeling with me because they get stuck and nobody has a winch. Isn't that lovely? The two ton come-a-long thing is getting old! So.... the winch decision has been made, local auto parts is getting me a Warn XD9000. The problem I'm having is what to do about the mounting.

I had originally decided to get the DAP discreet winch mount because of the money and incognito look. However, after perusing the forums for days, it seems that maybe this isn't the best idea. Looks like dropping even more cash on a winch bumper is better in the long run. I'm not going to fab my own, I just don't have the time nor the resources. Seems like Rovertym is the overall favorite.

I've been looking for some close-up pics but haven't stumbled across any yet. If any kind soul has nothing better to do than help a fellow rover junkie out, I would appreciate some good pics of an RTE on a Disco II, especially from the side. Perhaps there are other suitable options as well. Pics of the Scorpion Racing winch bumper look appealing. Recommendations welcome.

Any alternate advice is appreciated. I've had my DII for about two years now and just started trying to get it a little more "serious". I don't do the rock crawling thing, it's all creeks (which is why the discreet mount may be a bad idea?), woods, four wheeler trails, mud, etc. So this may make a difference on what I should do.

As a final note, I love my current brush guard. Can I have my cake and eat it too? ergo Can I have a winch bumper and my current brush guard? (I won't shy away from minor mods) I know I could get the RTE with a built-in brush guard but I'm trying to save on cash as the winch drained me big time. I like the way my brushguard looks better anyway. That's one reason I thought the Scorpion Racing bumpers looked appealing -- they look "short" enough to use my brush guard with.

Thanks in advance for any contributions!

Matt

[p76rangie]

How often do you go off road and how often would you need to winch?

The reason for these questions are that you can get a hand winch, which are very effective for occasional use and you could use it on your mates cars as well. They also allow you to winch sideways on any other direction you want. The only problem with them is that they can be hard work.

Another alternative is that you can get an electric winch on a cradle. This can be connected to the front, rear or side of your car with a bridle. Again very effective and no effort. But if you are going off road on a regular basis, the protection of a bull bar has its advantages. If you are going to use the winch on a regular basis, a permanent mount on the car is the only way to go.

[mdycus2980]

Unfortunately, I only go on a short trip once or twice a month at most. But I will be going more often once I get winch capable. Maybe not more often, but at least on longer, more involved trips. There are a lot of things I don't try because I dread having to try using my come-a-long. You mentioned hand winch. Is that perhaps what I'm calling a come-a-long?

The cradle idea may be a good choice for me. I just haven't seen that many on the forum and haven't been able to find manufacturers yet. Do you perhaps know of some or is that something that most people fabricate?

I would hope to be using the winch on a regular basis once I had it. That is why I decided on the Warn unit, hopefully I'm getting what I'm paying for.

Thanks so much for your time and help.

[p76rangie]

I can't find a link to the bridle type connection, but here are some links to the hand winch and towbar type winch mounts.

The original Brand of hand winch was called a Turfor. They are still made, but there are many similar items around these days.
Hand Winch Test Report @ ExplorOz
http://www.dborc.co.uk/goodwinch/pdf...untingkits.pdf

Tow bar type winch mount
Hand Winches | ARB 4x4 Accessories » Products » ARB Recovery Equipment
www.barbarianindustries.com - Barbarian Winch Holder (Patent Pending)
Warn Portable Winch Mounts, Receiver Winch Mounts, Winch Cradle

[jimfoo]

Another possible option, New HiCountry D2 bumper tested
Looks like it has great clearance, and it is made from decently thick steel, so should be plenty stout.

[XtremeMarine]

You'll be very happy with the Warn. I have a Warn 12000 on my 02' DII, and have never had a problem with it. Even pulling out 4x4 Dually's buried up to their frames. The DAP mount is nice, but if the truck is buried enough to bury the mount operating the winch is messy, and can be dangerous, because you won't be able to clearly see what you are doing. The scorpion is just a knock off of the equipe bumper. JupiterRover jhas the equipe on his 03' DII, pics are in the DII on 49" tires thread. Nice looking bumper on the DII, IMHO.

[Jupiter Rover]

I Have a ton of pics of the RTE bumpers on my laptop at home. I am at school now so later tonight I will post them for you. I also have pictures of my equipe bumper.

RTE site http://http://rovertym.com/

Lucky8 is the US dealer for Equipe 4x4 http://http://lucky8llc.com/Search.asp?CategoryID=1008 There is a Tube bumper with no A-bar and one with the A-bar.

Here is the hicountryhttp://http://www.hicountryoffroad.c...sco_bumper.htm Their bumper looks real nice. Not too many people have them yet so it will be hard to read up on them. Last I heard was that they were still "testing" the bumper to see how rough it really is.

This is the scorpion racing UK site http://http://www.scorpionracing.co.uk/ There are plenty of pics of their DII bumper. This bumper gives the Least clearance fyi.

[slouzon]

Here's a of my Rovertym "thick" style with the new style brush bar and headlight guards.

With this style I didn't need to relocate my washer fluid bottle.

There is also a TJM bumper on Discoweb for save.
DiscoWeb Message Boards

[Rugbier]

Deja Vu

Months ago I went through the same dilema, then I wanted the original look of the Diisco and the A-Frame , so I went DAP.

