I have decided to be a budget Chinese winch guinea pig

[tj3089]

Have you had a chance to try it out yet? Any pics of it installed? I'm thinking of getting one for my TJ.

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[John Jeep 67]

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.

Hey, John. I bought the Apex not after the gazillion reviews out there both loving it and hating it but because of how I saw it perform on Matt's Towing. It always worked. I needed a winch because 90+% of my wheeling is alone. I'm in New England where mud, rocks, and roots make up the trail. I hate to say I haven't had to use it yet but I do an op check now and then and it always works.

 

[tj3089]

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

Also, how did you add the walmart protection plan when you bought online? I'm not seeing the option.

 

[Sandevino]

I’ve had Warn most of my life and have been disappointed with the quality since they outsourced some manufacturing work to China. I refuse to pay a premium for a name when some components are made in the same locale, to the same specs, as less expensive brands.

I picked up an Apex 12k winch and have had zero issues recovering myself and others.

As for getting BSF (broke, stuck and effed) in remote locations all by my lonesome, I try to avoid the exposure.

 

[FKN Slayer]

Also, how did you add the walmart protection plan when you bought online? I'm not seeing the option.

I bought the warranty directly from Squaretrade.com . That is the company Walmart and Sam's club uses. I went into Walmart to purchase the warranty and the kid at the service desk couldn't figure out the warranty option, which wasn't a shocker. It was simple from squaretrade.

 

[FKN Slayer]

Here is a head to head test with a Badlands Apex. I have not had time to test mine yet.

 

[FKN Slayer]

Have you had a chance to try it out yet? Any pics of it installed? I'm thinking of getting one for my TJ.

Here are a few pics and I posted a link for a head to head test with a Badlands. I have only function checked mine. I got rid of the red lights too, before all the hate starts again. lol

 

[Stan H]

Okay so ,I have been looking at the "Open Road" line of winches . Does anyone have experience with this brand . They are from New York ?

 

[Stan H]

Here is the 5000lb winch review

Pretty impressive,
My question would be repeatability.

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