Tjm Type 13 winch access

[downunder Find all posts View Profile Close downunder]

I am leaning towards to TJM bull bar but I am unsure if there is sufficient access to the winch free spool arm. I am looking at the premier winch and you need to lift the handle to set it to free spool. Does anyone have a type 13 and a premier winch and to they have any problems accessing the handle as the arb has a hole directly above.

[andoland Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close andoland]

I have the T13 bar and ironman winch which, judging from the premier website, has the clutch lever in the same location. I have no problem reaching the clutch lever. The ironman lever rotates which I imagine would be harder to activate through the bullbar than lifting.

[downunder Find all posts View Profile Close downunder]

Thanks andoland, so do you access it from the front. The premier winch you have to lift and rotate, so how easy is it to fit your hand in?

[andoland Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close andoland]

Yes the access is through the front, I don't find it an issue but then I don't have to lift only rotate.

[yoda_123 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close yoda_123]

Does anyone have experience with fitting and use of the Warn 9000lb winch and the TJM T13 steel bar?

[yoda_123 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close yoda_123]

In reply to my own question, it turns out that Warn 9000lb winch will fit with some modification to how the release mechanism is positioned, ie shifted through 90deg. The really interesting thing was that the winch cannot be a retrofit, the frame needs to be loaded with the winch at the same time the bar is fitted. This is unlike the ARB design I am familiar with which allows you to bolt in place from the front.

[Rogerthatv2 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Rogerthatv2]

If your talking the 150 TJM T13 bar the winch mount frame forms part of the bar mount (like most of their bars now) however TJM use a horizontal winch mounting position and the ARB Bar design uses a vertical mount design. In the early days TJM sold the winch mount frame separately to keep the bar cost and weights down for people who did not want a winch. These sold for around $200.

You can easily fit a winch to a TJM bar on a 150 after the bar is fitted by removing the grille or for better access the undo the 8 bolts and remove the bar so that you can gain access to the winch mount frame. I fitted my TJM winch to my bar around 5 months after bar went on after I upgraded my suspension.

The same could be said for when you install a TJM, premier, ironman, TMax, avenger, mako etc brand winch to an ARB bar, you will have to rotate the clutch 90 degree to gain better access to the controls as most of these winches are set to suit a horizontal mount straight out of the box.

[yoda_123 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close yoda_123]

Thanks Daniel. That story is consistent with what the local TJM store is telling me. Given that I will need another person to help lift the bar off the front of the car as my wife ain't going to do that, my better option is to get the winch installed at the same time.

For those interested in reading on, it will be a T13 black bar on a GX with just the eyebrows painted. it should all look good with Glacier White body paint and black Speedy Chariot rims.

Cheers

[downunder Find all posts View Profile Close downunder]

Hi Yoda, I would like some photos of the fit of the infills, i am still trying to decide whether to go the ARB or TJM and my consern is with the quality and fit of the infills and access to winch. Have seen the ARB bull bar and it looks good but have not been able to see a TJM one on a Prado yet.

[yoda_123 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close yoda_123]

Booked in for 4 April, so not too long to wait. Cheers

[yoda_123 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close yoda_123]

Downunder

Here is a picture of the T13 bar. The infills/eyebrows look ok to me. Winch access is better on this bar than the ARB bar I had before. There are two cut outs on the front - one to release the spool and one to plug in the control cable. Let me know if there was anything specific you were interested in. Cheers

[yoda_123 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close yoda_123]

More pictures, as requested: