Well, consider that the grille impedes airflow, but no one seems worried about that. Air goes around things. I'd say if you can fit it in there without committing unnatural acts, you'll be fine.

 

I looked under my hood and I initially thought "What are these guys thinking? There's only a few inches of space in there." Then it dawned on me - I have a diesel so there's an intercooler in front of the radiator. But, without that intercooler, you guys still think there's room? And mounting it there would be strong enough? Mounted in the middle like that (away from the true structure of the car)?

Air does go around things. But airflow also changes at higher speeds. Just to be sure, it might not be a bad idea to make a mock-up and secure it with duct tape and zip ties - then drive around for a few weeks. 'Course, not being sure where you are Jake, it might be better to wait till the middle of Summer to test the true effects of it. Luan/hardboard would work well to create a rough mock-up.

 

I live in the midwest, good idea on the mockup

 

 

Following with great interest. I don't think that aluminum piece will withstand any pull force without buckling, though, which is what it's designed to do.
But when kitting your truck up for offroading come compromises to crash safety are just part of the process.

 

this is what it looked like
I installed a winch on 07 gl 450, it wasn't a problem at all, however I think it did affect the adaptive cruise... I think that what it was?? but I didi. do it.

 

Jay,

do you have more details on what you did to install the winch, like did you find a kit, or is it all custom work. Also how is it working out, you gl looks cool, mine does not have the adaptive cruise so i am not worried about that. One more thing, do you think it would be possible to install a hidden winch inside the bumper. Again cool looking ride.

 

Custom job...just cut out two square holes in front to match up with the inside of frame, which the frame is in 3 sections in the gl, for safety reasons, so it will collapsed in accident, but just bolted the tubing to frame and the welded the winch mount on the tubing and mounted the winch to it. it works fine, I've had 3 of them so far, it worked on all them, I just bought my 4th one, which is a diesel, 11 model, so I'm anxious to get started on it next...Thanks

 

That's really cool, I just knew there was someone out there that had done this. If it's not to much trouble, take some picture as you modify the 11, and post them. I know at least all of us following this thread would love to see exactly how your installing it.

what size of winch did you go with?

 

I think I have figured out how to install a winch behind the grill. Just waiting for tax return, and the fun mon before I try it. I will take pictures and post them for all others that might want to add one too.

 

I think I speak for all when I say we are extremely interested in the outcome. Please do follow up.

 

Many thanks from all of us for the pictures and info.

That's one bad to the bone benz.

 

Bump this thread. Love more off-road/overland threads popping up lately and this one interests me quite a bit.

Did Jake figure out how to mount a hidden hitch? Any more info/pics from Jay and his 2011 diesel install?

 

Someone needs to PM Jake, see if he's still out there and if he ever got his tax refund.

 

WHICH WHEELS and TIRES DID YOU GO WITH?

 

I am still out here, I did get my tax return, but family emergency came up. I think i have figure out how to do the hidden winch. Saving up because I want to install a warn. If any of you have the gl320 oil cooler will get in the way, with my idea, sorry. When I do it I will include picture. I did go with falken wildpeak at3 tires.

 

What size?

 

265 60 r18, but they have other sizes too.

 

Did anyone ever do this? I’m selling my landcruiser 5.7 on which I mounted an excellent 13500lb winch hidden behind the front number plate and want something for my GL, for when I get stuck in mud, bought a portable 3000lb winch which hooks over rear towball and looking to fit a secure central mounting point I can at least hook it to easily if a hidden winch is too much, thinking of simply screwing a wide steel plate on top of aluminium with a fixing to attach winch to. Thoughts?

 

did you do it? Interested.


Here’s hidden 13500lb dynema winch on my landcruiser stuck in mud with trailer using the GL as an anchor to pull itself out!

 

Ilyak,

You are thinking exactly like me, only I would not drill the aluminum bumper. Instead I would mount the plate to it with 2 to 4 square u-bolts. This way we keep as much integrity of the bumper as possible. If you have a diesel this idea will not work. The oil cooler is right where the winch would be. Also a 3000lb winch will be too small, you need at least an 8000lb winch. Good luck.

 

I took the front grill off briefly in a free moment of self-indulgence before picking up kids for Boxing Day pilgrimage to my mother(!) and there’s about 10-15 cm by 30cm+ in front of the inter cooler on my 420CDI (winch plate can sit over plastic/foam bumper slightly) which should fit a 4500lb winch which is all I really need. The landcruiser is a solid steel ladder frame built for a winch with big recovery points and I was happy to stick a serious 13500lb winch to use for all sorts of stuff like pulling trees but I fear pulling that much on the GL, however reinforced will change its shape forever and not in a good way!
I’m not going seriously off road and unless you get seriously stuck in deep mud or a ditch most people never ever need anything like full winch capacity. I have hilly land with clay which becomes a perfect lubricant when wet, I don’t sink in but I don’t move forward. If I get bogged down even fully laden with a 3.5T trailer on a 1 in 8 that’s still just ~800 kg to move it unassisted by the wheels and really all it wants is a good nudge to get tyres moving to bite on fresh ground.
4500lb is over 2T which is as much as I’d ever want to pull on that bar even reinforced and if I get really stuck I can use a ****** block back to towing eye and pull effectively 2T on winch and 2T on towing eye to get 4T total pull. If I’m really still stuck with that which is theoretically enough to lift the car with a ton trailer on the back vertically, I’ll call a mate rather than pull the front off by myself!
Plus a smaller winch is not only lighter but generally faster, you can get a ~4hp motor on a 4500lb winch but rarely much more than about ~6hp on a bigger winch as battery is limiting factor and bigger winches are geared down more to get the force so are often painfully slow to reel in unloaded.
It’s on a long list of projects to start (and even longer to finish!) but will take pictures when I try.
The 3000lb portable winch was mainly for moving trailers and stuff about, bloody handy and very cheap and no messing to install already found having it in back helped out, I paid about £50, it’s worth having a play and seeing what’s mere 3000lb on towball wrong way round can actually do.
happy Christmas and New Year!

 

Ilyak, you mentioned using the front bumper tow hook (eyebolt). As I was reading through your original question, that was the exact thought I had, too. With a portable winch, using the factory tow hook seems like a perfect solution. Is there a reason you want to do something different? In other words, why "reinvent the wheel" if you don't need to?