A New Hidden Winch & Recovery Point Option

I admit that I dog on Rough Country a fair amount. They're reputation, while improving, hasn't been the best over the last decade. However, I'll admit that every now & then their design department will surprise me, and I have to give them kudos.

In looking at their site today to find a cheaper suspension lift recommendation for another forum member, I noticed they released a hidden winch mod kit that also adds 2 recovery points to the front.

If you want to keep the stock look of the truck and add a winch without adding a winch bumper...this seems like an intriguing option. You have to cut the front plastic chin, but it looks fairly clean for those owners who want an "OE+" style look.

Thought it was worth sharing.

Hidden Winch Mount | Toyota Tundra 2WD/4WD (2022-2024) | Rough Country



Also...given a recent thread conversation with @Eurodriver about CBI's poor track record of providing install instructions...I'll call out Rough Country & give them props in that area as well. Everything on their website has fairly comprehensive install instructions for the DIY/Shade tree mechanic. Something they 100% do better than CBI.

 

That looks pretty slick. I’m a big fan of that clean OE look with added functionality.

 

looks clean, thats for sure, like OEM clean

 

I agree with the cleanliness of the look.

I'll say it (before someone else does), this would've been a logical way to have recovery points from the factory. I understand the EPA regs to have better & better MPGs. I don't want to hijack my own thread with a tangent. However, this could've a logical option to include with the TRD OR and TRD Pro package. Let the base models focus on MPGs and the TRD models focus more on what they're meant to do. I'm also surprised they didn't do something like this with their "Trailhunter" concept package they had at last year's SEMA show.

 

ya, I hate to even touch the tow hook BS, but it wasn't for MPG, it was for new crash test regulations and pedestrian collision things coming and they were trying to stay within those and the lawyers got out of control.

anyways, now there is a nice option it looks like and you get a winch, so let's move on, Lol.

 

I think those tow hooks are only for show. No pics on how they actually mount to the truck.

 

It shows that in the installation guide... it's... not great.

 

Yeah just by pics of the parts I’m assuming it’s mounted to the crash bar. If so, no bueno.

 

https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2023/10/why-the-3rd-gen-toyota-tundra-tow-hooks-dont-exist/

Bb knows his shit! I was always wondering.

 

FTFY

 

So why couldn't someone use the set up tractor trailers use on the front with the twist in tow hooks you see on highway thru hell?

Something like these.

 

By looking at the design and installation guide, I think it is nice looking product with lots of areas for improvement;
-In the installation guide Pic.# 45&46, how strong these metal plates to pull this heavy truck out, will they bend, break?
-Lots of cutting during installation, and it is left to the consumer, which lead to huge room for error, wrong cutting and ugly finish. Lots of moving parts here. I believe cutting should be customized from RC to consumer's needs. this will reflect positively on the end product and sales as well.
-I would like to see a video installation, and testing as mentioned earlier here, not sure if going back and re-tightening the knots is a requirements with all these parts.
My opinion, Good design, needs fine tuning, won't compete with CBI yet.