I mounted a hidden winch on my 2014 4Runner (replaced 4Runner last year with the LC). I used the winch twice: once to pull a neighbor's vehicle out of the mud (could have done it by towing, but clearance was tight, and winching was fun) and once to lift six 150-lb solar batteries up from an underground storage container. I never needed the winch for self-recovery.
In addition to the cost of the winch, it took me a couple dozen hours for installation. It was a Limited 4Runner, and Bud at Budbuilt thought his winch mount would fit that trim. It didn't. Bud refunded the cost of the mount and said I could keep it, but I had to cut it in pieces, add gussets, and weld the pieces back together. Getting everything to fit took a lot of measurements and test-fitting, and needing to cut the front fascia was an unpleasant surprise. It was a lot of work for little use.
In addition to the cost of the winch, it took me a couple dozen hours for installation. It was a Limited 4Runner, and Bud at Budbuilt thought his winch mount would fit that trim. It didn't. Bud refunded the cost of the mount and said I could keep it, but I had to cut it in pieces, add gussets, and weld the pieces back together. Getting everything to fit took a lot of measurements and test-fitting, and needing to cut the front fascia was an unpleasant surprise. It was a lot of work for little use.
