Winches

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Shagoneer
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Winches

Post by Shagoneer »

Alright folks, Im in the market to buy a winch, and need advice. Ive been told a smitty xrc8 is good by some and others tell me is warn or nothing. So, what winch do you have, how do you like it, and what have you made it do?
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44bz
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Re: Winches

Post by 44bz »

I had a warn xd9000i on my wrangler. It was great. Quick and quiet but expensive. My J2000 has a warn vr10000 which I got on sale for under $500. I'd say it's a decent winch for the price. It's kinda slow and loud, but I haven't put it to hard use yet.


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Shagoneer
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Re: Winches

Post by Shagoneer »

While searching other threads I also read that I would need to beef up the bumper mounts because the stock mounts arent up to the force of a winch is this true, and If so how would I do that?
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FSJ Guy
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Re: Winches

Post by FSJ Guy »

Any GOOD bumper with a winch mount will not just use the stock bumper mounts. It should bolt directly to the frame.
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tndonor
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Re: Winches

Post by tndonor »

I have a warn M15000 on the front and love it. I have a Ramsey RE12000 in the rear. I choose it because it is a worm drive gear and wanted the slower line speed out back since I don't have rear steer…….yet. As anything else in life, you get what you pay for.

As far as mounting, any winch, whether it be the mount only or bumper to hold a winch, it MUST be tied to the frame either by welding directly to the frame or using appropriately sized grade 8 hardware.
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jpswapmohn
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Re: Winches

Post by jpswapmohn »

I bought and run the t-max ewi outback on my YJ after reading the 2012 Fourwheeler winch shoutout. I have not had to do any serious pulling with it as of yet. I know that there are other name brands carrying the same winch (looks identical but black instead of silver, etc.). I don't recall the names but they now come with synthetic rope for reasonable prices.
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ghcoe
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Re: Winches

Post by ghcoe »

I am looking at getting a HF Badlands 12000lbs. Right now they are $299.99 with coupon. They have been getting good reviews.

http://www.harborfreight.com/

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/1112o ... -winching/

I have a friend who mounted one of the older 12000lbs units on his trailer. Been on there in the elements for 8 years and still pulls hard. He is more than satisfied with the purchase.
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Re: Winches

Post by FSJ Guy »

The HF winches work. But they are SLOW.
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Re: Winches

Post by ElkyRacer »

8274!!!!!
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Atla
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Re: Winches

Post by Atla »

If you are going to offroad a lot and possibly need a winch often - by all means go Warn.

If you are occasionally going, and might once in a blue moon find yourself needing a winch - I would go with the XRC. Jeepforum has a really good review section, that has just about everything reviewed by users.
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Re: Winches

Post by bigun »

ElkyRacer wrote:8274!!!!!
X2 There is a reason why it is still in production

El Jefe
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Re: Winches

Post by El Jefe »

I have a HF 10000 pounder. And for general winching, quick type stuff. Its been great. I wouldn't trust it to pull myself up a cliff or anything like that. And yes. They're slow.

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Re: Winches

Post by shimniok »

xd9000i but honestly I think I've used it maybe twice in the last 15 years so I can't attest to much. :) If I hadn't gotten it for a song I probably would be winchless. :)
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Renodemona
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Re: Winches

Post by Renodemona »

I've got an XRC8 on the front of my Cherokee. Only used once so far and it worked great. I've not done a lot of winching in general but the reviews on Jeepforum seemed generally positive for a unit that will get occasional use. It also happened to be on sale about 3 months back. The guy at 4Wheel said Smittybilt is coming out with a new version of the 8000lb unit, but I have no idea of the truth of that.

X2 on mounting directly to the frame for the bumper. I got a crawler style bumper from BJ's and it goes to the frame. No issues there. Good luck! Snap a pic of your new winchy front when you get it mounted up.
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Blazer3664
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Re: Winches

Post by Blazer3664 »

Everything I have seen says the XRC series are good bang for the $$. Slow, loud, but pretty reliable.

Depending on your use, you may want to think about more than an 8 though. A Wag loaded with typical off-road gear, and a couple friends is pushing (if not over) #5000. For deep sticky mud especially you really should have a winch rated at double vehicle weight or more.

Make sure you get at least one (maybe 2-4 ea.) snatch-block, tree saver, and a couple D-rings of the correct rating as well. Not only can they double your pull, but they come in handy winching around obstacles, or even pulling another truck AWAY from yours.

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Re: Winches

Post by XJChad »

I have the Smittybuilt 10k on my xj and his does great. Ive only used it maybe 10 times in 5yrs. They do have a lifetime warranty, which I have had to use for the free spool/lock lever. For the money I cant complain.

If I knew I would be using a winch frequently then I would go with Warn or Ramsey.

You will also want to run a good battery and make sure your electrical connections are good and clean.

The downsides are the Smittys draw more amps than the higher dollar/bigger named winches, and they dont disapate heat as well (long hard pulls..... more frequent breaks to let it cool). All winches will build heat on hard pulls.

Just some things to be mindful of.
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Re: Winches

Post by jamesdart »

I have a Ramsey worm drive 8,000. It's supposed to be slow but hasn't bothered me. I like it.
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Re: Winches

Post by xGROMx »

Check this company out, I read somewhere that Engo was started by the old disgruntled CEO of Ramsey Winch. Good Prices for what you get, 4 Wheel Mag did a test of all the winches and this one held in there well with the best.

http://www.engousa.com/

10k for 369.99
synthetic for 519.99
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Re: Winches

Post by COLORADOCRAWLER »

I have a Warn 9.5TI on the YJ for close to 10 years and love it. The condition of my cable is a testament to how much use it has seen and I've never had any trouble.

Tried pulling my Buddy's JK 4 door off of a crushed car with a snatch block and had to tie my Jeep off to a TJ because the winch was pulling me to the JK (with brakes fully applied)!

There have been times where my rig's and possibly my own life depended on the winch. The peace of mind that I had a Warn doing the work and not a HF POS was priceless.

If you just want something to pull you out of a ditch, most any winch rated for the weight of your rig will do. I have seen some nasty pics of the insides of a HF winch and let's just say they are NOT waterproof.
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Re: Winches

Post by serehill »

Pretty decent info. I'm a Ramsey preference with warn Number 2 & nothing else in the class. I have a stripped Smittybuilt in the shed gear assembly shot. Ive heard the HF argument. No way Jose. they are all slow.
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