Let's Talk Winches

[ilmostro]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...inches-onboard-air-snorkels-recovery-gear.26/

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[livewire_3020]

badlands apex 12k is awsome... got mine for 450 with coupon, wireless, synthetic line... its awsome

 

[Empty Pockets]

I used a Warn M8000. Compact, light, fast, powerful, and US made. Picked it up on close-out when 4WParts discontinued them. $550. I’m happy with it.

 

[DeezJT]

Zeon 10 due to 7yr electrical and limited lifetime mechanical. I paid 820 for it and used my gift card to buy the spydura synthetic rope.

I initially wanted the Engo winch with pressure washer but the warranty was just 1 year.

 

[uplandgunner]

I like the SB X2O, it has a better waterproof rating than than a lot of the others. for me that means a lot as I run in wet areas and deep water fording is common. I've had two two and both have worked flawlessly.

I'm going to get another as I add a a Road Armor Stealth rear winch bumper.

Stealth Rear Winch Bumper, 9500lb Remote Winch - Texture Black 2020-2021 JEEP JT Sport JT Gladiator JT Rubicon JT Rubicon (roadarmor.com)

I'll take my 10,000 X20 and put it there and get a 12,000 up front.

I frequently wheel alone so the rear winch option is really desirable when you just want to get back out of a bad situation rather than doing the hokey pokey pulling forward then turning around and pulling thru again.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Usually the only difference between 10k and 12k winches of the same brand is the planetary gearing. Many times it’s the same motor, so a 10k will have faster line speed. I’ll leave the brand vs. brand to everyone else, as there are lots of viable options these days.

There are also multiple threads, some of them very long with several pages, about this exact same thing. The only thing that will vary here is the order of the opinions as they get posted.
And there will be as many opinions as there are winches on Jeeps. Whatever someone has will be the best. No one ever will say something other than what they bought is best because that's admitting a mistake.

Badland Apex winches get great reviews out there. Some good review videos on gooftube.
That's what I bought. It came with a cutoff switch (manual) and wired or wireless remote.
The extra money saved I'll invest in accessories.

 

[syreeves]

I have the smittybilt Gen 2 X20 - I like it because it has a wireless controller. I live in MN and the extra heavy duty waterproofing is helpful in dealing with salt. The only difference between their 10K and 12K versions (as far as I can tell) are the thickness of the synthetic rope - the motors have the same power rating. I have the 10K version - gives me 90 feet of rope and use a snatch block if I need the extra grunt (especially where the pull is short and I have a lot of wraps on the drum already). They are on Amazon for less than $600. No need to spend a crap ton on Warn. I don't have any experience with badlands or other similar brands but if you are merely recreational then you're probably fine. I think there are a lot of people out there (jeepers and otherwise) who buy the brand or the spec when they probably don't need it. If that is your thing then all power to you. I prefer functionality, general reliability, and extra beer money (ahem - money for rye actually but there is no saying for that).

Just my $0.02...

 

[uplandgunner]

I have the smittybilt Gen 2 X20 - I like it because it has a wireless controller. I live in MN and the extra heavy duty waterproofing is helpful in dealing with salt. The only difference between their 10K and 12K versions (as far as I can tell) are the thickness of the synthetic rope - the motors have the same power rating. I have the 10K version - gives me 90 feet of rope and use a snatch block if I need the extra grunt (especially where the pull is short and I have a lot of wraps on the drum already). They are on Amazon for less than $600. No need to spend a crap ton on Warn. I don't have any experience with badlands or other similar brands but if you are merely recreational then you're probably fine. I think there are a lot of people out there (jeepers and otherwise) who buy the brand or the spec when they probably don't need it. If that is your thing then all power to you. I prefer functionality, general reliability, and extra beer money (ahem - money for rye actually but there is no saying for that).

Just my $0.02...

No it's not the cable that makes the difference between 10,000 and 12,000. The motors are the same but the planetary gears are different giving a different ratio. The line speed on the 12,000 will be slower than the 10,000. it's much like the difference between having a 3.93 rear end and 4.10.

The synthetic cable on the winches are really rated much higher with the knowledge that they will be used with a snatch block at times.

Just google and look at syn cable and the weight rating vrs line dia.

 

[syreeves]

No it's not the cable that makes the difference between 10,000 and 12,000. The motors are the same but the planetary gears are different giving a different ratio. The line speed on the 12,000 will be slower than the 10,000. it's much like the difference between having a 3.93 rear end and 4.10.

The synthetic cable on the winches are really rated much higher with the knowledge that they will be used with a snatch block at times.

Just google and look at syn cable and the weight rating vrs line dia.

You are correct. Page 5 of 7: https://www.smittybilt.com/downloads/SB_Gen2Winch_NPA-Extended.pdf Thank you!

 

[KurtP]

Sub’d. Like the features of the smittybuilt gen3; but the chinese made thing concerns me. Im not sure how they are maintaining any quality control during the pandemic, on account of how hard business trave to china is....unless they get qc’d honestly here in the states. No one seems to know what their qc process is for materials, machining, and assembly.

Ill probably end up shelling out for a zeon or xps to get US materials and assembly. Warranty doesnt really matter to me. I dont want a winch replacement; i want it not to break. If i need a winch, im in a spot where having it break means im proper fucked.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Made by U.S.-owned factories staffed by whoever the US company wants.
No problem. Just consider it as if it was made by a Canadian company here in the states, the Canadian company owning the land, building, and doing the hiring. This made in China stuff is old and lame.
The factory may SIT over there but control is by employees of American companies in China.
You have control of things if you own the factory and hire the staff. No quality control issues if they are your employees. Things go bad - you fire their butts, they are YOUR employees, not employed by the CCP.

If the U.S. company contracts with a Chinese company - that's different, but still - there's a certain amount of control.
Things haven't changed that much - I have family that travels between the states and Asia frequently. It's not totally cut off.

 

[Usethis83]

Bought a warn XD9500 when I was 17 (37 now)and it was a ridiculous amount of money for me then.. that winch still works.. so when it was time to buy for the glad there was no second thought. To me the cost has to be measured by the expected life, not the upfront commitment. I have a new warn zeon 10s. Made in US.

To each his own, but that is how I decided.

 

[rr11]

Bought a warn XD9500 when I was 17 (37 now)and it was a ridiculous amount of money for me then.. that winch still works.. so when it was time to buy for the glad there was no second thought. To me the cost has to be measured by the expected life, not the upfront commitment. I have a new warn zeon 10s. Made in US.

To each his own, but that is how I decided.

I have to agree with you on staying in your comfort/experience zone. I will most likely buy a Ramsey 9500 Patriot, While I know the winch is not a favorite here. I have had two of them, one was on my 78 CJ7 for 10 years, the second was is on my 03 F250. I have used and abused it for 18 years and other than the outside being weathered it still works like new.

 

[Sky Soldier]

I went with the cheapest ($564) Warn 10k with braided steel able. I Had a Smittybuilt with synthetic cable. Smelled electrical wire burning emanating from top of winch. Disconnected from battery. Both were professionally installed. I guess I should have pursued a warranty claim. I’m satisfied with the Warn.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have to agree with you on staying in your comfort/experience zone. I will most likely buy a Ramsey 9500 Patriot, While I know the winch is not a favorite here. I have had two of them, one was on my 78 CJ7 for 10 years, the second was is on my 03 F250. I have used and abused it for 18 years and other than the outside being weathered it still works like new.

It would be remiss of you, with that experience with those winches, to venture outside of what has worked so very well for so long.
That's just it - people would, and really should, go with what they know and have experience with. That's why there will be so many good responses.
A person can factor all of that in, along with their budget, how hard will they use it, when they do use it would be it for "it sure would be nice" or "this had better work or I'm in big trouble" (and balance all of that with their budget)

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