Silly Stupid Winch/Bumper Question

[SaintPanzer]

OK, I know this question will show I don't know an awful lot about winches, but...

I need a new bumper. I'd also like to install a winch. For reasons I can't really articulate well, I was thinking about a Warn 8274. I guess there are several reasons, but among them is that it's "old school" enough to look like it belongs on a 25 year old Rover, and it's easier to find than others that were used at the time.

So I went to the Rover's North site to see what's out there, and saw a couple of bumpers that are meant to have a winch... but all said "not compatible with Warn 8274." So:

What is out there that is compatible with the Warn?

Failing that, what winch would be a good fit? Preferably one made on either the North American or European continents, or even one made in the UK.

 

[expanse]

Never feel bad about asking questions. Learning is fun. I ask plenty of stupid questions 4 times over.

to answer the 'what else should I look at" question. Whats the use case and whats your budget for winch, cables, bumper?

 

[Nick&Nora]

FWIW, I have a Warn M8000 on my '89 110. I believe the bumper is the RN SD winch bumper, but it's definitely from RN. I already had the A bar. I usually have a neoprene cover on the winch, and the hook has been replaced with a Factor55 flat link.

 

[SaintPanzer]

Never feel bad about asking questions. Learning is fun. I ask plenty of stupid questions 4 times over.

to answer the 'what else should I look at" question. Whats the use case and whats your budget for winch, cables, bumper?

Use Case? There's a good question.

Mostly "self recovery" if needed. Possibly other tasks involving hunting, pulling trees out of the way, things like that. I'm thinking a 10K makes the most sense. I'm willing to be educated. My previous winch use involved Light Armored Vehicles, so I need my horizons broadened just a little bit.

I am a bit worried about rust in the front crossmember, but that seems to be more in the "jack mount" holes than the frame itself. On the "Someday List" is a galvanized frame, but I've held off on that for quite a long time, because I had to get the car imported before I could change that. Also on the list is a roll cage, but now we're going down the rabbit hole.

Budget is not yet etched in stone. The bumper I have shows a lot of rust, and I was looking at the RN winch bumpers. Normally, when I wire things I use marine grade wire, so I don't expect to go light there. I already have a BlueSea bus bar wired in, and that is rated at 600 Amps, I just need to size wire appropriately.

What it really comes down to is the bumper should be replaced, and "while I'm in there", I should be prepared to add the winch. Then I only have to replace the bumper once. It would be nice to go the Camel Trophy route, but no idea where I'd get the right bumper and the right winch for that. I have a lot to learn.

 

[Z.G]

We are considering doing a run of Husky bumpers from a US source which will be quite a bit more than our normal UK made bumpers, but there have been conversations about also doing an 8274 version. I've also seen people modify our normal bumpers for 8274 fitment, so that's also certainly possible

 

[SaintPanzer]

We are considering doing a run of Husky bumpers from a US source which will be quite a bit more than our normal UK made bumpers, but there have been conversations about also doing an 8274 version. I've also seen people modify our normal bumpers for 8274 fitment, so that's also certainly possible

Thank you Zack. What kind of mod would be necessary? Weld? Cut? Drill? All of the above?

I would wait for an 8274, if I knew for sure you were going to make it. Would even pre-order.

 

[erover82]

M8000 and Comeup DV9 (same as old Superwinch EP9) are quality, period correct options as well. Slower, but easier to fit, no cutting AC-grill, less expensive, don’t block airflow, and lighter.

Another interesting option is the TDS winch, a UK-based evolution of the EP9 with options of more powerful motors and even an air brake.

Also, if you’re really into what the 8274 offers, RED winches offers the Cobra which is a greatly improved clone of the 8274 for about the same (premium) price.

 

[Z.G]

Thank you Zack. What kind of mod would be necessary? Weld? Cut? Drill? All of the above?

I would wait for an 8274, if I knew for sure you were going to make it. Would even pre-order.

I've never done it personally, so I can't speak from experience. What I do know is that the 8274 has large forward vertical mounting points, so at minimum the front face needs to be extended upwards, even if that just means L brackets one each side of the fairlead hole

 

[Robert]

 

[Z.G]

Would love to find one to replicate for sure.

 

[vtlandrover]

The only 8274s I've seen in person required cutting into the grille... which would be further complicated with an NAS110 or ROW that has the same air conditioner nose. The image above looks like a nice, tidy install.

