Winches..Whats the best deal?

[kaotik1]

So whats the best deal for winches I mean there are so many to choose from everything from Warn to Rugged Ridge, Smitty Built, Rough Country, Super Winch, Mile Marker, etc. So whats the best bang for your buck?

 

[CJim7]

There are a lot of Warn 8274's out there still for pretty cheap. They were, and arguably still are the best 8k lb winch available. Warn came out with a new version of the same design, the 8274-50 several years back and priced very steep....the design proved itself so they brought it back.

I picked one up 20 years ago for a couple hundred $'s and it has worked flawlessly.

 

[mriplaybass]

Kind of depends on what you use it for, where you use it, and where you park the vehicle when you are not using it. Of course you get better quality when you buy the name brands, not to mention greater admiration and fewer snickers from hard core off roaders if you buy one of the cheap ones.
I read something awhile back on winches that made a lot of sense to me. The poster wrote that after loosing 2 Warn winches to theft, he went and purchased a Badland winch from Harbor Freight for a fraction of the cost, with the theory that if someone, shall we say,..........acquired it without his permission ,...............it could be replaced for under $300. I believe I spoke to 007, who told me that they use them where he works, and they work great. Sounded like good advice to me along with the endorsement of someone who's opinion I value. I now have a 12,000# winch (I know, over kill on a CJ) and love it. I figured that the cheap ones probably don't pull as hard as they are rated, so maybe in reality it's an 8,000#, but it works fine.

 

[HackFabrication]

Depends on how and how often you plan on using it.

My Recommends (in order of preference):

1. Warn
2. Ramsey
3. MileMarker
4. SuperWinch
5. All the rest...

Now, if you are talking BIG MONEY winches:

Winches (Warn 8274 on steroids)

 

[kaotik1]

I'm really not looking for anything to wild and crazy as it will rarely be used thats why I was looking at something other than Warn as they seem to be pretty steep. I see some of the Smittybilt and Rugged Ridge 12k winches going for as low as 399.99 so was wondering if these were decent or just complete junk.

Smittybilt XRC-12 Gen2 Waterproof Winch - 12,000 lbs. - SB-97412

Rugged Ridge Spartacus Heavy Duty Winch with Steel Cable and Roller Fairlead - 10,500 lbs - 15100.40

 

[gr8dain]

My wife got me the quadratec q11000 a couple of years ago. I have only used it a couple of times and it has been great.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I'm still run'n a Warn 8274 that came on my Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 in 1977.
Watch out for the china with no parts support.

LG

 

[PaRenegade]

You can get the top of the line winches like Warn or Ramsey and sink some money into it or you can go with a more economical model. About 8-10 years ago Smittybilt came out with an 8k winch with a price point of $299, a price that hasn't been seen for a winch since the 70's. Since then everyone and their mother has come out with a winch for that price. And if you look at them, if you take away their color, knobs, and solenoid cover they look amazingly identical. So who knows, they could be all made at the same factory for the base model.
Anyways, recently Smittybilt has upped their offering but kept the same price point of $299. It's a 9.5k winch that's waterproof (IP67). I sold my old 8k 1st gen winch for their new version for those two reasons. Now I don't need to keep a cover on it. As for performance, I can't really say as I have yet to use it. That's my opinion.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Lifetime warranty sounds good.
GEN2 Waterproof Winch - Smittybilt

LG

 

[Christopher]

I picked an 8274 out of a dumpster. Just with rebuilding it (new cable, new controls) and the metal to make a winch plate brought me up to $350. But, it should last forever, and man o man do I love how it looks. It's giant!

I thought about just buying a new offshore winch when I added up the cost of what I'd need to buy to fix the 1975 Warn. But, after looking at the parts availability, and how people seem to love them, figured I might as well rebuild the old one once, and use it forever. It is heavy though. But AMC 150 ' of cable is great!

