Badlands series winches

[chorky]

I know everyone is currently all over the Apex, but I want to entertain another question for everyone.

In searching for options for a rear winch, I was reminded by a forum member here that the open frame style of winches are smaller and would fit my bumper better. So I my first thought was, well....Warn should be cheaper for their open frame style compared to the zeon and eco series... NOPE! Surprise!

So I hopped on over again to harbor freight. They have a 12K and a 9K open frame winch

https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/winches/12000-lb-winch-with-wire-rope-63770.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/winches/9000-lb-winch-with-wire-rope-63769.html

Unfortunately they are with a steel rope - which is heavy. Then I saw this...

https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...80-ft-x-38-in-synthetic-winch-rope-56412.html

So for a little cheaper, you could have an open frame with synthetic (but you would need a cover to protect from the UV rays.....)

However, then I saw this in the comments of the synthetic rope

And this does not seem right, in any way! This was a picture of a synthetic line on a open frame badlands 12K winch (the first link I posted).

So my question is - can anyone speak to this? Can the synthetic line be put on the open frame winches of the badlands series??

I really don't like the other options I am finding - ones like smiteybuilt, or bulldog (which has 100' of synthetic though), etc.. And I really don't want to pay 1500 bucks for a warn open frame steel cable winch.

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[Jaxmax]

Others have put synthetic on steel winches but you are paying for cable and a roller you will toss Superwinch has a 7500 model that has a cover over line and Rough Country has a nice 9,000 synthetic with a easily remotes control box for less then the Badlands and line just options!

 

[chorky]

Others have put synthetic on steel winches but you are paying for cable and a roller you will toss Superwinch has a 7500 model that has a cover over line and Rough Country has a nice 9,000 synthetic with a easily remotes control box for less then the Badlands and line just options!

Yeah I was going to consider a super winch but didnt find anyone on here talking about them. I know they have been around a while - but wasn't sure of their current product quality.

Ramsey would be awesome but they're even more than a warn.

 

[chorky]

Yeah I was going to consider a super winch but didnt find anyone on here talking about them. I know they have been around a while - but wasn't sure of their current product quality.

Ramsey would be awesome but they're even more than a warn.

good point about the wasted parts. but with their current discount, the 12k open frame style with synthetic rope is still less than the apex 12K. it would be $300 for the 12K and another $150 for the synthetic rope, so $450 for a synthetic 12K

But I just saw a TON of bad reviews on them about the casting literally blowing apart. Not sure what that's all about.

 

[sarguy1941]

On my JK I run the 12K badlands above. I swapped to synthetic this year. I did have to grab a different screw for the drum as the steel cable slides thru and is a set screw. I grabbed an allen head button bolt from home depot. The rope I got had a flat metal crimp with a hole. I got my rope on amazon as I wasn't a fan of the HF rope. It works great and using the button head bolt is clean. I did wrap a piece of webbing over the first 12" of rope so the botton did not interfere with anything. Got the fairlead on amazon also. In the end I think it cost me $100 for the 75' rope and fairlead. Way better than the steel rope I had been using.

 

[Dhilt]

I just ordered a Apex 12k to put on my 2022 Rubicon Gladiator. Do I need a mounting plate? I have the steel bumper. I see some mounting plates for more than what I paid for the winch! I'm a newbie so go easy. Thank you. - Derek

 

[jjmstang]

Yes, you will need a mounting plate.

 

[Sandevino]

That just holds the line to the drum. There are other preferred ways but the first 6 loops provide the grip.

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