Here are some pics







Good luck

Originally Posted by mdycus2980

Unfortunately, I only go on a short trip once or twice a month at most. But I will be going more often once I get winch capable. Maybe not more often, but at least on longer, more involved trips. There are a lot of things I don't try because I dread having to try using my come-a-long. You mentioned hand winch. Is that perhaps what I'm calling a come-a-long?

The cradle idea may be a good choice for me. I just haven't seen that many on the forum and haven't been able to find manufacturers yet. Do you perhaps know of some or is that something that most people fabricate?

I would hope to be using the winch on a regular basis once I had it. That is why I decided on the Warn unit, hopefully I'm getting what I'm paying for.

Thanks so much for your time and help.

[Jupiter Rover]

Originally Posted by slouzon

Here's a of my Rovertym "thick" style with the new style brush bar and headlight guards.

With this style I didn't need to relocate my washer fluid bottle.

How much did that bumper cost? not-including shipping.

Originally Posted by Rugbier

Deja Vu

Months ago I went through the same dilema, then I wanted the original look of the Diisco and the A-Frame , so I went DAP.

I fall in love with your disco every time I see it Rugbier. Where did you get that GB plate?

[Rugbier]

You are just saying that because you know how I drool over the looks of yours, that Equipe is THE LOOKER ( maybe after MAR, I will need a new front , just kidding )

I've had the GB tag custom made with this guys

EEC EURO LICENSE PLATE The license plate design of a new millennium from the European Economic Community!

You can pretty much put any words within limits ( I believe was 9 or so )

Originally Posted by Jupiter Rover

I fall in love with your disco every time I see it Rugbier. Where did you get that GB plate?

[mdycus2980]

Many thanks for all the input guys. P76Rangie -- those are some interesting alternatives but I'm pretty sure I want a permanent mount, just not sure about the bumper idea. Your link to the hand winch info was very enlightening, that guy really spend some time checking out several versions. I'm glad I'm not going that route though. I'm going to see what I can find out about the bridle type connection as well.

I did see where some of the Scorpion Racing bumpers looked to be "knock offs" of the Equipe 4x4, but the one I noticed for the DII doesn't. It looks more like a stock style (but steel and slimmer) bumper. I'm not extremely concerned about the approach angle, as most of mud that I go through will give way (unlike rock!) upon steep entry.

Jupiter Rover -- I will be greatly indebted to you if you can hook me up with those pics. I checked out the rovertym site (many times) but the pics just don't show that much. If you have any side profile ones that would be marvelous. The reason is that I want to engineer/fabricate a way to attach/keep my current brush bar. It's heavier than most I've seen and wraps all the way around the side marker lights. I'm in the woods a lot and headlight/sidemarker light protection is a must. My brush bar has saved me a lot of dough.

I understand the logic behind the possible issues with the DAP mount, being hidden and low causing a troublesome situation. I just wonder if anyone has actually had a rough time with it and now regrets mounting it that way. Is yours doing fine Rugbier? Also, the more I think about it I almost hate to hide
$900 behind the bumper, you know?

I've seen that LR3 with just a cradle on the front, does anyone know where to get one of those or have any pros/cons on them?

Finally, I went to Overland Rover today (here in Kentucky) and picked up a DI CDL shifter and linkage to swap into my DII. I'm stoked!

Once again, thanks for everything guys.

Matt

[Jupiter Rover]

Originally Posted by Rugbier

You are just saying that because you know how I drool over the looks of yours, that Equipe is THE LOOKER ( maybe after MAR, I will need a new front , just kidding )

I've had the GB tag custom made with this guys

EEC EURO LICENSE PLATE The license plate design of a new millennium from the European Economic Community!

You can pretty much put any words within limits ( I believe was 9 or so )

I have to admit I love my bumper. But the Safety Devices Roof rack + mantec snorkel is bad ass. the opposite of my Hannibal + safari snorkel.

Thanks for the link.

[Rugbier]

Matt,

It is GREAT.

I took a lot of advice from experts here and dweb in consideration.
All of them were telling me that accessing the clutch will be very hard ( TRUE, but I did cut a bigger hole to access it ).

Another concern was when you ditch it in deep mud will be hard to access. ( SO VERY TRUE if you don't prepare before hitting the trail ) I release foot or so ) and in all honesty, I don't use the clutch if it is too muddy, just unwind with the remote )

Another concern was the dirt, salt, etc. ( TRUE, but I wash well after wheeling ( three times since install - still looks brand new ) unknow about the salt, but heck, it will be easy to replace the wire )

For an occassional wheeler, ( I am ) I wanted to retain the factory look, just something different. IMHO no matter which way you go, your winch will always be hidden behind a bumper ( low or high, still behind ).

As for the 900.00, I have 400.00 on LP8500, and 170.00 on DAP, 80.00 on Dixon Bate recovery, hours of sweat...... PRICELESS

Best of luck with any choice you make, let us know ( better yet show us the final product ) .

I apologize if I cost you more confusion, but, when I was given the advise, I appreciated ALL the INFO I was given, even the ones I wasn't following, I have learnt a lot.

Gustavo

Originally Posted by mdycus2980

I understand the logic behind the possible issues with the DAP mount, being hidden and low causing a troublesome situation. I just wonder if anyone has actually had a rough time with it and now regrets mounting it that way. Is yours doing fine Rugbier? Also, the more I think about it I almost hate to hide
$900 behind the bumper, you know?

I've seen that LR3 with just a cradle on the front, does anyone know where to get one of those or have any pros/cons on them?

Matt

[Jupiter Rover]

Matt stay online for a little longer, I am getting the pics.