 

[HackFabrication]

Personally, I think the 8274 just 'looks right' on a CJ:







I picked that one up as New Old Stock (mid 80's still in original shipping box) for around $700.

There are deals out there on used 8274's, so keep your eyes open. Picked up this 'builder' for under $400:







In the process of a total rebuild:









Going to mount it on a removable mount:



Nice thing about the 8274 is that Warn didn't change the basic design (if ain't broke...). Parts are easily available.

 

[Peanut Butter]

I read something awhile back on winches that made a lot of sense to me. The poster wrote that after loosing 2 Warn winches to theft, he went and purchased a Badland winch from Harbor Freight for a fraction of the cost, with the theory that if someone, shall we say,..........acquired it without his permission ,...............it could be replaced for under $300. I believe I spoke to 007, who told me that they use them where he works, and they work great. Sounded like good advice to me along with the endorsement of someone who's opinion I value. I now have a 12,000# winch (I know, over kill on a CJ) and love it. I figured that the cheap ones probably don't pull as hard as they are rated, so maybe in reality it's an 8,000#, but it works fine.

The "cheep" Badlands winch was designed by a Warn engineer. He also oversees the production of these winches. For the money and for part-time use, seems like a good deal to me. But, if you got the extra money go big or go home.

 

[kaotik1]

The "cheep" Badlands winch was designed by a Warn engineer. He also oversees the production of these winches. For the money and for part-time use, seems like a good deal to me. But, if you got the extra money go big or go home.

Did some research on the Badlands Winch sold at Harbor Freight and looks like its junk here is a research test they did on multiple winches and the one from Harbor Freight failed miserably.

Massive Multi-Winch Shootout - Four Wheeler Magazine

 

[mriplaybass]

Cheap is the key word! You definitely get what you pay for. In my case, it works fine for the demands I have put on it so far. If you are a hard core off roader going through deep mud and water, I would not recommend this winch. I knew about the water "allergies" this winch displays, but that is not my kind of wheeling. But just because one magazine got one that did not work right out of the box, does not constitute failing miserably. I have purchased name brand parts that did not work right out of the box.

 

[Woolyworm]

I've got a SB 8k that has more than earned its keep. I'd get another in s heartbeat. I'd probably go for the 9.5 waterproof. If money was no object I'd go for the warn 8274 for the line speed and cool factor or try to find a PTO.


Wooly

 

[Lumpy Grits]

The real downside of any PTO device is the engine has to be run'n for it to operate.
LG

 

[mtnwhlr]

I have a Warn and wouldn't use anything else LOVE IT

 

[Peanut Butter]

Did some research on the Badlands Winch sold at Harbor Freight and looks like its junk here is a research test they did on multiple winches and the one from Harbor Freight failed miserably.

Massive Multi-Winch Shootout - Four Wheeler Magazine

After reading the article, I wouldn't say it failed miserably. I've pulled many items out of a box that either didn't work, or were missing parts. To be fair they should have gotten another winch and tested it. AS FOR THE WATER SUBMERSION TEST, I would never do that to a winch. Trying to assert that this resembles a winch getting wet is ridicules. I currently have a Warn winch that sat on my car hauler trailer. Got used maybe three times. Now it doesn't work at all. So should I say ALL warn winches will give up over a long period of time, NO. Any mechanical device will fail given the right circumstance. Luckily I bought it in 2005 and didn't pay an arm and a leg for it. Since I don't winch on a weekly bases, just like kaotik1 mentioned. So my next winch will be a Badlands, based on use and price, unless I get the Warn working again. Just my 2 cents.

 

[HackFabrication]

The real downside of any PTO device is the engine has to be run'n for it to operate.
LG

Same with a hydraulic winch (which is what I considered before the 8274 found me).

 

[Posi]

I have a 1200lb cast iron mile marker hydraulic winch. Strong as heck, full power at idle. I don't wheel alone so if the engine did fail help is there if needed.