Winch selection

[Nwjeepguy]

I've always used warn winches on rigs I've built,but I don't wheel like I used to so I've been looking at a 12,000 lb badlands winch reasoning that going with an off brand vs warnid opt for higher capacity, any thoughts on size and reliability of badlands winchs?

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[Thunderspud]

I've always used warn winches on rigs I've built,but I don't wheel like I used to so I've been looking at a 12,000 lb badlands winch reasoning that going with an off brand vs warnid opt for higher capacity, any thoughts on size and reliability of badlands winchs?

Speaking purely on the reliability......unless there is some sort of far far-reaching, international conspiracy to inflate the perceived quality of the Badlands winches, I would say you are golden. I don't do the social medias, but I have personally never met someone who has one I can visually see bolted to their truck with bad things to say about their ability to do what they are designed to do.

I have 4, on 4 different vehicles. Then 2 more Warns as well. All 6 do the thing they were built to do. Save my ass or someone else's after being dumb.

Size wise.......I will admit the dimensions of the Badlands 12k did cause some headache for me on a Grand Cherokee. The Chief Products hidden winch plate had to be slightly modified for that particular winch to work. Not relevant to the Gladiator though, I suppose.

My two biggest complaints are that it can't be clocked to relocate the spool disengagement lever, and the massive BADLANDS branding is visible unless you move the housing.

 

[Lost1wing]

I have three Warn winches and three Badlands. Two of my badlands are the basic 12k winches and the third is an Apex 12k.

I have not had an issue with either 12k evo winches or the M8.

My last winch that I purchased and use the most is the Apex 12k. It has been flawless! Love the wireless function.

The basic Badlands are awesome as well, now that I have repaired them. They both sit outside on a trailer. The issue I had with both, were the power cables. They corroded from end to end. Once I replaced all of the power cables with quality cables, I haven't had and corrosion issues.

The other issue was more of a preventative measure with the gearbox. I saw a review of a new never used Badlands, and he pulled the gearbox apart just to see inside. It was not adequately lubed and the grease was not of any quality. The gears still had manufacturing burs on them. I did the same with mine. I cleaned up the old grease and deburred all of the gears before using for the first time. One of them is pushing 13 years. I have used it about 8 or 9 times this years to pull a few dead vehicles on a trailer. You might think of it as an easy pull, but most had 4 flat tires. The 64 Caddy had 3 locked wheels. The Badland didn’t care. I'm sure that I exceeded the duty cycle a few times but it keeps going.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This guy abused the #$@% outta his, bent his winch plate - and still likes his winch.

Looks like more than plenty of grease...........

 

[ericw.]

Those have become very popular.
Open Road 13k winches have been growing in popularity also. My friend has one and likes it.

Both are rated IP67. I'll probably get the Apex once I get to the point of installing bumpers.

In the past, I abused the heck out of a Smittybilt and it never skipped a beat.. other than just being a bit slow.

 

[smlobx]

If you look up Matt’s Off-road Recovery on YouTube you’ll see that he built an awesome offroad wrecker. That thing has about 6 different Badlands winches on it and he uses the heck out of them.

Getcha one!

 

[Lost1wing]

This guy abused the #$@% outta his, bent his winch plate - and still likes his winch.

Looks like more than plenty of grease...........

The grease used in mine was a translucent grease just a bit heavier than Vaseline. I'm wondering if the winch in the video was apart before.

I have not had my Apex apart, just the basic Badlands 12k.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The grease used in mine was a translucent grease just a bit heavier than Vaseline. I'm wondering if the winch in the video was apart before.

I have not had my Apex apart, just the basic Badlands 12k.

OR, they switched things up and went to a different lube?
Comments I've seen in videos suggest that the one in that video is the norm.
However, I've not seen all videos, I've not had mine apart, nor have I had 25 of them apart to compare.
So, I guess, your guess is as good as anyone's!

 

[brsnow2585]

My Apex 12k has served me well. The engage handle not being able to reclock was a minor inconvenience. On the factory steel bumper, the cutout is just a little too narrow, the handle just barely hits. Instead of cutting on the bumper, I just hacked about 3/4 off the handle and cleaned it up. The only other thing I've had to do was open up the control box, all of the terminal nuts had rattled off somewhere, put nylocks back on, then back to BAU.

 

[Bird Dog]

I went with the Smittybilt X2O G3 over the HF Badlands I had been considering. For $50 more I got a smaller (albeit heavier 67lbs vs 76lbs) winch, 18 additional feet of line and a better warranty IMHO. Plus I just didn't care for the giant brand signage on the HF but that's just me. Fit my OEM steel bumper without any modifications.

 

[Fabtech Motorsports]

Have you seen the cost on the Warn VR Evo right now?
Now do a comparison on warranties.

 

[Lost1wing]

Have you seen the cost on the Warn VR Evo right now?
Now do a comparison on warranties.

I paid around $850 for mine 5 years ago. I'm sure my warranty expired long ago. The Harbor Freight 12k synthetic was $649 two years ago on a coupon day. Warranty, I believe is all gone. I don't down at either one's ability.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The Harbor Freight 12k synthetic was $649 two years ago on a coupon day.

Mine was under that.
Unless you use it hard every month or so, warranty won't matter unless it's a 5 year warranty. You may go a while and not need or use it.

 

[brsnow2585]

I got my Apex a couple years ago before the good coupons dried up. I don't use it all the time but try to make a point to string it out most of the way and rewind it every month or so. Also keeps the motor from corroding itself together. I didn't mind the badlands badge on the front, the bull bar covers it mostly, but to each their own.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I got my Apex a couple years ago before the good coupons dried up. I don't use it all the time but try to make a point to string it out most of the way and rewind it every month or so. Also keeps the motor from corroding itself together. I didn't mind the badlands badge on the front, the bull bar covers it mostly, but to each their own.

You could have someone print a plate that goes over this that says...................

BADASS

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