Winch selection

[Capt.]

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.

I saw a post explaining that a Badland 12000 had overheated during max load recovery and actually melted to line. You have any problems with overheating? Thks, Capt.

Sponsored

 

[ericw.]

I saw a post explaining that a Badland 12000 had overheated during max load recovery and actually melted to line. You have any problems with overheating? Thks, Capt.

I don't doubt that it could have happened but I've seen these winches used constantly under extreme conditions and never an issue.

I have seen their ropes break more than a couple times but again, usually under extreme conditions like sunken mud recoveries.

 

[Lost1wing]

I saw a post explaining that a Badland 12000 had overheated during max load recovery and actually melted to line. You have any problems with overheating? Thks, Capt.

No. Not at all. I pulled a 1963 Cadillac sideways, through dirt and roots. Duty cycles matter. I may give a good 30 second max pull, then by the time I think about my next plan of action and rerig, the winch has cooled off enough to use again. The problem with any electric winch is when you have a long hard pull. You have to let it cool. Even the 12k cheap Badland winch works well once modified.

Another thing to think about overheat failures would be bad connections or loose connections.

 

[Lost1wing]

I don't doubt that it could have happened but I've seen these winches used constantly under extreme conditions and never an issue.

I have seen their ropes break more than a couple times but again, usually under extreme conditions like sunken mud recoveries.

Correct! If you don't break that suction, you will overload any winch and break cables and shackles.

 

[Capt.]

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

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

This video is very helpful. Good For All To See

 

[Capt.]

No. Not at all. I pulled a 1963 Cadillac sideways, through dirt and roots. Duty cycles matter. I may give a good 30 second max pull, then by the time I think about my next plan of action and rerig, the winch has cooled off enough to use again. The problem with any electric winch is when you have a long hard pull. You have to let it cool. Even the 12k cheap Badland winch works well once modified.

Another thing to think about overheat failures would be bad connections or loose connections.

Be interested to read about your modifications...

 

[Lost1wing]

Be interested to read about your modifications...

I have not modified my Apex. However, I am thinking about taking it apart. When I first got it, I was able to spool it out by just pulling by hand. It has since started getting tough to spool out.

The original Badland 12k was tough to spool out and just sounded rough. I saw a video of a guy doing a review on one. He also did a video on it completely disappointed. It showed burs, metal flakes and other trash from manufacturing. It also showed how little gease was used in the gearbox.

I took mine apart as shown in the video, deburred and regreased everything when it was still somewhat new. It was much smoother and easier to freespool the cable.

After a few years of operation and leaving this winch outdoors on my trailer, I found another problem that I first thought was a weak battery. The winch was barely able to roll a rolling onto my trailer. I charged up the battery and attempted to pull another car up for a test. This time, one of the cables started to smoke. I cut the end of the cable off only to find corrosion in the entire length of cable. Then I checked the others and found the same with them.

I replaced all with 00 battery cables. Sealed the relay box with silicone just to be sure water doesn't get it. That winch is going on 10 years now. It even out last my deck boards and two sets of tires.

I think the longevity of a winch goes with how you use a winch.

 

[NC_Overland]

I haven’t had mine that long, but it’s been good. The only issue I had was I had to relocate the wire so it didn’t hit the grill on my 2020. It was pretty straightforward and easy to drill a new hole.

 

[Capt.]

I have not modified my Apex. However, I am thinking about taking it apart. When I first got it, I was able to spool it out by just pulling by hand. It has since started getting tough to spool out.

The original Badland 12k was tough to spool out and just sounded rough. I saw a video of a guy doing a review on one. He also did a video on it completely disappointed. It showed burs, metal flakes and other trash from manufacturing. It also showed how little gease was used in the gearbox.

I took mine apart as shown in the video, deburred and regreased everything when it was still somewhat new. It was much smoother and easier to freespool the cable.

After a few years of operation and leaving this winch outdoors on my trailer, I found another problem that I first thought was a weak battery. The winch was barely able to roll a rolling onto my trailer. I charged up the battery and attempted to pull another car up for a test. This time, one of the cables started to smoke. I cut the end of the cable off only to find corrosion in the entire length of cable. Then I checked the others and found the same with them.

I replaced all with 00 battery cables. Sealed the relay box with silicone just to be sure water doesn't get it. That winch is going on 10 years now. It even out last my deck boards and two sets of tires.

I think the longevity of a winch goes with how you use a winch.

Capt. Thanks for comments, it all helps. At half the price of a WARN the Apex warrants consideration. Homework is essential. What bumper did you install?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have not modified my Apex. However, I am thinking about taking it apart. When I first got it, I was able to spool it out by just pulling by hand. It has since started getting tough to spool out.

The original Badland 12k was tough to spool out and just sounded rough. I saw a video of a guy doing a review on one. He also did a video on it completely disappointed. It showed burs, metal flakes and other trash from manufacturing. It also showed how little gease was used in the gearbox.

I took mine apart as shown in the video, deburred and regreased everything when it was still somewhat new. It was much smoother and easier to freespool the cable.

I wonder if that's a hit and miss thing or what. There's a lot of these out there in use, some by pros, without problems. I doubt they all take them apart, deburr and fill with grease. But maybe everyone does!

 

[Lost1wing]

Capt. Thanks for comments, it all helps. At half the price of a WARN the Apex warrants consideration. Homework is essential. What bumper did you install?

I have a Warn on my JT. Rubicon bumper with a Warn winch plate.

I have several Vehicles with winches.

 

[Lost1wing]

I wonder if that's a hit and miss thing or what. There's a lot of these out there in use, some by pros, without problems. I doubt they all take them apart, deburr and fill with grease. But maybe everyone does!

I have used my Apex maybe 10 times this summer and twice last week. The only trouble so far has been freespooling. It started out easy but now I struggle. Could be that I'm not as tough as I once was. Heard that line in a song.

You can hear when a winch is struggling. That's time to stop and rerig. Pull that winch line out and winch on that first wrap. A hard pull will pull that rope deep and you lose more than half of the winches pulling power. Of course you know, but others may not.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have used my Apex maybe 10 times this summer and twice last week. The only trouble so far has been freespooling. It started out easy but now I struggle. Could be that I'm not as tough as I once was. Heard that line in a song.

You can hear when a winch is struggling. That's time to stop and rerig. Pull that winch line out and winch on that first wrap. A hard pull will pull that rope deep and you lose more than half of the winches pulling power. Of course you know, but others may not.

A laugh of recognition for the first part, but a like for the second part.

 

[JohnWick]

I have the Apex 12K synthetic rope, seems pretty well built.

I did have to drag myself out of a mud hole with it, worked fine.

 

[brsnow2585]

I've got an Apex with synthetic line, it's pulled me up and over plenty of times, and a fair bit of stumping. The 'oh shit' moment hit after all that, but fearing the worst, I popped the cover on the relay box on top and found that all of the nuts on the heavy contacts had wiggled off and exited. I put nylock nuts back on and back in business. Rubicon steel bumper, Warn plate

Sponsored