There are pros and cons for both setups.
With the external mount you are able to monitor the lay of the cable in the drum = pro
With the external mount your equipment is out in all weathers & a synthetic cable may be sensitive to the sun! = con
External mount more prone to theft or damage by third party.
With the hidden mount it is more difficult to monitor the lay of the cable while winching without going into the danger zone.
Given the amount of winching that most people are going to do I would plump for the hidden mount.
Personally I have the ARB winch bar and it is a bit of both worlds with the TDS Goodwinch.
Good luck with what ever you choose.
NickI am a hob nobber.
5th Jan 2010 3:12 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50934
I think you might find that ARB bumpers have now fallen foul of the dreaded EU regs Nick 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
Yes DG, not sure of the dates but if you can get one you might still be able to retro fit I think.
NSNI am a hob nobber.
5th Jan 2010 3:52 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50934
I did think that they had gotten away with it as its classed as a bumper not an A Bar ...but it seems the latest interpretation is that anything which strengthens the front of the vehicle is out.21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
5th Jan 2010 3:55 pm
discocuzzy
Member Since: 02 Feb 2008
Location: surrey
Posts: 2752
External winch bumpers are fine as long as it doesnt have a metal Abar attached to it i am led to believe.
On the defender, it is now illigal for companies to sell these due to pedestrian safety regs so im sure the same applies to all 4x4s.
Thats why all external Abars are now manufactured using soft compounds.
LR approved winch mounts for the D3 are fine though.
I had the hidden winch last time and i wouldnt go down that route again, you cant see the drum, the winch still gets covered in crap but its harder to get too and clean it.
The ease of use and safety factor should be a consideration as well, the cable has a chance of rubbing the inside of the bumper, therefore if you have a steel rope it can jam and burn the motor out or damage the bodywork, if you have a plasma it can damage the rope.
All the above is fine if you only need a dead straight pull, but chances are you wont be fortunate to need to recover yourself in this position.
Granted its less likely to get nicked but to be honest, use tamper proof fixings and you should be fine, no different to an expensive roofrack "you cannot teach stupid people to do clever things"
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05 plate D3 HSE in Zermat- Gone
11 Plate D4 Landmark in Fuji white- Gone
08 Plate D3 Hse in Buckingham Blue- Gone
58 plate D3 HSE Silver- Gone
10 Plate D4 HSE Stornaway Grey
5th Jan 2010 4:11 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50934
So it's seem's it's ok as long as it has a winch app then Steve ?21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
5th Jan 2010 4:22 pm
bigcarpchaser
Member Since: 13 Oct 2007
Location: Camberley
Posts: 2270
Anyone with a current hidden winch install want to bat for the other side?
Am interested to receive comments from those, like Cuzzy, who have or have used a hidden winch arrangement.
CFB? You've had a few Welcome "Lola"
5th Jan 2010 5:30 pm
blue meanie D3 Decade
Member Since: 04 Aug 2005
Location: Newbury
Posts: 6861
I have the discrete mount a la RLD and fitted by TFC and it's fine for occasional use but if you are going to use a winch with any sort of regularity I would say that the LR external one is probably a better bet TBH.and theeeeennn......???
AS the maker of the hidden mount and one on my Land Rover you can winch from the side as long as it is fitted right it uses the same mounts as the external one if you use the right spacing from the mount to the fairlead you will have no problem.
Yes use a plasma rope and in any winch operation from the front or the side if you use the right method after proper training you can avoid any problem and it will spool on just re spool after it will not ripe your bumper of if you do it right as for strength well i would hang mine up a tree no problem .
I also do brackets for the abar as well.Home of RLD Hidden winch mounts Spare wheel Locks Trailer Body Fabrication ray@rld-tech.co.uk D3/4 sump plates MY 14 sump plates and the Discovery Sport wheel protectors Discovery 5 wheel locks
more Helsport tents and other things for camping Law of Mechanical Repair:
"After your hands are coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee!"
5th Jan 2010 6:09 pm
bigcarpchaser
Member Since: 13 Oct 2007
Location: Camberley
Posts: 2270
Cheers Ray Welcome "Lola"
5th Jan 2010 6:57 pm
discocuzzy
Member Since: 02 Feb 2008
Location: surrey
Posts: 2752
Ray
Not saying a hidden set up is "Bad", for occasional use/emergency its great, but if you want to really get involved it has limitations as previously mentioned....does look cool mind!
You can fit covers on the external winches as well to keep the clag off, you can just about see it on this pic
"you cannot teach stupid people to do clever things"
--------------------------------------------------------
05 plate D3 HSE in Zermat- Gone
11 Plate D4 Landmark in Fuji white- Gone
08 Plate D3 Hse in Buckingham Blue- Gone
58 plate D3 HSE Silver- Gone
10 Plate D4 HSE Stornaway Grey
Steve yes if you need to do every day winching yes external all the way but i do think and i do trust my set up other wise i would not use it i had an Land Rover one but as i do these i put my time and faith in it Home of RLD Hidden winch mounts Spare wheel Locks Trailer Body Fabrication ray@rld-tech.co.uk D3/4 sump plates MY 14 sump plates and the Discovery Sport wheel protectors Discovery 5 wheel locks
more Helsport tents and other things for camping Law of Mechanical Repair:
"After your hands are coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee!"
5th Jan 2010 7:42 pm
discocuzzy
Member Since: 02 Feb 2008
Location: surrey
Posts: 2752
No question of the quality of your fabrications Ray, the law of physics just dictates that that if the fairlead is mounted on the bumper and is bolted to the studding, unless you brace the studding as Blue Meanie has done, there is a chance the studs can bend...thats what happened to mine during a recovery and i had to use a crowbar to get the studs straightend
Remember there is 2.75 tonnes plus the additional forces involved with being stuck in mud etc."you cannot teach stupid people to do clever things"
--------------------------------------------------------
05 plate D3 HSE in Zermat- Gone
11 Plate D4 Landmark in Fuji white- Gone
08 Plate D3 Hse in Buckingham Blue- Gone
58 plate D3 HSE Silver- Gone
10 Plate D4 HSE Stornaway Grey
you are right Sreve just as i said Home of RLD Hidden winch mounts Spare wheel Locks Trailer Body Fabrication ray@rld-tech.co.uk D3/4 sump plates MY 14 sump plates and the Discovery Sport wheel protectors Discovery 5 wheel locks
more Helsport tents and other things for camping Law of Mechanical Repair:
"After your hands are coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee!"
5th Jan 2010 9:14 pm
NeilD
Member Since: 01 Dec 2008
Location: Sunny Surrey
Posts: 4845
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Law of Mechanical Repair:
