Hidden Winch

[norcal4x4]

Just wondering has anyone ever built a hidden winch for a 1st gen? just kidding...


I finished up building a hidden winch mount for my tundra. Thought I would share with you folks. Didn't get as many pictures as I wanted but my buddy and I were trying to get it done over the past couple days before work. He did most of the work since I don't know how to weld. Basically it's a 1/4" plate with an "A" brace of 1"x1/4" flat stock on the bottom. Plate bolts to the bottom of the frame in the factory tow hook location, tow hooks retained. With one more hole on each side for added strength. Whole project cost me about $390. That includes winch, plate, flat stock, nuts & Bolts, paint, flapper discs. Winch is a 9,500LBS Tuff Stuff winch. Here are some pics of the process. Feel free to ask any questions. Enjoy.

[seanpistol]

nice job

[Stone_Blue]

Mmmmm...plllaaaasssmaa cuuttterrr...

Looks sweet, nice job.
Just one thing though, with that being a 9500lbs winch, and the Tundra a pretty heavy truck, I know I'd feel better having a couple front plates on the mount, to stiffen it up...And as a bonus to help keep crud off the ends of the winch?....From the ends of the fairlead mount, over to the frame rails.... ???

But yeah, still a sweet job!!...and good job on the price, too!

[norcal4x4]

I think it should be fine. It's fully welded top and bottom with the bottom being welded to the braces on the bottom and pretty well covered by the bumper to keep crap out. If it tweaks ill def add some though.

[kanaduh]

Here's one done by Cheet-O. Hidden Winch The MySpace links in the thread don't work, but scroll down, and there are pic's. Nice job on yours by the way.

[norcal4x4]

Thanks. I saw that one while I was researching on ways to do it. Was thinking about going the same route but would have cost a little more. Wanted to keep it as cheap as possible. And I'll admit I stole my idea from the Chevy S10 crowd. But sometimes that's how its done. lol Here's what the S10 setup is like.


Plan on going out wheeling on Monday. Hopefully don't have to use it but we'll see.

[anwmn1]

Pretty nice and a cool idea.

[Derek24]

Nice job very clean! Another thing to add to the list!

[jim65wagon]

Really nice and a simple way to solve the problem. I like it!

[norcal4x4]

Yesterday while tinkering around I noticed that my winch remote just has a rocker style momentary switch. So I took it apart and put it in with my other switches for my lights. So now I can winch from inside the cab without needing the window cracked or shutting the cable in the door. Had to do some trimming to get it to fit. Was a smidge bigger then the other switches. And in the process I trimmed to much. Gonna order another remote someday just to keep my options open.

[Derek24]

Good idea on the switch! Will your buddy want to make another mounting plate? And for how much?

[silet]

And in the process I trimmed to much.

I may have that piece.