Steel bumper mounts?

[nr13]

So I retrofitted a Nissan Xterra bumper that I got for free to my 2011 Tacoma. All I did is enlarge the existing mount, so that I could drill new holes to match the ones on my frame. This worked beautifully (not really it was a lot of work) but now Im wondering if those three bolts are enough? You guys that have aftermarket bumpers, how do they mount up? Also my winch sits up a little higher from frame mounts that a lot of the bumpers I see out there which leads me to believe it is better to have your winch closer to your frame mounts, so it does not torque your bumper. I will attach some pics so you can see my bumper. any help would be great.

 

[nr13]

bump

 

[Patman]

Where are the third/sixth bolts? The 4 in the pictures I would say are nowhere near enough to reach the rated load of the winch in question, much less leave any room for extra.

If you're designing a mount, it is always best to keep the mounting bolts as close to the same plane as the actual winch bolts. This reduces leverage placed upon the mounts, thus reducing the chance of failure.

Its hard to tell from the picture, as I am not familiar with the internal design of the bumper, but if you question it, beef it up.

I have always designed winch mounts with one question in the back of my mind. Will it support the vehicle in every plane? Pulls are almost never straight, and your usually pulling more then the rig weighs.

So would you walk under it while it was dangling from a really big tree by the winch cable? (Theoretically of course... ) I would never do that to a tree.

 

[nr13]

The 3rd/6th bolt is on the inside of the bumper directly across from the two outside bolts. I figured it would need some beefing up, but iam still curious about how other bumpers mount to the frame. Thanks for your help Patman

 

[zolo]

The 6 studs that are factory on the Tacoma are not enough alone. I ran into this issue with a prototype bumper form KEN MTN. He used only those 6 studs and after time the thin metal the studs mounted in started to pull away from the end of the frame.

I ended up getting an ARB. The ARB mounts in something like 28 different spots. With a cross bar that bolts to the bottom large bolts in your pic #1 and Further back on the frame.

In your first picture the "wings" that are bolted into the front cross section can be removed, remove the large bolt on the bottom then the end pieces slide out. You can then used that bolt and area for adding strength. Fab a piece that comes down and uses that area also. This is what ALL PRO does with there front winch bumper.

I just installed an ALL PRO this week in a friends truck. Its also a simple mount using the studs as the main support and the bottom large bolts also. But what is different is the winch is low, as in between the studs low.

I would work on a design to make the bumper mount stronger and or lower the winch in the bumper you have.

Just remember the studs were holding up an alum cross member. Not a bumper and winch. They are weak.

 

[nr13]

Perfect just what I wanted to know.

 

[zolo]

se the pics

Here is an ARB, this is a great idea you can see how they tied into the lower bolt i was talking about and further back.

Cheers Daniel

 

[nr13]

Thanks for the pics that helps a ton