Fitting a winch to TJM T13 bar

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Hi Fabes,

The instructions for the Ridge Ryder give the dimensions as 537mm W x 183 D (depth includes the clutch control knob) but I can't seem to find the height. The instructions/specs are available by clicking on the "Download Fact Sheet" button on the page I linked above.

I've only looked at the mounting through the top cover. There is a bracket there behind the fairlead cover plate from memory, will check again tomorrow.

I'm assuming you slotted the winch in from underneath the bar? I'm just a bit concerned about the weight and trying to lift it up, I'm thinking it might be a 2 person job.

Where did you get your winch from and how much did you pay? I note they mention a 3 year warranty hence my interest.

[Fabes Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fabes]

Hi Fido666

I took the grill off and inserted the winch from above the Bullbar, had to take the bash plates off under the bullbar to be able to tighten up the mounting bolts. The only thing I would do differently to the instructions supplied with the mean mother winch is connect the power and earth cable to the winch BEFORE dropping the winch in place and prior to doing up the mounting bolts as it was quit difficult to manoeuvre your hands to tighten the nuts on the studs for the power and earth cables once the winch was mounted in place.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Thanks for the tips Fabes. I'm leaning back to the Tigerz11 Hercules 12,000lb over the Ridge Ryder now as they have put it on special for $639. The Tigerz11 is still more expensive than the Ridge Ryder at $565 but the better control box and longer warranty make up for it I think.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I made the trek out to Lilydale this morning and picked up the Grande 12,000lb winch plus a recovery blanket and a hitch receiver and shackle (all on special). It's a hard place to find as it's in an industrial estate that's not very well signposted, ended up resorting to the GPS to find it LOL. I asked the question about the Ridge Ryder and the Grande looking the same externally; was told the motor and gearing are different but they both come out of the same factory. I have no way of knowing for sure, I figure the other features as well as the longer warranty do add extra value though.

Now anyone want to come out and give me a hand fitting it? Hubby is not very mechanically minded and I don't think I can physically manage the task on my own. Alternatively can anyone suggest a place in Melbourne that would do the work at a reasonable price? I've asked Everything4WD, just waiting on a reply.

Also it's occurred to me that the extra 30 odd KGs of weight might put a strain on the existing factory suspension. What is the minimum I should do to alleviate this (I have KDSS)?

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Ok, how much??????

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Sorry mjrandom, how much for what?

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Sorry mjrandom, how much for what?

Sorry fido the winch and bits. I am camping so limited access to the modern world. Which is a good thing. Mostly. PM me if you want. I am looking for a winch for the "other woman".

Thanks.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Ah OK, I get it now. The winch was $639, Hitch & 7.5T shackle $30, Recovery Blanket $25. I got the 12,000lb Grande model with Dyneema rope rather than the steel cable as it was cheaper and lighter.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Hi Fabes,

What is the process involved in removing the grille? I have the Kakadu which has a front mounted camera, not sure if this complicates matters.

The young lass at Tigerz11 who showed me the winches had a look at my bar and said the standard fairlead will fit. I'm not sure how I will go about mounting the control box though as I can't see a bracket for it anywhere.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

The Tigerz11 site says the winch must be used with a min 650CCA battery. I had a look at my Toyota "High Performance" labelled battery and it is only 610CCA according to the label. Is this likely to cause a problem?

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

We had a go at fitting the winch today but have run into a problem. We managed to remove the grille using DGW's instructions and the Workshop Manual I scored on CD. The only extra bit I had to do to remove the grille was to unscrew 3 screws on the back of the camera housing and then the whole camera assembly with the wires still connected can just be pulled clear of the grille.

Where we have run into a problem is with removing the TJM bash plate under the center section of the bar. It appears they have attached that plate before installing the bar. The back edge of the bash plate is slotted in above the factory tow points and the front edge is sitting above the bottom lip of the bar itself. There isn't enough clearance to get the plate free, it gets caught on the tow points. I think I just have the factory underbody protection but even removing it would not allow enough room as far as I can tell.

Looks like it's a bar off job which is a little beyond our capabilities. I'll send through a pic or two to illustrate soon as I get a chance. I just wish we had tried to remove the plate first, now have to put all the grille back on and reconnect the lights. I won't bother with the last until we get someone to do the winch install as there was de-soldering involved in disconnecting them, may as well wait till the bar comes off to fix all that.

[Fabes Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fabes]

We had a go at fitting the winch today but have run into a problem. We managed to remove the grille using DGW's instructions and the Workshop Manual I scored on CD. The only extra bit I had to do to remove the grille was to unscrew 3 screws on the back of the camera housing and then the whole camera assembly with the wires still connected can just be pulled clear of the grille.

Where we have run into a problem is with removing the TJM bash plate under the center section of the bar. It appears they have attached that plate before installing the bar. The back edge of the bash plate is slotted in above the factory tow points and the front edge is sitting above the bottom lip of the bar itself. There isn't enough clearance to get the plate free, it gets caught on the tow points. I think I just have the factory underbody protection but even removing it would not allow enough room as far as I can tell.

Looks like it's a bar off job which is a little beyond our capabilities. I'll send through a pic or two to illustrate soon as I get a chance. I just wish we had tried to remove the plate first, now have to put all the grille back on and reconnect the lights. I won't bother with the last until we get someone to do the winch install as there was de-soldering involved in disconnecting them, may as well wait till the bar comes off to fix all that.

There must be a difference between my TJM bar and yours, perhaps it's got to do with the fact mine is a GXL as I managed to get mine off and I don't recall there being any major issues as you have described, I'll have a look at the photos when they come through, I'm not with my vehicle this evening though but can have a look in the morning for you.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Here's a pic of where the plate gets hung up when trying to remove it (click to enlarge) :-



I thought I took one showing the front as well but seems not and the Prado is currently out shopping so I can't get another one just yet. It didn't take long to put back together, it's just annoying the effort went to waste today.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

5 minutes with an angle grinder and those loops are gone I cut the loops of my 120 when it was a few days old, never missed them. Also cut the same loops off my first Prado, but it was a year or so old for that one.

Cheers Andrew

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I guess that's an option but would rather not cut any bits off, can't put them back on if I decide to move the Kaka on.