Northern Tool's Ultra-Tow XTP 12,000 lb winch buy or pass advice?

[Pedal Metal]

I searched this forum separately for both XTP and Northern Tool and couldn't find any information on their Ultra-Tow XTP 12K lb winch. I stopped in one of their stores on the way home, because a friend of a friend liked their winches some years back and I'd only been toying with the idea of getting a wench and had some time to kill today. So, their $599 model comes with steel line and the $649 a synthetic and a different fairlead. I've read how a good many go with the Harbor Freight Badlands, but really just a bit curious to know if anyone can share some buy or pass advice on either of these two:
https://www.northerntool.com/produc...h3A_Veervo2gL_piaysaAsTFEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.northerntool.com/produc...oP0M2y1wilPQ6hnjjCUaAtcSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks!

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[Pedal Metal]

 

[22EcoDs]

Looks a lot like the harbor freight. How do the paper specs line up ?

 

[cranbiz]

Looks like identical copies of the Harbor Freight Apex winch. I, too, would check the specs between HF and Northern. If they are the same, I would buy it. The HF Apex is a hell of a winch.

If you are patient, HF has 25% off coupons that puts the Apex under $500. I have not seen Northern discount that much.

 

[Pedal Metal]

Looks a lot like the harbor freight. How do the paper specs line up ?

To be honest, I've never owned a winch, so I haven't had the hard earned knowledge of knowing what is important for field use. Also, Harbor F. has 2 steel cable winches the ZXR was $649 now $349 and the APEX $569. However, given the paper specs a quick look, I'd mention that Harbor F. appears real similar in terms of IP68 certification and 12K Lbs, but I couldn't find the harbor HP ratings (Northern's had one of 6 HP). Harbor's only come with a 90 day warranty, but Northern has a 1 year warranty. H.F has 1 with a wired remote and 1 with a wireless, but the N.T. has a wired remote. Not sure if I would like wireless anyway if the wired remote had old batteries when I went to use it, so I'd almost rather have wired. So, the more I got into comparing and contrasting the harder it seemed to determine what I should really be looking at and in spite of the paper specs, what were the first hand experience for the Northern Tool had by others?

So, it brings me back to the question is the N.T. winch a good build?

On a side note, I'd separately posted in the JL forum and told of the warn winch rebate. So, I looked up Northridge4x4 who has a $600 EVO12 with a $150 rebate, but it's out of stock.

Still, I can't help but to come back to ask the question about N.T.'s winch. The big reason why is a local N.T. store GM offered to discount it for their cost of $300 to get in out of their inventory, since the Steel Line Ultra-Tow XTP 12K was on close out. I presume they're just changing over to the synthetic line and new fairleed as it seems real similar to their $649 model otherwise.

 

[Pedal Metal]

BTW, I'm still debating if I want to go to the effort of installing a winch and steel bumper and sacrifice some ride comfort of my Mojave with the extra winch weight. So, even thought the potential close out price seems to be a deal, I know it comes with extra cost of money, time and comfort.

As well, I can't help but wonder about the idea of install a front receiver hitch and mount the winch via receiver when I need it and in front or back.

Signed,
Desperately Undetermined ...LOL

 

[cranbiz]

You are not going to notice the weight.

I can't tell you anything about the Northern winch but I can tell you about the Apex. I have 2 of them, one on the Gladiator and one on my JK. My JK I use the crap out of it. It's been flawless. The remote is both wireless and wired. It uses 2032 batteries and I'm still on the original set 2 years into use. The controller plugs into the cable for wired use.

If the specs are close, for $300 I would buy the Northern winch and run it. I prefer synthetic line (I have used both) but again, you can change out the line if you wish.

 

[Northridge4x4]

On a side note, I'd separately posted in the JL forum and told of the warn winch rebate. So, I looked up Northridge4x4 who has a $600 EVO12 with a $150 rebate, but it's out of stock.

We are out, but we have more on the way from Warn. With that Rebate sale going on, they pretty much hit our warehouses and get shipped out right away.

 

[22EcoDs]

Could always add syn line at a later date. That's what I did with my hf winch. I'd buy the northern tool for that price.

 

[Outback_Joe]

I have been using a Smitty Built 12K winch with 3/4" synthetic rope. Its been a great winch, its waterproof and the remote is cordless. I ordered mine when they had a great sale on them.

So far its worked great for pulling me out of some deep snow and pulling firewood logs out to the road. I don't see many on rigs but they are an older company "1956" but seem to have good equipment. Just something to look at.

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