Some questions on winches.

[Lud]

Ok after the last few trips I think its time I bought a winch. I should be able to get one in July.

What should I be looking for in a winch? (ie. series wound or permanent magnet motor, capacity, line speed, amp draw, integrated vs separate solenoid, ect) For capacity, I've heard I need at least twice what the Jeep weighs. Sound right?

Any brands you guys recommend running? What brands do you guys run? I'm set on the WarnM8000 or Superwinch 9.0EPi (9000 lb) but are there some other ones I should be looking at?

What all do I need to mount a winch and hook it up? Also where's a good place to get a winch mount?

Thanks in advance

[Roman]

You never here anyone brag about having a Ramsey . . .



Buy the best Warn you can and enjoy.

[Lurch]

If I had the money to replace mine I would go with a warn 9.5ti. They're pretty spenndy but worth it. Maybe keep your eye out for a old 8274.

[sams88]

heh heh... you'll undoubtedly get a lot of opinions on winches! My two favorite winches are the 8274 (very pricey though) and the Mile Marker Hydraulic.

I've had the hydraulic on two vehicles now, and I really like it. No duty cycle to worry about. Works great as long as the engine is running, and that is basically the only "downer" if you may, regarding the hydraulic. I've had a mile marker electric, and it wasn't the same quality. Plus it was very slow. A second possible downer for the hydraulic might be that if you are the type that wants to move a winch from front to back of the vehicle, there is a bit more plumbing involved.

As for the 8274, I got it on an old 72CJ5. Was a fabulous electric winch. My son-in-law has the winch now. When I sold the jeep, I kept the winch!

What am I runing right now? Two Tabor 9,000lb winches. One on the YJ and one on the yota. The price isn't bad. The winch has the Warn guts other than part of the electrics which is made by a German firm that the name slips my mind at the moment. Uses the same control unit as the warn winches, and is also sold by warn. I'm happy with them. For the price differential between the 8274, the Tabor is an excellent winch.

How-some-ever, if I just had the bucks in my pocket burning a hole there, without a doubt I'd get an 8274 as that has been the best all-around electric winch I've used. Why that over the hydraulic? Because I've been in spots where the engine couldn't run so the hydraulic couldn't be used.

[tenikiwon]

I have a MileMarker 9000lbs. It works and was cheap but harbor Frieghts winch is basically the same thing as mine. I was told they are made by the same company. I wouldn't get another one, but I don't regret buying it.


If that makes any sense. Basically as stated above, buy what you can afford. Simple rule of thumb is 1.5 x your vehicles weight. I could have used more pulling my Explorer, but with a winch (Escpecially non commercial) you only get the max pull on the first layer of cable, after that the line pull dramatically is reduced.

[OldGreen]

I have a TMAX. . .and. . .well, it is a good unit.

1. It broke. . .or. . .uh. . .I broke it. The housing where the clutch lever goes in broke.. . .I absolutely HAMMERED that winch. I stalled it out a few times when I was burried to the frame rails in ICE, but over all it has done a great job for the price of the winch. however:

2. TMAX has the best customer service EVER. The replaced my parts no questions asked 2 years after I bought the winch with nothing more than an email from me asking where to buy the parts. We met the US distributors at SEMA and they are super, super nice people. Extrodinary even.

3. Having said that: The Warn 8274 is the best winch you can buy for a wheeler. Period. If you can't afford one, go with one of the 9000 or 8000LB Warns. If you can't afford those, get a TMax

[toyman2]

spend the money and buy a warn its the best and i have proof.
its worth the little extra,my warn has been throught hell,back and through hell again and still works like a champ.

think of it this way,what winch would you trust to hang you rig over a cliff?

what winch has been proven more than any other winch out there,and if you ask,if money wasnt a issue what would you buy id say 85% of people would say warn.

[White trash]

I got a relic of a warn 6000 upright with a drum brake. There is no brake band and the free spool lever got busted so its a hand only deal from the front of the rig now. Heck I have it running off of a single ford solenoid and I have yet to stall it completely yet...

Warn is the original and the best period, everything else is a bad copy.

[foursix]

9.5xp EXTREME PERFORMANCE
THE ULTIMATE COMBINATION OF DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE
For those looking for the ultimate combination of durability and performance for the most extreme conditions, Warn Industries offers the 9.5xp. With 9,500 lbs. of pulling strength, the longest duty cycle and fastest line speed of any WARN winch under load, the 9.5xp delivers extreme performance that beats the competition, even in competition. The 9.5xp features a high output parallel Series-Wound motor, a 3-stage planetary geartrain, and a continuous-duty control pack will handle the most difficult pulls. Add to that full-face contact drum seals, and motor and end housing gaskets that deliver extreme-duty water resistance, and you've got one tough winch.

Sure it is a few hundred more than the others they sell but it is worth it. I have pulled logs, trucks, jeeps, you name it with mine and it never even blinks. Second choice would be the 8274 but I needed the lower profile to allow max cooling air. THis is how I figure it out- $300 more now divided by the 15 years it will last minimum it will cost $20 a year more than the others-

Kevin