I have decided to be a budget Chinese winch guinea pig

[FKN Slayer]

After wasting too many hours watching reviews and reading forum posts, I have found the budget winch I am going to buy. The Badlands Apex only made sense for ease of return. With extended warranty, it was still going to be $700ish. I decided on a Walmart Hyper Tough 12000lb winch. Currently on sale for $329. It has a 1 year warranty and Walmart protection plan is $39 for 3 years. They also offer free returns within 90 days, so if it is a piece of crap, it will go back. I will post my thoughts on it, once I get it installed. There is a youtube video of a couple rednecks using the Hyper Tough 5000lb pulling an old dodge up a tree. It pulled it up verticle. Maybe not that impressive for a 2500 lb car, but I figured it would fail miserably. I'll link the winch below. Let the hate begin...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-To...h-82-ft-Synthetic-Rope/773145397?athbdg=L1600

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[Duece McCracken]

Ride it till it dies!

 

[WILDHOBO]

What happens if you find out it’s a piece of crap, while you’re stuck, alone, and on a steep grade? I just don’t see skimping on safety items. Trusting that a junky tool is going to protect your 50-60k vehicle, and it’s passengers, doesn’t make sense to me. The winch is probably half of one payment. I don’t get it. No offense.

 

[Wmkresse]

I say go for it. I would test it pretty hard for a little to make sure it is good to go but with that kind of warranty on it, how bad can it be?

 

[TigerInFL]

Congrats ...... i guess

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

Don't penny pinch on the shackles and rigging.

 

[Jefe1018]

I’ve had a winch on my ride (JT and the one before) for like 5 years now. I wheel somewhat frequently as of late. I’ve never needed to use the winch…. ever.

From everything I’ve read the motors usually don’t go bad, but instead it’s moisture in the control box that does you in. Make sure to add a bead of silicone for peace of mind and just verify it’s working before you head out. I usually inspect mine about once a month and before hitting the trail.

Post some pics once you have it installed.

 

[FKN Slayer]

What happens if you find out it’s a piece of crap, while you’re stuck, alone, and on a steep grade? I just don’t see skimping on safety items. Trusting that a junky tool is going to protect your 50-60k vehicle, and it’s passengers, doesn’t make sense to me. The winch is probably half of one payment. I don’t get it. No offense.

That is fair and if I was going to be hardcore wheeling, a very valid point. I might use the winch to drag logs from the woods into my yard. My wheeling will be limited to the Outer Banks. It will not be a lifesaving device. It will 99% of the time, be a dust collector in my bumper. Even overlanding, it's not doing any life saving for me. But, you are correct, I'm not scaling a rock wall and counting on it. Not everyone here is hardcore.

 

[Trauma PA]

After wasting too many hours watching reviews and reading forum posts, I have found the budget winch I am going to buy. The Badlands Apex only made sense for ease of return. With extended warranty, it was still going to be $700ish. I decided on a Walmart Hyper Tough 12000lb winch. Currently on sale for $329. It has a 1 year warranty and Walmart protection plan is $39 for 3 years. They also offer free returns within 90 days, so if it is a piece of crap, it will go back. I will post my thoughts on it, once I get it installed. There is a youtube video of a couple rednecks using the Hyper Tough 5000lb pulling an old dodge up a tree. It pulled it up verticle. Maybe not that impressive for a 2500 lb car, but I figured it would fail miserably. I'll link the winch below. Let the hate begin...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-To...h-82-ft-Synthetic-Rope/773145397?athbdg=L1600

Looks a lot nicer than my Amazon hunk of junk x-bull winch. Looking forward to your reviews.

 

[WILDHOBO]

That is fair and if I was going to be hardcore wheeling, a very valid point. I might use the winch to drag logs from the woods into my yard. My wheeling will be limited to the Outer Banks. It will not be a lifesaving device. It will 99% of the time, be a dust collector in my bumper. Even overlanding, it's not doing any life saving for me. But, you are correct, I'm not scaling a rock wall and counting on it. Not everyone here is hardcore.

Totally fair then to spend less if it’s not a safety tool.

 

[John Lenheiser]

I see on the Fab Rats and Matts Towing videos on YouTube they use the Harbor Freight Badlands winch on everything they have. Now they don't say that they are given the winches, but they seem to work ok and they really give them a good test in using them. It's the 12000 model they use and remember you can it a replacement warranty for a low cost it you think you might need it. For me I would probably give it a try for the cost.

 

[SIG551-A1]

After wasting too many hours watching reviews and reading forum posts, I have found the budget winch I am going to buy. The Badlands Apex only made sense for ease of return. With extended warranty, it was still going to be $700ish. I decided on a Walmart Hyper Tough 12000lb winch. Currently on sale for $329. It has a 1 year warranty and Walmart protection plan is $39 for 3 years. They also offer free returns within 90 days, so if it is a piece of crap, it will go back. I will post my thoughts on it, once I get it installed. There is a youtube video of a couple rednecks using the Hyper Tough 5000lb pulling an old dodge up a tree. It pulled it up verticle. Maybe not that impressive for a 2500 lb car, but I figured it would fail miserably. I'll link the winch below. Let the hate begin...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-To...h-82-ft-Synthetic-Rope/773145397?athbdg=L1600

Looks like an Apex Badland knock-off. LOL

 

[Jefe1018]

I see on the Fab Rats and Matts Towing videos on YouTube they use the Harbor Freight Badlands winch on everything they have. Now they don't say that they are given the winches, but they seem to work ok and they really give them a good test in using them. It's the 12000 model they use and remember you can it a replacement warranty for a low cost it you think you might need it. For me I would probably give it a try for the cost.

That’s kind of how I look at it. I don’t think there’s editing going on with it taking multiple winches to do a job. I also don’t think any of us should ever have to stress out a winch as much, as often and in any near sort of sticky situations as Matt does on a weekly basis. For 99% of us having a shiny Warn winch with less features just equals showing people we have money.

If you’re wheeling alone or with just 1 vehicle in the most remote areas every day of your life and somehow need to winch every day, I still don’t think I’ve seen any sort of substantiated studies showing superiority of one brand over another. ??‍??‍

 

[ScottBeach]

I think this makes a lot of sense. Looking forward to your updates post install.

Really interested in long term health. How does the gear hold up 2-3 years exposed to the eleme

 

[FKN Slayer]

Here is the 5000lb winch review

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