A Winch Question - Thinking of buying my first one.

[auf_wiedersehen_pet]

I'm thinking of getting a winch for my Disco.

It would be used for recovery/self recovery but definately not Challenges! If the last year is typical - it would have been used five times. Something like this.

Question? The front of my Disco is a little "busy" with a Defender A bar, spotlights, Saudi grille, LED driving lights and a D44 winch bumper. Would I need to cut the coloured grille surround or mesh to gain access to the lever?

Any other thoughts?

[Disco Matt]

I think with that bumper you would have to cut the grille to clear the winch. I know when I bought my winch bumper I spent some time looking for one which wouldn't need the grille to be cut when I eventually get a winch. The resulting bumper sticks out a lot more than yours as it pretty much has the winch tray in front of the grille.

Just need to get it adjusted to fit properly and then I can think about a winch!  :lol:

[Highland_Defender]

There really isnt a winch that you could put there that wouldnt need the grille cutting.

Try to get one that has the solenoid pack seperate instead of bridged over the drum, that will save the cutting and be less obtrusive looking.

[Devon-Rover]

Hi.

With your current bumper you will need a bit of reconstructive surgery to mount a winch, A bit less if you do go for a winch with a removable Solenoid pack as this can be repositioned up in the engine bay alongside the remote controller pack and the kill switch. Try getting the dimensions for the winch and then measure up the height from the tray to see where about it would sit.
On a personal note having a winch tray stuck out in front would have me worrying all the time when parking in town that i would "mate" with the car in front. Not to matter that i don't think it looks right. I like the look of your truck and having a low line winch tucked away in the front would suit it better, But thats my feelings. Ohh and i have just fitted a winch too mine.  :D

[mobi]

i have enought room to move mine back behind the grille, which i'l do when i fit the mesh grille. if you look at www.dborc.co.uk/goodwinch/ he does a air freespool to fit superwinch and tds range, but you can move the freespool on these winchs.

[Disco-Ron]

If you're clever, and lucky with where the bolt holes are in the tray, you might get away with only cutting away the very bottom bar of the grill, on my truck, i had en EP9, and i mounted the solenoid inside the grill area, which means farting about making new cables, but i thought it was worth it, i had mine switched inside with the remote socket mounted on my grill.... as you might just about be able to make out....

[yaki_r]

Disco-Ron, can you send more pics on your winch mount solution?
Thanks, Yaki

[Disco-Ron]

Disco-Ron, can you send more pics on your winch mount solution?
Thanks, Yaki

Not really......... i have now sold the truck.... sorry....!

Its was a golddigger 4x4 bumper, but he went bust, his name is carl hurst, he was a little while ago selling them on ebay..... i simply mounted my ep9 on the bumper, and mounted the solenoid away from the winch to make it as discrete as possible...... which i think worked....:)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Landrover-discovery-200300-TDI-V8-and-auto-winch-bumper-/160466567363?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM