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Harbor Freight Winch for my first winch?

Tim

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The bumper I have (Rugged Ridge HD Full Width) did not allow much clearance for the power cable that comes out the back of the winch. So I rerouted the cable to come out the side. It was a pretty easy thing to do.

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I have the same bumper and looking at doing the Apex winch. Looks great!
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ShadowsPapa

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The bumper I have (Rugged Ridge HD Full Width) did not allow much clearance for the power cable that comes out the back of the winch. So I rerouted the cable to come out the side. It was a pretty easy thing to do.

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Like how that bar wraps and protects that winch. I bet you could knock a tree down with that bar and not hurt the winch at all.
 

ShadowsPapa

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ShadowsPapa - love your set-up and am getting ready to pull the trigger on the Badlands winch. Can you confirm which mounting plate you used?
I used the winch plate that comes with that eBay Rubicon bumper "look-alike". It's not as tough/strong as some I've seen but I can't imagine I'd ever need more.
 

RalphTuttle

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I used the winch plate that comes with that eBay Rubicon bumper "look-alike". It's not as tough/strong as some I've seen but I can't imagine I'd ever need more.
Did you have to modify the plate in any way? As you know, I have the same bumper. I am getting ready to go over to Harbor Freight this afternoon and pick one of these winches up to install this weekend.... Just need to make sure I have everything necessary.
 

ShadowsPapa

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Did you have to modify the plate in any way? As you know, I have the same bumper. I am getting ready to go over to Harbor Freight this afternoon and pick one of these winches up to install this weekend.... Just need to make sure I have everything necessary.
The harbor freight winch fits fine on the ebay (or amazon?) bumper winch plate. I did need to trim top of bumper a bit to clear the winch but it fit the plate fine.
 

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Just bought mine today. Just curious, how long should it take a newb to install?
 

TARHEELKIDD

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Another one with a Bandland winch. I also have a Quadratec winch on my Wrangler. Both winches do the job very well.

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Dougstdig

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My deciding factor was at the price I was able to get mine I could get 3 more and break even with the Warn with similar features. Like others have said, it's had good reviews and I haven't seen a failure due to the winch itself. I saw one that was installed on a ford HD where the mount tweaked while attempting to winch out a stump and stalled the winch bending the winch plate. Moral to the story...don't cheap out on the mount.

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ShadowsPapa

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My deciding factor was at the price I was able to get mine I could get 3 more and break even with the Warn with similar features. Like others have said, it's had good reviews and I haven't seen a failure due to the winch itself. I saw one that was installed on a ford HD where the mount tweaked while attempting to winch out a stump and stalled the winch bending the winch plate. Moral to the story...don't cheap out on the mount.
I'm not sure people realize how hard it is to remove stumps unless you use dynamite.
I've seen 4x4 TRACTORS struggle and bust huge log chains. And yet people with pickups and winches think they'll get 'er done.
Having farmed and always living on acreages or farms since moving out of my parents house, I've done my share of stump removal. There's almost another tree under the ground in some cases and they're just going to yank it out?
 

Dougstdig

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I'm not sure people realize how hard it is to remove stumps unless you use dynamite.
I've seen 4x4 TRACTORS struggle and bust huge log chains. And yet people with pickups and winches think they'll get 'er done.
Having farmed and always living on acreages or farms since moving out of my parents house, I've done my share of stump removal. There's almost another tree under the ground in some cases and they're just going to yank it out?
Yep. He used his spare tire and placed the line over the top of it using it as a fulcrum...plus changing the pull to up and out.
 

ShadowsPapa

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Yep. He used his spare tire and placed the line over the top of it using it as a fulcrum...plus changing the pull to up and out.
Must not have been a large tree...........
You'd never get the stump of our large maple tree out with a winch if that tree ever died or had to be cut down.
Our soil grips roots tight unless there's been a lot of rain.

But in any case, pulling horizontally is just silly. Up with a steady pull is better.
Some of the videos out there make me laugh.
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