Given the lack of availability of the Husky, this sure would be a sweet setup for people who want robust, fast-spooling, and plentiful parts support.

 

[KW1985def110]

on the M8274 front, i've got a half baked grand plan to someday combine a mount similar to this,

Warn 8274 Dual Pull Winch Plate

The Barnes 4WD Warn 8274 Dual Pull Winch Plate was an idea born out of necessity. More and more rigs are tackling harder obstacles than ever. With today's super flexible suspension systems it is often helpful to "suck down" the front of your rig so that the suspension will not unload on a steep...

barnes4wd.com

with a bumper like this,

DPB501190PMA / DPB104272 Black Defender Front Bumper | LR Parts

Black front bumper for Land Rover Defender

www.lrparts.net

All in hopes of "replicating" the CT picture above, including not cutting into the grill......someday

 

[rocky]

Appreciate your love of the 8274, but honestly, I love a galvy bumper more. 3-5 years of using a mild steel with powder coat and you’ll have an infestation of rust.

 

[SaintPanzer]

Well, I have part of that... but where do I find the bumper?

 

[SaintPanzer]

Appreciate your love of the 8274, but honestly, I love a galvy bumper more. 3-5 years of using a mild steel with powder coat and you’ll have an infestation of rust.

So no winch at all? Or galvy bumper with the winch? I already have the infestation of rust, so willing to make the change.

 

[blueboy]

OK, I know this question will show I don't know an awful lot about winches, but...

I need a new bumper. I'd also like to install a winch. For reasons I can't really articulate well, I was thinking about a Warn 8274. I guess there are several reasons, but among them is that it's "old school" enough to look like it belongs on a 25 year old Rover, and it's easier to find than others that were used at the time.

So I went to the Rover's North site to see what's out there, and saw a couple of bumpers that are meant to have a winch... but all said "not compatible with Warn 8274." So:

What is out there that is compatible with the Warn?

Failing that, what winch would be a good fit? Preferably one made on either the North American or European continents, or even one made in the UK.

On my new ‘95 D90 SW I had the LR winch option installed by the dealer. Unfortunately do not remember the Warn winch model yet it was compact. Had a nice plastic cover as well. The winch mounted onto a Land Rover Defender Front Winch Bumper that was very similar to if not the VPLDP0443 which pretty sure RN sells. The dealer then mounted the Defender brush guard onto the bumper. Of course the brush guard was useless except for maybe tall grass and would have bent into the wings if it actually hit anything. ECR changed it all out for an ARB bumper and fixed the botched wiring install from the dealer. Lots of folks really dislike the ARB bumper yet they have served me well over the years on various Rovers and have not rusted out.

 

[SaintPanzer]

The only 8274s I've seen in person required cutting into the grille... which would be further complicated with an NAS110 or ROW that has the same air conditioner nose. The image above looks like a nice, tidy install.

Given the lack of availability of the Husky, this sure would be a sweet setup for people who want robust, fast-spooling, and plentiful parts support.

ROW, but no AC.

 

[blueboy]

ROW, but no AC.

This setup is very close if not the same as I had on my ‘95 D90 SW. The Rover is listed in the For Sale section of this Site. There are more pics of the bumper/winch in the listing.

 

[rocky]

So no winch at all? Or galvy bumper with the winch? I already have the infestation of rust, so willing to make the change.

Galvanized RN sourced Winch bumper

Rovers North SD Winch Bumper Defender RNA2116 | Rovers North - Land Rover Parts and Accessories Since 1979

Constructed for demanding off road use. Features traditional clean and simple Defender bumper lines with integrated winch tray for easy winch access, dual recovery ports for either jack adapter or swivel shackle. Mounts using existing hardware. Designed to be compatible with Rovers North...

www.roversnorth.com

 

[SaintPanzer]

Galvanized RN sourced Winch bumper

Rovers North SD Winch Bumper Defender RNA2116 | Rovers North - Land Rover Parts and Accessories Since 1979

Constructed for demanding off road use. Features traditional clean and simple Defender bumper lines with integrated winch tray for easy winch access, dual recovery ports for either jack adapter or swivel shackle. Mounts using existing hardware. Designed to be compatible with Rovers North...

www.roversnorth.com

Yes, that is the one I was looking at... this is what forced the question:

"This bumper is compatible with Warn Zeon, VR EVO, and M8 winches.

This bumper is not compatible with Warn M12, M15, 16.5ti, M8274, XD9, 9.5XP, or 9.0Rc winches."