Winch recommendations?

[Stroked]

As mentioned earlier, Harbor Freight has a good winch for CHEAP. I bought one just for giggles They claim its the best winch out there for the price. You can use this one for awhile then buy a big heavy duty Warn when cash flow is good

12,000 lbs @ $300. Steal of a deal! Its been sitting since I bought it because I haven't got around to fabbing up a winch mount lol

I've read a lot of good reviews about the Harbor Freight winches. I figure I'll get one of those for my 84 since I don't do any hardcore off-roading. I've only absolutely "needed" a winch a few times in my life, but I can think of several occasions where one would have been handy.

 

[El Camino Man]

I know once my winch is mounted itll come in handy at least a couple times a year. This winter will be the first winter Ill have a dually... 2wd dually at that... 2wd open diff dually... you get the picture lol

 

[Driver4r]

I know once my winch is mounted itll come in handy at least a couple times a year. This winter will be the first winter Ill have a dually... 2wd dually at that... 2wd open diff dually... you get the picture lol

FUN XD. Dont feel bad. Im in the same boat right now to... swapped back axle to different gears for gas milage, so now 4wd is useless. And my old axle has a locker in it, this is open.

 

[bucket]

Remove the inside duals and strap a couple junk engines in the back, that will help out a lot. A couple snow tires ain't a bad idea either.

 

[Don5]

Ok I have been looking at winches. I was wondering about a Smittybuilt 12k winch. Does anyone have one? What are your thoughts on a winch?

 

[MOguy]

I know this is an old thread but thought I would share my winch experience. I am just now starting to get my 1ton up and going but I have been wheeling my jeep wrangler for over a decade. I have a Warn HS 9500i on my jeep. It is a great winch but there have been times that it needed everything it had to get my Jeep out.

I did have to pull a half ton up a bit of a hill (broken drive line no obstacles get over just a steep hill). Me and anther buddy had jeeps and where doing the pulling. it was twisty and we were doing a leap frog sort of thing. My buddy had a Smittybuilt 12K and it could barley move the truck up the hill. My 9500lb warn did much better but still was working hard.

Manufactures will tell you to get it at least 1.5 times the weight of you vehicle, from my experience is if you have a built off road rig go at least 2 times the weight. The more built your vehicle the deeper in and the worse it will get stuck and the harder it will be to recover. Having a little extra winch is no big deal, not having enough is a waste of money and could leave you stranded.

 

[Driver4r]

i have a warn 8274, it doubles @ 8 ton.

 

[CSFJ]

I too have some experience in the jeep world, and from a winch standpoint, I would say to try to stay away from thr china made models. Almost every brand offers them as entry level winches, but after running a 8k# mile marker, I'll spend the extra money next time on a better version.

 

[carlgm]

To me, it is better to get a used Warn winch that still in good condition than a brandnew cheap brand.

 

[CSFJ]

To me, it is better to get a used Warn winch that still in good condition than a brandnew cheap brand.

Absolutely. As long as it's not a used version of their new entry level winch. Even Warn gets their $400 winches from china.

 

[MOguy]

Absolutely. As long as it's not a used version of their new entry level winch. Even Warn gets their $400 winches from china.

Even then it has Warn life time warranty on mechanical 1 year electric. I would think that they would keep replacement parts available even for their winches made in China.

 

[CSFJ]

True, and my experience is with a Mile Marker winch, it was the electrical controls that failed outside of the warranty. The old style of winch control using multiple solenoids, has been replaced on the cheaper winches with an electronic control box or board. So instead of stopping into the parts store and grabbing a solenoid, you need to contact the manufacturer and get a new control unit. As far as I know, once you get into the traditional line of winches such as the Warn m8000, or anything above the entry level, then you get the dependability and ease of repair that they built their reputation on.

 

[redneck_reed78]

I've had luck with harbor freight winches http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/winches.html?order=Sort+Price,t&p=2 They go on sale a lot and I've seen the 12,000 lb one for $300 on sale before.

 

[Smitch320]

Any idea what type of winches mount from the front? I have an old ramsey RE8000 and it needs rebuilding. Ive got a ramsey bumper and the "mounting tray" is not deep enough for a winch that mounts on its feet.

 

[Smitch320]

What I am really asking does anyone have a ramsey bumper with a winch that is not ramsey, lol