Winches

Bday · Apr 10, 2013

Where Is the best place to buy a winch for the money? Looking for a 12,000 lb. What is a good brand? I know warn is name brand, but is there others that are just as good for a better price?
Thanks

Diamondpilot · Apr 10, 2013

If not using it every day to make a living its tough to beat the Harbor Freight ones. I have a Atlas which is about the same quality. Its 4500# and mounted to my 18' trailer. Its been on it since 2004 without a single issue. It pulled up about 30 vehicles ranging from a 8N to a Suburban.

Got it through Greg Smith Equipment

Chris

RedNeckRacin · Apr 10, 2013

I have a viper max 12k winch with the amsteel blue synthetic winch rope and it came with a doubling block, and some other accessories. I have had it for almost 3 years and no trouble with it at all. That winch rope is strong as all get out. We used it underground on our scoop winches and it was great until it go ran over a sharp corner. The benefit of it though is the light weight and it does not recoil like steel does. motoalliance.com

94BULLITT · Apr 10, 2013

I have a Superwinch S5000 for the car trailer and a TSC Champion 3k winch for the utility trailer. I got the Superwinch through amazon. I think Warn probably sells the best winches. Whatever winch you decide on just google the model number and see what comes up.

Ken45101 · Apr 11, 2013

One of the issues with the Warn winches is the warranty. If it fails, you have to send it back at your expense and pay for them to evaluate it ($$$). If they say it's been abused, you are out the cost, plus the winch. I have a Warn winch on my RTV but I am very, very careful with it. The smaller ones have plastic gears. I don't know about the larger ones.

I have the HF winches for logging use. I haven't used them a lot but so far okay and a heck of a better price than the Warn winches. YMMV.

sparc · Apr 12, 2013

The factory winch on my Hummer was a Warn 12k built into the frame.
I used it a number of times and it never failed me.

Having said that I know they are not the least expensive but you need to factor in how you plan to use it and how often ...and... what level of reliability you are willing to accept. And I don't mean to imply that Warn is the most reliable, I don't know enough about the various makes to hazard a guess, I just know I had the same winch for 14 years and it never let me down.

RobertN · Apr 13, 2013

What are you going to do with it? Heavy off-roading?

I grew up in N. Calif, not far from Rubicon, Barret Lake, Sierra Trek etc. Some of the best hard rock wheeling. My Dad did not have one, nor did I when I had the Jeep later on. But everyone we knew who did had Warn's. My BIL put a classic 8274 on his CJ7 28 years ago, and has got good use out of it.

The couple times I needed to be pulled out of a jam, buddies used Warn 8274's.

Everyone I know now is still using Warn's.

Not an endorsement, just observation from 49 years of being around Jeeps that are used.

tonyoz · Apr 13, 2013

Be very wary of buying Warn winch or any type like them with a plantery gearbox.You cannot deadpull on the winch without damaging the winch break. Learnt this from my own experence on 12000lb Warn winch which cost me $1000 just for the part to fix it. A pinnion drive is a much better system and near bullet prof.:2cents:

Dozernut · Apr 13, 2013

I have Ramsey winches, I have an REP3000 on my RTV and had a REP6000 on my old truck. I don't know if it is still true but the Ramsey winches had a lower amp draw than the Warrens, an important consideration if you have a small alternator or do not have a double battery setup. My next winch will be hydraulic as a steady pull will not burn out the motor like a direct current winch will, if you don't let them cool down between pulls.

RobertN · Apr 13, 2013

Most everyone I know is running dual batteries. A Lot of rock crawlers also use custom alternators, set up to for higher current, AND to make power at lower RPM's. Does no good to make power at high rpm when rock crawling generally is done at relatively low rpm.