[tntaco]

ok well first off its going on a 99 taco. i would like to eventually put a winch in it but dont have the $$ for that now..so first question is can i install the bumper with out a winch and later down the road put a winch in it without taking the bumper back off? the second question is what is involved in hooking the air bag back up? it really makes me nervous messing with the airbag since its such an important issue. and is the airbag guaranteed to work the same as it would with the origional bumper?? thanks

 

[wisctaco04]

ok well first off its going on a 99 taco. i would like to eventually put a winch in it but dont have the $$ for that now..so first question is can i install the bumper with out a winch and later down the road put a winch in it without taking the bumper back off? the second question is what is involved in hooking the air bag back up? it really makes me nervous messing with the airbag since its such an important issue. and is the airbag guaranteed to work the same as it would with the origional bumper?? thanks

Yes you can install it w/o a winch just fine. There are no sensors to hook up to the bumper. The support attachment is designed in a way to transmit the force to the little yellow sensors you see in the fenderwell just as a stock one does. The sensors stay where they are.

 

[tanKoma]

and make sure u dont get the warn "I" series winch, i made that mistake

 

[grillmasterp]

ok well first off its going on a 99 taco. i would like to eventually put a winch in it but dont have the $$ for that now..so first question is can i install the bumper with out a winch and later down the road put a winch in it without taking the bumper back off? the second question is what is involved in hooking the air bag back up? it really makes me nervous messing with the airbag since its such an important issue. and is the airbag guaranteed to work the same as it would with the origional bumper?? thanks

Just like wisctaco mentioned- there are no airbag related sensors/parts involved with the bumper-
I did exactly what you are asking about- I mounted my Bullbar first then added the winch- Its very easy to remove the bumper once you install the ARB mounting brackets -
I would suggest removing the bumper when you add your winch- I think you will save time in the long run and avoid unecessary injury ( smashed finger, knuckle scrapes) I think you will be fighting to get the winch into the bumper as opposed to removing the bumper 1st.

 

[Rob]

Is the cutting required for this install fairly straight forward?

 

[wisctaco04]

Is the cutting required for this install fairly straight forward?

Straight forward but the ARB instructions are not the best. Make sure you have the cross brace that the skid attaches to in the right direction or you have to pull it all apart like I did. You might want to consider reinforcing the front cap on the frame if you do alot of winching. The boxed end is prone to pull out. There is a great writeup on it if someone still has the link(Rob-WATRD where are you?)

 

[James]

and make sure u dont get the warn "I" series winch, i made that mistake

What's wrong with the "i" series winches???

 

[bamachem]

What's wrong with the "i" series winches???

they won't fit.

you'll want a m8000...

 

[tntaco]

ok well i was thinking that since the ARBs are so much more sturdy and stronger that it might take a lot more for the air bag to go off in a front end collision because it would take more force to push the bumper in than it would a stock bumper....that probably wouldnt be good. one more question.....is it a direct bolt up or is there cutting/welding involved?

 

[TacoCrazy]

ok well i was thinking that since the ARBs are so much more sturdy and stronger that it might take a lot more for the air bag to go off in a front end collision because it would take more force to push the bumper in than it would a stock bumper....that probably wouldnt be good. one more question.....is it a direct bolt up or is there cutting/welding involved?

Airbag sensors measure rate of deceleration, the bumper will not affect them..

 

[tntaco]

ohhh ok well that explains a lot i didnt know how they worked

 

[tntaco]

do they come with D ring holes and predrilled holes for lights?

 

[grillmasterp]

do they come with D ring holes and predrilled holes for lights?

yes...and yes

 

[Rob]

Hey Grill, how much weight do you think you reduced with that synthetic rope/aluminum fairlead?

 

[platform389]

You might want to consider reinforcing the front cap on the frame if you do alot of winching. The boxed end is prone to pull out. There is a great writeup on it if someone still has the link(Rob-WATRD where are you?)

Solid Gold advice. If you plan on serious use of the winch, the frame ends must be reinforced. The bumper WILL pull free if you use the winch enough.

It is not that big of a job to have this done if you can't weld. A nearby fab shop did my job for $40. I cut out the bad Toyota pieces and made up my own replacement steel plates. Took about 30 minutes to weld up.

Rob provided a link earlier to the site that details the job. Search on my screen name and it should come up.

 

[grillmasterp]

Hey Grill, how much weight do you think you reduced with that synthetic rope/aluminum fairlead?

Id guestimate ~30lbs