Low Profile Roller fairlead

[Blue85]

What do you think of the Smittybuilt 2810?

IMO, they look better than the standard kind and seem less likely to get bashed on stuff, without going all the way to a hawse. It looks like it might line up with all four winch mounting bolts in a feet-forward setup, which should work pretty well. It's a 2-piece frame, but I doubt the normal stamped sheet metal fairlead frames give a lot of rigidity. Might it screw up the cable if you pull in the corner?

 

[rdn2blazer]

If you COULD pull it into the corner it probably would jack the cable up, but I doubt it could, even on a tough pull. Looks pretty nice I'd say. I like it better then the other too. How are they priced? Only minor concern is they look cast, but the brackets don't take a ton of load up or down or side to side. Even in a side pull it's still more "in or out" direction and the rollers are rolling cable in or out. Not really a major concern I guess.

 

[Blue85]

You can get them for $50 shipped. I can't find the mounting dimensions, but there is a review on Amazon stating that the holes are spaced further apart. So annoying if you already have the one pattern, but on a new bumper it's fine.

 

[Blue85]

Somebody is responding here: http://www.smittybiltdepot.com/Smittybilt-Winches-and-Winch-Accessories/Low-Profile-4-Way-Roller-Fairlead.aspx?t_c=18&t_s=124&t_pt=5143&t_pn=S%2fB2810

The Smittybilt Low Profile 4-Way Roller Fairlead has a 7 inch by 1 inch opening with 1/2 inch diameter bolt holes, 11 inches center to center.

Which is kind of lame if you're mounting it with a winch with standard 10" pattern. Your 1/2" holes are 1/2" apart. It looks like there are 3 holes in each side and you could use the 2-hole or the 4-hole pattern.

The instructions are pretty useless, but show using just two bolts: http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/instructions/smt-2810_low profile roller fairlead.pdf

On Amazon somebody posts this:

There are six mounting holes. Four rectangular spaced holes that are 9.85" x 2.5" OC. Two center holes that are spaced 10.95" OC. I measure these using a digital caliper and eyeballed the center points.

Probably really 10" and 11" OC.

EDIT: the actual mounting pattern is 10" x 2.5" for the 4-holes. The 2-hole pattern is 11" wide. Holes are all sized for 1/2" bolts.

 

[Blue85]

Looks like I'll be the guinea pig, then.

 

[Blue85]

So how big do I cut the opening? The winch has almost 9" between the frame. If the fairlead has 7" between the rollers, then the opening has to be wider than that. 8" x 2"?

 

[Smokinthehippies]

So how big do I cut the opening? The winch has almost 9" between the frame. If the fairlead has 7" between the rollers, then the opening has to be wider than that. 8" x 2"?

I woulod think wide enough so the rollers are the only thing with a chance to catch the wire, and yet not so close that you lose strength on the mounting bolts? maybe split the difference. don't think it really matters too too much

 

[Blue85]

I was building the plate yesterday, but won't have the fairlead for a few more days. Cutting it with the bumper already assembled probably won't be too bad.