Winches???

[Logan]

Imgonna start saving for an electric winch. Price is going to be a factor unfortunatly. So ive seen these champion 10 000lbs winches at cosco for $500. Also every now and then I see superwinch 10 000lbs at princess auto go on sale for $600.
Do you think the champion will be fine, or should I wait for the superwinch to go back on sale. Or is there another economical winch option?

 

[Louis]

i had a friend with 2 used mile marker 12000 pound winches for sale, they were taken in to my family's electric motor shop and had the once over with new brushes and a good cleaning - they are in very good condition.

I can see if he still has them for sale - can't remember if they were 250 or 350 each - in any event that is a very good price and better than any champion winch.

want me to check into it?

Louis

 

[SuziCrazy]

I have a 2 month old Superwinch 8000lbs for sale $300. I bought a truck and it was on it.

 

[2Greys]

Honestly, I would also check out Titan Winches (www.titanwinches.com). His prices are pretty competitive and also he is a forum sponsor (I think). I bought their air compressor and I am quite happy with it.
Duncan's support is really good as well.
Oh and I think Terry (Twinkie) has one. Ask him what he thinks.

Imgonna start saving for an electric winch. Price is going to be a factor unfortunatly. So ive seen these champion 10 000lbs winches at cosco for $500. Also every now and then I see superwinch 10 000lbs at princess auto go on sale for $600.
Do you think the champion will be fine, or should I wait for the superwinch to go back on sale. Or is there another economical winch option?

 

[brookmillerlee]

Canadian Tire sells 8000lb Superwinchs for $400.

 

[mucovich]

i know the price is good but do you really want to put all your trust in a $400 winch! especially when you need it to work you probably REALLY need it to work.

 

[Louis]

Looks like superwinch is having winches made in China now?

Louis

 

[2Greys]

No surprise.
I think I heard some of Warn's stuff is now made in China, guaranteed the remotes are which is probably the last thing you want to break as you can't exactly pull it back in without a remote(well you could by rigging it directly to the battery by you get the point).

By using the price as the basis for purchasing would be like buying Sony stereos and Bose speakers.

The one thing both SuperWinch and Warn have going for them is the lifetime warranty on most ( but not all) of their winches. Unfortunately that doesn't help in the middle of the trail.

Also MileMarker have a relatively good name for their hydraulic winches, their electrical are definitely on the level of the budget winches.
Oh, also Warn now has a factory in Mexico.

Looks like superwinch is having winches made in China now?

Louis

 

[Mitko]

Looks like superwinch is having winches made in China now?

Louis

They are actually made in China since around '2000. The only one American made winch in the market nowadays is Warn, but not their cheap line called Tabor.

 

[louie]

i know the price is good but do you really want to put all your trust in a $400 winch! especially when you need it to work you probably REALLY need it to work.

That is the one I got for 300 after tax and ct money... works so far used it to pull out a toyota.

 

[Logan]

Thanks a lot guys!!! Id love to fork out a few grand for a good warn, but SFA swap will come first.
Louis, like we talked about, if you could find out if your buddy still has that winch and a price, That would be awesome!!!
If I dont get that one, I may take you up on that one suzicrazy! I wish $$$ was not an object, but with me opening a shop money is tight. Plus im still trying to boost my car.

 

[Farm Boy]

The biggest factor to consider in buying a winch is how you want it to work and what drawbacks you are willing to put up with. The cheaper ones are usually slower, much slower. Personally I wouldn't use anything other than a Warn (or maybe the new Ramsay) but most people aren't willing to spent a grand to get one. Any of the cheap winches will work fine as long as you know what to expect from it.

Will it pull your rig out or up what you are stuck on/in? Yup.
Will it pull out your buddy that was too cheap to buy one? Yup.
You won't be able to set up as winch point at the top of a nasty climb.
It won't pull 50 or 60 feet per min (or more) like some of the brand names.

Is it better to have a cheap winch than none? ABSOLUTLY, just make sure it is 8000lbs or better.

 

[Logan]

I just want something to pull myself or others out. If its slow thats ok. No sence being in a rush when its already stuck. Ill go for 10 000lbs min.

 

[DoctorPhate]

I know someone who has a 25 000lbs winch. Its powered directly from the transmission on an international truck.. not sure if you'd be able to jerry rig it to work with your vehicle.

I don't think he'd want much for it.

 

[BillaVista]

Good points from Jon.

Couple of other things to consider:

- How large is it, how much of the rad will it obstruct, will it fit where you want?

- What is the max current draw - many cheaper winches are less efficient and can draw more current - is your electrical system up to it?

- How heavy is it? Can you afford that weight?

The line-speed also affects more than just how impatient you are during recovery 9wher i agree, slow and steady wins the day). But, when you end up using your winch for "assisted" climbing or obstacles - you can quickly out-drive a slow winch - leading you to easily get tangled in the loose cable. This will make a mess of your day. Something to consider. A fast winch is really nice for those "assisted" climbs and obstacles.

 

[Farm Boy]

I know someone who has a 25 000lbs winch. Its powered directly from the transmission on an international truck.. not sure if you'd be able to jerry rig it to work with your vehicle.

I don't think he'd want much for it.

That thing must be huge . Most wheeling rigs don't have a PTO to drive it. Probably better suited a tow truck.

 

[Farm Boy]

Ill go for 10 000lbs min.

Thanks for the additional comments Bill, I didn't think of those.

Just make sure you consider all the variables. If you're rig is at it's limits to handle a 10,000, you'd be better with an 8,000 that will work properly. Having a cooked battery or fried alternator is worse than being stuck.

A Warn or Ramsay 8,000 will out winch a "knock-off" 10,000 every day, all day.

Things to consider.

 

[Louis]

8274's do really rule the winches as far as I am concerned. You can actually keep upgrading them until you have about 15K in the winch alone. One nice winch.

 

[Farm Boy]

HS9500i :flipoff:

 

[Louis]

Also, with an 8274 you can actually pull someone with the cable acting as a tow hook because it has a brake - whereas you can't do that with a low mount winch. You can put more cable/rope on an 8274, you can lengthen and make the drum narrower for more cable and more pulling power, change out gears for different pulling situations, water cool the motor, air servo free spool, twin motor set up for very fast line speeds.

Mine will out pull a 12K warn any day.